Mets now targeting righthanded hitter for bench

The Mets , their major offseason goals achieved, will next target a righthanded hitter for their bench, a person familiar with the situation said yesterday.

[lee]

That's exactly why Willie Randolph is now a bench coach and not a manager, because he doesn't know S-H-I-T.

[Joe]

Good move, improve the bench and not the starting lineup. Get a left fielder and put Tatis on the bench

[Lou]

In my opinion the names to go after are Bobby Abrieu, Jason Giambi and Xavier Nady. I know they aren't considered bench players (except for Giambi maybe because of his poor defensive skills), but I like them if their not too expensive, I know as a Met fan living in Georgia is that the Braves on their site are interested in these guys. I also like the idea of Will Oman as another bullpen pitcher. I have seen him in Atlanta and he did not embarrass himself. A good pickup if the price is right.

[free plaxico]

Joe wrote:

Good move, improve the bench and not the starting lineup. Get a left fielder and put Tatis on the bench

Good Point, I agree wholeheartedly. If teams had starters going 8 and 9 innings on a regular basis instead of 5 and 6 they wouldn't have to scramble for mediocre middle inning relievers either.

[Mike P]

For the guy who sited Giambi ... who are you going to give the A's for him and why would the A's deal him if they just signed him? The guy to grab is Garciaparra who is still deadly against righties and can play 1B, SS or 3B in a pinch. Get Nomar. I'd be happy with Aurilia too. Why the urgency to trade Castro? That guy has had a TON of big hits over the years and he seems to be a clubhouse goofball which is good for a team. I don't get that one. Is $2.5 million going to kill you?(Maybe if you're the victim of a ponzi scheme.)

[Bill]

Lou wrote:

In my opinion the names to go after are Bobby Abrieu, Jason Giambi and Xavier Nady. I know they aren't considered bench players (except for Giambi maybe because of his poor defensive skills), but I like them if their not too expensive, I know as a Met fan living in Georgia is that the Braves on their site are interested in these guys. I also like the idea of Will Oman as another bullpen pitcher. I have seen him in Atlanta and he did not embarrass himself. A good pickup if the price is right.

Lou, correct me if I'm wrong, but both Giambi and Abreau are LEFT handed hitters and both are signed or almost signed by other teams. Nady while right handed is also under contract to the Yankees. There has to be a YOUNGER option...Adam Dunn is younger but also left handed.

[Mike P]

Abreu is not signed yet and hit lefties better than righties last year, but he is going to be too expensive. They are not giving anyone else $9 million a year. They are looking for a $3 million or under option clearly. All these other names you guys are throwing out are going to cost way more than that. Aurilia/Garciaparra are the kinds of players you are looking at for what they are willing to spend.(And yes, Nady is signed too. Does this guy have a newspaper in his town? Do they get the internet in Georgia?)

[steverudnick]

trading castro is crazy cancel is not a good back up

Mike P wrote:

For the guy who sited Giambi ... who are you going to give the A's for him and why would the A's deal him if they just signed him? The guy to grab is Garciaparra who is still deadly against righties and can play 1B, SS or 3B in a pinch. Get Nomar. I'd be happy with Aurilia too. Why the urgency to trade Castro? That guy has had a TON of big hits over the years and he seems to be a clubhouse goofball which is good for a team. I don't get that one. Is $2.5 million going to kill you?(Maybe if you're the victim of a ponzi scheme.)

[Lou]

Mike P wrote:

Abreu is not signed yet and hit lefties better than righties last year, but he is going to be too expensive. They are not giving anyone else $9 million a year. They are looking for a $3 million or under option clearly. All these other names you guys are throwing out are going to cost way more than that. Aurilia/Garciaparra are the kinds of players you are looking at for what they are willing to spend.(And yes, Nady is signed too. Does this guy have a newspaper in his town? Do they get the internet in Georgia?)

