Mets GM Omar Minaya, who's bullpen last year directly led them to another playoff-less season, gave up some significant pieces and potential to acquire Putz to be a shut-down pre-closer. In 28 games, his ERA is a disappointing 5.08 and he has as many walks 19 as strikeouts.
Anyone who watched Putzy for the M's last year could have seen this coming. He was injured and when he wasn't, he just didn't look right. At least not like the nearly-hittable all-star Putz of 2007.
One guy definitely paying attention: Mr. Jack Z.
We hear about "selling high" on trades in all our sports and fantasy leagues. Jay-Z sold high on Putz, acquiring one of the best defensive center fielders in the game, Franklin Gutierrez (on a side note: Guti's Rooters, or whatever those sad handful of centerfield fans are called, look like they consist of Franklin's mom, dad and two cousins. The crowds in Safeco look pathetic this year.), along with patient, almost-big-league-ready hitter, Mike Carp as well turning Aaron Heilman into a nice utility guy, Ronnie Cedeno.
Sure, those guys aren't world beaters, but they're productive and fill holes in the system Jack Z is putting together. It's infinitely better than having a closer on the down slope of his career.
On the other hand, Bill Bavasi was the king of buying high and selling low (I'm convinced he had something to do with the country's economic collapse) and the damage he did will resonate for at least another three years.
But Jay-Z has a chance to undo some of that damage this season with a host of tradeable chips, including Bedard, who we will root for again tonight again. And we won't even care if he wins. If he pitches well, it will give our new GM that much more leverage in trade negotiations.
Now, if he can somehow use that leverage to acquire some hitters so we will not continue to make the likes of Rich Hill look like Sandy Koufax.
Nice points!
ReplyDeleteJack Z is the man!!