Taken on its merits, the New York Mets’ trade of future ace Scott Kazmir for Tampa Bay’s Victor Zambrano last July was one of the worst deals in a long, long time. But now it makes a little more sense.
No team in the majors has improved more this winter than the Mets. Under new general manager Omar Minaya, they have added Carlos Beltran and Pedro Martinez while allowing Al Leiter and Richard Hidalgo to walk.
And suddenly, in part because of the deadline deals that brought them starting pitchers Kris Benson and Zambrano, the Mets have a realistic shot to contend in 2005 after going 66-95 and 71-91 the last two years.
In those two seasons the Mets’ rotation ranked 12th and eighth, respectively, in National League earned-run average. But Jim Duquette, who now serves as assistant GM, and Minaya have given rookie manager Willie Randolph a rotation that appears playoff-worthy.
Given the age of Tom Glavine (38) and Martinez (33), the Mets don’t have the luxury of hoping for steady improvement. They have to end Atlanta’s 13-season hold on the NL East sooner rather than later.
That’s not far-fetched with the switch-hitting Beltran, perhaps baseball’s one true five-tool player, in the middle of things.
Look at the difference he made for the Houston Astros a year ago, and then double it because he will be in New York for a full season.
Beltran gives the Mets the flexibility to move Gold Glove winner Mike Cameron (who could be disabled in April after surgery on his left wrist) from center to right field or trade him for another piece. He adds a dangerous bat to a lineup that has been counting heavily on Mike Piazza, Cliff Floyd and 22-year-old third baseman David Wright.
Minaya, of course, may not be through. Beltran was helping him recruit power-hitting first baseman Carlos Delgado, and a trade for the Cubs’ Sammy Sosa is possible if Delgado decides to go to Baltimore, Texas or Florida. Boston would like to get in the bidding for Delgado but has been handcuffed because of its failure to trade Doug Mientkiewicz or Kevin Millar.
But with or without Delgado or Sosa, the Mets figure to go to spring training as the most improved team in the majors. Here are the other candidates:
– Yankees–Carl Pavano, not Randy Johnson, could emerge as the biggest acquisition for a pitching staff that added a ton of depth. Jaret Wright, Felix Rodriguez and Mike Stanton are also new. Javier Vazquez, Orlando Hernandez and Jon Lieber exit. Tony Womack is an upgrade over Miguel Cairo at second base.
– Diamondbacks–Arizona loses its ace in Johnson but gets deeper, with Vazquez and Russ Ortiz moving into the rotation. The lineup has improved significantly, with Shawn Green, Troy Glaus and Royce Clayton moving in as regulars. Richie Sexson, who played only 23 games last season due to injury, is the biggest loss among position players.
– Mariners–Edgar Martinez will be missed, but Adrian Beltre and Sexson bring some fresh legs, which will go a long way. One of the keys to the team is rookie Jeremy Reed, who came from the White Sox in the Freddy Garcia deal. If he takes over in center, Randy Winn moves to left and Raul Ibanez replaces Martinez as the DH.
– Reds–General manager Dan O’Brien did a great job overhauling the thin pitching staff. Eric Milton and Ramon Ortiz join the re-signed Paul Wilson in a rotation that has two openings entering camp. David Weathers, Kent Mercker and Ben Weber add needed experience to the bullpen built around closer Danny Graves. The signing of third baseman Joe Randa moves Austin Kearns back into a four-deep outfield.
– Giants–New shortstop Omar Vizquel will make second baseman Ray Durham and third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo better while scoring 100-plus runs as the leadoff man. Moises Alou makes it tougher to pitch around Barry Bonds.
– White Sox–While sacrificing highly paid hitters in Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Lee, the Sox will be more solid top to bottom, especially in the pitching department. Hernandez, Dustin Hermanson and Luis Vizcaino join a staff that loses no one of value. Catcher A.J. Pierzynski is a dramatic upgrade.
Next week we’ll look at teams that have lost the most this winter.
Just say no
So now we know the tax that the Mets pay for not being the Yankees. It’s an even 19 percent, according to agent Scott Boras.
Shortly before accepting the seven-year, $119 million offer from the Mets, Boras offered Beltran to the Yankees for about $100 million over six years. They probably would have accepted if not for two factors included in the 2002 labor agreement: a 60-40 debt-equity rule that counts player contracts as debt; and a baseball luxury-tax structure that will force the Yankees (who are considered third-time offenders) to pay an additional 40 percent on any portion of payroll above $128 million this season.
With the Yankees’ payroll already around $210 million, owner George Steinbrenner is looking at about $33 million in taxes. With an annual salary of $16.7 million per year, Beltran actually would have cost Steinbrenner about $23.4 million. So, yes, even the Boss has a choking point.
It’s going to be interesting to see what the Yankees do long term about center field. Bernie Williams needs a strong season to get the club to pick up his $15 million option for 2006.
Rolling dice
Unable to sign top free agents, Cleveland is hoping that high-risk guys Juan Gonzalez and Kevin Millwood can help it contend against Minnesota and the White Sox.
“As far as reaching our objectives this off-season, there have been some bumps in the road,” GM Mark Shapiro said. “But if we’re done, I feel good about what we’ve done.”
Millwood, signed to a one-year, conditional contract for $7 million that could shrink if he spends more than 20 days on the disabled list with arm injuries, is trying to come back from a subpar season in Philadelphia. He made 25 starts, going 9-6 with a 4.85 ERA.
Gonzalez, 35, is a two-time MVP who carried the Indians to a division title in 2001 but has played in only 183 games the last three seasons. He should be seriously motivated after signing only a minor-league contract.
Shapiro hopes Gonzalez is a regular in right field, moving Casey Blake to left field, where he will be the regular until Willowbrook High’s Jody Gerut recovers from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right knee.
If Gonzalez has to be the DH, he will take at-bats away from Travis Hafner and Ben Broussard.
The signing means that top prospect Grady Sizemore is likely to return to Triple-A Buffalo, at least for the time being.
Whispers
After spending $140 million for three years of Alex Rodriguez’s services, the Tom Hicks regime has damaged the Texas franchise so much that the club will not have its annual February banquet for the first time since 1976. This is a club that sent only assistant trainer Rey Ramirez (who has since left) to check on Frank Francisco after the reliever was jailed for the chair-tossing incident in Oakland. . . . Don’t be surprised if Ordonez remains unsigned until the start of spring training, when he holds workouts for interested teams. . . . Second baseman Aaron Miles, who has 1 year 27 days’ service time, could be third behind Todd Helton and Preston Wilson in experience among Colorado’s regulars this year. It’s possible manager Clint Hurdle will play Clint Barmes at shortstop, Garrett Atkins at third, Matt Holiday and Brad Hawpe on the outfield corners and J.D. Closser at catcher. . . . The Mets made a good move signing Rice right-hander Phil Humber, who is such a battler some scouts think he could get to the big leagues in his first pro season. . . . Congratulations to Naperville’s Gary Nickels, who is going to be recognized with the Nick Kamzic Scout of the Year Award at Sunday night’s Pitch&Hit Club banquet in Rosemont. Tigers President-GM Dave Dombrowski will receive the Major League Executive of the Year Award. Former White Sox pitcher Billy Pierce will be honored for his work as a humanitarian.
