Mike's Mets

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Mets Hot Stove: Mike Cameron Traded

I was out for a few hours today, and returned to find out that Omar has fired the first shot of the hot stove season for the Mets.

This story first appeared on MetsBlog this afternoon here and here, then confirmation at Newsday and then the Daily News.

I have to admit that I'm surprised by this. Nady isn't a total stiff, but you would have hoped for more in return for Cameron. Nady has some power, strikes out a lot and doesn't walk. To my mind, if questions about Cameron's health hurt his value it might have made more sense to hold onto him into spring training to prove to other teams that he is healthy. For all of that, I'm not going to kill Omar on this deal; it certainly wasn't a terrible trade. I'll give him some credit for being aggressive and reserve judgment until I see what else goes down.

There seems to be some discussion as to whether Omar picked up the 27 year old Nady to platoon at first with Mike Jacobs or to possibly include in another trade down the road. For those of you out there that hope to see Manny Ramirez on the Mets -- and you know I'm not with you on this -- I wouldn't read too much into the Mets not having Cameron to trade to the Sox. There was always some question that they wanted Cameron at all, anyway.

This blog has a new home
Visit Our New Web Site

posted by Mike at 5:29 PM

5 Comments:

  • Um, its Nady, Xavier Nady.

    Also, the Padres took Cameron's $7M contract without asking for any cash in return, which I think is the key; I agree, the Mets look like they are getting too little in return. This is clearly a salary clearing move; for what, you Mets fans would have a better feel for what your greatest need is, but this opens up some leeway to a high priced free agent or trade pickup. Perhaps he has Burnett on the radar and need the cash? Or Giles in RF?

    Say, Mets fans have any interest in a Matsui for Alfonzo trade? Just curious.

    By Blogger obsessivegiantscompulsive, at 8:42 PM  

  • Thanks for the correction, I fixed the name in the post. Silly mistake.

    I agree with you on salary clearing -- I was surprised that the Padres would take on that much salary. I heard they were cost cutting.

    As for the Mets, I think Omar is still hot for Manny. Plus either Hernandez or Molina at C will cost $$$$$.

    A lot of Mets fans would make that Alfonso - Matsui deal. I wouldn't, I like Fonsie but he's 99% done. I think Matsui can give them something if he doesn't get hurt again and the fans give him half a chance. How many years does Alfonso have left on his contract?

    By Blogger Mike, at 10:24 PM  

  • This is Alfonzo's last year and it is the same amount, co-inky-dink, as Matsui's contract amount, which is also his last year. Seems like kismet to me, same amount, Mets fans still like Alfonzo, he's passable as a backup 2B/3B, Mets already have a number of SS backups, plus I think his batting could perk up in NY since he'll be re-united with his family, whereas the Giants need a MI backup who can play SS, not just 2B, could use a little speed on the bench, and both their hitting last season was so bad that they are essentially the same and Mets fans are as mad at Matsui's ineptness as Giants fans are at Alfonzo's ineptness.

    Didn't know that Matsui has an injury problem, but we Giants fans suspect that Alfonzo's back has been bothering him more than he lets on as his power was non-existent last season except for the first week of games when he muscled out the only two homers he would get for the season. Seems like something good for both players to get away from their failures and lack of fan support, which might invigorate both of them in new environments.

    I think the Padres were salary clearing to get other players, not to reduce the budget significantly since they have a new stadium and the revenues from that, but I haven't checked on them recently so maybe this is a new direction that you are talking about. Giles and Hoffman took huge chunks of their budget, I think they are trying to clear them out, though I'm sure they wouldn't mind them back at more reasonable salaries. Klesko is another guy I think they would like to get rid of.

    But since we haven't heard anything much for a while, maybe this deal is dead?

    By Blogger obsessivegiantscompulsive, at 8:57 PM  

  • Alfonso's back has been a problem for a long time. They were talking about that in 2001 when they didn't re-sign him. It's really a credit to his toughness that he plays as many games and as well as he still does.

    Matsui has missed a lot of games with leg injuries both years here, though he was supposedly an iron man in Japan. Still I think he can be a good player here given the chance. I've heard the Mets might just trade Matsui and eat a lot of salary to get rid of him. If that's true, I would rather they did the deal with SF for Alfonso.

    You're right, Mets fans would be happy to see Alfonso back if he could give us anything. Not sure Giants fans would be happy with Matsui if he played very much SS there -- he made a ton of errors in 2004 because his arm was below par. At 2B you'd be pleasantly surprised by his play, better than advertised.

    By Blogger Mike, at 9:34 PM  

  • For Giants fans, getting Matsui would be a blessing because that opens up another spot on the roster to pick up a good hitter/poor defense guy. If we have Alfonzo, we still have to get a MI utility who can play SS, and how many of those can actually hit? So then we would have two spots who can't hit on the bench. And if the Giants go with 12 relievers, that leaves only 3 other spots on the bench, one being a catcher, plus the lefty 1B Sabean is looking for, and then the reserve OF. The bench would be kind of thin with Alfonzo in the mix.

    Thanks for your thoughts. Looks like you guys got Nady, good luck on landing your big fish, at least you all have budget to spend.

    By Blogger obsessivegiantscompulsive, at 6:41 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Return to Home Page