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The Mets believe they have enough minor-league talent to trade for a closer, such as M’s RHP J.J. Putz, A’s RHP Huston Street, O’s LHP George Sherrill, Royals RHP Joakim Soria and Marlins RHP Kevin Gregg, according to a recent report in Newsday.
Today, at FoxSports.com, Ken Rosenthal explains how the market for closers will be ‘intense,’ noting how teams could even offer Kerry Wood a three-year deal.
According to Rosenthal, “The Mets, for example, like Wood, but could not afford 
another risk… Another possibility for the Mets is to identify next year’s Brad Lidge - a late-inning reliever who would benefit from a change in clubs. None of the current closers appears to fit that description, but someone like the Cleveland’s Rafael Betancourt could be a possibility.”
The 33–year-old Betancourt had a 1.47 ERA in 68 games as a set-up man for the Indians in 2007, but was 3–4 with a 5.07 ERA in 69 games last season.
…i do not doubt this option, but, ultimately, coming off two consecutive disappointing finishes, in the first year of a new stadium, i just can’t see the Mets replacing Billy Wagner with a guy like betancourt – especially since the bullpen was the team’s biggest weakness last season, and something fans are pretty focused on…
…as i wrote a few days ago, i suspect the Mets will explore a trade for a closer, like a putz, or one of the names mentioned by davidoff, trusting Brian Fuentes will not sign a contract until after Francisco Rodriguez sets the bar…
If we are going to be trading good prospects for a guy like Putz or Street anyways, I’d much rather make a run at Soria.
Soria is not going to be traded… the AL Central is wide open… the Royals have tons of young guys on the way, and just spent 12 million on the 08 draft.. he ain’t going anywhere.
Yeah I agree that he probably isn’t going to be traded, but if for some reason he is available, I’d love to get him over those other guys.
Fair enough.. but how high would you go for Soria?
Would you trade f-mart for Soria?
A proven stud CL for an oft injured prospect? You bet I’d do that. The problem is that I doubt KC would. I’ll do a top prospect in a trade for a proven stud any day. It’s when you trade a top prospect for guys that are question marks that I wouldn’t do. Personally, I don’t see us matching up that well with KC for a trade. I don’t think F-mart would be enough to get it done. Since they are looking for a first baseman, we might be able to re-sign Delgado and then include him in a trade with some higher level prospects. But I doubt any trade with KC for Soria would get done in the end. That doesn’t mean I won’t hope for it though!
we already have a putz for a GM, we don’t need another one.
I agree with you. Soria is way better then the other 2. Putz is coming off an injury plagued season(Sigh… he was my fantasy closer) and Street hasn’t been the same since a terrific rookie season.
Soria is going to be 25 heading into the season, and is coming off a 40 save performance for an terrible team. I’m Much rather have him if we had the pick of the TRADE litter.
The question i have is if the Mets trade for one of the “Lesser” guys like sherril or Putz, and the FA market settles down, what are the chances the Mets if the mets say get Putz that they also bring in Fuentes and have an 8-9 of Putz and Fuentes?
The Royals are on the Tampa Bay plan. They’re not giving up Soria. Besides that, he’s a fan favorite. He’s their version of Jose Reyes.
I think if the Mets give enough, they can get Soria, as it doesn’t make sense for a team like the Royals to have their best player be a closer. I know they’re building, but by the time they’re good he’ll be too expensive. It will take a lot, but I think he’s worth it.
They’re considering slotting him into the starting rotation next year. There was talk of it already back in May when I went to visit and watch a game.
He and Greinke would be a great 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation.
The problem with the Mets isn’t that they don’t have a great closer; it’s that they don’t have a decent reliever.
Putz is good enough for me thank you very much; and I would never, ever, trade a good position prospect for a relief pitcher unless he’s Mariano Rivera.
The difference between a guy like Putz and a guy like Soria is perhaps only 1 win, thanks to how few innings each will pitch. There’s as good a chance as not that Putz will have a good year and outperform Soria.
Well like i said if omar is cooking this up to lower the price on krod it may be working….i wonder though who are these talents in AA that are good enough to net street/soria/putz and so on.
I think Putz is a good option…but I also wouldn’t mind KRod…how about both??
Why would the Roayls move Soria? He’s under control and cheap for another season. I think July will be when his value will be at it’s highest.
