Mets Blow It Again: Say No To Halladay Trade
Huge news broke late tonight as word from SI.com came down that the Mets turned down a trade for Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay.
The Mets reasoning; the Jays’ asking price was too steep! This coming from a team with a supposedly barren farm system.
What was that asking price? Supposedly the Blue Jays asked for Fernando Martinez, Jon Niese, Bobby Parnell and prospect Ruben Tejada.
Ok, that’s pretty much every blue-chipper the Mets have to offer, but still, if you’re the Mets YOU MAKE THIS TRADE!!
I know the argument; “these guys are top prospects and you don’t want to mortgage the future.” To that I say “Humbug!”
They are just that…PROSPECTS. There is no guarantee they will turn out to be All Stars. Halladay, on the other hand, is a proven superstar.
I think the Mets have to look no further than their deal two years ago for Johan Santana. They gave up “prospects” then, too. Those players they traded for Johan haven’t set the world on fire. Carlos Gomez, Kevin Mulvey, Phil Humber? Please. Ask anyone today and they consider that trade a STEAL for the Mets.
If the Mets pulled off this deal for Halladay, we’d probably be calling this one a steal, too.
And just think of the possibility of having a 1-2 punch of Halladay and Santana. That would make the Mets UNBEATABLE in a 5-game Division playoff series. ***If the Mets could qualify for the playoffs in the first place.
Assuming they do make the playoffs, with those two heading your rotation, you’re virtually a lock to make the NLCS.
THAT’S why you make this deal. Prospects are a crap-shoot. The best pitcher in baseball is the best pitcher in baseball.
And when you have the chance to go out and get him, you make sure you get him.
Matt Estreich for The Huddle
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Comments: 6
Fred Wilpon lost $700M to Madoff. The Mets have been steadfast in not wanting to add salary. The decision to not pull the trigger on this trade was more to do with finances than it was to deal prospects or look to the future. Simply put, the Wilpon family did not want to add the $15M to next year's payroll. The loss to Madoff has precipitated many of the Mets moves or lack thereof since last November. The Mets do not want to go over the $143M payroll. They do not want to pay the luxury tax.
In addition, after 2010, Roy Halladay becomes a free-agent. The comments about not wanting to trade the prospects and looking to the future is a smokescreen. It is all about adding his salary.
Also, Jon Heyman is a highly respected baseball writer and is on point most of the time. I find it curious that J.P Riccardi would offer Halladay for an injured 20 year-old Fernando Martinez and the other three players (Bobby Parnell, Jonathan Niese and Reuben Tejada). I have yet to hear Omar Minaya confirm or deny that this trade was truly on the table. We will need to see how this evolves over the next ten days.
I think we must wait and see how all this turns out. Until proven otherwise, I think the money is the issue. If it is not, could Omar be playing coy thinking by waiting closer to the deadline he may get Halladay for less in prospects. Again, we must let this play out and see what transpires over the next week or so. There is an art in negotiations.
I hear you, James. As far as I understand, that's the big burden...can they pay the guy after 2010?
All along we've been hearing the Mets say that the Madoff scandal will have nothing to do with how the Mets do baseball business.
I guess I'm being naive when I say I believe(d) them. However, by turning down this trade, you have to think money is the issue.
Also - I agree with you that it's interesting this trade hasn't gotten more traction in the media. It broke late last night when I was on my way out of the office, and assuming that it would be the story of the day Tuesday, I felt compelled to write about it.
What's the deal here? I hate to be a sensationalist....BUT WHERE'S THE OUTRAGE, METS FANS!!!???
Matt, you haven't been listening to sports talk radio since the Mets post game show last night? It has been wall-to-wall talk on WFAN. In fact, I am listening to Francesa and Heyman discuss it right now. Almost every call all night and all day has been about this. I guess the Mets denied that the deal was ever made, but Heyman (who broke the story) is standing by his report from last night.
I heard nothing but OUTRAGE on ALL the shows since last night on the 'FAN (Sommers, Paige, Boomer and Carton, Benigno and Francesa).
It is about the money. That is why Omar and Jerry will be back, also. No matter what you think about each of these men, Omar has a three year extension commencing next year at $1.1M and Jerry is signed through next year. The Wilpon's do not want to eat those contracts like they did with Art Howe and Willie Randolph.
Matt, you haven't been listening to sports talk radio since the Mets post game show last night? It has been wall-to-wall talk on WFAN. In fact, I am listening to Francesa and Heyman discuss it right now. Almost every call all night and all day has been about this. I guess the Mets denied that the deal was ever made, but Heyman (who broke the story) is standing by his report from last night.
I heard nothing but OUTRAGE on ALL the shows since last night on the 'FAN (Sommers, Paige, Boomer and Carton, Benigno and Francesa).
It is about the money. That is why Omar and Jerry will be back, also. No matter what you think about each of these men, Omar has a three year extension commencing next year at $1.1M and Jerry is signed through next year. The Wilpon's do not want to eat those contracts like they did with Art Howe and Willie Randolph.
Matt, you haven't been listening to sports talk radio since the Mets post game show last night? It has been wall-to-wall talk on WFAN. In fact, I am listening to Francesa and Heyman discuss it right now. Almost every call all night and all day has been about this. I guess the Mets denied that the deal was ever made, but Heyman (who broke the story) is standing by his report from last night.
I heard nothing but OUTRAGE on ALL the shows since last night on the 'FAN (Sommers, Paige, Boomer and Carton, Benigno and Francesa).
It is about the money. That is why Omar and Jerry will be back, also. No matter what you think about each of these men, Omar has a three year extension commencing next year at $1.1M and Jerry is signed through next year. The Wilpon's do not want to eat those contracts like they did with Art Howe and Willie Randolph.
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