Update, 12:22 pm:
Rangers reporter T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com talked to a Rangers official who said this deal is ‘not happening.’
Similarly, Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors talked to a source who said the deal is not being discussed.
…if you recall, when rosenthal reported 
on the Mets-Cubs-Blue Jays three-way a few weeks ago, it was the Blue Jays who came out and denied it… today, we get Mets-Cubs-Rangers, and, again, it’s the third team who is denying it…
…one thing is clear, the Mets do not want bradley and the Cubs do not want castillo, but they are apparently one another’s only shot of getting rid of these people, and so they’re obviously working hard to find a third team to help make it happen…
Original Post, 11:28 am:
Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune believes the Mets, Cubs and Rangers have discussed a three-way trade that would send Luis Castillo to Chicago, Milton Bradley to Texas and Kevin Millwood to New York.
Rogers quotes as saying ‘the deal has legs,’ and, “There’s a deal to be made there.”
…rogers says the Mets and Cubs would have to contribute significant money to pay down the $21 million owed to bradley…
…so, i’m wondering if this will create an opening and give Texas the flexibility to make another run at acquiring RHP Roy Halladay…
Earlier this month, FoxSports.com reported the Mets and Cubs had been discussing a similar deal, involving Castillo and Bradley, which would have sent 1B Lyle Overbay from Toronto to New York.
Millwood is set to earn $12 million in the last year of his contract.
He was 13–10 with a 3.67 ERA in 31 starts; he tossed three complete games, while striking out 123 batters in 198 innings.
… ok, so, if castillo is traded, i assume the Mets will try to sign Orlando Hudson… so, this is sort of a two-pronged move… left-handed hitters have always been a problem for him, but with the left-field wall and Jeff Francoeur in front of it, he could see an improvement… i have always admired his ability to pitch inside… he has made at least 30 starts in each of the last five seasons, but he’s missed time and been bothered by all sorts of random leg injuries…
According to his 2010 Handbook, Bill James projects Millwood will go 9–10 with a 4.37 ERA next season.
…for one year, i think he’d be a good-enough addition, coming back to the National League, especially if it allows the Mets to change-up the batting order and defense at second base… but, this cannot be their only addition to the rotation… i still think they’ll look to sign a pitcher like Jason Marquis…
{ 59 comments }
I’d be ok with this. I think Millwood in the NL is a definite #3, and they’ll be done paying him after this year.
that trade sounds too good so it wont happen
Hmmmm…….I’d be ok with this.
Millwood went 13-10 with a 3.67 ERA in 31 starts, pitched 198 innings and had 123 K’s and 71 walks. Only negative stat is he gave up 195 hits. Would be a good move by the Mets.
If you only look at last year, then yes, it’s not bad. However, if you look at his 2007 and 2008, he had ERA’s over 5 for both those years and gave up so many hits, Livan Hernandez would even be embarrassed.
I think improved defense helped him alot. Andrus is an improvement over Young at SS, while Young is an improvement over Blalock at 3B.
And we had an atrocious infield defense last year. Reyes will help that if he’s at full health, hopefully.
Plus, one would assume the signing of Hudson, which, while he is on the decline, he’s an improvement over Castillo.
That would work. That would definitely work.
Can I get a h%ll yes?
Agreed, this trade sounds too good, but there are at least a couple reasons to think some version of it could happen:
1) Rangers changing ownership, may want to cut costs by getting $12M of millwood off the books
2) The ONLY place that Milton Bradley has been successful was Texas, and they seemed to be able to keep him under control
3) The Rangers felt that their pitching was fantastic in 2009, but that their offense couldn’t keep up. They were 7th in the AL in runs scored and 11th in OBP, so maybe they think a pitching for offense trade makes sense?
4) The Cubs desperately want to get rid of Milton Bradley, so they would be willing to take on Luis Castillo… he had a fairly good offensive year last year by his standards so maybe they’re hoping he’s able to keep it up.
I’m not saying I think this deal will happen, but there are at least several reasons to believe these rumors
Wouldn’t be horrible, I don’t like making one hole to fill another though, and i don’t really like Hudson. Can’t 12million, not to mention the increased price at 2B, net you a free agent pitcher of similar caliber?
Yeah you can get a free agent for $12M, but you have to commit at least 2-3 years MORE to a FA than to Millwood. Plus we get rid of Creaky Knees Castillo which is definitely a plus.
