November 9, 200619 yr Hot Stove Report: Talking 'bout Willis Familiar Dontrelle-to-Mets talk begins anew By Tom Singer / MLB.com Approaching last July's non-waiver trading deadline with a gaping NL East lead and an aching starting rotation, the New York Mets enthusiastically inquired into the availability of Dontrelle Willis. At that time, general manager Omar Minaya was turned off by what the Marlins sought in return for the mercurial left-hander. Now that another trading season is upon us, there is speculation that the D-Train-to-7-Train talks may be warming up again. Why? What have the Mets learned since July 31? a. That they still have the same needs. Then, Pedro Martinez was hobbled with hip and calf woes. Now, Pedro is recovering from rotator cuff surgery. b. That they have other high-profile chase options, such as free agent Barry Zito or Daisuke Matsuzaka, whose rights-winning club will be identified next Tuesday. c. That Willis, at 24 four years and 613 innings younger than Zito, may be worth another pursuit. d. Most significantly, that some of the names raised 3 1/2 months ago by Florida may not be so untouchable after all. Like Lastings Milledge, who had a checkered big-league baptismal, or right-hander Brian Bannister, who had such a severe strain to his right hamstring that he missed nearly four months. That the Mets need starting pitching to feel comfortable about defending their division title is obvious. Getting it out of Florida will not be easy. The Marlins hold all the cards in this deal, since Willis is still two-plus years removed from free agency. The selection is considerably better at another spot where the Mets need help, second base. The latest to draw their interest is Adam Kennedy, who has long known that he would not be receiving an offer from the Angels. Kennedy, who does not turn 31 for a couple of months, actually is one of the youngest position players on the free agent market. Elsewhere among the Hot Stove embers ... http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article...sp&c_id=mlb
November 9, 200619 yr Hot Stove Report: Talking 'bout Willis Familiar Dontrelle-to-Mets talk begins anew By Tom Singer / MLB.com Approaching last July's non-waiver trading deadline with a gaping NL East lead and an aching starting rotation, the New York Mets enthusiastically inquired into the availability of Dontrelle Willis. At that time, general manager Omar Minaya was turned off by what the Marlins sought in return for the mercurial left-hander. Now that another trading season is upon us, there is speculation that the D-Train-to-7-Train talks may be warming up again. Why? What have the Mets learned since July 31? a. That they still have the same needs. Then, Pedro Martinez was hobbled with hip and calf woes. Now, Pedro is recovering from rotator cuff surgery. b. That they have other high-profile chase options, such as free agent Barry Zito or Daisuke Matsuzaka, whose rights-winning club will be identified next Tuesday. c. That Willis, at 24 four years and 613 innings younger than Zito, may be worth another pursuit. d. Most significantly, that some of the names raised 3 1/2 months ago by Florida may not be so untouchable after all. Like Lastings Milledge, who had a checkered big-league baptismal, or right-hander Brian Bannister, who had such a severe strain to his right hamstring that he missed nearly four months. That the Mets need starting pitching to feel comfortable about defending their division title is obvious. Getting it out of Florida will not be easy. The Marlins hold all the cards in this deal, since Willis is still two-plus years removed from free agency. The selection is considerably better at another spot where the Mets need help, second base. The latest to draw their interest is Adam Kennedy, who has long known that he would not be receiving an offer from the Angels. Kennedy, who does not turn 31 for a couple of months, actually is one of the youngest position players on the free agent market. Elsewhere among the Hot Stove embers ... http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article...sp&c_id=mlb That's the KEY! Right there shows that the Marlins will NOT deal Willis unless a deal comes that blows them away....
November 9, 200619 yr Author I hope I wasnt too harsh, but this one sorta pissed me off. Even though I should know by now there will always be dumb articles written about the marlins. But, I wrote back the writer this time. I doubt he will read it or care but here is my thoughts upon this. Greetings Tom Singer, I am writing over your Willis article in the hot stove about him going to the NY Mets. Even though how original the thought is after hearing it for the past year. When it was completely unfounded in every sense of the word. It is a pleasure to see the same baseless rumors once more appearing upon the Hot Stove. Lets look the facts, yes the things your article completely ignores. 1. The marlins have stated he isn't for trade except for an extremely high price. This would include an elite CF, an elite Catcher and the marlins require a SP back in all of their trades. The mets do no have this catcher, and Bannister, a 26 year old reliever with 8 games ever pitched and not very well overall. He wouldnt even crack the marlins pitching staff. Please, do not even start with the heilman crap with his 2 pitches and wanting to be a starter, yet the mets so desperate for a starter wont even use him and think they can get an elite Starting pitcher for him. 2. The mets do need pitching very badly, but the marlins aren't going to trade them their own ace just because of that. Or just because Willis in NYC would mean alot of money for MLB because of his personality and face. It is absolutely disgusting the twist often shown here for Marlins players. 