NEWS: Mets acquire J.J. Putz from Mariners
The Mets just announced that Omar Minaya will address reporters from the podium at the Bellagio around 12:30 am EDT, where he is expected to announce the acquisition of J.J. Putz from the Mariners in a three-team deal with the Indians.
SNY will be airing live coverage of Minaya’s announcement, as will WFAN, which you can listen to live by clicking here.
The Mets will soon issue a press release that explains they have acquired J.J. Putz, pitcher Sean Green and OF Jeremy Reed in exchange for Aaron Heilman, Joe Smith, Endy Chavez, Maikel Cleto, Ezequiel Carera, Jason Vargas and Mike Carp.
To see the entire deal, including who is coming and going from Cleveland and Seattle, go to David Lennon’s blog for Newsday.
In 47 games for the Mariners in 2008, during which he was on the disabled list twice, once with a hyperextended right elbow, Putz was 6–5 with a 3.88 ERA with 15 saves in 23 opportunities.
The 31–year-old Putz had a 1.88 ERA in 2007 with 40 saves, and a 2.30 ERA in 2006 with 36 saves.
Update, 11:36 PM:
According to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times, the original version of this deal involved the Tigers and Reds in place of the Mets and Indians.
Instead, the Rays traded Edwin Jackson to the Tigers, which was reported two hours ago on FoxSports.com, and the Mets and Indians slipped in to complete a deal with the M’s.
…brilliant, omar…brilliant…in fact, from what i was just told, Omar Minaya got the call about this deal in the moments following today’s press conference to announce Francisco Rodriguez…
Update, 11:12 PM:
The deal is done, according to Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports.com, “J.J. Putz is headed to New York in a three-team trade with the Mariners and Indians,” according to major-league sources.
The Mets will get J.J. Putz, OF Jeremy Reed and reliever Sean Green; The Mariners will get Aaron Heilman, OF Endy Chavez, 1B Mike Carp and OF Franklin Gutierrez, plus minor leaguers from the Indians; The Indians will get RHP Joe Smith and infielder Luis Valbuena.
Update, 11:04 PM:
so, basically, Omar Minaya took a sledgehammer to his bullpen, and i can’t say that i blame him…
…i’m trying to see this deal as follows, and i like:
Aaron Heilman, Mike Carp and a second prospect for J.J. Putz, all while Jeremy Reed will replace Endy Chavez as the team’s defensive outfielder, and Sean Green will replace Joe Smith in the bullpen.
Update, 10:20 PM:
Mets reporter David Lennon of Newsday writes, ‘The three teams are currently going over the medical records and a deal could be announced shortly.’
Putz will earn $5.5 million next season, after which the team can exercise a $8.6 million option for 2010, or make him a free agent.
In 72 relief appearances for the M’s last season, the 29–year-old Green was 4–5 with a 4.67 ERA.
Update, 10:21 PM:
“The deal isn’t finalized, but Mariners and Indian sources said a deal could be completed later this evening or early Thursday,” writes M’s reporter John Hickey at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Update, 10:08 PM:
Jon Heyman of SI.com believes it is a 12–player, three-team deal that would send J.J. Putz to the Mets, who would trade six players, including OF Endy Chavez, RHP Aaron Heilman and 1B Mike Carp.
…according to the below report, from MLB.com, one of the missing two players from the Mets would be Joe Smith…
Update, 9:40 PM:
According to Indians reporter Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com, ‘the Mets, Mariners and Indians appear to be on the verge of a three-team deal,’ in which the Mets will Putz, the Mariners will get OF Franklin Gutierrez and Luis Valbuena, while the Indians will get Smith.
“Aaron Heilman and OF Jeremy Reed are also believed to be involved, though it was unclear who would be headed where,” Castrovince reports.
…i have no idea who is going, and who is coming, but i will say this…someone familiar with the team’s thinking said to me a while back to keep an eye on putz, as the M’s had contacted the Mets about a deal, which is why on October 31, i wrote, here:
“Lastly, they’ll try to trade for a closer, specifically Putz, who, from what I can gather, likes the idea of pitching in New York.”
Update, 9:20 PM:
Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports believes Putz could be headed to the Mets in a three-team trade with the Indians.
According to Rosenthal, “Heilman, Chavez and Carp would be in the deal, as would Gutierrez.”
MLB Trade Rumors points out that Rosenthal’s original post described the Mets as ‘close to acquiring Putz,’ but has since been updated to read, ‘working on acquiring Putz.’
Original, 8:59 PM:
In a report for the Star-Ledger, in-the-know Dan Graziano reports the Mets and Mariners are in ‘serious discussions’ on a trade that could send Putz to New York in exchange for Heilman and Carp.
Earlier tonight, on SNY’s Mets Hot Stove, SI.com’s Jon Heyman mentioned Omar Minaya’s continued interest in Putz, despite signing Francisco Rodriguez, noting that Seattle’s closer could be used as a set-up man, which would be an unrealistic request for a pitcher like Brian Fuentes.
…wow, ‘now we’re cooking with gas,’ as Adam T. Intern used to say…i mean, this would be a tremendous deal in my book…
…prior to the K-Rod signing, i talked with a variety of scouts and people in baseball who believe putz has some of the best ‘stuff’ of any relief pitcher in baseball, so to slot him in to the eighth inning, for heilman and a minor-leaguer, who most believe is a DH in waiting, would be strong…
…in other words, i hope this happens…fingers crossed…