At 2b I don’t know if Hudson is the answer but he had a good offensive year last year and he’s certainly a huge upgrade over Castillo.
i agree with this. Not that keeping Millwood would be bad but you can probably get wolf and harden for 16M. At the very least Millwood would be easier to trade then castillo. So they could always spin him off somewhere.
Probably not. Any pitcher of Millwood’s ability would probably cost you about $30 mil over 3 years. Also, I’d argue he’s a notch above the Marquis’, Pinero’s, and Wolf’s of the world. Just a notch… but this is also “only” (only, yeesh) $12 mil for one year, and next year’s pitching class is very good looking.
But you’re filling one hole to make another. And Hudson isn’t that good, and it’s not exactly a guarentee that he comes to the Mets, or cheaply.
There aren’t many guys that are going to get on base on front of Wright, Beltran, and hopefully Holliday as much as Castillo.
Yea Im liking the way this sounds we get rid of Castillo and we get a pitcher that would probably be our number 3 pitcher
3.67 era is pretty good….now move him to the national league and i think he could get 15 or so wins with the Mets
And why do the Rangers want to do this? There is definetly more to this.
The Rangers ownership situation is in flux, and the team is essentially broke, one would assume one of the teams might kick in cash(likely the Cubs), which would interest the Rangers. Plus, with Feliz looking like he could join the rotation, the Rangers can afford to deal a starter, especially because they are going to lose two players from their starting lineup(Byrd and Blalock).
This would be incredibly dumb of the rangers. This either has much more to it, or is not true to begin with
I would imagine the Cubs have to include some amount of money
Basically, 2 years of Luis for one year of a solid innings eater… I’m OK with it.
i would not be surprised if a guy like john maine was involved in this deal going to the rangers.
Milwood is a good starter whos relatively affordable. No shot the rangers would settle for Bradley
If this were to hypothetically go through, I’d be okay if the Mets did exactly what Matt lays out:
Get Marquis
Get Hudson
Of course, the Mets would STILL need to find power somewhere… and no matter how much Mike Fracesca refuses to talk about anything Mets that doesn’t involve them getting Roy Halladay, Halladay would cost too much in money and prospects for a team that is much more than one player away. A deal like this one addresses the truth that the Mets need to fill multiple holes.
But they still MUST find power somewhere.
I really like this. I would even throw in Pat Miche to the Rangers as incentive.
didnt texas already deal with the Milton Bradley circus?
Get Millwood, sign a another medicore SP…BUT PLEASE sign Matt holliday in conjunction.
Boy, we are that desperate to trade Castillo?
While this is the best trade involving Luis that I have heard thus far, I have never been a huge Millwood fan, although he is relatively durable and eats innings. If we did this, you’d have to assume that the Mets would then:
-Sign Hudson (or Scutaro? Nah), but also need Cora or someone to back up because O dog is never healthy all season
-Sign Wolf
-Trade a starter (Maine? Pelfrey?) in a bigger deal for 1B or OF (assuming no Holliday?)
Personally, I would rather keep Luis and get Garland (not a big Marquis fan) and Wolf; or just get Lackey (which I think could happen if we don’t get Holliday)
Lotta moving parts… We’ll see…
id rather piniero to marquis
I’ll believe it when I see it. If this goes down, though, it would be definitely be to our benefit.
Hello, O-Dog!
as long as Omar doesnt make the move then ignore the rotation for the rest of the offseason Im fine with it.
“To all out Met fan out there, we fixed the rotation.”
One thing to note, however, is that if we get Millwood I think our chances of signing Lackey go down. Look for Millwood and Wolf to be the acquisitions…
Ehh, Millwood isn’t as good as he once was. He hasn’t pitched 200 innings since 2006, and he was flat out terrible in 2007 and 2008. Last year was better, but I’d be leery.
Like I said above, look at the improvements the Rangers made on defense from 2008 to 2009. I think Millwood would be just fine with the Mets D.
see my comment below.
He’s not a savior by any stretch of the imagination, but he would be going from the best hitters’ park in the MLB to Citi Field…
I think he can win 10-12 games and post an ERA around 4.00. For a #3, I can live with that as long as Santana is healthy, we sign Wolf, and Pelfrey rebounds to his 2008 form.
Santana, Wolf, Millwood, Pelfrey, Perez
I don’t know much about Millwood could anybody fill me in?
