Jake's Take: Trade Winds Over The Pacific....

by Jacob Larsen on Jan 3, 2006 1:42 AM EST

The Mets might be able to land Danys Baez without giving up Aaron Heilman. That's exactly what they're trying to do.

While the Mets remain very much involved in the Manny Ramirez trade discussions, their effort to acquire Baez is considerably closer to completion, two officials familiar with the talks said yesterday.

The Mets have thus far refused to include Heilman in the package for Baez, one of those officials said, but the Tampa Bay Devil Rays think they can find a package even without Heilman.

It's believed such a package would center around righthander Jae Seo, and the Devil Rays also have interest in second baseman Kaz Matsui, whom they could convert to shortstop and then trade their incumbent at the position, Julio Lugo.

-Newsday

LINK

So we'd be basically be trading our "all-star"(used loosely) for a back-of-the-rotation 28 yr old SP/Swingman Reliever and a stopgap at SS for Upton?

Rays fans finally would get the movement through trades that we've been waiting for, but would be trading the player that we probably wanted to be traded the least.

Opine away.

Only reason why I posted this snippet is because it was from a more reputable New York newspaper(if there is such a thing)

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thing I dont get

Is why haven't people been jumping at the chance to get baez, he had 40 saves last year, he'll be 29 in sept of 2006, he's had at least 25 saves since 2003, and his saves have gone up every year since 2003.

He's not really a Mariano Rivera type of a closer, but he gets the job done and he's not even 30 yet. If I remembered correctly, he said he would like to stay in florida, and wouldn't mind resigning with the rays. I could be wrong about that, but I thought I read that somewhere in the tampa tribune.

So if we can't get Heilman for Baez, then lets offer him a 2 year extension, and let him pitch for us.

this space for rent

by jtintle on Jan 3, 2006 9:06 AM EST reply actions

Why Baez isn't wanted...

Baez may have increased in saves, but his H/9, BB/9 and K/9 are downright deplorable. By keeping him, we would witness a complete meltdown by him within the next 2 years. If Rays fans thing he blew alot of saves this year, god help us if we kept him any longer.

by Jacob Larsen on Jan 3, 2006 9:21 AM EST up reply actions

precisely

Baez looks pretty on the surface but start picking away at the dirt and he is a disaster waiting to happen. When you compare his overall numbers to other major league closers, he is in the bottom 10%. Approximately 40-50% of closers lose their job at some point each season due to injury or ineffectiveness - Baez is a prime candidate to turn into a younger version of Jose Mesa who could get 30 saves but blow double digit saves. The Rays need to trade him while he has the value of a 40 save season hiding the problems. I'm not thrilled about Seo/Matsui as a return as I wouuld much rather have Heilman. I'm hoping his "start me or trade me" rant will help our cause.

by UCFKnights on Jan 3, 2006 9:44 AM EST reply actions

Well...

If the Mets acquired Baez for Seo/Matsui, Heilman would be likely placed in their rotation and Benson would become expendable just due to his insane salary.

by Jacob Larsen on Jan 3, 2006 9:58 AM EST up reply actions

Seo

Seo pitched in second half like they hoped Benson would all last year.

Had the Rays brass dealt Baez when there was more of a closer market, he would have more value.

I think Baez market is not that big right now. This is probally best deal they have if they deal him now. I think if they hold on to him for next year they could get a better deal, but they have a rotation to fill out.

Jake, the way you worded article I first thought they were dealing for Upton which almost gave me a heart attack :-)

DRAYS BAY

by David Bloom on Jan 3, 2006 10:35 AM EST reply actions

On the other side of the coin....

Baez could implode before the deadline and he has no value to us.

by Jacob Larsen on Jan 3, 2006 10:56 AM EST up reply actions

Nobody else?

Nobody besides the Mets interested in Baez? We couldn't foist him off on the Yankees, or the suddenly spending-like-a-drunken-sailor Bloo Jays, or the Sawx of either color, or ANYBODY? Did we try Kansas City?

