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…several people have e-mailed to say that ESPN Radio in New York has been discussing a potential swap of Blue Jays RHP A.J. Burnett for Mets RHP Aaron Heilman, initially mentioned on-air by ESPN.com’s Buster Olney…
…however, olney just called me to say this is simply his idea, 
speculation, something he believes would make sense for both teams after having evaluated the market for the last few days…
On Tuesday, at ESPN.com, Jayson Stark wrote that the Mets had inquired about Burnett.
However, today at ESPN.com, Stark says the Blue Jays are not going to trade Burnett, ‘for now.’
Nevertheless, according to the New York Post, the Mets are not looking at Burnett anyway.
…actually, from what i can gather, people connected to the Mets were actually telling reporters last night, flat out, that these burnett rumors were all false, including their level of interest…
Matt…you’ve hit the big time. Buster calling you to clarify? I love it.
Did you leave him on hold for 5 minutes before you picked him up?
yeah, was gonna say this. buster just calls you up? very nice.
hahah that was my first though when i read this .. matt cerrone is bigg
Did you talk him via the OnStar hotline?
At least OIney had the b-lls to admit that it was his opinion, and not something a nameless, faceless Mets “insider” or the infamous “source close to the Mets” told him.
is the trade straight up? if yes…….. do it
I just got off the phone with prez. Bush, I was having a conversation with a co-worker, and I was saying how the Bush Doctrine has set us back 50 years in foreign policy, George just wanted to clarify the situation…. Its nice to be people who know people
Just a thought…what do you think Wagner would net in the trade market? Burnett could be a phenomenal closer and maybe save his arm in the process.
Prob not much. Only the big market teams could have him and they all have closers.
I guess that’s true. He kind of disgusts me though. As much as I hate Pat Burrell, none of it has to do with calling Wagner a rat.
That being said, he wasn’t the problem with this team, just wondering if we were to eat part of the salary, if we could get some minor league help back. Pending a trade for Burnett and a switch to a different role.
Wagner has a no trade clause
Just walked by the White House. Buddy was busy outsmarting Ol’ Bush in a game of Cowboys and Indians snowball fight
this website needs to stop being update 50 times a day… it is way too much and is just ridiculous with all the rumors that are out there. I understand you are trying to be on top of all the rumors, but come on… this is just over saturation
Waaaahhhh.
so then don’t check it 50 times a day….ridiculous
Don’t listen to this guy… More Post = More Gooder
When Omar calls you to confirm a trade, then you’ve made it
Omar will soon call you for a job.
Omar would be to Metsblog what Steve Philips is to Baseball tonight.
The worst thing that ever happened to the Mets was Wilpon buying out Doubleday 6-7 years ago.
The Mets payroll is currently around 90 million dollars (115 million - 12 million for Glavine - 7 million for LoDuca - 6 million for Green - 3 million for Estrada’s salary which they will dump + 2 million for the raise that Castillo got). They’ve cut over 25 million since last year and they now have a new stadium coming which will bring in extraordinary revenue, a new tv network SNY (cash cow), have had incredible increases in gates the last few years, received 20 million yearly in Citifield naming rights, and have increased ticket prices through the roof on us, and they’ll continue to raise ticket prices. It’s time to start acting like a BIG MARKET TEAM and have a payroll that is more than 35% of the NYY and more than 55% of Boston. Even if the Mets added Willis, Pudge, AND Santana…. that would still only put the payroll at around 123 million [95 million + 13 million for Pudge + 7 million for Willis+ 13 million for Santana (his salary this year) - 5 million w/ Schneider going to Detroit]. And Delgado’s and Martinez salaries (combined ~35 million) will come off next year, as will Wagner’s salary (13 million). And thus it should not be a problem to give Pudge the extension for 13 million in ‘09. Yes he might be on the list and yes he is not the same offensive player he used to be- but he is an upgrade both offensively and defensively (especially) over the cr*p catchers we currently have.
And he is a winning player that could help change the culture of this choking franchise.
I’m not saying they have the chips to get Santana in addition to Willis, Pudge, but if they did, MONEY SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE for what is supposed to be a BIG MARKET TEAM.
There is no reason this team cannot have a payroll in the 150 -160 million range, if need be, with all of the incredible revenue streams pouring in! And getting Williis, Pudge, etc. would still only put it at 123 million with the math above- and you can still sign a few relievers, etc. and have it be under 130 million.
I am completely fed up and disgusted with Freddie Coupons, and as I said, the worst thing that ever happened to this franchise was when Doubleday was bought out.
So just sign Livan Herandez, raise ticket prices 20%, and go finish in 3rd place Freddie Coupons..I hate you. I will not spend a penny on this cheap, pathetic team.
And if any of you are happy/content with this, just go ahead and continue to go to games, buy merchandise, etc., and continue to get ripped off by this disgrace of a franchise.
