Mike Nichols

Buzz: Rosenthal On C.C., Fuentes, Hudson
By Mike Nichols - Oct 6, 2008 3:18 pm

In his most recent report for FoxSports.com, Ken Rosenthal lists the Mets as having a 6–to-1 chance of signing free-agent RHP C.C. Sabthia, behind the Yankees and Angels.

Rosenthal also believes Brian Roberts could end up being traded, if he and O’s do not agree on a contract extension.

Lastly, according to Rosenthal, free-agent RHP Brian Fuentes will likely seek a three-year, $38 million deal, similar to what Brad Lidge received from the Phillies.

Rosenthal also discusses whether the White Sox could trade OF Jermaine Dye, what it will cost to acquire Pirates OF Nate McLouth, and where Orlando Hudson could end up, among other things.

…i think hudson is an absolute must for the Mets…i’ve heard and read many baseball pundits compare hudson’s clubhouse energy and leadership abilities to that of former Mets OF Cliff Floyd…the Mets, in my opinion, have missed floyd’s clubhouse presence the last two seasons and hudson may be able to fill that void…problem is, an old, frail and unproductive Luis Castillo currently occupies second base for the next three years…

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181 Comments »

Comment by Boscov
2008-10-06 15:23:46

I’m not sure how Hudson is an absolute must for the Mets, unless he can go shut it down in the 7th and 8th innings out of the pen. I thought it was pretty clear to anyone who has watched the Mets this season (with their eyes open) that the only weakness this team had was the bullpen. I don’t know how Hudson helps there, especially with the Murphy to 2nd rumor.

Comment by nostradamus
2008-10-06 15:26:34

mets need a leader badly

Comment by patrick
2008-10-06 16:29:48

Trade the over rated Teenage Hitting Machine for a closer.

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Comment by There's Always '09
2008-10-07 08:17:48

what closer do you want though? you want to trade f-mart for huston street? sherill in baltimore? sorry, i’m not trading our most hyped prospect (even if it’s only hype) for a one year wonder of a closer.

i think we caught a blessing yesterday when the sawx won that game in the 9th. k-rod would have gone out there for the next 2 innings i would say. i don’t want my future closer overworked.

 
 
 
Comment by 1985Mets
2008-10-06 16:24:00

The MEts will not get hudson. The reason behind this is Minaya. Minanya wants to give castillo second chance.

Its very unlikely for us to get Hudson or any other 2nd baseman. As far as I know (reliable sources) Castillo will stay for next year and will start at second.

Comment by Xavier22
2008-10-06 16:38:08

I would be very surprised to see Castillo (or Heilman) in a Mets uniform come April 2009. Jerry pretty much ignored him in September and I suspect part of the reason Jerry held out on signing his contract was for more autonomy in who he plays. Plus Omar was hinting at making some changes in the clubhouse.

The Mets will eat a large chunk of Castillo’s contract and ship him off somewhere. He still has value.

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Comment by Ceetar
2008-10-06 17:02:58

Jerry’s random ignoring of players, such as Castillo, Kunz, Muniz, Ramon Martinez to name a few could be pointed to as one of the reason the Mets failed actually. He trusted his guys too much, even when Argenis didn’t get a hit for a month or he sent Easley up to pinch hit when he could barely walk.

 
Comment by There's Always '09
2008-10-07 08:33:13

Don’t bring Muniz into this. The guy really isn’t good. Doesn’t have a plus fastball or breaking ball.

 
 
 
Comment by JR.
2008-10-06 17:13:39

THE ONLY WEAKNESS IS THE BULLPEN?????

open your eyes.

The lack of starters going deep into games causing the pen to be the most overworked in baseball

the lack of a second basemen who can play defense and get on base

the lack of leadership in the clubhouse

the lack of hitting in clutch situations

the bullpen is one of many problems and hudson adds gold glove defense a .290 batting average and leadership

get rid of castillo even if he gets the pavano treatment he is a cancer

Comment by Boscov
2008-10-06 17:26:58

Wow, calm down. Open my eyes?

