Buzz: Mets looking for Left-Handed Reliever

July 29, 2009 at 14:45 pm · 53 comments

by Matthew Cerrone

Joe Demayo of NY Baseball Digest believes the Mets and Yankees have interest in Pirates LHP John Grabow.

In a post to Twitter, Heyman also lists Nationals LHP Joe Beimel and Jays LHP Scott Downs as potential candidates.

Original Post, 12:30 pm:

This afternoon on WFAN, SI.com’s Jon Heyman said the Mets met yesterday to discuss the trade deadline, and, among other things, are looking for a left-handed reliever to take pressure off Pedro Feliciano.

However, the Mets are not interested in trading away top prospects, including players like Brad Holt, Jennry Mejia and Ike Davis.

Heyman is co-hosting the mid-day show on WFAN, which you can listen to live, online, by clicking here.

Update, 12:55 pm:

Buster Olney of ESPN.com believes the Phillies may look to acquire O’s LHP George Sherrill if they are unable to acquire Roy Halladay.

…the buzz around baseball suggests Sherrill and Blue Jays LHP Scott Downs could be available, though downs is more likely to be traded at the last minute

the Dodgers and Phillies have been linked in rumor to sherrill, who has a 2.40 ERA, while left-handed batters are hitting .136 against him

The 33-year-old Downs has a 3.18 ERA for the Blue Jays, while left-handed batters are hitting .256 against him.

{ 53 comments }

Mets5rocks July 29, 2009 at 12:35 pm

Why would they look for another lefty reliever?? Pat Misch has got it done since he’s been here! That’s prolly the last thing they need to be looking for! I think Heyman is nuts

starz31 July 29, 2009 at 12:36 pm

Heyman, or do you mean Omar?

I understand taking pressure of Pedro, especially so he doesn’t fall apart by the end of the year, but seriously, that is not the priority right now.

Xavier22 July 29, 2009 at 12:44 pm

shouldn’t they be getting a pretty good lefty reliever when Wagner returns in a few weeks?

One Day This Team Will Kill Me July 29, 2009 at 12:50 pm

thats a pretty solid point, haha, and it might not be as long as a few weeks either. I think Billy can get lefties out

mets81 July 29, 2009 at 12:44 pm

Free Pat Misch!

theperfectgame July 29, 2009 at 12:44 pm

Opponents are hitting a collective .302 off Misch and he has surrendered 19 hits and 11 walks in 16.1 innings.

Xavier22 July 29, 2009 at 12:46 pm

but what are his lefty/righty splits? That collective .302 could break down to .200 against lefties and .400 against righties.

theperfectgame July 29, 2009 at 12:51 pm

Lefties are hitting .310, righties are hitting .294.

Xavier22 July 29, 2009 at 12:55 pm

hrmph. I seem to recall him pitching better than that. I remember seeing him and thinking he was pretty good. Oh well.

Razor Shines July 29, 2009 at 1:07 pm

Awfully nice of Omar to let Heyman sit in on their meeting.

BigDaddyKirk July 29, 2009 at 3:36 pm

Are they not counting on Wagner coming back? I can’t imagine us getting a lefty better than him via trade. Then we can look for a FA during the offseason. This is yet another head scratcher, in my opinion.

metsrule77 July 29, 2009 at 12:36 pm

The Mets do not want to go over the luxury cap number and have about 5 million available to spend so this sounds right. I thought we addressed the bullpen in the off-season Omar!!!

Lorenzo23 July 29, 2009 at 12:37 pm

Not true at all they are NOOOOOOO way near the luxury cap.

They could take on Halladay’s contract and a slugger and still not hit the luxury cap.

Lorenzo23 July 29, 2009 at 12:40 pm

The Mets went into this season allocating $8 million towards Garcia and figured in their plans that he would earn the $8 million. He got cut so that is atleast $8 million free right there. Also we went into the season with a payroll less than last season on top of the $8 million allocated toward Garcia. We have plenty of room for an addition. The problem is the Wilpons got wiped out

Patrick July 29, 2009 at 1:12 pm

If the Mets fortunes were intrinsically intwined into the Madoff situation that Fred Wilpon was embroiled in they would already be seeking to sell the team.

