Julio Lugo Considering Mets
Word comes today from the New York Post that free agent infielder Julio Lugo grew up a Mets fan and will "definitely" consider the club if they’re interested. He’s open to second base or shortstop for his new team.
Last year, Lugo’s age 29 season, looked like a career year for the shortstop. He hit .295/.362/.403 and was the fifth best shortstop in baseball according to Baseball Prospectus. This season, in an injury-shortened 72 games with the Devil Rays, Lugo hit .308/.373/.498. All three marks are career bests.
At the trading deadline, the Dodgers sent promising young prosect Joel Guzman to the Devil Rays for Lugo. Lugo’s been a terrible hitter for L.A. while playing 2B, 3B, and even a little OF. It was a curious trade for Los Angeles.
As the easy choice for the best shortstop on the market, Lugo should command upwards of four years and $40MM. It would be surprising to see the Mets pay that kind of money for a second baseman, so Lugo would probably have to give a hometown discount to become a Met. Several teams are going to entertain the possibility of Lugo as their next shortstop. Possibilities include the Red Sox, Blue Jays, White Sox, and Reds. The smart money is on the Red Sox or Jays.
There was some ugliness involving Lugo and his wife in 2003. The Astros instantly demoted Lugo after he reportedly assaulted his wife. He was later found innocent after Mabely Lugo changed her story.
Minor Moves: Diaz, Ardoin
A couple of small deals came over the wires recently.
The Rangers acquired outfielder Victor Diaz for catcher Mike Nickeas. Diaz, 24, is having big-time problems with Triple A this season (.606 OPS). It’s surprising because he hit Triple A pitching pretty well as a 22 year-old. He earned 280 ABs with the big club last year and managed to slug .468.
Back in the summer of ’03, Diaz was sent from the Dodgers to the Mets in the Jeromy Burnitz deal. He’s not known for his defense, and has been tried at 1B, 2B, 3B, C, LF, and RF in his career. Perhaps a steady position and a change of scenery will get this once top-prospect back on track.
Nickeas is a 23 year-old catcher from Georgia Tech. He has never done much offensively at Double A and will report to the Class A St. Lucie Mets. He could be a Major League backup a few years down the road.
Speaking of backup backstops, the Orioles claimed Danny Ardoin off waivers from the Rockies. He’s a 32 year-old minor league lifer. It’s hard to make this move sound interesting. He played with Miguel Tejada in the minors, does that help?
Mets Could Still Add Alou
According to Jon Heyman at Sports Illustrated, some Mets officials still hope to trade for Moises Alou even with Shawn Green already in the fold. An independent source of mine has verified that given Cliff Floyd‘s inability to stay healthy, the Mets would still like to add Alou.
Alou has spent plenty of time in his career at both outfield corner positions. He’s playing right field for the Giants right now more out of necessity, as his defense can be ugly at age 40. He’ll be a free agent after this season, and still mashes when he’s on the field. He’s hitting .292/.350/.522 this season in 247 ABs. Alou has dealt with a myriad of injuries this season, and would make a great candidate to play in the AL for the first time in his career next season. He’s making $6MM this year.
San Francisco is five games out after last night’s win and have won seven of their last nine.
Mets Trade For Shawn Green
The Mets’ much-anticipated acquisition of 33 year-old right fielder Shawn Green was completed today.
As I mentioned a week ago, Green represents only a mild improvement over Endy Chavez. Still, Green has heated up over the last week (.316/.409/.526) and probably didn’t cost much besides money. It’s not a difference maker, but I can see why the Mets would prefer Green and his track record. The only reason I don’t like the deal for New York is that they’re stuck with Green and his age 34 season in 2007. I just hope that Willie Randolph can push Green aside if Lastings Milledge is the superior player next season.
Minor Trades and Rumors
The Cubs unloaded Neifi Perez on the Tigers today, and it was no surprise Neifi got through waivers. What team would want to be on the hook for $2.5MM for him next year? Ditching Neifi at this point at least partially rights the wrong of signing him to an extension in the first place for Jim Hendry. The Cubs’ "everything man" will be making outs atop of Detroit’s lineup now. Even more impressive is that Hendry snagged a 22 year-old catching prospect, Chris Robinson, in the deal.
The Mets added righty reliever Guillermo Mota today. Along with Oliver Perez, this is another project with plenty of upside. Mota was one of the game’s top setup men a few years ago.
