Tag Archives: Xavier Nady

According to Jon Heyman at SI.com, while the Mets and Rays are interested, ‘the D-Backs and Cardinals are among the most ardent pursuers of Pirates star outfielder Jason Bay.’

In the report, Heyman quotes Pirates GM Neal Huntington as saying, “If we get the right match, we’ll make a move.”

The Pirates are believed to be seeking ‘multiple upper-echelon prospects,’ such as D-Backs 2B prospect Emilio Bonifacio and Cardinals OF prospect Colby Rasmus.

In the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dejan Kovacevic quotes Huntington as saying:

“Candidly, there is not the depth that we need.  As we’ve talked about, if we’re going to be a championship organization, we’re going to need a lot of pieces. Especially pitching.”

As I wrote this morning on MetsBlog.com, the buzz from Atlanta has suggested the Pirates recently asked for at least one top position prospect, such as SS Brent Lillibridge, in exchange for OF-1B Xavier Nady.

In terms of the Mets, I believe Nady would likely cost a package including Fernando Martinez, or Mike Carp, Jon Neise and probably another pitching prospect, though, based on what Heyman is writing I am not even sure that would be enough.

Lastly, much like he said yesterday on SNY, Heyman writes that the Mets could end up going after Angels OF Juan Rivera, who is hitting .194 with 3 home runs in 34 games for the Angels.

In 2006, Rivera hit .310 with 24 HR and 85 RBI, but has struggled to return to that level of production ever since.

Rivera can be a free agent at the end of this season.

Tagged Xavier Nady |

Yesterday, Omar Minaya announced that Moises Alou could realistically miss the remainder of the season should he chose to have surgery on his torn hamstring.

Meanwhile, as I mentioned on SNY’s The Wheel House yesterday, which you can watch by clicking here, it would be wise for the Mets to approach this year’s Trade Deadline assuming Ryan Church will miss additional time this season, even if he returns healthy from his current stint on the disabled list.

And so, during his talk with reporters, Minaya said:

“Right now, we’re going to give the guys we have an opportunity.  But, you have to continue to look at things and see if there’s somebody out there that we feel is an upgrade…Are we going to be in the marketplace looking for guys to improve? Yes, but it has to be the right guy.”

That said, in the New York Post, Joel Sherman recently wrote that names such as OF-1B Xavier Nady, OF Raul Ibanez, OF Randy Winn and OF Adam Dunn are will be most associated with the Mets.

Sherman also mentions that Minaya might be willing to take on a bloated contract, if it helped to reduce the value of the prospect needed to acquire a corner outfielder.

The sense I get from people in Seattle and San Francisco is that neither the Mariners nor Giants are eager to trade Winn or Ibanez, who are both relatively affordable, under contract and are both still useful and productive players.

The buzz from Cincinnati indicates that the market for Dunn is surprisingly quiet.  Additionally, Dunn will likely be a Type-A Free Agent, and could net the Reds two draft picks, assuming he is not re-signed to an extension - in short, the two draft picks could end up being far more valuable than the type of prospect a team will trade for Dunn today.  What’s more, the word around baseball paints Dunn as an apathetic strike-out machine, who, while he occasionally walks, is more or less useless in the field, and so he will bring more in name recognition than actual results.

As for Nady, who is the player I would like the Mets to acquire, and the name that is mentioned most to me by other fans, at this point, from what I can gather, the Pirates are not feeling pressure to trade him.

In fact, the buzz from Atlanta suggests that the Pirates recently asked for at least one top position prospect, such as SS Brent Lillibridge.  In terms of the Mets, I believe Nady would likely cost a package including Fernando Martinez, or Mike Carp, Jon Neise and probably another pitching prospect.

There is no indication that the Pirates will ever accept a package built around Aaron Heilman, as so many fans like suggest.

