Matthew Cerrone

Buzz: Mets, Others, and Joe Blanton
By Matthew Cerrone - Dec 17, 2007 3:00 pm

the buzz from oakland had long been that if the A’s decided to trade Dan Haren, and did, they would next look to trade Joe Blanton, as well…

…last week, haren was traded to Arizona…as such, from what i can gather, several teams, including the Mets, have recently inquired about blanton, who will likely cost a step below what the Twins are asking for Johan Santana, such as Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Fernando Martinez, along with at least one other pitcher…for what it’s worth, during the Winter Meetings, i recall hearing that Oakland is not very interested in Mike Pelfrey

…also, as best i can tell, A’s GM Billy Beane’s so-called ‘love’ for Lastings Milledge had been way, way overhyped by reporters, talk-show hosts, fans and bloggers…basically, beane wanted to draft milledge many years ago, but the Mets did…and in that first year or so, he expressed some interest in acquiring him, but it never panned out and that was that…love affair over…in other words, at no point during the last year was milledge enough to net blanton, as we all assumed he could

According to Buster Olney at his blog for ESPN.com, the Mariners ‘are in the thick of the bidding’ for Blanton, who could cost them at least OF Adam Jones, who is considered Seattle’s top prospect.

This past season for the A’s, Blanton was 14–10 with a 3.95 ERA through 34 starts, during which he allowed an average of just one walk per start.

He has made at least 32 starts in each of his last three seasons.

He is eligible for salary arbitration this off-season, and eligible for free agency after 2010.

my guess is that if the Mets need to part with humber, mulvey, another pitcher, and gomez or fernando for blanton, they’ll just bite the bullet, package them all, and keep focus on santana

80 Responses to “Buzz: Mets, Others, and Joe Blanton”

  1. Steinhardt says:

    I wouldn’t waste my time with this guy….

  2. PDubs says:

    Thats a ridiculous package of talent for a guy that had a 4.82 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP two years ago.

    Omar, stay far away!!

    • MetNTX says:

      Just load up the truck and head to Minnesota before the holidays. Make sure you buckle Johan up nice and tight. I wouldn’t want him getting hurt in the car like Sanchez or Glavine.

  3. professor met says:

    I haven’t done any Omar bashing-waiting to pass judgement until spring training–but if the difference between a blanton and santana is one pitcher and we don’t come home with the big gun, I won’t be able to restrain myself.

    • MetNTX says:

      Santana please let Seattle chase Blanton

      • Coolpapabell says:

        I could not agree more. If they want to give up Adam Jones, then by all means, please pull the trigger Seattle. Better them than us.

        How could we even think of giving up F-Mart in a package for F-Mart. That is just craziness.

    • jamie says:

      I feel similarly…be really hard not to villify Omar if that turns out.

  4. pvhornet05 says:

    If you’re going to trade Mulvey, Humber and FMart or Gomez then just go after Santana.

  5. Les Gomez says:

    i’d want blanton if he was a free agent, but if you are dealing all those chips, you better be bringing johan back…..

  6. zen says:

    there is no starting pitching available or it’s way too expensive. omar build up the bullpen (trade for nathan). sign otsuka to a one-year deal.

    wagner
    nathan
    sanchez
    heilman
    feliciano
    otsuka
    sosa/no-show

  7. Blue_n_Orange says:

    Just get Prior and focus our prospects on landing Santana.

  8. Hit The Weights Zeile says:

    billy beane is doing a good job of taking advantage of this market hes gonna end up getting about 8-10 prospects for blanton and haren. honestly if we get blanton just so we can hang on to pelfrey instead of adding him and getting santana its a joke.

    • points guy says:

      he really is. what he got haren is unbelievable. teams are just eating out of his palm, buying all that crap. haren had one dominant half a season, then fell apart. before that he was a pretty decent pitcher.

  9. NYsFinest18 says:

    whats the point of getting Blanton, dont we have enough number 2 and number 3 starters

  10. Charlie says:

    we are witnessing the birth of a new world order in baseball. pitching will no longer be dismissed lightly by “small” marking teams simply because of impending free agency or arbitration. value or free agency it seems.

    i guess that’s the way it should be.

    • points guy says:

      Everyone, raise your kids (even girls) to be pitchers. They’re rare commodities

      • Charlie says:

        You ain’t kidding!

        I’ve got a 21 month old, who I’m starting on as soon as i get home from work. (I think we’ll make him a lefty.)

    • Hit The Weights Zeile says:

      its all cyclical though eventually big market teams will get tired of giving up a kings ransom for a guy they can sign for just money 12 months later.

      • gowrightgo says:

        Sounds reasonable. But for it to happen…the cost of pitching in free agency must go way up from here.

        Seriously…to the point where the Blantons of the world are making $20M and the Santana’s are making $35M.

        So most teams just can not afford to sign em. Right now the free agents to be are being gobbled up by their existing teams or are being traded and given contract extensions.

        This restricts the market incredibly.

        Now if the KC’s and Seattles of the world can not afford to sign their own players for $12M per year deals because they are now $20M per year….then Blanton gets to the open market etc

        I see this as taking another 5 years or so.