3. Beinfest has stated in many many instances that Willis and Cabrera were not traded in the firesale for the single purpose that they are players to build around. A young lefty with his capabilities do not come along very often. I would suggest around once every fifteen years. After all the last black ace pitcher was some time ago to break the 20 win mark. That isn't even going into the community events and the fact Willis is the face of this franchise in south Florida and the Head of their marketing for the team. 4. The marlins last year made an estimated profit of over 30 million dollars as per released within Forbes magazine a few months ago. The marlins have stated that they will raise the payroll of the team this year. Even raising it by the sum of a small 10 million will see them able to keep Willis and Cabrera comfortable and happy for next year. 5. Willis is not a Free Agent till after the 2009. As a Super 2 he qualified for Arbitration early but will not become available till after that time. If the marlins were to trade him they could get just as much, if not more value at mid-season when teams are desperate for pitching. Even trading him next year if he has an average year, like his current one was, his value will still be sky high as a 25 year old lefty pitcher that can pull 200 innings. He is not an injury prone player having never missed a start in his life. 6. There is no reason in the world for the marlins to trade him to the mets. Trading a 30+ year old catcher that is overpaid for his VORP value is one thing. Trading a huge contracted 35 year old 1B that plays terrible defense is another thing. But trading a 24 year old Lefty stud starting pitcher that is a marketing machine, very loyal to your team, is the face of your franchise and a draw actually for your team. Is beloved in the community and helpful with the stadium situation is plain and simply stupid. Last I checked Admin Beinfest is Not a stupid man. Ask the Boston Red Sox if you have questions there. As a marlins season ticket holder now for the past 8 years I have never seen a single article written upon MLB.com that cast this team into a good light. You wonder why nationally and locally folks always seem to be dour and hurting when it comes to the Florida Marlins? It is because the national media always will focus upon the marlins in a negative light. It will focus upon trading off the stars of the team like it is a K-mart with a blue light special. Sir, your article had no basis for it. No reasoning within it or even mention of what the marlins have stated they wish to do. Of course the mets might want Willis. The Yankees want Pujols. The Cubs want a World Series. George Bush wants a working brain. But Sir some things can not be had in life. The Article you wrote really deserves to be published and shown in only one newspaper in this country. That would be the piece of crap known as the New York Post. I humbly beg of you next time please actually consider when writing your pieces that logic an reason should be used for both teams. Not merely the big market ones that you want to put out there as the focus of MLB. Sincerely. Jeffery A Life-long Marlins Fan.
November 9, 200619 yr You tell em Mr. Loria :notworthy :notworthy Sorry, when I saw Jeffrey I couldn't resist
November 9, 200619 yr Author lol yep same first name and all I guess. Was I too harsh on the guy? I feel sorta bad but just so many of these all of the time get old you know?
November 9, 200619 yr No, I agree that the article was stupid. You'd think sometihng like that wouldn't make to the main page on MLB.com. Or at least you'd like to think... They're not going to do something crazy like send us Beltran and pay most of his salary. No reason to trade within the division when we don't need to.
November 9, 200619 yr Hot Stove Report: Talking 'bout Willis The Marlins hold all the cards in this deal, since Willis is still two-plus years removed from free agency. http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article...sp&c_id=mlb That's the KEY! Right there shows that the Marlins will NOT deal Willis unless a deal comes that blows them away.... Except Samson is holding the cards backwards, he already said they plan on maintaining a payroll of I believe 17 Million dollars. There's no possible way they'll can do that and keep both Dontrelle and Miggy. And I really doubt Cabrera is going anywhere.
November 9, 200619 yr Hot Stove Report: Talking 'bout Willis The Marlins hold all the cards in this deal, since Willis is still two-plus years removed from free agency. http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article...sp&c_id=mlb That's the KEY! Right there shows that the Marlins will NOT deal Willis unless a deal comes that blows them away.... Except Samson is holding the cards backwards, he already said they plan on maintaining a payroll of I believe 17 Million dollars. There's no possible way they'll can do that and keep both Dontrelle and Miggy. And I really doubt Cabrera is going anywhere. Ahem, you sig is way out dated. :whistle
November 9, 200619 yr Hot Stove Report: Talking 'bout Willis The Marlins hold all the cards in this deal, since Willis is still two-plus years removed from free agency. http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article...sp&c_id=mlb That's the KEY! Right there shows that the Marlins will NOT deal Willis unless a deal comes that blows them away.... Except Samson is holding the cards backwards, he already said they plan on maintaining a payroll of I believe 17 Million dollars. There's no possible way they'll can do that and keep both Dontrelle and Miggy. And I really doubt Cabrera is going anywhere. Ahem, you sig is way out dated. :whistle So is your joke
November 9, 200619 yr Author Hot Stove Report: Talking 'bout Willis The Marlins hold all the cards in this deal, since Willis is still two-plus years removed from free agency. http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article...sp&c_id=mlb That's the KEY! Right there shows that the Marlins will NOT deal Willis unless a deal comes that blows them away.... Except Samson is holding the cards backwards, he already said they plan on maintaining a payroll of I believe 17 Million dollars. There's no possible way they'll can do that and keep both Dontrelle and Miggy. And I really doubt Cabrera is going anywhere. Ahem, you sig is way out dated. :whistle So is your joke Actually they have stated that they are raising payroll not keeping it around 17 million. They have never stated they would keep it around 17 million. Also your sig is way out dated. Might wanna put next start Retirement :thumbup
November 9, 200619 yr Author It was also stated within the public address when Fredi was hired that they would raise payroll.
November 9, 200619 yr overeaction? I wouldn't put my hands on the fire about Dontrelle not going to NY
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