Tom Glavine‘s got a possible blood clot, which could mean season or career-ending surgery. At least his life is not in danger. The news first appeared on an ESPN message board from a man said to be Glavine’s brother-in-law. Back when Glavine appeared healthy, the same source indicated that the southpaw would finish his career with the Braves, at any salary.
Reggie Sanders may have cleared waivers. Who wants a 38 year-old right fielder with a .248/.304/.424 line? Don’t forget the $5MM he’s owed next year.
From Yankees announcer Jim Kaat: the Rangers may be talking to the Orioles about Mark Teixeira. Tex is from Maryland, for what it’s worth.
Plenty of buzz going around in various forms of media that the Red Sox may acquire reliever LaTroy Hawkins. We’ll know soon enough. The 33 year-old has, at least, kept the ball in the yard and exhibited good control with the Orioles this year.
Mets Pursuing Shawn Green
According to the East Valley Tribune, the Mets are hot on the tail of Arizona right fielder Shawn Green. Jack Magruder tells us:
"There are strong indications that the Diamondbacks will ask Shawn Green to waive his no-trade clause to facilitate a trade to the New York Mets, although Green said after Saturday’s game no such request has been made. The Mets asked the D-Backs about Green earlier this week, after he cleared waivers, sources said Saturday.
While Green can veto a trade to a team other than San Diego, Anaheim or San Francisco, a deal to the Mets would reunite him with good friend Carlos Delgado, who was in Green’s wedding and played with Green in Toronto from 1993-99."
This week, the Mets have been using Endy Chavez, Lastings Milledge, and newly acquired Ricky Ledee in right field. Chavez, 28, is playing the best ball of his career and is even showing a little pop (.436 SLG). At .284/.349/.429, Green has a nearly identical stat line to Chavez. Any improvement would be minimal, but perhaps the Mets could acquire Green without surrendering much.
Mets Come Out Ahead In Jose Reyes Signing
The Mets got a fantastic bargain Thursday in signing Jose Reyes to a four-year contract extension. New York bought out Reyes’s arbitration years and his first year of free agency. They also included an option to keep him for the 2011 season at $11MM.
Jon Heyman’s thoughts on the deal:
"I bet Jose Reyes‘ four-year $23.25 million contract isn’t the union’s favorite, and well-regarded agent Peter Greenberg sounded almost apologetic at the press conference on Thursday. Reyes almost surely would make more by going year to year, as Derek Jeter did, but that’s not easy to do when you grow up poor, and particularly when you’ve had injuries."
Reyes is just 23 and is in the midst of a breakout season. His OBP and SLG are by far career bests. Rickey Henderson seems to have helped this spring. More teams should try relationships like this. Even though Baseball Prospectus’s PECOTA projection system did not see these spikes coming, projections still indicate that every year of the contract, 2011 included, is a bargain for the Mets.
Stark: Mets To Get Roberto Hernandez, Oliver Perez
According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark:
"Mets are closing in on a big deal with the Pirates, for Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez. Still haggling about the rest of that deal."
The Mets have been interested in these guys for a while; first I heard of it was back when Jeff Keppinger was dealt.
SI.com now reports that Xavier Nady goes to Pittsburgh in the deal. I’m told that the Mets also have coveted Edwin Jackson as a project for Rick Peterson, but that interest may be on hold with this acquisition.
UPDATE: Word via Scott Miller of CBS Sportsline is that the Mets could spin Perez along with Heath Bell to the Padres for Scott Linebrink. Perez, of course, began his career with San Diego.
Duaner Sanchez Out For Season
Duaner Sanchez, one of the game’s best setup men, is out for the season after separating his shoulder in a car accident, according to Ken Rosenthal. I’m just glad to see he is OK.
Omar Minaya has 51 minutes to step it up and find a replacement. I think MetsBlog caught wind of this shortly after midnight.
Justice: McLane Orders Lidge Trade
According to Richard Justice on his SportsJustice blog:
"I’m told Drayton McLane ordered Purpura to trade Brad Lidge. I got this information from an official with another team. I would expect the Astros to deny it."
Justice also mentions that Roger Clemens is pushing Drayton McLane for help, who has in turn orderd GM Tim Purpura to make something happen.
Mets closer Billy Wagner is campaigning for Omar Minaya to bring Lidge in so Wagner can fix him.
Also, I’m told Justice was recently on 610 AM in Houston. He mentioned that if the Astros trade Lidge for Hank Blalock straight up, the subsequent move would be to swap Morgan Ensberg and Adam Everett for Scott Linebrink and Khalil Greene.