Sherrills 31. not thanks
Gregg lost his job to a team in our own division. are we conceding the division?
Street? no more A’s pitchers – way overhyped
Putz? 32 by spring training.
No one over 30!
KRod or one of our own kids. Why gamble on a 33 year old pitcher having 3 seasons left in him.
I’d rather hand Joe Smith, Eddie Kunz, or Brad Holt the ball. Who ever has the nastiest attitude. I like teams to fear our closer – a guy who believes in chin music, and possesses a 95+ fastball.
Holtz played half a season of low a ball.. he is not a closer’s candidate for 09.
I think Fuentes for a 3 year deal is fine.. the key to the bullpen will be multiple smart moves… not just one “big” one
That’s how it was broken in the first place… and that’s how it needs to be fixed.
completely agree. What would be the harm in trading for a Betancourt (who I know nothing about), Street or Putz and signing one of the 2 closers on the market in KRod or Fuentes. Plus resign our own Ayala for 6th and 7th inning duty and keep Stokes while promoting Kunz
this sounds like the best plan so far…i’d def sign K-rod if we’re able to trade for sherril (who’s excelled in a set up role before)…then re-sign ayala, and sign juan cruz (type a) and bob howry (type b)
krod, sherril, ayala, cruz, howry, smith, feli/show
might have to include kunz or stokes in any trade though, thats why im not including them…
Ayala is terrible. He should not be on a major league team. He probably should not be on a good minor league team.
agreed. Key word “smart” moves….forget the big splash and make the best of whats available and via trade.
So Fuentes, an average to below average closer is worth the 3 years 36 million and 2 picks we have to give up? No thanks.
Is he really going to be a type A? He’s in the top 20% when he only closed for 1 year?
He’s above average, have you seen his numbers?
82Ks in only 62.2 innings to go only with only 47 hits given up?
While pitching in Coors field?
Plus hes left handed to get those Utley and Howard guys out?
Yes 3 year deal is fine for me.
so if fuentes is not going to be a type a FA..does a 12 mill per year contract in line with his production?
We gave up our first round pick and 8 million a year to Moises Alou.. and you guys are worried about giving Fuentes 12?
I dunno how much he’ll demand.. but if its reasonable.. I think Fuentes would be a strong closer…
Like I said to begin with.. we need smart moves.. not one big splash… if Fuentes can fill the closers role at a fair price.. I think he’d do a good job.. considering his numbers.. doing it in Coors… and his left-hadness.
And we’re gonna have to wait until the list comes out to see where Perez and Fuentes fall.. maybe we give 2 and get 2… who knows…
Betancourt is awesome. MAybe not as a closer, but he’d be a great 8th inning guy.
Actually agree with you for once. I suggested Castillo and Heilman for Betancourt and Barfield. We would have to throw in some cash but Betancourt has a bad contract for them and Heilman could be seen as a starter there.
What Omar needs to do is go to K-Rod, offer him a 4 year, $60M deal and say he has until the start of the Winter Meetings to accept. If not, the Mets are moving on.
The closer market is full of questions:
1. K-Rod: Great year, but stuff is down. Don’t buy the “it’s because he’s using his change more.” He’s using his change more because his fastball has dipped. Still, the best and easiest option.
2. Brian Fuentes: Garbage. This guy is the next John Franco – during his late years. Why spend money, years and a draft pick on a guy who has lost his closer job twice in two years?
3. J.J. Putz: I like Putz. I think he’s the best choice because of his $5M salary, but he’s going to cost a lot in terms of prospects. No, Kunz and Evans will not get it down. More like Murphy, Niese and another prospect. To much indeed.
4. Betencourt: It would be like trading for the Indians’ version of Aaron Heilman.
5. Joakim Soria: If you think the Royals would even entertain trading Soria to the Mets without the either Martinez or Flores because in the package in addition to Niese and another prospect then you’re delusional.
I say sign K-Rod, try to fix Heilman (the stuff is still there), then audition everybody else.
Don’t waste money on middle relievers. They are a c-r-a-p shoot! Good one year, bad the next.
Putz or bust.