Internet, yeah I heard something about the internet but I can't get it way back in the woods. When I need to get the news I turn on the transistor radio, but sometimes the reception is kind of lousy, I hope Jimmie Carter gets reelected president, because I think he is a pretty nice guy and is a good 'ole country boy!

[Lou]

For previous posters. the Atlanta Braves (on their site) have expressed an interest in a trade with the Yankees for Nady and Swisher together so JUST BECAUSE a player signs with another club, they can still be dealt-three and four way trades happen all the time. the left hand vs right hand hitting players is a strategy discussion and defintely a consideration.

[Mike P]

I do think the Yankees may deal one of those two guys, but no way do the Mets consider those contracts. Like Minaya said yesterday, "We're done with the big moves." A $8-$10 million dollar guy is a big move in this market. As a Met fan, I have to say I am not pleased at all with Tatis in the mix. I'd rather see Murph full time.

[statement]

Sign Hudson, get Payton for LF and put Tatis on the bench and get rid of Castillo if no one wants him.

[Bill]

We can debate this all day long. The article stated the Mets were looking for a RH bench player. Giambi and Abreu were mentioned by a poster and they are both LH and would be irrelevant to this article. Nady was mentioned by a poster and he is RH but under contract to another team. A trade between Atlanta and the Yankees for Nady was mentioned and I don't see how that will help the Mets RH bench player need?
I for one would like to see Murphy get a shot at every day LF,he reminds me of Wright when he first came up. He was given a shot at everyday 3b and it worked out pretty well.

[Jim]

I heard Julio Franco is available and perhaps Omar could package him and Alou with long term deals.

[Will]

I heard Yanks will sign Manny and we can see the Billy Martin-Reggie Jackson feud starring Manny and Girardi. The Bronx Zoo redu.

Jim wrote:

I heard Julio Franco is available and perhaps Omar could package him and Alou with long term deals.

[Truthsayer]

I like Castro, but he's hurt all the time. I don't think he'll be a big loss. In the end, I would've liked to see the Mets dump as many nonsessential players from the 2006--2008 teams as possible to change the culture of the clubhouse (too lax), even if the trades meant no upgrade, but an even exchange of mid-level talent. I think our 2009 roster will be 70% of the 2008 team, which will be an utter bummer.

[kat]

Jim wrote:

I heard Julio Franco is available and perhaps Omar could package him and Alou with long term deals.

. hahahhaaha, yuk yuk yuk, you are so witty Jimmmmmmmbooooooooooooob. BTW your yankee team is one of the oldest in baseball

[Dave]

I really hate to say it but I think Omar is serious about going into the season with a platoon of Tatis and Murphy in LF. Tatis had a miracle seaosn last year and the Mets cannot possibly think he will do the same this year and the verdict is still out on Murphy. Couple that with not knowing if Church will be able to rebound from his concussions last year and his horrible second half and the Mets have a lot olf question marks in that lineup (add Castillo and Scheinder to that mix as well). I really cannot understand for the life of me why Omar is not at elast trying to get Abreau in here if he won't go for Manny. Sign Abreau to a one year deal and let Fernando Martinez have one more year in the minors to get ready for his debut hopefully in 2010. I cross my fingers that the current lineup and starting rotation is good enough to copmpete with the Phils or even the Braves for that matter.

[Dee]

Joe wrote:

Good move, improve the bench and not the starting lineup. Get a left fielder and put Tatis on the bench

Ditwit Giambi signed with Oakland.....

[El Viejo]

kat wrote:

hahahhaaha, yuk yuk yuk, you are so witty Jimmmmmmmbooooooooooooob. BTW your yankee team is one of the oldest in baseball

And you're still one of the most* clueless Mets fans on this forum. We're still waiting for Pedro to pick up his 2008 Cy Young Award, Kreskin. Perhaps on Opening Day, when the World Champion Mets raise the flag? Oh wait, you were wrong again!

*If that South American poster loses his chicken-wire internet connection, you'd be the most clueless Mets fan.