Here’s a Daily News exclusive: The Mets are working the phones, trying to trade Ramon Castro before Saturday’s 1:10 p.m. game, according to sources. If Castro can’t be traded by Saturday’s game when Brian Schneider is activated, the Mets are not prepared to eat his $2.5 million salary, a source said. As a result, if Castro remains, a source said the Mets are prepared to go to 11 pitchers for a couple of days, depending on usage tonight. Otherwise, the Mets are willing to option Omir Santos to Triple-A Buffalo. The Mets are believed to have spoken to the Mariners about Castro.
43 comments
trs86
5/29/2009-6:20pm at 6:20 pm (UTC -4)
Hmmmm, now what in the hell would the M’s need with Castro?
dirtysanchez
5/29/2009-6:20pm at 6:20 pm (UTC -4)
i have no idea….
bucknersankles
5/29/2009-6:24pm at 6:24 pm (UTC -4)
They’re trading the wrong catcher, in my opinion Schneider should be the one packing his bags.
metsfan4decades
5/29/2009-6:29pm at 6:29 pm (UTC -4)
Maybe so but you know Castro’s contract is easier to move. I’m sure that’s why it’s Castro.
trs86
5/29/2009-6:33pm at 6:33 pm (UTC -4)
I just think the Mets are not impressed by Castro and want to platoon Santos and Schneider.
metsfan4decades
5/29/2009-6:34pm at 6:34 pm (UTC -4)
Well, that too.
Santos is younger than Castro and I don’t believe has any chronic injury problems.
dirtysanchez
5/29/2009-6:34pm at 6:34 pm (UTC -4)
agreed. i think they see santos as a better backup than ramon..both have power but omir i think does a better job defensivly and health wise is probably better(cant be worse).
trs86
5/29/2009-6:40pm at 6:40 pm (UTC -4)
I think the concern is that Castro is not the type of catcher they want period. They have soured on him bigtime.
trs86
5/29/2009-6:29pm at 6:29 pm (UTC -4)
Kenji Johjima is injured so that answers that. Roster wise they have been trying to trade Betancourt but he is expensive and should not be needed with Reyes and Cora coming back. They have Ronny Cedeno who we all know can’t hit but he can field for sure with a lot of experience at SS. That would be my bet.
dirtysanchez
5/29/2009-6:33pm at 6:33 pm (UTC -4)
i agree..cedeno is probably omars target..
trs86
5/29/2009-6:42pm at 6:42 pm (UTC -4)
Most likely not Russell Branyan although that would be great.
wannybackstra
5/29/2009-6:51pm at 6:51 pm (UTC -4)
Cedeno > Ramon Martinez and can play a little bit of OF too.
gipperpdx
5/29/2009-6:43pm at 6:43 pm (UTC -4)
Who gets more starts in a Schneider / Santos platoon? I have never seen what Schneider brings to he table (no bat and at best average defense).
trs86
5/29/2009-6:46pm at 6:46 pm (UTC -4)
Oh my goooooooodness It’s Gipper. Welcome.
trs86
5/29/2009-6:48pm at 6:48 pm (UTC -4)
Oh, and I GUESS they are relying on his 2008 stats against RH.
.277 .354 .415 .769 with 9 HR against RH.
gipperpdx
5/29/2009-6:55pm at 6:55 pm (UTC -4)
If he gets back in that neighborhood, fine. I just have been underwhelmed by him – perhaps because he was touted as a great defensive catcher….and he hasn’t shown that at all.
Thanks for the welcome. What a GREAT job you guys have done!!! Congrats! The People’s Mets Blog!!!
ceetar
5/29/2009-6:43pm at 6:43 pm (UTC -4)
Schneider is a tolerable catcher. Omir hasn’t exactly proved he can start long term in the Majors, big hits aside. Castro provides that mysterious ‘power’ that Manuel seems to like.
It’s probably a cover. If the Mets can’t get anything great for their backup catcher, then they’ll claim they tried and send Santos back to the minors. Either way, nothing is going to make a huge difference on this team.
trs86
5/29/2009-6:45pm at 6:45 pm (UTC -4)
Nothing?
wannybackstra
5/29/2009-6:56pm at 6:56 pm (UTC -4)
Albert Pujols might. Castro v. Santos, likely not.
trs86
5/29/2009-6:44pm at 6:44 pm (UTC -4)
Someone on “The Roppolitans mentioned the idea of adding Church to the package. That would most likely get Branyan.
oleosmirf
5/29/2009-6:48pm at 6:48 pm (UTC -4)
ugh Russell Branyan is just having a fluke year. I wouldnt give up Church for him…
trs86
5/29/2009-6:49pm at 6:49 pm (UTC -4)
Oleo you know the writing is on the wall for Church. He will not be here next year so might as well trade him for a guy that could help.
wannybackstra
5/29/2009-6:53pm at 6:53 pm (UTC -4)
Branyan’s mirage might fade even faster than Santos’s.
