Baseball Guru
07-09-2002, 10:38 AM
With the Mets fading from contention, and the non-waiver trade deadline only three weeks away, general manager Steve Phillips is already mulling options to remake his roster. The Dodgers have inquired about Roberto Alomar, according to a person familiar with the situation, and Phillips is interested in Marlins pitcher Ryan Dempster in an unrelated deal.
Alomar would be an essential ingredient to any second-half resurgence, but if the Mets stumble after the All-Star break, he could become expendable. Alomar's early-season funk and general uneasiness have made for a rough introduction to New York, but his Hall of Fame resume and affordable contract make him extremely attractive to other teams.
Alomar earns $8 million this season, with a team option worth $8.5 million for next tear, and the Mets could unload him to the Dodgers, who might include Adrian Beltre ($2.8 million) and Omar Daal ($5 million) in such a deal. Beltre, a 23-year-old third baseman, is having a disappointing season, batting .237 with 7 homers and 29 RBIs. Daal, 30, is 7-4 with a 4.15 ERA.
The Mets have said they do not want to trade Alomar, who has looked better, both at the plate and in the field, over the past week. Alomar even tried to dispel reports of his unhappiness by meeting with Phillips and manager Bobby Valentine. Apparently, the Mets believe him.
"It's highly unlikely because he's a great player," Phillips said of trading Alomar. "He's just not playing great yet. We have him under control for next year and we still believe he's going to be the player we've anticipated."
The Mets could use Beltre, putting him at third and moving Edgardo Alfonzo back to second base, and Daal would help a rotation with only one starter signed for next year. The Mets would love Kazuhisa Ishii after being outbid for him during the offseason, but the Dodgers are unlikely to part with their Japanese star. Ishii, who makes $900,000, is 11-5 with a 3.58 ERA.
Dempster, 25, had been the ace of the Marlins' young-gun rotation, but he's been inconsistent this season with a 5-8 record and 4.79 ERA in 18 starts. Still, Dempster, who earns $2.475 million and is arbitration-eligible, could help the Mets immediately, as well as be a good starting point for rebuilding the rotation for next season - only Pedro Astacio is signed beyond this year.
Alomar would be an essential ingredient to any second-half resurgence, but if the Mets stumble after the All-Star break, he could become expendable. Alomar's early-season funk and general uneasiness have made for a rough introduction to New York, but his Hall of Fame resume and affordable contract make him extremely attractive to other teams.
Alomar earns $8 million this season, with a team option worth $8.5 million for next tear, and the Mets could unload him to the Dodgers, who might include Adrian Beltre ($2.8 million) and Omar Daal ($5 million) in such a deal. Beltre, a 23-year-old third baseman, is having a disappointing season, batting .237 with 7 homers and 29 RBIs. Daal, 30, is 7-4 with a 4.15 ERA.
The Mets have said they do not want to trade Alomar, who has looked better, both at the plate and in the field, over the past week. Alomar even tried to dispel reports of his unhappiness by meeting with Phillips and manager Bobby Valentine. Apparently, the Mets believe him.
"It's highly unlikely because he's a great player," Phillips said of trading Alomar. "He's just not playing great yet. We have him under control for next year and we still believe he's going to be the player we've anticipated."
The Mets could use Beltre, putting him at third and moving Edgardo Alfonzo back to second base, and Daal would help a rotation with only one starter signed for next year. The Mets would love Kazuhisa Ishii after being outbid for him during the offseason, but the Dodgers are unlikely to part with their Japanese star. Ishii, who makes $900,000, is 11-5 with a 3.58 ERA.
Dempster, 25, had been the ace of the Marlins' young-gun rotation, but he's been inconsistent this season with a 5-8 record and 4.79 ERA in 18 starts. Still, Dempster, who earns $2.475 million and is arbitration-eligible, could help the Mets immediately, as well as be a good starting point for rebuilding the rotation for next season - only Pedro Astacio is signed beyond this year.