Sure, the Rumor Mill's been quiet of late. But that's because the Mets
and Yankees are not really involved (at least not yet) in any of the
sexy names that are being bandied about recently. Jason Bay? Many baseball officials we spoke with think he's going to
the Rays, and if the Pirates make the deal they really want, that may
be the only deal they make.
Xavier Nady? Mets fans want him, but Omar Minaya does not want to deal Jon Niese as part of a package for him (especially since the owner is enamored with the young left-hander) and could focusing on Willie Bloomquist instead.
Who? Yes, you read that right. The hustling 30-year old with the .261 lifetime batting average is the kind of player that makes a "great deal of sense for us", said one Mets insider. "He's hitting .348 against lefties this year, and is a very good defensive outfielder."
His price tag is also attractive. But for those of you yelling about an impact bat, the Mets just don't have the prospects to acquire one. And for the other ones yelling that a Willie Bloomquist acquisition is redundant because of Fernando Tatis, the latter is as bad an outfielder as Marlon Anderson is.
Well, fear not, Mets fans, because TRM hears that there's at least one All-Star caliber player the Mets have their eyes on, and that's Carlos Lee. Lee is in the second year of a six-year, $100 million contract, and while he is one of the more popular Astros (they call him "El Caballo"), the organization's farm system is even more dreadful than the Mets'.
Though blustery Houston owner Drayton McLane continues to bellow about his team's penchant for making second half runs to contend, the folks we talked to say Ed Wade is calling "lots of people in baseball about three of four guys making big money on his roster." The Mets are said to be one of those teams, and Lee is the guy they are willing to discuss.
Lance Berkman isn't going anywhere, Miguel Tejada (being shopped to the Dodgers, we just learned) will be a tricky sell and Lee, though powerful, is a player most feel is best suited to the AL.
Give his past pursuit of Roy Oswalt (whose value has dropped considerably), Minaya is well-versed in the needs of the Astros, and while he may not have all of the players in-house to bargain with, he could always deal a reliever (Aaron Heilman?) for another movable part or two.
Sure, the Rumor Mill's been quiet of late. But that's because the Mets
and Yankees are not really involved (at least not yet) in any of the
sexy names that are being bandied about recently. Jason Bay? Many baseball officials we spoke with think he's going to
the Rays, and if the Pirates make the deal they really want, that may
be the only deal they make.
