Update, 12:15 pm:
According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, “There is no chance the Cubs and Blue Jays will make a deal involving Bradley.”
Original Post:
Last night, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com said the Mets, Blue 
Jays and Cubs had been discussing a three-way deal that would send Luis Castillo to Chicago, Milton Bradley to Toronto, and Lyle Overbay to the Mets.
The Chicago Tribune later wrote, “Toronto reportedly wants no part of Bradley.”
Additionally, ‘Two officials at the GM meetings in Chicago downplayed the report,’ according to Rumor Central on ESPN.com, where Jerry Crasnick quotes a front office member of one of the three teams as saying, ‘the deal is a longshot at best.’
In his initial report, Rosenthal described the deal as ‘a longshot,’ as well.
…this is a shame, because i like this proposed deal… of course, i’m not the Blue Jays, who would then have not only bradley, his issues and contract, but also Vernon Wells, and his contract, and i am not sure how many Outfielders with Bad Contracts they need… plus, as some people were saying last night, does the Jays new GM really want to kick off his tenor by acquiring bradley… probably not…
…nevertheless, i think it’s quite clear, based on how this story evolved, that one of the sources is from the Mets, which would suggest, at the very least, the team is serious about making efforts to switch up the roster… which is good to see…
To check out ESPN’s Rumor Central, including information on Randy Winn’s status in San Francisco, Jason Bay and the Cardinals, click here.
Well if they cant afford Holliday or Bay, theyre gonna have to go out and get a comparable bat for 1b.You can forget about murphy platooning with anyone.
Fielder or Gonzales.
Obviously, thats IF the front office decides they want to compete this year, part of me is frightened were going to come away with Vlad and Marquis and call it an offseason
How did you get from “the Blue Jays don’t want Bradley” to, “looks like the Mets can’t afford anybody and their gonna settle”?
So far this offseason, the noises coming from the Mets front office have been positive: they are targeting Holliday, they are looking to trade Castillo and they are in the market for a strong starting pitcher. Why are you ready to throw in the towel less than a week into the offseason?
“they’re” not “their” – sorry
Well, the orginial report was that the Cubs offered Bradley for Castillo, and that the mets roped in the Blue Jays, which makes sense, maybe they can flip Bradley to somebody else if they do decide to make this trade.
Bradley would be harder to trade than Castillo I think and he is owed more money. Has to be a three-way deal otherwise we will be stuck with bradley and his contract.
Winn is a guy I wanted 2 years ago . . . too late now I’m thinking.
“Wish we had him 2 years ago”
“We did”
“4 years ago, then”
Nice, I like it.
I think at this point, Mets fans are so burned by the Yankees and Phillies, we would welcome any kind of trade as long as it changes the ’09 team even a little.
so, what other teams are in need of 2B? or maybe we can still trade castillo to the cubs for a bullpen arm or something.
To be honest, I do not quite understand the desire to trade away Castillo.
Sure, he disappointed in his first year, when he was out of shape. But he refocused in last year’s offseason and have rebounded to have a very nice year.
You may or may not be happy with his stats last year; however, those stats are very consistent if not favorable to Castillo’s career stats (i.e. the Stats that the Mets reviewed when making the decision to acquire him).
What I am saying is that the Mets got a player that produced the way they expected, at least last year.
Sure, he made the huge gaffe at Yankee stadium, but other than that and one or two others, he has been quite solid.
Frankly, I am not thrilled with the replacements that are available. And I do not understand the Mets fascination with Orlando Hudson. Although he had a hot start last year, he more than cooled off in the opposite direction.
Castillo only have two years left on his contact. If you sign OHud, it will probably require a deal similar to the one it took to sign Castillo in the first place. Why bother? I say keep Castillo and let him finish out his contract while giving us stats that are on par with his career numbers!
Now, if trading Castillo results in bringing in a new piece to a winning combination then I am willing to be open minded. But, to trade Castillo for the sake of OHud is foolish in my eyes and mind.
“But, to trade Castillo for the sake of OHud is foolish in my eyes and mind.”
Co-sign x100
Agreed 100%. If FLA is looking to unload Uggla then it would be a different story. He K’s a ton and the defense isn’t great, but 30 HR power in that lineup would be worth considering. Then you don’t have to sign Holliday for 6/7 years, can pay Molina and go after Lackey and Harden. The NL east is going to be all about the pitching the next few years.
Castillo was a bit of a paper tiger (1 trick pony?) last year. He still had a respectable OBP, but zippo power, and his range (and overall D) is below average now. Plus, he gives up way too many outs, especially in the 2 hole.
IMO, there is no way he could improve next year, and it is more likely he declines rather than stays the same. So, if they can unload him for a usable piece, do it. Please!
But, pass on Hudson. he wil likely be just as bad as Castillo. Go after Felipe Lopez for the same money.
What really scares me though, is I am starting to try and justify a Bradley for Castillo swap, with the Mets keeping Bradley, if the Cubs even out the money.
Then, you have bradley for Castillo money (2/12), as part of a rotation in the corner OF (plus DH for the AL games). Carter, bradley, pagan and Frenchy manning LF and RF, all for ~10mill.
Assuming Lopez gets ~5mill (ballparking here), then bradley + lopez = 11mill.
This leaves ~20 mill for a SP, BU C and the pen (lackey/olivo/?).
Now, if it just wasn’t Bradley, but for 2 years (and heck, you could alwasy cut him!)