It's a done deal - Zeile in Colorado

[RockieBill]

Associated Press


NEW YORK -- The New York Mets pulled off a three-team, 11-player trade Monday night, acquiring Jeromy Burnitz from Milwaukee and sending Glendon Rusch to the Brewers and Todd Zeile to Colorado.


The Mets completed an offseason overhaul of their offense, getting the slugging outfielder they had been seeking. Burnitz will fit into a lineup with newcomers Roberto Alomar, Mo Vaughn and Roger Cedeno.


New York also received pitcher Jeff D'Amico, infielder Lou Collier, outfielder Mark Sweeney and cash from Milwaukee. The Mets got minor leaguers Ross Gload and Craig House from Colorado.


The Brewers, who saved money by dealing Burnitz back to his original team, added a left-handed starter in Rusch. They also obtained outfielder Alex Ochoa from Colorado and infielder Lenny Harris from New York.


The Rockies filled their third base hole with Zeile. They also got left fielder Benny Agbayani and cash from the Mets.


I'll just kick back with a frosty mug of Sterno now - man, I can't believe the Rox gave up House too! What is O'Dowd smoking?????

[pmeares17]

eww what a crappy trade. lets all stack the mets so they will dominate 1-2-3 here take everything. and what is milwakee smoking?> sounds like they are unloading there team.

[RockieBill]

Well...the Brewers were unloading Burnitz' salary. Actually, the Brewers didn't do too bad. The Rox, on the other hand...one thing about these kind of trades is that they usually don't stop here - Maybe O'Dowd has another deal lined up - I sure hope so!

[pmeares17]

:hmm: i hope so doesnt make sense why they would want those two most teams try and unload such spare parts/

[RockieBill]

The Mets have pretty much re-tooled. I think most Met fans would agree that they had a lot of spare parts to get rid of, and that's just what they did. They'll have some growing pains at first, but if they pull together early, who knows?

The Rockies were so intent on moving Ochoa's salary that apparrantly(sp?) nothing else mattered. Craig House is the guy that I can't believe they let slip away...someday that's gonna come back and bite 'em. Either way, this season is in the tank if the Rox stand pat where they are right now.

[pmeares17]

hey your teams starting to resemble the pirates last year :biggrin: trading away guys picking up nobodys (bell) (rockies:zeile) hehe

[RockieBill]

Ha ha, I think the Rox were worse than the Bucs last year - at least the Pirates had an excuse for the slow start - ALL of your pitchers were going under the knife. The Rockies had just wheeled and dealed for Hampton and Neagle, Larry Walker was healthy and...well you know, the Rox only won a few more games than you guys did.

All I know for sure is that it won't be any problem getting tix to the games this season!

[RockieBill]

It's very possible that Todd Zeile could make 20-25 errors at third, a position he hasn't played since 1999. Zeile, 36, also is a gap hitter who probably won't elevate the ball enough to produce big offensive numbers at Coors Field.

The Rockies will pay $2 million of Zeile's $6 million salary next season, with the Mets and Brewers picking up the rest. Agbayani's $600,000 salary brings the Rockies' obligations to $2.6 million. Ochoa will earn $2.75 million. O'Dowd saved a whopping $150,000.

Last year, the Rockies cared little about such matters. But after spending heavily last winter, they've reduced their payroll from $65.5 million to $47 million. With nine potential starters and seven potential relievers,the pitching staff may be the deepest the team has ever had. It's still not difficult to imagine the Rockies finishing last in the NL West.

If the Rockies are just intent on saving money and putting a lame team on the field, they could have at least made it a team people would come and watch. With Galarraga and Bichette out there (and cheaper than Zeile and Agbayani, probably), they could have at least put some butts in the seats - Those guys were heros here. While they're at it, why not coax Walt Weiss and Charlie Hayes out of retirement - hell. bring back the whole gang - Ellis Burks, Vinny Castilla, Joe Girardi, Eric Young, etc...me thinks this is going to be a long season in Colorado.

[pmeares17]

:barf: :barf: :barf: that is all