Innings eater, reliable veteran, could benefit from moving to a cavernous Citi Field from the best hitters’ park in the bigs…
Nothing fancy, though. He’s just the silver lining to us getting rid of Castillo so we can upgrade to Hudson.
I’m also trying hard for a three-way. Just thought I’d throw that out there.
This team NEEDS JOHN LACKEY OR ANOTHER LEGITMATE NUMBER 2. WOLF, GARLAND, ETC. ARE NOT THE ANSWERS TO OUR PITCHING PROBLEMS
Wolf actually had better numbers than Lackey last year, and he’s only two years older. I’d take either one, to be honest with you.
But my guess is Wolf will be much cheaper than Lackey, which gives us room to sign Holliday, Hudson, and another pitcher if needed.
IF this deal goes down (it may or may not), the main thing is that we got rid of Castillo and his contract, not that we acquired Millwood. Millwood is a solid veteran who can eat innings and win around 12-13 games while posting an ERA around four.
He is not the answer, but it’s not a bad addition.
touche’
The real Shawon Dunston wouldn’t have to try.
As per Tim Dierkes at MLBTraderumors:
“We talked to a source familiar with the situation who said that this deal is not being discussed.”
So, who do you believe? I gotta say I’m leaning to Tim’s side here.
just saw that too…i believe tim as well.
I saw that too. That just threw some cold water on me.
I don’t believe either…I believe in the possibility of this trade, but am just as doubtful as I am hopeful.
Neither guy has a reason to lie, but sources can be wrong and Tim has been mislead before, as I am sure the guy from the Tribune has as well.
Let’s just keep an open mind and our fingers crossed ;)
I dont see why the Mets would have to kick in any money. They’re giving up the cheapest player in the deal, and taking back a player making $12 million. The Cubs though, they should kick in about $3-10 million over the next two years.
millwood would be a nice addition, but I still want a #2 starter and holliday.
Mets add 6 mil in 2010, subtract 6 mil in 2011
Cubs subtract 4.5 mil in 2010 and 2011
Rangers: no change for 2010, add 10.5 mil for 2011
Have to think the Cubs would need to kick in a portion of that 9 mil they save to make this deal happen.
From a Mets perspective: if we wouldn’t have to kick in any money at all then this deal basically costs us 12 mil this year (12 mil milwood, -6 mil castillo, + 6 mil hudson) and nothing next year (-6 mil castillo + 6 mil hudson) for both Millwood and Hudson. It’s a clear win.
Discussion point:
Full year
ERA WHIP OPS BAA
3.691 1.347 0.743 0.257
Full year minus June
ERA WHIP OPS BAA
4.189 1.378 0.771 0.266
July through the end of the season
ERA WHIP OPS BAA
5.064 1.512 0.816 0.282
Millwood’s BAA for:
April: .216
May: .287
Jun: .255
July: 0.314
August: 0.301
September: 0.287
okay well i am getting tired of hearing that deals are going to happen and then that they aren’t but it seems everyone is eager to dump luis
I disagree with Matt on the Cubs not wanting Castillo. It’s obvious to me that in dumping Bradley they would be willing to take Castillo in return. The issue is finding that 3rd team to take Milton Bradley sending the Mets another player with a large salary. The Mets appearing to have no interest in taking on Milton Bradley is what is the hold up in this deal.
And for good reason, Bradley is not durable at all. For an AL team where he can DH, Bradley makes sense but not for an NL team where he would have to play the field.
protip: if a deal involves some other stiff team picking up milton bradley and it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
not sure i would rather have Hudson/Millwood over Phillips/Arroyo … but either pair is an improvement over our current players.
also, if you are going to trade a pitcher, Maine has the second best WHIP/SO-BB ratios on the team, whilst Pelfrey has the worst … so i’d trade Pelfrey. he’s had plenty of chances to come around … and he just hasn’t.
Def Phillips/Arroyo…Arroyo and Milwood are a wash but Phillips is heads and shoulders above Hudson, who is only slightly better than castillo.
Phillips/Arroyo, no contest.
I was looking at Cotts Contracts, Milwood and Michael Young are the only big salaries they have on their books. Millwood is not that big because its only for one more year.
Maine is too big of an injury concern to keep around. Pelfrey was a product of bad defense. His FIP was a lot lower than his ERA. I would want to hold on to Pelfrey. At the very least he can be a cheap innings eater.
Man. Are you guys seeing the rips these writers are taking at Castillo on twitter? Namely Heyman and Davidoff. Very professional….
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