Regarding the free agent market, Omar Minaya essentially ruled out Barry Bonds while speaking to WFAN earlier this week.  What’s more, according to a recent report by Ken Davidoff in Newsday, citing an e-mail from Minaya, the Mets are not interested in Kenny Lofton either.

Lastly, according to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, speaking yesterday on SNY’s Pre-Game show, the Mets are most interested in 1B-OF Juan Rivera, who is hitting just .194 with three home runs in 34 games for the Angels.

In 2006, Rivera hit .310 with 24 HR and 85 RBI, but has struggled to return to that level of production ever since.

Rivera can be a free agent at the end of this season.

Tagged Randy Winn, Xavier Nady |

In a report for SI.com, Jon Heyman lists 19 pitchers who could be traded before the deadline on July 31, including A’s RHP Rich Harden and Huston Street, Reds RHP Bronson Arroyo and O’s RHP Chad Bradford, among others.

Regarding the outfield, Heyman writes, “Jason Bay and Xavier Nady should be highly coveted, and I can imagine the Mets calling every other day to try to bring back Nady, whom they dealt to the Bucs for Oliver Perez in 2006.”

In a recent report for the Post-Gazette, Dejan Kovacevic wrote that the Pirates are far more likely to trade Nady than Bay, assuming either become available.

Tagged Xavier Nady |

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pirates OF Xavier Nady may be placed on the disabled list with a Grade 1 sprain in in his left shoulder.

Nady injured his shoulder when he crashed into the right-field wall Saturday night while trying to catch a fly ball.

He is hitting .310 with 28 extra base hits and 49 RBI in 66 games for the Pirates this season.

In a recent report for the Post-Gazette, Dejan Kovacevic wrote that the Pirates are far more likely to trade Nady than OF Jason Bay, assuming either become available.

However, in his latest Rumblings & Grumblings column for ESPN.com, Jayson Stark wrote that neither player is likely to be traded as the Pirates attempt to finish around .500.

Meanwhile, according to the Daily Herald, citing ‘a source within the organization,’ 1B Richie Sexson will soon be released by the Mariners.

Sexson, 33, is batting just .209 with 27 HR and 88 RBI in his last 178 games, while striking out 165 times.

Tagged Xavier Nady |

According to Dan Graziano in the Star-Ledger, citing officials with three major-league teams, ‘Mets GM Omar Minaya has been calling around this week to gauge the availability of players he thinks could help the Mets improve,’ such as O’s 1B Kevin Millar, and Pirates OF Jason Bay and Xavier Nady.

Graziano compares the Mets to the position Boston found themselves in while stumbling around in 2004, after which a ‘radical July makeover’ propelled them to a World Championship.

To see a list of other potential outfielders who could be available on the trade market, check out MLB Trade Rumors.

Speaking of the trade market, in his video blog for ESPN.com, Buster Olney explains how the bounty of quality, young pitching around MLB could result in a team trading a pitcher like Ben Sheets or C.C. Sabathia in exchange for two Grade-B prospects.

Speaking of acquisitions, though the Mets have ‘some interest’ in 1B Scott Hatteberg, as Newsday recently wrote, the Mariners appear to be his biggest suitor, according to the Seattle Times.

Tagged Xavier Nady |

In a recent report for FOXSports.com, Ken Rosenthal lists roughly 20 players who could be on the trade block this summer, ranging from Reds OF Adam Dunn to Pirates 1B-OF Xavier Nady to A’s RHP Joe Blanton and Rich Harden.

Regarding Nady, who is of interest to Mets fans, as well as Jason Bay, Rosenthal writes:

“Nady is off to his usual fast start, and the Pirates should begin exploring the market for him immediately.  Bay, too, is hitting, but his defense in left field draws as much disdain from rival executives as Dunn’s.  Both players are under control through 2009 - Nady is earning $3.35 million in arbitration this season…The Pirates’ new front office was largely inactive last off-season, gambling that Bay, in particular, would restore his value.  As the deadline nears, the team figures to turn more aggressive.”

