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In his latest Rumblings & Grumblings column for ESPN.com, Jayson Stark reports the Mets are among teams who have called the Indians about RHP Cliff Lee.
Lee is 4–6 with a 2.92 ERA in 16 starts for 
the Indians, during which he has 79 strike outs and 26 walks in 111 innings.
According to Stark, however, the Indians have said they would need to be overwhelmed to move Lee.
…i.e., Bobby Parnell, Fernando Martinez, and so on, and so on… you know the drill…
Lee won the American League Cy Young Award last season, and is eligible to be a free agent at the end of next season.
…i get the impression Omar Minaya intends to make at least one or two deals, and has earmarked certain players, who other teams have interest in, for a deal, and it’s basically a matter of getting biggest bang for his buck… i believe they’ll take on salary, but also wouldn’t mind trading some away in a separate deal…
Stark also says the Mets have looked in to Rockies 1B-3B Garret Atkins, who hit .293 in 1,200 at bats the previous two seasons, but who his batting just .216 in 61 games this season.
He is hitting just .254 in games away from Coors Field in his career, however he’s hit as more home runs away, 48, as he’s hit at home, 47.
…atkins would be an interesting hitter for Citi Field, because he’s 
disciplined and puts the ball in play… he’d be an interesting play, in that he’d cost the Mets very little, i believe… also, he’s turning the corner in his season, from what i can gather… people in colorado say he looks like the hitter of old, compared to his at bats from April and May…
Nevertheless, Stark writes, “From a pure baseball fit, the Mets appear to rank Aubrey Huff and Nick Johnson ahead of Atkins.”
Atkins will earn $7 million this season; he is again eligible for arbitration next season, after which he is a free agent.
Stark also writes about the Phillies struggles at home; as well as the on-fire Rockies; the Angels bullpen; Jimmy Rollins’s season-long slump; Scott Kazmir and Tampa’s pitching; Chicago’s interest in Mark DeRosa; the future of Manny Acta; the demands of Pedro Martinez, who is still seeking a the prorated equiviliant of $5 million; and other topics from around MLB.
Look…on Cliff Lee he is a nice pitcher and worthy of consideration but only if he is a lock to be resigned. If you could trade Maine or Pelfrey plus Parnell….you do it…or at least I would. But again only if he is amenable to signing BEFORE the trade goes through to a reasonable extension.
Lee is a better pitcher than both Maine and Pelfrey but both of those guys have 15 win potential and mid 3 era potential
As to the Atkins rumor and Derosa…pass on both.
Next years team needs power outfielders that can actually play…or at least one (assuming we let Fmart take one of the spots next year).
I am all for improving the rotation and Maine or Pelfrey can ultimately be replaced internally with guys like Niese, Holt Meija etc who may project out with similar potential and are in AA or AAA this year
I agree I’m not sold on Atkins or DeRosa.
Wow if we could bring in Lee you gotta do it for whatever the cost. Him and Santana would be dominant at Citi Field together, especially against a predominant left handed hitting Philly team
Ofcourse ONLY pending a contract extension…
Atkins, Spilborghs, DeRosa …these are Ok players but not worth trading good prospects for.
Lee would be nice, but once Maine is back we have like 6 SP’s already. One of them would have to go in the Lee deal. The if Ollie ever comes back we’d have like 7? Wierd.
i gotta be honest…if atkins and lee are the guys omar is going for…hes better off just staying in house…maybe lee can help out the rotation but atkins…..really
also, i would consider giving up fmart for lee…but fmart and low ceiling prospects…nobody else big
reason being as someone pointed out…santana and lee could be dominant
Correction: Cliff Lee is a LHP, not RHP…