Even if you believe the high end $, which came from Larry King btw (rolling eyes) the Wilpons would stand to recoup almost all of Fred’s losses by selling the team, which now includes a new stadium and a network.

dave27 July 29, 2009 at 3:20 pm

Huh?

Lorenzo23 July 29, 2009 at 12:36 pm

What is the point of a lefty reliever???? That is not gonna help us win the friggin wild card. If that is the only move they want to make I rather they just raise the white flag and wait until the off season.

One Day This Team Will Kill Me July 29, 2009 at 12:45 pm

agreed, I think another good lefty reliever is needed to beat the phillies only because we play so many tight games and obviously their 3 boppers are lefties.

But that is a problem for the postseason if we happen to win the wild card and face them in the NLCS , because I highly doubt we are catching the phillies, I think Misch is good enough right now, especially if a lefty reliever is taking away from other priorities

Xavier22 July 29, 2009 at 12:52 pm

Mets don’t face the Philies again until 8/21. Unless Wagner has suffered some sort of setback that we don’t know about, he’s supposed to be back by then by all accounts. Just the other week Gary was noting the irony that the first Met off the DL might be Wagner.

Razor Shines July 29, 2009 at 3:17 pm

He got hurt first.

starz31 July 29, 2009 at 3:25 pm

He had Tommy John surgery so the fact he might be back this season at all is a big deal, let alone before all the others.
Delgado seems like he’ll be back at some point in that he isn’t really still injured, just trying to get back to playing shape where as Beltran is still hurt and Reyes is trying to come back, but those two are more at risk for a big setback than Delgado. Thats all Dr.Starz opinion though.

theperfectgame July 29, 2009 at 12:39 pm

Why not promote lefty reliever Adam Bostick from AAA? He’s had a good year, and not only wouldn’t cost top prospects, he wouldn’t cost anyone (except Pat Misch, Elmer Dessens, or Tim Redding, depending on who he would replace).

Xavier22 July 29, 2009 at 12:43 pm

Speaking of relievers, whatever happened to Lance Broadway?

stickguy July 29, 2009 at 12:45 pm

he is starting in AAA, and generally pitching like crap.

theperfectgame July 29, 2009 at 12:48 pm

Nothing. He’s been starting for Buffalo, but aside from throwing a complete game (one run allowed) earlier this month, he’s been quite ordinary.

metsrule77 July 29, 2009 at 12:44 pm

I thought Wagner was close to coming back, isn’t he a lefty?

stickguy July 29, 2009 at 12:47 pm

forgot about him. WIth any luck, that will be your guy.

theperfectgame July 29, 2009 at 12:53 pm

Bingo.

(assuming, of course, that he comes back and is effective)

stickguy July 29, 2009 at 12:44 pm

this makes no real sense.

Misch has done fine, and frankly, which lefty releiver will they be able to get that is any better?

And like others mentioned, Bostick is pitching very well at AAA, and cost nothing.

In the big scheme of Met needs, a different lefty RP is about #16.

stickguy July 29, 2009 at 12:47 pm

maybe we are taking the comment too literally to mean they are going to trade for one.

maybe they will find one in the minors or on the DL!

KickedintheMetsiclesAgain July 29, 2009 at 12:58 pm

Matt:

My Phillies fan friends are telling me that a trade by the Phillies for Lee is imminent.

Lorenzo23 July 29, 2009 at 1:13 pm

No one is talking about this . I read it in Wallace Mathews column this morning:

“He’s this close to being out of baseball,” Jeff Wilpon told me, holding his thumb and forefinger a half-inch apart.

Jeff said that to Wallace when talking about Omar.

KickedintheMetsiclesAgain July 29, 2009 at 1:25 pm

I am not happy with Newsday.

I think they are a bunch of bums.

Rubin got what he deserved. Omar was stupid for doing it at a news conference. He should have just taken Rubin aside and worked him over under the stadium.