I know the stuff about his peripheral numbers being poopy, but where did all the easily fooled GM's go? Where are you when we need you?

by Not That Chuck on Jan 3, 2006 8:19 PM EST reply actions

Well...

Yankees= They have Dotel, Farnsworth and Rivera. They probably learned their lesson about former Rays pitchers in Sturtze. Also, they have nothing in their system that we might want. Duncan would be nice but he'd be blocking Bankston at 1B and would be a defensive downgrade at 3B. Also, when Delmon comes up, he'd be blocked by Gomes at DH.

So that's a no.

White Sox= Bobby Jenks and Neal Cotts are pretty good relievers. They could use another bullpen arm, but they probably would want a groundballer in a hitter-friendly Cellular field. NO

Red Sox= They have Hansen, Delcarmen and Foulke...no room for Baez, IMO. Same situation as the White Sox, they would rather have a groundball pitcher. Nope

Blowing Money Jays= Speier, Frasor, Chulk, League and Ryan. They don't really need any more relievers. Nah

Royals= Intriguing team, but I doubt that they'd give up any of their positional prospects and they have no pitching prospects worth a damn. Nyet

by Jacob Larsen on Jan 3, 2006 8:44 PM EST up reply actions

Apparently...

This trade rumor is dead because we keep on demanding Heilman and the Mets are going to deal Seo for Duaner Sanchez of the Dodgers.

Is Omar trying to spin this, so that we'd lower our demands or does he want a person that is a situational pitcher?

by Jacob Larsen on Jan 4, 2006 10:23 AM EST reply actions

hmm

I'm not a Baez fan. Heilman would be more than enough compensation for me if he can put up a 4.20 ERA or below as a starting ptcher. I don't have any interest in Matsui though. I'm struggling with us on the trade front right now. I just don't see anything developing that will improve us.

BigJon

by BigJon @ DRaysBay on Jan 4, 2006 1:26 PM EST reply actions

sounds like we have our closer

Baez is certainly worth Seo who can start and is cheap.

DRAYS BAY

by David Bloom on Jan 4, 2006 1:56 PM EST reply actions

Braves!

That's who I was trying to think of! Who do they have to close? Certainly we should be pumping them with Baez about now, yes?

by Not That Chuck on Jan 4, 2006 9:43 PM EST reply actions

From what I heard, yes

Chuck James, Kyle Davies(that's a stretch), Salamatcia(sp?), Jake Stevens are names that I'd consider in a trade with the Bravos.

by Jacob Larsen on Jan 5, 2006 12:53 AM EST up reply actions

Heilman

I love the way we are holding out for Heilman but realistically think that the only way we are going to get him is by convincing Omar Moreno that if they don't deal him to us that we are shipping him off to their rival in the Braves. If we can pull this off and thus steal another great arm from the Mets after burning them badly in the Kaz deal I will be surely impressed. If we play hard ball and the mets say no, move Seo to the Dodgers, then no worries. Someone will be in need of the services of Baez come trade deadline time or we can still work on a deal with the braves.

POE

by bpoe13 on Jan 5, 2006 8:49 AM EST reply actions

i mean

"Omar Minaya" that is

by bpoe13 on Jan 5, 2006 8:54 AM EST up reply actions

Omar the out-maker

Hadn't thought of Omar in years.

The Rays blew this one. A team in desperate need of starting pitchers shouldn't turn its nose up at Seo.

by 3RunHomer on Jan 5, 2006 9:26 AM EST up reply actions

Not at the expense of Baez....

Why would we settle for a player who is nearing 30 and hasn't had a lot of starts in the majors?

Heilman is 28 and is expected to have a breakout year this year as a starter.

I'm sorry but I'd try and get a package with Chuck James from the Braves than getting Seo and Hazmat.

by Jacob Larsen on Jan 5, 2006 11:13 AM EST up reply actions

Forget it

Seo to the Dodgers for Duaner Sanchez, with a couple other pieces thrown in (according to the NYTimes). So I guess if a Baez trade's going to happen now, it's Braves or bust.

by Not That Chuck on Jan 5, 2006 9:28 AM EST reply actions