Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Recent Acquisitions

I am lukewarm on the two newest Mets. I like the Gulliermo Mota signing because it comes with no risk and if he doesn't work out Willie Randolph won't feel obligated to keep using him.
I am a little less thrilled with Shawn Green. Once a beacon of light for Jewish athletes everywhere, now he is just an average player. The Mets will only owe him $6.3 million for the rest of this year and next (Arizona is picking up the other half), but they also will have to pay him $2 million if they don't exercise his option for 2008.
His 49 home runs in 2001 are the most ever hit by a player to play for the Mets, other than Willie Mays.
But Green is not the same player anymore. In fact, at this point I doubt he is even as good a healthy Cliff Floyd. And the Mets pretty much just made that trade for next year. Floyd is definitely out the door, and should a great outfielder become available there won't be room for him.
This will also stunt the growth of Lastings Milledge, whom Willie clearly hates anyway.
But with Floyd hurt and struggling this year I can see why Omar pulled the trigger. The Mets only gave up Triple-A pitcher Evan MacLane, a 23-year-old left-hander.

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