If not the Mets, certainly the Radio City Rockettes would be interested
Late last night, just after TRDMB press time, Anthony De Rosa of the fine Mets-related blog Hot Foot posted that the Mets were in “serious” talks with the Cincinnati Reds regarding “Bronson Arroyo plus.” Please click on the Hot Foot link as Mr. De Rosa has additional information you may find interesting.
Hot Foot’s original source for that information was a tweet from Mark Healey of Baseball Digest, which I am unable to locate.
However, Mr. Healey happens to have published a lengthy article yesterday about the Mets, so I can give him some props by linking to that article here. The following is an excerpt to whet your appetite to click through that link:
“Is the mess of the 2009 season or the current state of affairs of the Mets all Minaya’s fault? Or is it the meddlesome Wilpon family ownership group (categorized by one former employee as “the well-meaning dopesâ€). Let’s remember the Wilpon group has played a major role in the management of the club since they bought a 50 percent share in 1987.”
UPDATE 11:45am: Courtesy of the infra-red satellite searching powers of our fine author Prismo, here is a link to another Mark Healey of Baseball Digest article in which he references the Arroyo talks specifically.
36 comments
dirtysanchez
12/17/2009-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)
Well, having arroyo would defiantly help. Wonder who the “plus” player is?
GravediggerHebner
12/17/2009-11:43am at 11:43 am (UTC -4)
I have no actual fact-based clue, but I think the assumption is Brandon Phillips.
prismo
12/17/2009-11:43am at 11:43 am (UTC -4)
You rang?
http://www.baseballdigest.com/2009/12/17/metsreds-talk-bay-may-cost-six-years-more/
GravediggerHebner
12/17/2009-11:51am at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
Thank you Prismo, I added that link to the post in an update at the bottom. I appreciate it!
manicmcreynolds
12/17/2009-12:37pm at 12:37 pm (UTC -4)
Nice aggregating, gentlemen. I read all three links.
That 2nd one (“Of Pressure and Patience”) is a real tough-love pep talk.
mostlymets
12/17/2009-11:54am at 11:54 am (UTC -4)
The Healey quote is not accurate. Fred Wilpon originally bought his 50% share in the Mets in 1980. I don’t know if it was transcribed inaccurately or if Healey got it wrong in the original post.
GravediggerHebner
12/17/2009-11:57am at 11:57 am (UTC -4)
I copied and pasted it from Healey’s work. I’ll leave it as is since it’s his words, not mine, but thank you for the heads up.
Kingman 26
12/17/2009-12:00pm at 12:00 pm (UTC -4)
I think Healey is right about this; not much else maybe, but this is correct I believe.
Kingman 26
12/17/2009-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
I think Wilpon bought a tiny share in 1980, then 50% in 1987, and then everything around 2000–2002…..
And welcome newcomer (I think you are new)!
GravediggerHebner
12/17/2009-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
Oh and welcome to TRDMB!
dirtysanchez
12/17/2009-12:01pm at 12:01 pm (UTC -4)
hey, welcome aboard bud. Mostly mets huh….what makes up the rest?
Kingman 26
12/17/2009-11:56am at 11:56 am (UTC -4)
He makes some good points, but this is largely another anti-Met reporter trying to make waves.
First off, to answer his question, is the organization a “mess?”
I say no.
From Opening Day 2006 right through July of last year we were in 1st place or very close, until the injuries overtook us.
“Black Monday??” Who the hell is calling it that except media types like this guy, to draw attention to themselves.
If we wind up with Bay, Molina, Arroyo, Igarashi, and another starter, won’t most of us be pretty happy?
And again with the Wilpons’ finances, which may have been ENHANCED by the Madoff scheme.
Damn, it will be sweet to shut up every last obnoxious anti-Met reporter with a good season in 2010.
trs86
12/17/2009-11:57am at 11:57 am (UTC -4)
Man that’s a long leg. I wonder how he walks?
Anyway, one would have to assume it’s Phillips in the deal and they are still trying to dump Castillo.
dirtysanchez
12/17/2009-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
perhaps a 3 way deal?
trs86
12/17/2009-12:01pm at 12:01 pm (UTC -4)
Maybe, something with Harang going to the Dodgers?
trs86
12/17/2009-12:00pm at 12:00 pm (UTC -4)
But that being said this would be a fine lineup
Reyes, Phillips, Beltran, Bay, Wright, Frenchy, Murphy, Molina
Johan, Arroyo, Pelfrey, Perez, Maine etc would be passable at best.
dirtysanchez
12/17/2009-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
well..imo i would put perez last but yea i guess thats what we will be working with next year.
trs86
12/17/2009-12:08pm at 12:08 pm (UTC -4)
True, just throwing names. One because of the 2 LH pitchers back to back and because I am afraid Perez is more of a lock for the rotation than Maine.
wannybackstra
12/17/2009-12:12pm at 12:12 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. The lineup would be strong (maybe strong enough to go a different route behind the plate because Molina’s power would be unnecessary).
And Arroyo makes the rotation better but, as you say, only passable at best.
