Note: Need OF-1B, Look to Nola
On WFAN’s mid-day show, hosts Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts suggested the Mets trade Aaron Heilman to the Yankees for 1B-OF Shelly Duncan.
This is a terrible, terrible suggestion.
Heilman has been shaky, but he can still be sent to the minors without having to clear waivers, and so trading him for a 28–
year-old loose cannon who is hitting .161 with a one home run makes very little sense to me.
If the Mets need an outfield bat with power, who can also play first base, and would not cost them a young pitcher like Heilman, they should promote Val Pascucci or Chris Aguila from Triple-A New Orleans.
The 29–year-old Pascucci is hitting .288 with 11 home runs and 25 RBI in 32 games since joining the Zephyrs, during which he has drawn 22 walks, while striking out 29 times, in 111 at bats.
The 29–year-old Aguila, who spent time with the Marlins the last few years, is hitting .293 in 54 games for New Orleans with 14 home runs and 27 RBI.
Against left-handed pitching, Aguila is batting .333, while Pascucci is batting .364.
I would much rather see the Mets demote Nick Evans, who is clearly overmatched, while promoting Pascucci or Aguila.
Neither player is on the 40–man roster - but, according to MLB.com, the Mets have two slots available to be used.
By the way, later today on MetsBlog.com, SNY’s Ted Berg will post a Q&A he recently did with Pascucci for an article he wrote for SNY.tv, which you can read by clicking here.