I have seen up close what Omar can do to an ice cream cone. I am sure he could do the same to Rubin.

And after Rubin I hope he takes care of Matthews next.

Agee's Catch July 29, 2009 at 3:01 pm

He should have had Tony take him out when he was still on payroll

Peter July 29, 2009 at 3:32 pm

Where’s Silvio when you need him?

dykstraw July 29, 2009 at 1:15 pm

frankly shouldn’t we be considering pedro?

oh wait i forgot we’re winning the WC now

dykstraw July 29, 2009 at 1:41 pm

*trading pedro

Patrick July 29, 2009 at 1:17 pm

I feel a friday let down.

seanmcsean July 29, 2009 at 2:58 pm

Shouldn’t Omar be looking for an arm to back up Santana instead?

That’s the more glaring problem at the moment. The Phillies beat us to a starter again. Joe Blanton last year, and Cliff Lee this year.

derxmasta July 29, 2009 at 2:59 pm

why do we need a lefty reliever again?

Agee's Catch July 29, 2009 at 3:05 pm

Pedro’s arm is going to fall off?

If Wagner thinks he is ready, why not let him pitch?

derxmasta July 29, 2009 at 3:12 pm

maybe if we didnt use pedro EVERY night
for 3+ outs Every Night
he wouldnt be burnt out by august.
how bout trusting your other 5 relievers in the Pen.
the other Leftys arent all named ryan howard.

jimyager July 29, 2009 at 3:06 pm

I heard that the Phillies where the front runners?

Lorenzo23 July 29, 2009 at 3:07 pm

Good Idea Omar lets trade a prospect to a division rival, Nationals, for a reliever that we could have signed in the off season!

Agee's Catch July 29, 2009 at 3:14 pm

You can’t sign everyone, and you pass on guys who you aren’t sure about. But if a guy proves himself at another teams risk, is he no longer worth acquiring?

Lorenzo23 July 29, 2009 at 3:21 pm

I’m not interested in a left handed relief pitcher when Billy Wagner is coming back and we are in a wild card race. WE NEED OFFENSE WHO CARES ABOUT A RELIEF PITCHER!!!!

Kendog52282 July 29, 2009 at 3:15 pm

Is this seriously a priority or all the Mets think they can do to help this team. Plus there are viable options in AAA plus you have Wagner as a possibility soon…how was this even mentioned in a meeting with all the other holes on this team?

realmet July 29, 2009 at 3:20 pm

This is why we SU*C*K*. A freakin lefty reliever? R U Kiding me? We have no bat in LF and we have 2 good starters and we are looking for a lefty reliever. What a joke!!!! I give up.

Lorenzo23 July 29, 2009 at 3:23 pm

1. Omar is a terrible GM 2. The Wilpons are broke

dave27 July 29, 2009 at 3:23 pm

Have the Mets ever, in their history, been intrested in anything at the deadline aside from additional bullpen help?

The Mets did not start 2009 with a viable leftfielder, don’t have one now, and don’t have one for 2010…what am I missing here?

Lorenzo23 July 29, 2009 at 3:24 pm

Your not missing anything… It is absolutely MIND BOGGLING

Kendog52282 July 29, 2009 at 3:27 pm

what do you think it would take to get crawford?

Hit The Weights Zeile July 29, 2009 at 5:06 pm

Let me get this straight….Joe Biemel is a guy the mets want? and Adam Dunn is a guy the Mets couldve desperately used this season. Weren’t these guys free agents this past offseason? and Omar let them go to the Nats a division opponent (granted not a worthy one, but nonetheless). Omar has no plan the guy is completely reactionary and lacks all foresight. But please continue to stick up for the guy everyone.

PS: I’m pretty sure every poster was actually in agreement in the offseason that we needed another LHRP so feliciano wouldnt gas. And a large amount of us wanted to sign Dunn. Considering we also all wouldve signed K-rod and probably never touched Ollie as well I think I could honestly say that if you randomly selected a commenter from Metsblog he/she wouldve had a better offseason than Minaya.

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