Meanwhile, in the New York Times, Josh Robinson talks with Nady about his time with the Mets.

According to Robinson, though Nady has been the topic of trade rumors, “Mets GM Omar Minaya and Pirates GM  Neal Huntington declined to comment on the possibility of a trade.”

Tagged Xavier Nady |

In a post to his blog for ESPN.com, Buster Olney believes that Pirates 1B Xavier Nady would be a good fit for the Mets or Indians, “but the new Pittsburgh management is, for now, devoted to the idea of trying to win in 2008.”

…from what i understand, if the Pirates ever decide to trade nady, it will be for high-quality, young, minor leaguers or zero-to-three guys who they can control…you know the drill…

According to Olney, if the Mets are looking for a short-term solution at first base, “they could talk to Cincinnati about a deal for Scott Hatteberg, who doesn’t hit for much power but does get on base consistently.”

Tagged Xavier Nady |

In a recent post to his blog for ESPN.com, Jayson Stark wrote that the Mets would like to acquire Tigers OF Marcus Thames or Pirates OF Xavier Nady.

However, according to Stark, Thames would cost Aaron Heilman, who the Mets cannot afford to trade.

Meanwhile, during his appearance on WFAN yesterday, SI.com’s Jon Heyman said:

“I haven’t seen any indication the Mets can get Nady.  They don’t have a lot of prospects.  The ones they do have, Fernando Martinez, guys like that, they want to hold on to.  I would be surprised, Pittsburgh just does not make many trades, the past regime, the new regime, they are just reluctant to make trades.  I don’t think the Mets have the pieces anyway.”

…thanks to the great Peter Wade for the quote…

To listen to Heyman’s entire interview, go to WFAN.com.

Tagged Xavier Nady |

As noted on Sunday, OF Reed Johnson was released by the Blue Jays.

Over the weekend, Omar Minaya told reporters that, while he and his staff will discuss Johnson, like with all available players, he is essentially content with Angel Pagan and Brady Clark.

…as i have said before, i believe the Mets are seeking a way to find a player who fits better than johnson, pagan or clark, like Xavier Nady for instance…however, nady is far more costly than the team is willing to pay, which is why it looks more and more like pagan will be the team’s replacement for Moises Alou…

Tagged Xavier Nady |

The Mets recently contacted the Pirates about OF Xavier Nady, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, ‘but there is no indication anything substantive is afoot or even likely.’

According to the report, citing a ‘team source,’ the Pirates would likely seek pitching prospects in any deal for Nady.

…as i have said before, nady would require a pitcher like Phil Humber, who the Mets no longer have…you know, a guy not as far along as Mike Pelfrey, but better than Jon Niese or Eddie Kunz…so, as much as i would love to see nady back on the Mets, i just don’t see how it happens…

…if the Mets are going to make a trade, as noted last week, it’ll likely be towards the end of March, using an extra arm from the bullpen, and for a guy better than Angel Pagan, who is not going to get in the way of Moises Alou…which is why i just feel like pagan may be this team’s opening day left fielder, or Endy Chavez, as we all wait for alou’s return…

In fact, last week in the Daily News, Adam Rubin wrote that the Mets have been shopping Jorge Sosa and Scott Schoeneweis, who will not be happy if he’s traded, according to Jeremy Cothran in the Star-Ledger.

Speaking of Pagan, during yesterday’s game, he ran hard on what should have been a bloop single turning it in to a double.

Randolph, on Pagan, after yesterday’s game…

“That’s why I love this kid.  He hustles.  He plays hard.  He’s one of the better athletes on the team.  We can all learn from that…Hey, that’s how you make the ball club.  Little things like that, I notice, they jump out at me every time…batting average isn’t going to make this team.  It’s those kind of plays that are going to make this club for guys like him.”

For more on Pagan, who has hit .255 in 318 at-bats over the last two years, check out Petter Botte’s report for the Daily News.

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