1. The pen is the most “overworked” in baseball becaue it is so severely lacking in quality, Jerry uses 2-3 guys PER INNING. so yeah, maybe they lead the league in appearances but I would NOT criticize the starting pitching for not going late into games. Complete cop-out.

2. Lack of leadership? How on earth do you know who is leading in the clubhouse? A cliche that fans love to spew DESPITE KNOWING NOTHING about the inner goings on of a baseball clubhouse.

3. The 2b D was fine with Argenis, Easley, and even Castillo. Hudson is again and is hurt a lot. I don’t get how you can pretend his “leadership” can help propel this team.

4. Clutch hitting - yes, there were many spots this team didn’t come through in the clutch. But the bullpen repeatedly put this team in a position that they HAD to get the clutch hit.

The bullpen has failed this team repeatedly. I don’t get how anyone can dispute the fact that with anything close to resembling a major league bullpen, this division would have been SEALED a week before the season ended. Sure, the lineup COULD be better and the starters COULD be better but neither are weak. In fact both the lineup and the SPs rank towards the top of the NL.

But when you have the absolute worst bullpen in baseball, you have no chance. Enough with the regurgitation and the nonsense spewing of cliches, they mean nothing. This team doesn’t need Orlando Hudson.

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Comment by DAG
2008-10-06 17:40:56

Hudson would be nice but he isn’t a must. And just about every team in the league had problems with the starters not going deep. That problem is hardly unique to the Mets.

 
Comment by hbrill61
2008-10-06 18:02:34

30 blown saves people!
Fix the Bullpen!!!
If we would have converted half of those saves we are playing in October…with the best record in baseball!!!
Fix the Bullpen!!!

 
 
 
Comment by Optimus
2008-10-06 21:25:25

I don´t think our problem is second base, it´s clearly the bullpen, of course they should get rid of castillo and give Argenis Reyes the chance to take the position, putting Murphy in the LF because his lack of defense at 2B, they have to get rid of a lot of guys like Pedro, O.Perez, Alou, Castillo, and of course must of the guys of the bullpen, get and experience SP like Lowe, a quality Closer like Fuentes (not the more expensive like K-Rod), and invest in the bullpen, guys with quality, just look at the bullpens of the phillies, Rays, Cubs, Red Sox and angels……that´s why they are in playoffs

 
 
Comment by RomanWarHelmet
2008-10-06 15:23:48

I heard Hudson has another thing in common with Floyd. He gets hurt. A lot.

Comment by Tidewater
2008-10-06 15:34:56

That’s what I’m thinking too. I have no idea if Murphy will be able to play 2B, but if he is, I’d like to go the cheap route there and concentrate “O” money in LF. Of course the bullpen HAS to be the priority.

I know people just seem to love O-Dog, but he’s not god’s gift to second base.

The last thing we need is an injury prone veteran, leader or not.

Comment by MetsyMad22
2008-10-06 16:26:25

He got hurt just like Beltran and Cameron, or Church. Completely freak accidents! He is NOT INJURY PRONE!

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Comment by Tidewater
2008-10-06 16:46:27

Eric Davis lacerated his kidney diving for a ball. THAT is freak. And Eric Davis was injury prone. Sometimes the freak accidents find those who are most prone.

 
 
 
 
Comment by samp
2008-10-06 15:25:52

Yea we’ve all heard of this Castillo guys and no, he doesn’t have to be our 2B for the next three years. I don’t think anyone expected him to make all it through all four years when he signed.

And forget Hudson, let’s get Mark Ellis. Ellis is way better at fielding and a decent hitter, who would be much cheaper than the overrated Hudson.

Comment by nrmax88
2008-10-06 16:04:45

I do agree with this, Ellis seems like he could be an alternative for less money and similar production. I wouldn’t say he is a much better in the field, but he is certainly stellar out there.

 
 
Comment by Willie Randolph
2008-10-06 15:26:04

If Hudson is a MUST for the METS where we are gonna play Murph ? LF ,ok and F MART ? oh he is not ready yet,ok but he will be in citifield this year (in the 2nd Half). You know Omar !