  11. gomets2008 says:

    Blanton is a solid pitcher in the AL….but its a joke to think that a package of maybe Humber,Gomez, and a low level guy couldnt get him….4get about this schmuck……lets just throw a 7 prospect offer to Santana now..set a deadline , and if no trade , just sign either a combo from Prior,Lohse,Livan,Colon,Silva,Chacon and be done with it ….Im still hoping Omar is working with the Brewers though , Sheets would be a gr8 pick up.

  12. gomets2008 says:

    In Omar WE TRUST = Quantity not quality.

  13. JSC1968 says:

    Do we have enough prospects to get them both? I mean lets just empty the farm and get both of them.

    Santana, Pedro, Maine, Blanton and Perez … works for me.

    • Hit The Weights Zeile says:

      unfortunately no we dont, its pretty much one of the other and considering how similar the packages would be youd have to be crazy to want blanton over santana.

      • gomets2008 says:

        Maybe Omar is going nuts…anyone else notice his eyes when he gets interviewed..they move rapidly all over..he never looks @ Matt, or those guys directly, Lohse for 3 years @ 10MM..KOO KOO, KOO KOO…Maybe we as “die hard” fans should all chip in and buy a billboard spot in NYC that says something to the effect of “Omar make a move that helps the team in the areas most needed , or get the F out of town , and take Willie w/ya!”

        • gowrightgo says:

          Im up for donating a few bucks for a billboard to be found on the GCP or something. Basically begging the METS to find a way to do a deal for Santana.

          Count me in for $50

    • JSC1968 says:

      Though if we can get Prior and Colon, and let them fight it out and see who makes it out of ST alive.

      But, Blanton is dependable. Dependability means alot.

      • gomets2008 says:

        Dependable?? we will have to line the base paths w/jelly doughnuts to get him to run a ground ball out hard….have u seen this cow?? Noway can he bat and run the bases….but it might be pretty humourus to hear Keith and Gary chatting about while were 8 games out in August.

  14. gomets2008 says:

    If the Mariners are willing to trade their #1 prospect 4 a perenial #3 starter, maybe Omar should call them and see what they would want for king Felix?? Morons

  15. firemetmanagement says:

    Not a big pitcher. According to what Matt wrote, the A’s would want 3/4 of what the Twins are acting for Santana?!!

    Pass.

    Blanton is not a big pitcher- he is a #3 type.

    Either trade for a BIG PITCHER or just do nothing and go with what we have.

    But I have no confidence in anything Minaya does anymore…how can any intelligent, sensible Mets fan be confident in Minaya?

    He’s just let us down too many times. And no you mor*ns- you don’t get a “lifetime” pass just because you traded for Maine and Perez. He can’t just “live off” that forever and continue to make horrible move after horrible move and just get a pass.

    Fire him before he runs this team into the ground anymore than he has.

    • JSC1968 says:

      Yeah, cause of him we have been the divisional favorites for the last 2 years. You guys are crazy, Omar has done a pretty good job, and I still hve faith in the guy.

      • gomets2008 says:

        last time I checked man…divisional favorites doesnt mean squat….dont be a donkey…..I want the title!! Mets 2008 MLB CHAMPIONS…ring ceremony openeg day @ citifield…..ok ok , Im up now…..all just a dream, thanks Omar.

        • toomanyuniforms says:

          So, in other words, fans should want to fire 29 GMs?

          I’ll freely concede, however, that “divisional favorites” means squat. It’s basically been by default, and from June on, last season, we were anything but a contender. Sadly, I think April and May were the aberrations.

  16. genius says:

    i wouldnt spend all those prospects for blanton. s/b santana or bust.

  17. toomanyuniforms says:

    Here’s how I try to remain consistent: unless, say, Gomez and Mulvey bring back Blanton, tell Beane to cram it. The (hypothetical?) availability of Santana for a bushel of B+ers and an A (F-Mart?) is a unique situation. Yes, Blanton, like Santana, is relatively young and durable. Unlike Santana, however, he is NOT one of the top three pitchers in baseball, and doesn’t have nearly the track record or the peripherals. Don’t get me wrong — I was in favor of trading Milledge for Blanton straight up last Winter (even though, apparently, that was entirely media speculation), and I respect his talent. I just don’t think it’s worth giving up multiple prospects (or any real “A”-prospects, like F-Mart) unless it’s for a true ace.

  18. throatneedle says:

    joe blanton is crap and is basically a young trachsel i.e. not worth it

    sign prior, trade the farm for johan, see if you can get bay somehow, and sign otsuka

  19. Les Gomez says:

    If we’re going to dump the entire farm system, I’d rather do it for Johan and Nathan than Johan and Blanton.

  20. stickguy says:

    Dang. Another book length post vaporized!

    quick version - Too much for Blanton. Better to go with what we got and build for the future (a sustained run) than to gut the farm for a guy that isn’t worth it (not a difference maker), and potentially not be able to fill upcoming holes.

    Better to finish 2nd in a building year and then make the playoffs for 3-4 years (or at least be a serious contender) than to go for broke, just miss, and then stink for 3-4 years after.

    Blanton is what I expect heilman to be if they just stick him in the rotation. Maybe Aaron would even be better!

    Humber + Gomez seems like plenty to pay for a guy like that, even in this market. If not, keep the prospects and see what happens.