ESPN.com is reporting that the Mets have traded once-uber prospect OF Lastings Milledge to the Nationals for C Brian Schneider and OF Ryan Church. This deal smacks a bit of desperation on the Mets part – they obviously think that Milledge isn’t going to develop into the player that they once thought he could be and need a catcher to replace Lo Duca.
From the Nats perspective, they get a once top-prospect for the cost of a good defensive catcher who got surpassed last year by Rule V draftee Jesus Flores (from the Mets last December, of all teams) and a player (Church) who has been in and out of the doghouse during his time in Washington.
I like to see these kind of deals from the Nationals – Church and Schneider weren’t keys to rebuilding (though both are very useful players), so why not take advantage of his diminished value (Milledge’s name was once bandied about as a prospect the Red Sox would require in a Manny Ramirez trade) and see if he might not be a piece of the puzzle. It wouldn’t be the first time the Mets have pissed away a valuable player for little in return.
(Thanks to ERod for calling this deal to my attention.)
November 30th, 2007
I am glad the Mets dumped Milledge, but I thought they could get more for him than that. I think this trade seriously weakens their bargaining chips for a starting pitcher and almost guarantees that they can’t give up another of their young outfielders for Johan Santana. I also worry about this trade because intra-division trades can seriously come back to bite one of the teams (the Mets in this case) in the ass down the road. I was very much in favor of trading Milledge, but not within the division. I don’t like him, the Mets players don’t like him, but he does have talent. I am happy to see Milledge go, but I just thought they could get more than this for him. I can’t see Church, Schneider and/or Estrada being included in a trade for a starting pitcher, so I don’t see this trade as a stepping stone for another trade. Yes, a year ago, Milledge was talked about for Manny, Zito, Schmidt, etc. But he really hurt his trade value by the way he played and immature attitude. No doubt he has unbelievable potential, but he is too raw to figure into the Mets’ plans now and is too good to waste away in the minors. Who knows? Maybe Milledge will turn into Alex Escobar or Gregg Jefferies – Mets “can’t miss” prospects who did nothing. Then it isn’t such a bad trade, but they still could have and should have gotten more for Milledge now, even if he isn’t worth as much as a year ago.
November 30th, 2007
I for one am amazed that Milledge had an immature attitude at the grizzled age of … 22.
This is a great trade for the Nats and at best a wash for the Mets.
The bet here is that in three or four years Milledge is an All Star. While Church and Schneider will be former Mets.
November 30th, 2007
WOW. I’m kinda shocked. Both that the Mets dealt/gave up on Milledge, and that the Nats traded someone other than Church or relief pitching.
I LOVED Schneider. He was one of my faves. But he was at best going to be the starter for one more year (i.e., as Scott said, not part of The Plan) and more likely platooned/passed over. His offense had really declined the past two seasons, so, it’s not all THAT surprising. I’m sad to see him go, and I’m a bit worried for our young pitching staff w/o a leader to bring them along as he did this past year, but this is a GREAT move for the future – assuming Lastings… well… LASTS.
I’m happy and sad right now. I’m VERY glad I didn’t plunk down ducats for a Schneider jersey this past year. WHEW!
November 30th, 2007
OK, I have had some time to calm down and now this trade doesn’t seem as bad for the Mets as I initially thought. Omar Minaya just said that none of the other teams in talks with the Mets for pitcher(s) (Baltimore, Oakland, Minnesota) were interested in Milledge. And it seems that some combination of Church and/or Estrada (among others) will be packaged for a starting pitcher. So IF this is only part one of a larger trade and the Mets are able to essentially trade Milledge for a starting pitcher from a team that didn’t want him (Baltimore, Oakland or Minnesota), then Minaya made a pretty good deal. We shall see….
November 30th, 2007
In the outfield and at the plate, I like this trade a lot. However, I’m going to reserve judgement on this one until I see how a young pitching staff reacts to Flores (and, I assume, Harper).
December 2nd, 2007
I’m guessing recently-signed-to-a-minor-league-deal journeyman C Chad Moeller (most recently of the Dodgers and Reds) will be given a shot in spring training to be Flores’ backup. This could also open the door to the Nationals re-signing Fick, who, while he hasn’t caught in quite some time, could do it, and is at least a lefty bat – as opposed to Moeller, who’s another righty.
December 2nd, 2007
Well, the Nats just declined to offer Fick arbitration. While they COULD still nego with him as a free agent, it’s probably less than 50/50 that he stays with the team. THE PLAN continues…
Also, in Svrluga’s blog earlier, he interviewed Bowden, who said:
Bowden was non-committal on what this means for the Nationals behind the plate in 2008. He said he could see Jesus Flores being the everyday catcher. He said Flores could end up in a platoon. He also said Flores could play every day at Class AAA Columbus. More moves are in store.
I seriously doubt about the AAA move, but i think that either (a) they believe Moeller or also-recently-inked minor league FA, career PIT backup Humberto Cota can compete for a platoon job with Flores, or (b) indeed, there is another move to come for a starting catcher. hmmmm…..