It still breaks my balls that we could have had Lidge last year for nothing. Wagner was campaigning hard to bring him over here. Lots of people on this site were screaming to pick him up. It just kills me that he’s on the Phillies now when he was just there, ready to be taken.
i dont remember the lidge situation last year but i doubt anybody had any clue he would have the season he had this year…
I dunno. I was one of the people who thought that it was all in his head. Maybe there weren’t many of us…. but Wagner was definitely pulling for Lidge to be brought here. I remember a metsblog post on it where Wagner was saying all he needed was a change of scenery….
I think Wagner is even quoted as saying he would “fix him up.”
Anybody else remembering this?
too bad his name wasnt brad lidgez maybe omar wouldve listened.
Yeah, this is another reason why I thought Omar should have been fired when Willie was fired. Now we get four more years intsead.
Keep in mind we also need to get a hitter that’s not going to give us a stupid grin and some cheesy line like ‘it’s fun to be in a pennant race’ after a horrible loss. Or a hitter that can drive in that runner from third with no one out.
This entire team just makes me sick, and it’s even worse watching those idiots in Philly celebrating (not to mention booing the opposition during a ceremony – low cla$s). I wonder if the past three seasons have been the universe evening out some bad karma on my part.
I would trade Neise & Fmart for Soria. That seems like a no brainer. So what if they are both successful? Dividends now v dividends in 2011
Thats simply too much. A starter and your top positional prospect for a Closer. Thats a Kazmir trade right there.
Soria is nasty. FMart may never be that good? Where does Neise really project? Value for value
A Kazmir trade? Have you looked at Soria’s two years in the majors, with a rotten team?
If the Royals offered Soria for Niese and FMart, Omar should truly be fired and committed to a mental institution if he did not do that deal immediately.
But he’s still just a closer. If he was a starter then I make that trade yesterday. For a closer I would not give up more than Fmart and a lower pitcher or Niese and a lower position guy.
I do see your point of view, but Soria’s stats are incredible, again, for a rotten team, and he is young. And I as sume you have definitely checked out those stats of his….
I know it is a stretch, but maybe there is another Mariano out there, and maybe he is Soria….
But KC will probably never trade him anyway.
Thereal I could not agree withyou more. That is my point exactly. If you can convert him into a starter, then yes, but for a closer………..no no no.
I would not trade F-Mart by himself for a relief pitcher–Mariano in 1996 aside. It does not make a lick of sense. A great closer, due to the small number of innings pitched, is–I’ll say again–only about 1 win better on average than a good one.
Our problem isn’t that we didn’t have a star closer; it’s that we didn’t have one halfway decent two-way reliever.
If we had Fuentes instead of Schoeneweis we make the playoffs easily.
Soria & DeJesus for Neise, FMArt & Murphy, 2 established players for 3 can’t miss prospects.
Still no good. Let just forget about Soria if Niese and FMart are involved.
Love Dejesus. Total stand up guy. Very fan friendly. Plays the game hard.
The Royals would be drunk to be pull this deal.
Soria is a fan favorite (as mentioned above). And they are considering slotting him into the starting rotation. Those prospects alone are not enough.
I love how Met fans always over-value their prospects. How are F-Mart, Murphy and Niese “can’t miss”?
F-Mart has tools, but has not shown then translate to baseball stats. Don’t give me the “he was the youngest player in his league” stuff. Yes, I agree, but he still did not show much development and he gets hurt. I’m not saying he’s not a goot prospect, but he certainly is not “can’t miss”.
Murphy plays hard and is going to hit for average. Is he a 30 homer guy? No. Is he a 20 homer guy? Maybe not. What he is right now is a grinder, who will hit about .300, BUT is average or below average in left and third. That’s can’t miss?
Niese? Can’t miss? He’s project to be a back-end rotation guy. If by can’t miss you mean a #5 starter, then sure he’s can’t miss.
Does that net you both the KC guys? No.
Hanley Ramirez didn’t exactly light it up in his last year in the minors.
Last years Lidge? Let’s not forget, before the Pujols effect, Lidge was probably the third or fourth best closer in the game. Betancourt has never been and will never be the next Brad Lidge, unless he faces the Cardinals in the playoffs.
I do not want K-Rod. He’ll want 15 mil at least for 4-5 years. Too much for a guy who pitches one inning. I can’t justify paying that much for a relief pitcher, or basically a guy who’s not good enough to be a starter. I’d rather spend that on a 2 or 3 for the rotation.
