Toronto GM Alex Anthopoulos said the “Blue Jays are open to discussing any deal“. Looks like he was not lying. Today the Blue Jays made a trade with the Atlanata Braves that had them swapping Yunel Escobar for Alex Gonzalez as the centerpieces of a 5 player trade.
With reports that Anthopoulos has made relievers Kevin Gregg, Jason Frasor, and Scott Downs available you have to wonder if the Mets have already inquired about the possibility of acquiring lefty reliever Scott Downs as the 8th inning man? If not then what are they waiting for?
The 34 year old Downs, who is also on the last year of his deal, is making $4 million this season. So far this season he is:
| Split | W | L | W-L% | ERA | G | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | WHIP | SO/9 | SO/BB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Totals | 3 | 5 | .375 | 2.65 | 41 | 37.1 | 30 | 12 | 11 | 2 | 8 | 29 | 1.018 | 7.0 | 3.63 |
Better still Downs splits vs lefties and righties are fairly good vs both of them.
| Split | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | SO | SO/BB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| vs RHB as LHP | 38 | 89 | 5 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 6.00 | .225 | .250 | .281 | .531 |
| vs LHB as LHP | 35 | 48 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 2.20 | .208 | .321 | .354 | .676 |
A further look at him in the 8th inning shows:
| Split | G | IP | ER | ERA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | SO | SO/BB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8th inning | 31 | 23.0 | 7 | 2.74 | 83 | 4 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 20 | 4.00 | .217 | .278 | .253 | .531 |
Below is the interview the Blue Jays GM did with The Fan 590 where he talks about his willingness to negotiate.
35 comments
rustyjr
7/14/2010-5:49pm at 5:49 pm (UTC -4)
Oliie & Slappy for Downs ? – id do that in a heartbeat !!
CaseStreet
7/14/2010-6:11pm at 6:11 pm (UTC -4)
Mets need to:
- Go get Ted Lilly and send Taka to the pen
- Go get Kelly Johnson, quick
- Hide Frenchy on the Bench
- Start Thole over Barajas
That’s it.
fongy2
7/14/2010-6:13pm at 6:13 pm (UTC -4)
Sounds good to me!!!
—Or—How ’bout we
take all 3 of those Blue Jay
RPs off their hands???
Mr North Jersey
7/14/2010-6:27pm at 6:27 pm (UTC -4)
But we have Castillo coming back. Why would we want Johnson?
CaseStreet
7/14/2010-6:32pm at 6:32 pm (UTC -4)
Didn’t you hear? Louie and Ollie have been shipped to the Bermuda Triangle on a permanent rehab assignment.
Seriously, though, I like the team, but looking at where it can be improved via trade, I’d say SP and 2B.
Moving Pagan to RF and starting Thole should fix the OBP abyss in the bottom of the lineup.
stickguy
7/14/2010-6:56pm at 6:56 pm (UTC -4)
Agree about getting thole in there. Now that barajas remembered who he is the bottom of the order is a bad combo of low obp and no power.
fongy2
7/14/2010-6:15pm at 6:15 pm (UTC -4)
Noted The Dodgers outright waived
George Sherrill…If our spot comes up on the wheel, do we claim him???
GravediggerHebner
7/14/2010-7:05pm at 7:05 pm (UTC -4)
I think at worst any one of those 3 guys would instantly become the 3rd best reliever in the Mets bullpen and are therefore worthy acquisition targets.
What I don’t know is what Toronto would want in return, and as far as “what are the Mets waiting for” another thing I don’t know is whether the cost for any of these guys is going to go up or down as the deadline approaches.
Toronto just got a relatively young SS whose 1st 2 years in the league showed promise and improvement but who for whatever reason is having a very poor 3rd year in exchange for 33 year old having a career year. In other words it’s my opinion they sold high/bought low. If they are seeking that type of trade for 1 of their veteran relievers my inclination would be to pass.
Mr North Jersey
7/14/2010-7:14pm at 7:14 pm (UTC -4)
Keep in mind that the Toronto GM said he is open to all kinds of scenarios even if it included a 3 or 4 team trade. In other words the mandate is to move players. Which ones and for what well that remains to be seen but the word is out the Blue Jays are moving product.
GravediggerHebner
7/14/2010-7:41pm at 7:41 pm (UTC -4)
When I read your last sentence I suddenly feel like I’m in the middle of a drug deal.
My only trepidation is I would hope the Mets would not sell a young talented player low to acquire any of these guys. For example I wouldn’t want the Mets giving them FMart for any of these guys.
After looking at each of the relievers stats I don’t have to worry about the Jays selling high because none of them are having career years like Alex Gonzalez is.
Upon further review my comment above of 7:05pm was mostly irrelevant.
Mr North Jersey
7/14/2010-7:51pm at 7:51 pm (UTC -4)
LoL, the codeword is “White Pony”.
Kingman 26
7/14/2010-8:56pm at 8:56 pm (UTC -4)
Moving product!!
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have Tarantino on our minds today for sure.