Would Phillips + Arroyo + Bay – Castillo (assuming the Mets don’t take on additional salary sending Castillo away) leave the Mets with enough money to get another starter if they don’t sign Molina?
dirtysanchez
12/17/2009-12:18pm at 12:18 pm (UTC -4)
depends what bay gets his first year i would assume…I think it will be back loaded and would give us room for another starter but who would you really want from the avail group?
trs86
12/17/2009-12:42pm at 12:42 pm (UTC -4)
Lets think based on reports. LOL
Lets say 10 for a backloaded Bay
12 for Arroyo
1 for Phillips assuming they don’t take on cash for Castillo
Theoretically yes I would think so. Basically about 6-8 to spend. But would you be better off trying to dump Castillo for some overpriced 5th starter?
wannybackstra
12/17/2009-12:52pm at 12:52 pm (UTC -4)
So either way they’d have room.
Since I’m not sure any of the free agents will come for one million and 8m or less (maybe Davis?) then perhaps dealing Castillo for an overpaid innings eater to stash in the 5th spot would make sense.
Way outside of the box and probably a bad idea but maybe the Reds could be forced to take Castillo back in the package if the Mets save them even more money by taking Arroyo, Phillips AND Rolen ($11m for one year; could play platoon at 1B?).
manicmcreynolds
12/17/2009-12:42pm at 12:42 pm (UTC -4)
Dennys Reyes (Cardinals LOOGY) has one leg notably longer than the other.
I’m just saying.
trs86
12/17/2009-12:43pm at 12:43 pm (UTC -4)
So does Castillo.
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/17/2009-1:30pm at 1:30 pm (UTC -4)
I wonder who has longer legs. Arroyo or Beltran
GravediggerHebner
12/17/2009-12:05pm at 12:05 pm (UTC -4)
As far as the rumor goes, does anyone else find it odd that MLBTR, a site whose last name is “Rumors” has nothing whatsoever about these alleged “serious talks?”
trs86
12/17/2009-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. There was one the other day that was similar but I can’t remember what it was. I won’t get my hopes up until MLBTR puts it up and Metsblog and us race to get it up shortly afterwards.
GravediggerHebner
12/17/2009-12:33pm at 12:33 pm (UTC -4)
The more I look into this, the more I question it. Either Mark Healey has the scoop of his lifetime thus far, or it’s just the rumor equivalent of a virus which I have unwittingly contracted.
When I google “Mark Healey baseball” (if one just googles “Mark Healey” one gets a lot of surfing related items) TRDMB is in the top 5 based on this post today.
I just scoured some Cincinnati specific newspapers and blogs and found NOTHING on Arroyo-to-Mets talks.
Well at least we’re over 100 hits on it!
metsfan66
12/17/2009-1:06pm at 1:06 pm (UTC -4)
The Mets need all the help they can get. I say, if they have to give up Bobby Parnell to get Arroyo, then go ahead!
trs86
12/17/2009-1:23pm at 1:23 pm (UTC -4)
Interesting how badly does Cinncy want to dump cash? Could we get Arroyo and Harrang for Castillo and prospects? That certainly would improve the rotation. Yes that would be 24 million in pitchers but you could subtract Castillo’s 6. 18 for the two would be fine by me.
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/17/2009-1:35pm at 1:35 pm (UTC -4)
From what I’ve read in the beginning of this off season was that Cincy was looking to shed something like 2-6M. Which is why I don’t think Cincy would trade both Arroyo and Phillips or Harrang for that matter.
I really like this Arroyo deal, especially his contract. It’s essentially 1+1. I would try to get him for couple minor leaguers if possible.
GravediggerHebner
12/17/2009-1:37pm at 1:37 pm (UTC -4)
I claim no first hand knowledge of what’s going on but if the article about the rumored trade is to be believed, it noted that there were “a lot of moving parts” and that the deal could “take until spring training.”
The author added “if it was just for Arroyo, it would be done already.”
metsfan66
12/17/2009-1:46pm at 1:46 pm (UTC -4)
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Mets tried to get Phillips or Harang in that deal as well.
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/17/2009-1:48pm at 1:48 pm (UTC -4)
I would try to trade for just Arroyo for couple minor leaguers. Obviously Cincy taking some of Arroyo’s salary (about 50%).
GravediggerHebner
12/17/2009-2:05pm at 2:05 pm (UTC -4)
I hear you, and I probably would just focus on Arroyo too (knowing that I’m probably stuck with Castillo and if I want to replace Luis anyway I can probably get a FA cheap closer to ST the way the market is unfolding).
It appears the Mets disagree with me and you and are shooting for more than Arroyo.
GravediggerHebner
12/17/2009-8:39pm at 8:39 pm (UTC -4)
FWIW, I was just reading a post and it’s comments over at Amazin’ Avenue about this Arroyo rumor and among the comments was one in which the commenter stated they were a poster for 2 years on Mark Healey’s forums for Gotham Baseball and that he had often put out these rumors and that none of them ever turned out to be true (examples were rumors over the last few years Dan Haren or Placido Polanco were being acquired). That helps me understand why MLBTR or Metsblog have not published this. Sorry to get anybody excited by passing it on and remember – don’t shoot the messenger.