The problem with the bullpen at the end of last year was that once Wagner went down, the whole structure of the bullpen fell apart. Bullpens are enigmas. They can be great one year, horrendous the next. The Mets need to find the biggest mental case in their system with the nastiest slider/change/splitter and make him the closer.
I agree with your sentiments on Lidge and finding a mental case for a closer.
Back when Wagner went down, I was pulling for putting Ollie P into the closer role.
It’s a good point, but even before Wagner went down our bullpen wasn’t very good.
“The Mets need to find the biggest mental case in their system with the nastiest slider/change/splitter and make him the closer.”
-well if you find him i suggest you let omar know…
What about trading for Betancourt and Marmol???
do you have any idea what it would take to even start a trade of that kind?
I am not sure on Marmol. What if, crazy idea, we took on Soriano’s contract? How much would we have to give up then?
Here’s another out there idea. The Cubs want to move Lee. What if we traded for Lee and Marmol then traded Delgado?
And what exactly would we trade to get Lee and Marmol? Jose Reyes.
Again, reality. Teams aren’t going to give us their best players because we live in some fantasy baseball league mentality.
I am one of the more rational guys on here. Do some research first. The Cubs want to unload Lee so they can have room to upgrade their offense. Yes it would take Fmart and others. I am just throwing ideas out there. We can’t get good value in a trade for Marmol straight up. We would have to help them in some other way. Lee and Soriano are two of those ways. Marquis would be another one with potential. None are likely but all 3 are possible if it helps them in other ways.
Me personally, if I were the Cubs I would offer Wood arbitration and let him walk. Then Marmol would be the closer and you would have an extra 12 million to spend.
I really like Kerry Wood. I would be willing to take a risk on him because he won’t ask for Fuentes or K-Rod money. Its obvious that you will need a back up plan with Wood, but his stuff is the best compared to all the closer in MLB, alright maybe aside for Mariano, but its debatable.
Maybe Street as your set up man and Wood as your closer.
thereal — watch what you say… some other guy suggested trying for Marmol by taking on Soriano’s salary and also sending back some kind of package with guys like Murphy, FMart, Niese, which I thought was fair, and some dude named Tidewater jumped all over him and called him a moron. Careful when you mention Marmol without concrete evidence!
Gentlemen,
Marmol is one of the top set-up guys in the game. He may be the heir apparent to the closer spot. What in the world makes you think the Cubs will trade him? What?
Can we stick to realistic ideas?
Then why resign Wood to the 3 years or more that it will take to resign him?
Also, if a team were to take Soriano’s contract then I think they would for sure trade him.
Marmol is not…..I repeat not going to get traded. He’s inexpensive, and the Cubs love the idea of Woods closing and Marmol setting up.
Move on. It’s not happening.
i do agree with u there a lil, thereal
if the deal is right, im sure the cubs will wanna get out of that soriano contract
exactly..there’s NO WAY or REASOn for the cubs to trade that kid, he is amazing. Especially with Howry a FA, he’s even more important, regardless of whether Smardjza becomes a starter or stays in the bullpen.
Put it this way…if had a guy like marmol, even WITHOUT our pathetic bullpen, would you just trade him?
As evidenced by our bullpen’s mostly bad showing this year, a lights out arm is invaluable
A lights out arm does have value. Again, if you were the Cubs and all you had to do to get rid of Soriano’s 140 million dollar contract was to give up Marmol AND a team would take the entire contract AND give you a top prospect you would not think about it?
It is going to be hard for the mets to really upgrade the bullpen. I can see them getting a good closer but after that the 7th and 8th innings guys …. it will be hard for them. Teams do let the really good ones go and like you said it is rolling the dice with allot of these even decent bullpen guys. One year they are really good other years really bad so he its hard to say. But I really think Heilman and show are done in NY. The fans will never support them. Even if they pitch dec ent for a while the first time they let up a big run or lose a game they will be booed like there is no tomorrow.