Comment by stone11375
2008-10-06 16:12:49

nice name

 
Comment by MetsyMad22
2008-10-06 16:27:22

at 1B, after we send delgado to the blue jays with schowenweiss and cash for scott downs.

Comment by patrick
2008-10-06 16:32:24

brilliant, we are going to deal 38 HRs and 115 RBI to the blue jays to get a 32 year old journey man left hander who has almost certainly peaked.

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Comment by Tidewater
2008-10-06 16:48:56

Yes but Murphy might hit 10 HRs, so there’s that which is nice. (yes, sarcasm.)

 
 
Comment by Gland
2008-10-06 16:56:04

You meant BJ Ryan, right?

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Comment by nastyslider
2008-10-06 15:26:05

Getting rid of Castillo is a must too. We cannot have him as our starting 2nd baseman it makes a huge hole in our lineup if we have him, Schneider, and the pitcher in a row. personally Id like to get rid of both Castillo and Schneider but ill be satisfied if at least one of them leave ( especially Castillo). Hudson has good defense but not enough pop in my opinion. He could be a good guy in the 2 hole.

Comment by nrmax88
2008-10-06 16:07:30

Only a real moron would want to replace Schneider. But most Met fans here are real morons who don’t really understand baseball/ starting rooting in 06/ have no idea what you want to get from a catcher. The only way I replace Schneider is if I can get Martin, Mauer, Soto, or McCann. In otherwords, Schneider is not going anywhere.

I am perfectly content with a 700 OPS (with much improved power in the 2nd half) catcher with top notch defense and leadership skills for a young pitching staff. Schneider was a big part of Pelfrey’s progression, anybody who says otherwise is kidding themselves.

Comment by blains2008
2008-10-06 16:28:27

Well, I would like the defensive catcher to be a bit more defensive.

One of the biggest overlooked plays of the season is Schneider’s inability to field the throw and tag out the runner, by a mile, for would have been the last out in a win in the game vs. the Phillies that the Mets led 7-0 or 7-1 with Pedro pitching.

That was a tough play but one your “defensive” catcher should make. Hell, AJ Pierzynski made almost the exact same play in the play-in game vs. the Twins.

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Comment by Tidewater
2008-10-06 16:50:16

I agree that behind the plate skills are foremost in one’s list of needs from a catcher. That said, were you really impressed by Schneider behind the plate? I wasn’t.

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Comment by Gland
2008-10-06 16:57:18

Lets see, Schneider doesn’t hit particularly well or field his position particularly well anymore.

I’m a moron!

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Comment by Boscov
2008-10-06 17:29:52

I’m with you mrmax88. I’m not sure why I come on here anymore. These idiots on here don’t know baseball. JR, tell me more about clubhouse leadership. I’ll take your word for it, since you’ve been in the clubhouse for a total of 0 seconds during your lifetime. Get back to your NY Post tabloids

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Comment by There's Always '09
2008-10-07 08:43:01

Brian Schneider was good. But I don’t know if his defense made up for his lack of offense. He was in and out of the lineup so much and having Castillo or some other putrid hitter batting before him certainly didn’t make him look any better. If we have a quality 7 hitter, then Schneider isn’t a problem. However, if Luis Castillo is batting 7th, it magnifies Schneider’s offense to the point where his defense (this year, anyway) didn’t seem to make up for it. Don’t think people are being morons because they disagree with you. You are a Schneider fan, but lots of Mets fans aren’t.

I would trade just about anything for Russell Martin. He’s a gamer.

 
Comment by wrightstuff08
2008-10-07 10:20:58

Schneider would be sufficient if he wasnt so overpaid! Too much money for a no offense, mediocre defensive catcher. Nrmax88, you are the real moron when you come on Metsblog and attack Met fans. Go away and dont come back !! idiot

 
 
 
 
Comment by Chan Ho Parking Lot
2008-10-06 15:26:05

Either Brian Roberts or Orlando Hudson would help this team immensely. Not only from what they can bring to the table, but the fact that they will make Luis Castillo’s playing time disappear faster than a plate of triple layered nachos at John Kruk’s house.

Comment by stone11375
2008-10-06 16:42:33

Aw