If Rosenthal is right, the Nationals just screwed over the Mets by acquiring Lastings Milledge for catcher Brian Schneider and outfielder Ryan Church.
This deal makes almost no sense. Schneider is a below average catcher signed to a long term deal that is really no better than Paul LoDuca and a lesser option as a catcher than Johnny Estrada, who will now either be traded or non-tendered. Church is a okay outfielder, who could be capable of playing center, but he has had some injury issues in the past and lacks the power needed for an outfielder corner.
What the hell was he thinking?
God, if they are any Nationals fans on this board, they got to be celebrating. Milledge has the potential to be an excellent outfielder and all star. He comes with some baggage, but honestly, it's workable and a lot of it may have been blown out of proportion by the Mets.
The Nats now enter 2008 with a lineup that looks like this:
Felipe Lopez (SS)
Austin Kearns (CF)
Ryan Zimmerman (3B)
Wily Mo Pena (LF)
Lastings Milledge (RF)
Dmitri Young (1B)
Ronny Belliard (2B)
Catcher To Be Named Later
Pitcher
I'm getting the feeling that when it's all said and done with the Mets, they will look at Minaya's hiring to possibly be a collosal mistake.
Good move Nationals.
P.S. - How the Hell Did Texas miss out on this? I would have offered Minaya Gerald Laird and Marlon Byrd, which aren't expensive and for the most part are younger than Church and Schnieder.
Update - 1:09 Pacific - For all the flak that Jim Bowden gets and for all the accolades that Omar Minaya gets, Minaya has struck out a lot more on his deals than Bowden has. Almost all of his good moves have pretty much been salary dumps, with only two trades, the John Maine for Kris Benson sawp and the Xavier Nady for Oliver Perez swap, actually panning out. This merits a study, now that I think about it. Look for it in December.
I agree, this trade is horrible for the Mets. Even though I think they got the better end of the deal with the Nationals, it just makes no sense.
The difference between Estrada and Schneider is minimal at best, and essentially makes the Mota deal worthless.
The Mets' outfield isn't looking too daunting -- Alou, Beltran, Church? I'll take the Phillies outfield over that -- Burrell, Victorino, Werth (and platoon partner, perhaps Dobbs if no one else is signed).
This seems like an Ed Wade move, not an Omar Minaya move.
Why not use Milledge either in a package to net a #1 like Santana, or one of the Athletics' starters, or use Milledge alone to net a middle-of-the-rotation guy?
As a Phillies fan, I love the move. As a fan of logic, I hate it.
Last edited by UltraMegaOK1988 on November 30th at 11:16 AM.
This move makes absolutely no sense. Church isn't really a prospect anymore. He is what he is, which is a solid player without nearly the potential of Lsatings Milledge. The only reason i see for Minaya making this deal is one that we are not aware of. Maybe Milledge and Randolph have had some problems that have not been publicised. But even if thats true, that only limits his value to the Mets, not to other teams, who wouldn't know about those issues anyhow. So really, this deal is incomprehensible.
Last edited by chitownsfinest on November 30th at 12:16 PM.
Q: I agree. Milledge has the makings of a very good player. I liken him to Torii Hunter is some respects.
Btroup: Milledge isn't a project. Elijah Dukes is. Milledge likes to high five fans after a homer. What is the problem with this? Is it because of his rap career? There are guys that have had worse things happen. Hell, Billy Wagner slammed management ON THE METS' OFFICIAL WEBSITE!!!!!!
Chitown: I think the basis of this is because Minaya knows the guys and obtained them under his watch with the Expos. But as you said, you're trading for two people who are what they are.
You know, when you think about it, Bowden actually isn't that bad o####M. He seems to cook up ways to get the better end of a deal. He's turned bullpen fodder, a busted arm and Schnieder and Church into Felipe Lopez, Austin Kearns, Wily Mo Pena and now Milledge. That's not bad at all.
As far as the Estrada deal, from what I gathered, they did the trade only to unload Mota's salary, making it a salary dump only. But still, there was nothing wrong with Estrada. He's a better catcher than Schneider is right now.
As far as the Mets' outfield, ####, I might even taken the Rangers' mess over the Mets' right now. Alou is only good for 120 games a year, Beltran is solid, but starting to catch flak among Mets fans for not producing Willie Mays like production everyday and Church is a below average outfield corner and only an average centerfielder at best.
As for Milledge, hell, the Rangers had a better offer for him. It was Gerald Laird, a young catcher who is better defensively than Estrada and has more offensive upside than Schneider, and Joaquin Benoit, who could have locked down the bullpen, for Milledge. It was a more cost effective and sensible deal than what the Mets ended up with.
I have no problem with the man. I just know a few Mets fans who soured on him. Bowden brought in Jose Guillen, and he produced. He also brought in Christian Guzman...well let's just wait and see on any trade involving the Nationals.
Trading Milledge now is planning for the future. The Mets payroll this year and next are already going to be outrageously high, and Milledge will be looking to negotiate his contract much higher, adding another $10mil/yr to the Mets payroll. I think the Mets scouts are seeing what most of us are seeing, that Milledge is not necessarily the natural he was pegged to be several years ago. He's no automatic sensation like Ryan Howard or Hunter Pence. Milledge may have looked good against minor league pitching, but he just looks lost aginst MLBers. So, it's time to cut him loose, and get a little bit for him without adding to their payroll woes already. The Mets may be looking to cut some fat away to make room for Santana's salary. I'm just surprised the Mets didnt try to package Milledge in their attempt to get Santana.
"But still, there was nothing wrong with Estrada. He's a better catcher than Schneider is right now."
estrada wore out his welcome in milwaukee by august. his lack of hustle running to 1st base, inability to throw out baserunners, and consistently swinging at almost every first pitch (leading to taking about 7 walks all season i think) were just the tip of the ice berg.
from what i hear, he was not a good clubhouse presence either.
i didnt like the trade for mota, but at least we got something for a garbage catcher with awful plate discipline who was probably going to get about $4.5 mil this year (maybe more, i have no clue what players are worth).
but anyway, as far as the mets catcher situation, if schneider isnt any better than estrada, they're in a heap of trouble.
"Btroup: Milledge isn't a project. Elijah Dukes is. Milledge likes to high five fans after a homer. What is the problem with this? Is it because of his rap career? There are guys that have had worse things happen. Hell, Billy Wagner slammed management ON THE METS' OFFICIAL WEBSITE!!!!!!"
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