Originally posted by Mike Fitzpatrick, Associated PressLooking to shuffle their roster after an embarrassing collapse this season, the New York Mets found a new catcher and right fielder Friday.
The price: prized outfield prospect Lastings Milledge.
After holding onto Milledge through years of trade speculation, the Mets finally dealt him to the Washington Nationals for catcher Brian Schneider and outfielder Ryan Church.
"I thought we needed to change it up a little," New York general manager Omar Minaya said. "Names like Schneider and Church are not known names, but they give us balance."
"We're getting a guy who has a chance to be an impact bat in our lineup for years to come," Washington manager Manny Acta said.
What's amazing about the Mets historically is that the GM may change, but the horrible trades just keep on coming. How bad do I rate this one among the Mets worst? While history, of course, will be the ultimate judge, my own personal projection is that this one isn't as bad as Scott Kazmir for the wrong Zambrano, and (hopefully) not as bad as Jeff Kent for Carlos Baerga and Alvaro Espinoza. Amos Otis for Joy Foy looks to be a pretty close comp, though Ryan Church should have significantly more value in 2008 than Foy had in 1970. In fact, Church may have as good a 2008 season as Milledge will have, which would still make this a horrible trade for the Mets, as Milledge (who turns 23 next April) projects to improve significantly, while Church (who will be 30 before the next World Series begins) will begin to decline.
Again, I must repeat that history will be the ultimate judge; after all, this is baseball, where anything can happen. But based upon what we know today, this transaction has a good chance of entering the Top Ten Worst Trades Ever Made By The New York Mets. And that's saying something.
For those interested, the full article may be found here (sports.yahoo.com)
"Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help." - Isaiah 58:7 (New Living Translation)
Didn't they also turn down a Manny trade for Milledge? I'm not a huge Manny fan but I would certainly take him over Ryan Church.
It's bad enough that the trade is lopsided but the lack of Lastings Milledge also means one less chip to get Santana or Haren. I know they still have Carlos Gomez but obviously you'd rather keep one of them when a trade for a pitcher now means they probably will both be gone.
Really I get the feeling that they aren't going to get a pitcher now, which means a F- for this offseason.
Originally posted by QuezzyReally I get the feeling that they aren't going to get a pitcher now, which means a F- for this offseason.
Not only have they not gotten pitching this offseason, but they've actually LOST pitching when you remember that Tom Glavine signed with the Braves a few weeks ago.
I don't know if they have a plan for getting Santana or Haren, but if they don't, they're very much screwed for next year.
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