They have to both go. I think there are teams still high on Heilman I think the Mets can move him in a trade.
thereal
well of course i would think any savvy GM would think about ANY deal…and u do bring up a good point…it’s kinda like a basketball trade, u trade a bad contract with a cuople of good young kids to get something you want..or OUT of something you don’t want
but is it fact that the cubs want ot trade soriano? I wouldnt go so far as to say YES, but i wouldnt go so far as to say NO…i agree, i think that if the trade proposal made sense, the cubs would want to get out of that contract…however, if they sign a tru leadoff man, they can bat soriano lower in the lineup and really utilize his bat…bad contract or not, he’s a tough bat to replace
it’s just so funny to see HOW MANY different directions the mets could go in, or NEED to go in rather, to fix all that is wrong with them. Dont get me wrong, they’re not a sub .500 team by any means i feel, but we’ve got a HUGE pen problem, a starting pitching problem (even WITH john maine, he still only pitches like 5 innings, thats not good), and an offense i.e. LF and 2B problem..and it looks like the mets wanna upgrade at catcher….
it’s gonna be QUITE the offseason man…
Agree about the offseason. It is however, well noted that they really want to get rid of Soriano’s contract and bring in a HR hitter like Manny or Dunn.
Well may be that lead off man comes in the form of Corey Patterson, I mean Felix Pie’s development.
They are still pretty hot after Roberts. I can’t sea a deal being struck due to the trades they amde at the dealine. I am not sure the Cubs have much left, but I wonder if Felix Pie could be a major piece to a trade for Roberts.
Omar should call Baltimore to see what they want.
THE METS SHOULD NOT SIGN OR TRADE FOR A CLOSER. LET HEILMAN AND SHOW FILL IN AND HOPE THAT WAGNER CAN MAKE IT BACK BY THE END OF AUGUST EARLY SEPT LOL.
Lets go Mets in 09!!!
Wagner is out for all of 2009. The doctors said so, and it often takes a year to get back on the mound, let along get your stuff back.
I agree that Heilman can be fixed. The stuff is there. he was apprarently pitching with a messed up knee that didn’t allow him to follow through.
I say give him a Mulligan. Not like you’ll get much for him anyway.
I no Wagner wont be back i was kidding around …. but I disagree Heilman cant make it in NY. The pressure the fans I think he is done and don’t want him or Show back.
Here’s your 2009 BP:
Closer: K-Rod (Let’s face it, Omar’s gonna make it happen)
Setup — Brandon Lyon — (Was great as a setup for ARZ in 07 and has closer experience)
Lefty Specialist — Jeremy Affeldt — (Let Feliciano walk)
MR
Ayala (Resign him)
Parnell (Give the kid a chance, he throws gas)
Sanchez (One more chance to see if he reclaim his 2006 form)
Smith
Sidenote: Find permanent homes for Heilman and Scho elsewhere
Bam….Bullpen Fixed
not a bad plan, especially because affeldt and lyon are type B FAs, so you can still (if they wanted to spend the money) sign a Pat the Bat or Dunn or Manny to play LF and another SP
Exactly, you could go Manny and Randy Wolf or maybe Derek Lowe and Juan Rivera
Randy Wolf is not an east coast guy. He won’t come to NY.
Please, last I checked his name wasn’t Greg Maddux.
He’ll follow the money just like everybody else does.
let heilman you cant be serious.
How about Chad Cordero sign him to a incentive laiden 1 yr deal
Im not saying Cordero as closer but he may be a good pickup at al ow cost
Putz is good if you get him without giving up anyone on the mlb roster or any of niese, Martinez, murphy, flores, marte, holt or kunz. Otherwise none of the present options are even OK. Delgado to the rays for edwin jackson, willy aybar and dan Johnson! (Jackson as closer.)
if delgado is a type b then put him out there and see who bites.
fmart seems to be just another alex escobar with less power trade him while he has some value.
To address the revamp of the bullpen, it has to start with the closer. Two options are all I can see:
A) Try to trade for Putz or Street, hoping a package of F-Mart, Heilman and another mid-level prospect can get the job done or,
B) Just bite the bullet and sign K-Rod. Hopefully, we can make it only a 4 year deal (anything less is being delusional) and we can get 3 good years from him.
For the rest of the pen, I’d suggest the following:
Sign Cruz to be the 8th inning setup man.
Sign Affeldt or Beimel for the lefty specialist and release Feliciano.
Either
Sign Cordero to a minor league incentive laden deal
or
Re-sign Ayala to be the 7th inning setup man.
Hope that Sanchez hasn’t topped out and can still revert to ‘06 form.
i wouldnt resign ayala.but now is the time to trade delgado while he has some value.
jim hoey and brian roberts would be nice from baltimore.hoey was a dominant force in the minors in 2007 as a reliever [97 mph fastball] but might have been hurt this year.