Yup Doubleday>Coupon
If money is not an issue and A’s O’s & Twinks all want same prospects, then it’s a no brainer that we go after Santana. Haren and Bedard are not in the same category.
Yeah. I’ve been wondering even if we had all the trade chips that Minny wants, would the Mets be willing to pay Johan $25 million a year.
Exactly!
Mets could be making a preemptive move saying, the Twins want too much, in the meanwhile getting a second tier pitcher. They’ve done it many many times.
The key question is, what exactly is the budget Minaya is allotted?
Haha, you people crack me up. We have something like the 3rd highest payroll in baseball and there are some calling him Freddie Coupons. Unbelievable.
All of these rumors have nothing to do with money and everything to do with prospects.
I have news for you all: Willis stinks. He’s so overrated it’s not even funny. Maine and Perez are both better than him. Why would we want to trade prospects AND swallow 2 years of Pudge @ 15M per? For what? The privilege of having a pitcher with a 5+ ERA whose peripherals have been in steady decline for the last three seasons? Yeah, no thanks. All Willis is is a name. Why buy the brand name when the generic is just as good (and sometimes better)?
And who exactly do you want the Mets to sign on the free agent market? Carlos Silva? Kyle Lohse? Hiroki Kuroda? Because those are the best guys out there right now. I’d rather put Heilman in the rotation to see what he’s got and roll the dice on Pelfrey/Mulvey/Humber than to sign any of those jokers to a long term deal.
Great name!
I agree with your comment! It’s a disgrace and an insult to the met fans who are lead to believe that management built a winning franchise. Couldn’t have said it better myself.
I love how so many Met fans now think the franchise owes you the stars. They are going to do their best to get a winning team on the field. Not every franchise is going to go out and buy players just because they have good names. Why get Willis when his mechanics have gone off the deep end and scouts now hate him. Why get a 35 year old Pudge who is obviously on the decline and most likely linked to the Mitchell Report. I like Bedard, but he has red flags too - Tommy John in the minor leagues, arm problems last season. Burnett is an injury risk and an average pitcher, and Haren had an awful 2nd half last year where batters hit .300 off him. Of all the pitchers who the A’s gave up on, how many of them stayed consistent? Zito Bombed, Mulder’s arm gave out, Hudson hasn’t been the same.
Not that we shouldn’t go after Haren, Bedard, or Johan, but just realize that there are reasons out there outside of “our franchise is failing us.”
It’s time to stop acting like we are spoiled - two seasons of big named players not named Piazza means nothing.
Want to clarify what makes this a cheap pathetic team? Do we need to surpass the Yankees and Red Sox in payroll to get rid of the cheap label? If we didn’t collapse down the stretch last year, you wouldn’t have written “pathetic.”
I’m just confused on how payroll even fits into this. The problem isn’t people being too expensive, it’s no one liking our prospects. You can’t make a trade if no one is interested. Also, doesn’t the fact that Pudge recently signed a 2 year deal in October, and is now being shopped raise an eyebrow? Maybe they are trying to trade him because they found out he’s on the list? Maybe they can see that a 35 year old catcher that is on the decline isn’t worh that salary. That’s why the Mets bailed out on Lo Duca and Mota; both of which will be there.
Last year we choked, no doubt about it - but we are not a choking franchise - that would be the Yankees over the last few years, or maybe Cleveland or Oakland who couldn’t win a game 7 their lives depended on it.
I can agree that Coupons isn’t great - but tacking on salary does nothing but raise ticket prices and infuriate fans. Baseball is a business regardless of how you spin it. They need to make money, and save money - shaving 3 million of Estrada’s salary creates 3 million elsewhere - maybe not to sign a player, but to pay a trainer. I think the Yankees proved that a bloated payroll in the end doesn’t prove anything.
Also, scratch that first paragraph - I think you fully explained why you think the team is cheap…lol
Last year… SI had Freddie Coupons as one of the best Owners in Sports Franchaises… in the top 10 some where
Who should the Mets sign as a FA that they haven’t because of $$$$?
About the only issue that might be valid is the minor league “slotting.”
Last year the Mets bid $36M for DiceK. (2nd highest and was ahead of the Yanks)
Before that they were high bidders for Wagner, Beltran, Pedro, and Delgado (he opted to take the Florida money instead).
I’m sick of these “Freddie Coupons” comments. It’s pure anti-semetic rubbish. The Mets have consistently had one of the highest payrolls.
The problem is they didn’t always spend wisely and they weren’t the best business people. They Yankees changed from a team that could sell tickets in the Bronx (NJ bound) to a mulit-billion dollar empire in 20 years.
Wilpon’s Jewish? Does Ryan Church know?
j/k. please no flames.
I’m Jewish and the fact that you just called the “Freddie Coupon” nickname anti-semetic is ridiculous. Lets not open a flame war, but there is a huge difference between being anti-semetic and calling someone cheap.