Loading ...Joel Sherman wrote on his blog, the Mets offered Aaron Heilman to the Rockies for Huston Street, but Colorado refused and countered with Heilman and Pedro Feliciano.
Although they said no, they could go back and revist the trade at another time. Sherman goes on to say, the Mets want to have Street as an eighth inning man because of the experience as a closer. They learned a lesson from Billy Wagner. If a closer goes down they want someone who will be able to take over the ninth. Street gives them that.
Posted under Hot Stove, New York Mets
This post was written by Joe McDonald on November 25, 2008
Feliciano would be another that I would put in the “addition by subtractiion” category …. to expect him to be more than a situational lefty out of the pen is stretching him beyond his capability IMO …. Heilman + Feliciano is a fair exchange for a former closer who you intend to make your 8th inning guy …. and he is not a FA for years …. and he could be your emergency closer if needed.
If he Mets are allowing Feliciano to hold this up now and someone else swoops in and gets Street, it will be a major goof.
I am not aware of Street’s contract but wouldn;t a Heilman + Feliciano swap create some Payroll flexibility for the Mets as well? I realize it wouldn’t be a lot, but with Heilman arbitration eligible, it would be close so it’s not as if the Mets would have to take on extra oayroll to do this move.
Both Heilman and Feliciano are arbitration eligible.
I cannot believe Omar would refused a Heilman/Feliciano swap for Street.
Another thought crossed my mind: Street throws right, K-Rod throws right, and Fuentes throws left….if you were the Mets, wouldn’t you prefer a righty/lefty combo to 2 righties? If so, and the Street rumors are true, then maybe the Mets are leaning toward Fuentes as the closer…just a thought?!
Street made $3.3 million in 2008 and has 2 years left. Heilman made $1.2 million and has 1 year left. Feliciano made $1.025 million and has 1 year left.
Ron – how exactly does that give the Mets payroll flexibility? Street will clearly up his salary this season and Heilman & Feliciano should go up a little, but not much.
@ChiliGTC – I still think Fuentes will be the closer. And I think there’s a huge concern about K-Rod, especially when it comes to price and years.
Joe – I think you may be right and it will kill K-Rod from a Madison Avenue perspective. I think K-Rod is jonesing to come to NY to do ads with A-Rod. If he becomes a Met, it probably adds another $10 million to his pocket the first year!
@ChiliGTC – Sure it will but I think the Mets are more concerned with who will be a more effective closer. IMO I think it will be Fuentes.