Hazmet
7/14/2010-9:02pm at 9:02 pm (UTC -4)
Don’t drink the beer in that mexican bar.
Kingman 26
7/14/2010-9:07pm at 9:07 pm (UTC -4)
Not to worry…just having a vanilla coke at Jackrabbit Slim’s…
Mr North Jersey
7/14/2010-9:11pm at 9:11 pm (UTC -4)
What no Douglas Sirk steak?
Kingman 26
7/15/2010-12:00am at 12:00 am (UTC -4)
Yes sir, and bloody as hell.
Mr North Jersey
7/14/2010-9:14pm at 9:14 pm (UTC -4)
You know you can also get the five-dollar shake. It comes in either Martin and Lewis or Amos and Andy.
Kingman 26
7/15/2010-12:00am at 12:00 am (UTC -4)
You know, I don’t think Buddy Holly is much of a waiter….
Mr North Jersey
7/14/2010-7:35pm at 7:35 pm (UTC -4)
Interesting note: It is the 1st time I ever heard a MLB GM say players have internet access and they monitor MLBTradeRumors site.
trs86
7/14/2010-10:24pm at 10:24 pm (UTC -4)
It is interesting that they admit it but you have to know that it’s been going on for a while.
Mr North Jersey
7/14/2010-10:47pm at 10:47 pm (UTC -4)
Yes I would hope most ballplayers that want to know are aware that it doesn’t take much to find articles about trade rumors. It was more that he referenced a specific site that got my attention. I would think MLBTR would be happy to hear their site referenced by a Major League GM.
trs86
7/14/2010-11:44pm at 11:44 pm (UTC -4)
Very true. Have you ever looked at that site’s page views? It’s incredible. It’s like MB on roids.
njstuckintx
7/14/2010-8:05pm at 8:05 pm (UTC -4)
I wonder if “any deal” would work for one of their many starters. I’ll keep banging the pan until someone tells me to stop. Marcum and Downs, come on down! You’ve been chosen for the “Mets is Right”! And remember to spay or neuter your pets.
oleosmirf
7/14/2010-8:26pm at 8:26 pm (UTC -4)
im not willing to trade Thole.
the problem is the 2 guys i find expendable are the 2 guys Omar really drools over (F-mart and Tejada).
Mr North Jersey
7/14/2010-8:31pm at 8:31 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed on Thole but the question is what would it take to get it done?
oleosmirf
7/14/2010-8:42pm at 8:42 pm (UTC -4)
no idea maybe someone like Sean Ratliff and a pitching prospect?
Kingman 26
7/14/2010-8:55pm at 8:55 pm (UTC -4)
I sure agree on Thole.
Next year’s opening day catcher.
trs86
7/14/2010-10:23pm at 10:23 pm (UTC -4)
My question is how exactly do WE know who Omar drools over? Surely you are not basing it on what he says in the media.
Hazmet
7/14/2010-9:36pm at 9:36 pm (UTC -4)
“Open to discussing any deal” to me sounds like codex for the opening yearly salvo of “anyone willing to take Vernon Well’s contract can have anything on the cupboard”. Two problems there is Toronto could never add up enough prospects to offset that contractual monstrocity. Second problem is Toronto doesn’t even appear to have any prospects. Their top 2 guys are Drabek from the Phils deal plus a cast off 3B prospect Brett Wallace. Even their ML roster doesn’t have enough pieces to offset the Wells commitment. At least looking at the Wells contract makes Ollie and Castillo’s deals look like bargain basement. Here’s to hoping a minor deal can be swung for 1 of those 3 BP candidates that certainly would help. I’d still love the Pirates Dotel in the mix instead.
trs86
7/14/2010-10:22pm at 10:22 pm (UTC -4)
Hey you could get incredibly creative. Ollie, Castillo, Maine, and Beltran for Wells. Wells moves to RF and Pagan stays in CF.
10:$9M left 11:$18.5M for Beltran, 10:$2.5M left, 11:$6M for Castillo, 10:$5M left, 11:$12M for Ollie, 1 year/$1.5M left (2010) for Maine. That’s about 67M.
10:6M left,11:$23M, 12:$21M, 13:$21M, 14:$21M That’s about 92M.
Now include Downs and Marcum.
Now, laugh uncontrollably that I even suggested this and you actually took time to read it.
Mr North Jersey
7/14/2010-10:26pm at 10:26 pm (UTC -4)
How did you know that is what I always do when I read your comments?
Just kidding….
oleosmirf
7/14/2010-11:05pm at 11:05 pm (UTC -4)
btw Corey Vaughn with another HR tonight…
stickguy
7/14/2010-11:09pm at 11:09 pm (UTC -4)
keeps this up, and he will be moving on to Savannah pretty soon.
GravediggerHebner
7/14/2010-11:42pm at 11:42 pm (UTC -4)
Moving to Savannah soon,
gonna be a dental floss tycoon.
trs86
7/14/2010-11:43pm at 11:43 pm (UTC -4)
Not bad for a guy that Keith Law is continuing to call a non-prospect that can’t hit.