Putz trade close
According to Baker, Zduriencik believes that a deal for Putz is close. That goes along with this from Ken Rosenthal:
The Mets are working to acquire a setup man for new closer Francisco Rodriguez — and that setup man would be another closer from the American League West.
J.J. Putz could be headed to the Mets in a three-team trade with the Mariners and Indians, according to major-league sources.
Mets right-hander Aaron Heilman, outfielder Endy Chavez and first-base prospect Mike Carp would be in the deal, as would Indians outfielder Franklin Gutierrez.
The deal also would include one or more prospects, but it is not yet clear which players are headed where.
It’s a pretty crazy rumor with a lot of details missing. If it comes into clearer view, we’ll update the post. I will say this, though – Franklin Gutierrez is one of the very best defensive outfielders in the game (think Mike Cameron with a few less walks), and if the Mariners are really targeting him after going after Matt Joyce, it should be clear that he understands the value of good gloves in the outfield.
Update: Now the rumors have expanded to include us giving up Luis Valbuena, and apparently the Rays read the blog, realized Matt Joyce was both good and available, and are about to pick him up for Edwin Jackson. The Rays are what we absolutely should be aspiring to.
Second Update: Apparently, the M’s are going to give up Putz, Reed, and Luis Valbuena and get Gutierrez, Aaron Heilman, and Mike Carp, with various assorted pieces ending up in Cleveland and New York. It’s a remarkably interesting deal on a lot of levels. I love Gutierrez’s glove, but would have preferred Joyce as a better fit for Safeco. Heilman demanded a trade because he wants to start, and we’ve already got too many starters. And I hate giving up Valbuena, but Carp could be a legit 1B of the future. We’ll break it all down once it becomes official.
Righty killing groundball machine. Has a nice two seamer he can throw for strikes and a three-quarters -> sidearm delivered slider that really messes with right handers (think Jeff Nelson).
Sucks against lefties.
Rosenthal makes it official.
It’s official…
Yes, but you still need to score more than you give up.
It’s official…
“UPDATED 11:12 p.m. — Done deal: Mets acquire Putz
The Mets have acquired a setup man for new closer Francisco Rodriguez — and that setup man is another closer from the American League West.
J.J. Putz is headed New York in a three-team trade with the Mariners and Indians, according to major-league sources.
Under terms of the deal, the Mets get Putz, outfielder Jeremy Reed and reliever Sean Green from Seattle. The Mariners receive reliever Aaron Heilman, outfielder Endy Chavez and first baseman Mike Carp from the Mets. They also get Franklin Gutierrez from the Indians and minor leaguers. The Indians get reliever Joe Smith from the Mets and infielder Luis Valbuena from Seattle.
From the Mets’ perspective, the deal is Heilman and Smith for Putz. Chavez and Reed are simply an exchange of backup outfielders, Smith and Green are an exchange of right-handed groundball specialists.”
Don’t bad things happen when we trade young infielders to the Indians?
Maybe they want Yuni…
This sucks for JJ…worked his ass off to become one of the best closers in the game and now has to “set-up” K-Rod…whom we don’t know as a person, but was hated as an opponent…
Best of luck JJ…re-sign with the Ms in 2011 for OUR run at the World Series!