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Odds And Ends: Cubs, Matsui, Mets

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More links for the afternoon…

  • Don't forget about today's chat, coming up in less than two hours at 2pm CST…
  • This Chicago Sun-Times article blames Jim Hendry for assembling an expensive group of under-performing hitters, but credits him for putting together some solid pitching.
  • Patrick Newman at NPB Tracker passes on some comments made by a member of the Hanshin Tigers front office about the possibility of acquiring Hideki Matsui after the season, when he's a free agent. It sounds like the Tigers will keep an eye on him.
  • Willie Randolph was fired a year ago today. Since then, the Mets have won 87 of 154 games under Jerry Manuel, who's a better communicator than his predecessor and a popular leader, according to Ben Shpigel of the New York Times.
  • Darren Heitner points out that the first rounders to sign so far haven't obtained the recommended limit for their slots. (Hat Tip: THT)

Olney On Mets, Holliday, Snell

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ESPN.com's Buster Olney says the Mets have begun discussing which hitters they want to target. Here's what Olney has heard about the Mets, along with the rest of his rumors:

  • It's fair to assume the Mets would like to acquire a "big-time bat."
  • Omar Minaya could pursue Nick Johnson. He already traded for him once as the GM of the Expos.
  • Other players that could play first and hit: Aubrey Huff, Jorge Cantu, Mark DeRosa and Dan Uggla.
  • Uggla's an outside-the-box solution, but the Mets could use his power.  
  • Don't assume the A's will be able to collect compensation picks for offering arbitration to Matt Holliday if they don't trade him at the deadline. Holliday's numbers have fallen off, making him more likely to accept arbitration if the A's offer it. He could make upwards of $16MM, meaning the surest way for the A's to get something back would be to deal him now.
  • Olney says the Rockies don't have interest in Ian Snell. Yesterday John Perrotto suggested they could trade for him.
  • Colorado will likely wait another month before deciding whether to deal Huston Street.  
  • The Mariners don't have to rush their deal-making either, especially since their division looks winnable.  

Mets Not Ready To Trade For Help?

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MLB.com's Marty Noble reports that despite the bevy of injuries that have decimated their roster, the Mets probably won't trade for help anytime soon.

At this point and probably until after the All-Star break on July 13-15, the Mets will be disinclined to trade for help. Their sense of the market now is that some eventual sellers will seek more in return now than they will when they are closer to the Trade Deadline. So the Mets will wait and talk and wait. Come later July, they will talk and wait and talk, so long as they believe their own team still has a chance to play into mid-October.

Despite being without their starting shortstop, starting first baseman, number three starter, number four starter, and top setup reliever, the Mets are just four games back in the division and one and a half games back of the wild card.

Olney On Wilson, Johan, Harper

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ESPN.com's Buster Olney says the Red Sox could take advantage of the shortage of teams willing to take on payroll by offering little more than salary relief to their trading partners. Rival executives told Olney that the Red Sox could offer to take on the salary owed to players like Jack Wilson, without including any highly touted prospects in proposed deals. Here are a couple more details from Olney's column:

  • It's looking more and more like Bryce Harper will be eligible for next year's draft and it's looking more and more like the Nationals will again select first. Olney wonders how the Nationals would cope with talks of record-setting deals for two straight years.
  • Olney shows that Johan Santana is throwing slower fastballs, and not as many of them. 
  • Cause for concern? Jon Heyman of SI.com asked a Mets "bigwig" and heard that the team is "not at all" worried about their ace pitcher.

Mets Acquire Javier Castillo

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Bart Hubbuch of The New York Post tweets that the Mets have acquired infielder Javier Castillo from the White Sox, and have assigned him to Triple-A Buffalo. The 25-yr old Castillo hit 262-.319-.387 in 182 plate appearances for Triple-A Charlotte this year, playing third base exclusively. He also has experience at shortstop, but hasn't played the position regularly since 2006. No word on what Chicago receives in the deal at this time.

Castillo has never played in the big leagues.

Heyman On Penny, Ackley, Milledge

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SI.com's Jon Heyman places Marco Scutaro and David Ortiz atop his lists of over and underperforming players. In the same article, he provides some trade rumors:

  • The Phillies, Mets and Cardinals are among the teams "in" on the Brad Penny discussions.
  • Philadelphia would still like to acquire a premium pitcher; they're "aiming higher" than Penny.  
  • Dustin Ackley is apparently seeking "Mark Teixeira money."  No, he's not looking for $180MM, but he'd like a deal worth $9.5MM, like the one Teixiera received out of college.
  • And there's word of trade talks involving Lastings Milledge.

Draft Day 2 Roundup: Mets, Indians, Red Sox

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Writers are rolling in the draft recaps. Let's see if we can't keep up with a few:

Mets Acquire Chip Ambres

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Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post reports (via Twitter) that the Mets acquired Chip Ambres from the Red Sox. Ambres, 29, played three games for the Mets in 2007 before hitting .195 in 24 games for the Padres last year . He's played all three outfield positions in the majors since his 2005 debut with the Royals. The Mets assigned him to Triple A Buffalo.

Lugo Available; Mets Not Interested

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Alex Speier of WEEI.com reports that the Mets are not interested in acquiring Julio Lugo. The Jose Reyes injury leaves them "in dire straits" according to Speier's source, but they are not "desperate" enough to go after Lugo. He's available on the trade market, but has $15MM remaining on his contract between this year and 2010.

The Red Sox have shortstop issues of their own, and are considering making a deal. They're playing Lugo and Nick Green as they await Jed Lowrie's return from a wrist injury.

Problem Positions For Contenders

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SI.com's Tom Verducci applauds Braves GM Frank Wren for making a deal early in the summer and suggests early deals for five other teams with obvious needs. Verducci doesn't suggest deals like these will happen, but he offers them up as possible fits:

  • The Twins could improve at second base. What about Freddy Sanchez, Clint Barmes or Jamey Carroll?
  • The Giants aren't getting much production from Travis Ishikawa at the plate, though the plus/minus system ranks him as the best defensive first baseman in the league. Verducci wonders if the Giants would use Jonathan Sanchez to acquire a player such as Jorge Cantu, Nick Johnson, Miguel Tejada or Garrett Atkins.
  • The Mets would look much better with Brad Hawpe, Matt Holliday or even Mark DeRosa roaming the outfield.  
  • Ryan Spilborghs could help the White Sox in the outfield, as one reader suggested in today's chat. 
  • The Reds could use help in the outfield and at third base. Mark DeRosa can only play one position at a time, but he could be a useful addition for Cincinnati.  

Would these suggestions work? Many of the players Verducci lists aren't on the block yet, but what if they were available? 

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