According to Lennon, Omar Minaya credits Assistant-GM John Ricco with the idea during a “brainstorming session” last Thursday for coming up with the idea.

After this brainstorming session, according to Odum, Minaya introduced the idea to Braves General Manager Frank Wren, and shortly thereafter, the deal was complete.

For more, check out Lennon and Odum’s articles.

…i understand why the deal was made, i am just not sure it matters or makes total sense… though, i like having frenchy’s defense and arm in Citi Field, and, if he gets it together, he has the potential for power that i am not sure church had… either way, this was clearly a change-of-scenery deal, and i’m not sure it will have that big of an impact in either direction…

Last month, in a report for SNY.TV, Ted Berg wrote, “If the Mets trade for Francoeur, I’m out.  I’ll find someone else to write this column.”

Today, in a report, still for SNY.TV, Berg reviews the deal, and writes:

“I’m here, so I haven’t quit quite yet, but some small part of me hopes someone holds me to that statement… I was mostly kidding because I didn’t think the Mets would do something like that; I didn’t think the front office could be so silly as to think Jeff Francoeur might be the answer to any single one of their questions… Egg on my face.”

In a post to his blog for Newsday, Ken Davidoff says, among other things, “What does it say about how little regard the two teams held for these two players, that they were willing to make this trade even though the Mets and Braves are both historic rivals and current rivals?  Neither club apparently feared the ramifications of this deal enough to squash it.  Both clubs were that desperate.”

According to Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse, “One scout who specializes in the National League called it a win for the Braves, noting that Atlanta seemed unlikely to tender Francoeur a contract after the season, effectively releasing him.”

The scout labeled Francouer ‘a project,’ Price says.

Jim Bowden, on the other hand, said he gives the edge to the Mets.

In a post to Mets Geek, Alex Nelson writes, “I suppose Francoeur does have more upside than Church… But at this point, 2600-plus plate appearances into his career, I just don’t see him ever meeting that ceiling, or coming very close.”

Lastly, at his blog for ESPN.com, Rob Neyer asks, “The Braves got a decent hitter and fielder who bats left-handed… The Mets got… what, exactly?  If you figure it out, drop a line to Jerry Manuel. He’s going to need all the help he can get with this one.”

Update, 6:47 pm, by Matthew Cerrone:

Omar Minaya said the Mets will receive ‘cash considerations’ in the deal from the Braves with Francoeur.

Minaya described Francoeur as a Gold Glove right fielder, who, as he put it, ‘some consider to be the best defensive right-fielder in baseball,’ and a guy who has a very good arm.

He said talks with the Braves started yesterday afternoon, and he followed up with GM Frank Wren this morning.

Minaya credited Assistant GM John Ricco with initially suggesting the team look in to acquiring Francoeur.

“This had nothing to do with not liking Ryan Church, but, one thing we like about Francoeur is the amount of games he plays,” Minaya explained, pointing out that he’s played over 152 games each of the last three seasons.

“We’ve got to keep on trying to do these type of things,” Minaya said.  “We are working, it’s not that we’re not, there a couple of things we are talking to other clubs about, they may be big, they may be minor, but we’ve got to continue to try to do things to shake it up a little bit, and not just be complacent.”

…i believe this may be part of a larger plan to essentially re-create the team to be Citi Field Specific, i.e., the best defense possible, speed, some power, more speed and lots of pitching… i hope this is the case… one step at a time, i guess…

Update, 7:01 pm, by Matthew Cerrone:

Ryan Church told reporters, before leaving the clubhouse, that he looks forward to getting a new start with a new team.

He said he has no problem with how the team handled his injuries last season, though he admitted things probably could have been handled differently.

“I’ll always love New York,” he said.  “I just want to thank all the fans, and it’s been great playing for this organization.”

Original Post, by Mike Nichols:

Francoeur had been hitting .250 with a .280 OBP, five HR and 35 RBI in 304 at bats for Atlanta this season.

He is under contract and eligible for arbitration through 2011, after which he can become a free agent.

...love the deal…the Mets needed to shake up the roster… the potential francoeur has is much greater than that of church, plus the Mets lose nothing on the defensive side…

…welcome aboard, frenchy…

Update, 6:17 pm, by Matthew Cerrone:

Nick Evans will remain on the roster, since Church has been traded.

… i assume he will again be demoted when Jeff Francoeur arrives from the Braves…

…well, i kept saying, if the Mets were going to make a trade, it would be for this sort of player, i.e., an outfielder, under contract, with upside, who has yet to meet the hype, like an Xavier Nady 2006 type… and, i’d say francoeur fits that mold, to say the least…

…i am still unsure of this deal… i liked church, and still feel he got a bit of a raw deal… that said, francoeur is 25 years old, and few young players in the game have his size and power, with one of the best outfield arms in the league… and, i agree with mike, in that francoeur has much more upside…

Wright leads the National League with a .356 batting average, and, though he’s on pace to hit just 10 home runs and strike out more than 150 times, he is on pace to steal 40 bases and drive in 100 runs with a .444 OBP.

“The home runs are nice,” Wright said after the game.  “But that’s not what makes me successful as a hitter.”

Meanwhile, Church raised his average to .283.