I think the right move is to thank Omir for the lucky hits he has gotten so far and tell him to stay prepared at AAA.
oleosmirf
5/29/2009-6:46pm at 6:46 pm (UTC -4)
One thing I’ve missed from Schneider is his ability to block the plate. Although it doesnt happen very often, Santos and Castro both have poor positioning on plays at the plate.
At this point I would definately agree with trading Castro as with the emergence of Santos and Valentin in AAA we dont really need him anymore. We could probably get something useful for him anyway
oleosmirf
5/29/2009-6:47pm at 6:47 pm (UTC -4)
if Castro cant be traded by the deadline Takahashi can also be sent down and they can carry 3 catchers. I mean Takahashi barely pitches these days anyway…
GravediggerHebner
5/29/2009-6:49pm at 6:49 pm (UTC -4)
This is what the commenters at MLBTR are throwing around, some staunchly defending it’s virtue and others ridiculing it as insane overpaying on the part of the Mets:
Jarrod Washburn to the Mets for SP Dillon Gee, C Ramon Castro and SS Ruben Tejada
GravediggerHebner
5/29/2009-6:50pm at 6:50 pm (UTC -4)
What none of those commenters has mentioned is that this deal would not open a roster spot for Schneider.
trs86
5/29/2009-6:50pm at 6:50 pm (UTC -4)
Well if the Mets needed a SP right now that would work. But RIGHT NOW that is not our major concern.
metsfan4decades
5/29/2009-6:52pm at 6:52 pm (UTC -4)
Any chance they make that trade, send Redding to the BP and send Tak down?
trs86
5/29/2009-6:54pm at 6:54 pm (UTC -4)
And then when Ollie HAS to come back?
wannybackstra
5/29/2009-6:55pm at 6:55 pm (UTC -4)
jinx
metsfan4decades
5/29/2009-6:55pm at 6:55 pm (UTC -4)
Uh…I keep forgetting about my boy Ollie.
My bad.
GravediggerHebner
5/29/2009-6:56pm at 6:56 pm (UTC -4)
Believe me many of us would like to forget about him.
gipperpdx
5/29/2009-7:01pm at 7:01 pm (UTC -4)
Ollie, Ollie, Oxen-NEVER-free!!!!
wannybackstra
5/29/2009-6:54pm at 6:54 pm (UTC -4)
I can’t see the Mets laying out for Washburn’s contract right now when the rotation is not really a problem.
Remember, Ollie is on the DL and can’t stay down in AAA forever.
wannybackstra
5/29/2009-6:58pm at 6:58 pm (UTC -4)
In the meantime, Tejada is on a bit of a hot streak in AA and can probbably do what Valdez and Ramon Martinez are doing right now (any hit Valdez gets is lucky).
wannybackstra
5/29/2009-6:55pm at 6:55 pm (UTC -4)
Just send Santos down. His .267 Avg and .300 OBP suggest that the big hits were so fortunate to receive were likely flukes or coincidences.
metsfan4decades
5/29/2009-6:59pm at 6:59 pm (UTC -4)
And if this is the outcome, wonder how much that hurts the ego if you’re Castro knowing they were feverishly trying to get rid of you? I know it’s business but how can you not take that personally?
If he does remain, he’ll just have to work his butt off to prove he deserves to stay.
wannybackstra
5/29/2009-7:01pm at 7:01 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, you’d think they would try to find a way to keep this under wraps. No good can come from publicizing this. It’s not as if you’re going to energize the fan base by it — fans might be energized if the return was going to be Ichiro, but we know better than that.
gipperpdx
5/29/2009-6:58pm at 6:58 pm (UTC -4)
I’ve been saying for ages they nee a legit number two….Washburn isn’t it. Plus, as others have said, it doesn’t clear a spot for Schneider.
gipperpdx
5/29/2009-7:00pm at 7:00 pm (UTC -4)
*need
jonnyballgame
5/29/2009-7:03pm at 7:03 pm (UTC -4)
Comments are off on the Game thread Dirty
GravediggerHebner
5/29/2009-7:05pm at 7:05 pm (UTC -4)
I turned ‘em on. I hope he didn’t have them off on purpose to get people into the Real Dirty Dugout.