Buzz: Mets May not Keep Johnny Estrada
As noted yesterday, the Mets traded Guillermo Mota to the Brewers in exchange for C Johnny Estrada.
According to multiple reports, the Brewers will pay Mota’s $3.2–million salary for next season.
Meanwhile, the 31-year-old Estrada hit .278 with 10 homers and 54 RBI in 120 games for for the Brewers last season.
In the Daily News, Adam Rubin speculates that if the Mets ultimately trade for another catcher, ‘they could always decline to offer Estrada a contract in December, which would make him a free agent without any money owed.’
…so, at minimum, this deal costs the Mets nothing if they cut estrada, because the Brewers are paying for mota, or it costs the Mets roughly $1 million, since estrada will likely earn around $5 million in arbitration, should the Mets keep him…either way, it gets rid of mota, and gives the Mets a temporary, two-headed solution at catcher should a more substantial acquisition for a catcher never come down the pike, such as O’s C Ramon Hernandez, who i am sure omar still has his eye on…
…one thing is clear, though, omar has no interest in trading any young player if he’s not bringing back that front-line starter, which has me getting very, very excited for the winter meetings…
For more out of the Mets blogosphere, check out Brooklyn Met Fan, Mets Fever, TMaBtS, and It’s Mets for Me.