…yesterday, on SNY.TV’s New York Baseball Today, which you can watch here, i said church is the one player the Mets need most to step up, and last night is exactly why… he’s the proven hitter… he’s not a rookie learning his way, he’s not a career back-up trying to regain his stroke, he’s a full-time, regular major leaguer who has had success… and so, he is the one who needs to protect wright, join in on the rallies and drive in runs… to do this, he must play every day, and i’m glad Jerry Manuel continues to send him out there…

Since returning from the disabled list with a hamstring injury, Church is batting .309 with eight extra base hits and 10 RBI in 15 games.

…i worried that church would be traded… initially, i bought in to the hype and rhetoric that he and manuel were having issues, and that church might have played himself out of town when he missed third base earlier in the season… i was wrong, and i think lots of other people were wrong… manuel kept saying he was being tough on church… it could be jerry was right, it could just be that church is healthy and swinging the bat well… i don’t know, and i don’t care… i just care that church is producing, he looks to be having fun, i’m happy for him and i like it…

Prior to the game, the popular topic on talk radio, online and around the ballpark was the team’s lack of power, especially in Citi Field.

“Oh, you hadn’t heard… They moved in the fences, about 40 feet,” Church told reporters after the game, according to the New York Times

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, courtesy of ESPN.com, last night was the first time since May 13 that the Mets hit more than one home run in a game.

“Those balls that were hit tonight, they’d have gone out of any park,” Jerry Manuel said to reporters.  “I still think the jury is out as to how this park will play, and I think it will take a whole year to determine if this is a pitcher’s park, or whether in the summer it gets warm and the ball flys out, it will take some time to figure it out.”

…i watched a portion of the game from seats a few rows back from the left-field wall… in fact, i just missed catching David Wright’s home run… anyway, the air was dead and humid for most of the game, but when the wind did pick up, it was blowing right in my face… unlike in April, when the wind always whipped across the field, from left to right, knocking balls down in left and center, while creating a wind tunnel towards the Pepsi Porch… what’s more, i watched the last few innings from the porch, and it was stagnant up there… so, maybe Citi Field will play different in July and August then it does in April and May…

Church will take Emil Brown’s spot on the roster, as Brown was designated for assignment.

Church is likely to be activated on Sunday, when he is first eligible to return from the disabled list.

Prior to yesterday’s game, Jerry Manuel said the decision to send Fernando Martinez back to Triple-A will be based on how he performs over the next few games.

Martinez had two hits yesterday, including an RBI, and is batting .333 in his last 18 at bats, despite starting his career 0 for 9.

…you know the drill: if the Mets feel martinez can play every day in the major leagues, and there is a spot for him, he’ll be on the Mets… if he isn’t going to play in the big leagues, he’ll be demoted to a place where he can… because he must get regular at bats, he cannot afford to ride the bench at his age…

…i hope the Mets replace Emil Brown with church, and leave martinez on the roster… let the kid play in left field, and juggle him, Ryan Church and Gary Sheffield in the corner outfield positions, because sheffield must get rest…

Alex Cora will leadoff and play shortstop, followed in order by Luis Castillo, Beltran, Gary Sheffield in right field, David Wright, Daniel Murphy, Fernando Martinez in left field, Omir Santos and Mike Pelfrey.

Prior to the game, Jerry Manuel told reporters he expects Ryan Church to return to the team on Sunday.

Manuel said Martinez essentially controls his own fate, and how performs over the next few days will determine whether he remains on the roster.

…the Mets have always been honest, basically saying, martinez will be wherever he’ll get the most at bats… if he’s hitting, and he can play everyday, he’ll be on the big league club… if he’s not hitting, or he’s gonna ride the bench, he’ll instead go back to Triple-A so he can play everyday… this makes sense…

In his last 15 at bats, Martinez is has four hits, including two doubles, two RBI and two stolen bases.

For other pre-game information, check out blogs for the Daily News, Newsday, New York Post, Star-Ledger and the Bergen Record.

Jose Reyes left yesterday’s extended spring-training game in the third inning because he felt ‘discomfort in his right knee.’

Reyes had been put on the disabled list with tendinitis in his calf.

He will return to New York today for additional tests.

“All the indications I have is that it wasn’t as damaging as it sounded,” Jerry Manuel told reporters.  “So, maybe instead of Friday, then we’ll have him back by the weekend.  If not, then definitely for the Phillies series when we get home… His legs are obviously very important.”

…either manuel is delusional, or he knows something about reyes that nobody else is aware of… i hope he’s right…

Ryan Church, however, played six innings in the game in Port St. Lucie.

…from what i can gather, church will play in another extended spring game today, and either remain in st. lucie, or play in a minor-league game, before being activated, hopefully, from the disabled list at some point next week, though it could be as early as Sunday… the thing is, it’s a hamstring, so proceed with caution…

Meanwhile, Carlos Beltran had been in last night’s starting lineup.

Beltran told reporters he believes he lost between five and 10 pounds while dealing with what was either a stomach bug or food poisoning.

Manuel also told reporters that J.J. Putz will no longer be used as the team’s primary setup man, instead Bobby Parnell will move into the eighth-inning role.

Lastly, the Mets put SS Ramon Martinez on the disabled list with a broken pinkie, and promoted OF Emil Brown from Triple-A.

“You feel like you’re an outcast,” Church told Lennon.  “You can only do so much.  I know you still have to be out there, cheering guys on.  But it hurts inside that you can’t go out and play.”

…i missed most of my junior year in high school after having ACL surgery on my right knee, back then it was an 18–month rehab… even that experience made me feel like an outcast, yet i can only imagine how much more intense it is for guys like church and reyes, who make their living playing baseball, and take pride in being teammates…