Mets reject trade offer for Halladay?

[Hasselbeck]

I'm guessing the rumor is false.. because the Mets would have to make this trade right?

In case you missed it, last night, Jon Heyman of SI.com said Mets GM Omar Minaya rejected a deal from Blue Jays GM JP Riccardi for RHP Roy Halladay, in return for OF Fernando Martinez, Bobby Parnell, Jon Niese and 17–year-old SS Ruben Tejada.

However, today, in a post to Twitter, ESPN’s Keith Law says the trade rumor is ‘bogus,’ having been ‘shot down by multiple sources.’

Similarly, I talked with a baseball person in Philadelphia, an agent, and two people connected to the Mets, and all four believe Minaya would have accepted such a deal had it been actually presented to him, i.e., maybe the Jays and Mets talked, but no hard offer was made.

I mean, I know I would have done it; and, according to a recent poll, 75 percent of people who read MetsBlog.com would have done the deal as well.

What’s more, in the Daily News, Adam Rubin writes, “Ricciardi ought to be fired on the spot for proposing it. And Minaya ought to be fired for rejecting it.”

Yet, the report is out there…

The thing is, I believe Heyman is great at what he does, he’s not senationalistic, and he’s trusted and respected all across the sport.

So, I’m left confused, wondering what this all means…

I wonder if Riccardi leaked this to spook the Phillies, who some baseball insiders feel are the only legitimate suitor for Halladay?

I mean, how better to milk the Phillies for top prospects than for Riccardi to make it seem like the Mets could get Halladay at any moment?

On the other hand, if Halladay-to-Philadelphia is inevitable, how better for Minaya and Riccardi to get the Phillies to overpay then to make it seem like the Mets could easily be involved?

Or, maybe the Mets are trying to raise the value of their own prospects by suggesting Niese, Parnell and Martinez are worth more than Halladay?

Or, perhaps Minaya did reject it, just like Heyman said, and, instead, is still working with Riccardi on something more expansive, which could be why he would not confirm or deny the report when asked about it yesterday?

Who knows? The point is, nothing is ever as simple as it seems…

In any case, we’ll find out at some point in the next 10 days, at which point it will be a lot more easier to judge this.

 

[Rudi]

The Mets are 9 games out of 1st place at this point...and the Phillies are heating up. They're done, doing this trade would be dumb because Halladay would not make them an instant World Series contender.

 

[Slateman]

I'm betting thats what the Mets offered and the Blue Jays said no thanks.

Its not a bad offer . . . if this were Halladay's contract year. But its not.

As for rejecting because they're out of the race, Halladay is still under contract for all of next year. And the Mets would pull the trigger, betting that they would be in the hunt next year.

 

[Obst]

A lot of reports say this trade was bogus, and it was to make the Phillies pull the trigger on a deal.

 

[Hasselbeck]

The Mets are 9 games out of 1st place at this point...and the Phillies are heating up. They're done, doing this trade would be dumb because Halladay would not make them an instant World Series contender.

Agreed.. but they'd still have Roy in 2010.. and a Johan-Halladay 1-2 punch is scary

 

[Lumpkin]

Everyone remembers the Mets owners are broke, right? I'm sure they aren't looking to add anymore payroll as they watch the playoffs getting further and further away.

They lost some money to Madoff but I don't think the owners are broke. I can't imagine that the Mets turned down this trade unless they truly believe that they had no chance to compete in 2010.

 

[EmpireWF]

Everyone remembers the Mets owners are broke, right? I'm sure they aren't looking to add anymore payroll as they watch the playoffs getting further and further away.

Mets owner is not broke, btut Wilpon certainly does not want to go over the luxury tax.

The trade rumor has to be false otherwise, Minaya would have to be fired...as would the BJays GM for thinking about such a horrible offer for the best or 2nd best pitcher in the sport.

bogus indeed.

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

LOL @ that trade. If JP offered that shit I want his head.

 

[FedEx227]

I doubt that was real.

That's a steal and a half for the Mets.

 

[Mogriffjr]

Santana part deux...it's been reported as false...

Jays likely reported that to drive up Phillies offer...

 

[EmpireWF]

I believe the rumor. It was from SI's John Heyman, not some blog or website..

Heyman stands by it, but perhaps (likely) the BJays pushed it to make the Phillies offer up more.

 

[Anthony]

According to Michael Kay - It's not true as per someone real close to the Toronto's front office.

Even though I would not be surprised that the Mets actually declined. That team is a fucking mess starting with the owners & GM; Completely fucking clueless.

 

[Hasselbeck]

It's not true.

However if this were true I have a good reason to pull the trigger. To keep him from the Phillies. Also we're not losing anything more than a good corner outfielder, 8th inning reliever, #4-5 starting pitcher, and a very very very very questionable SS. If this were to happen, I wouldn't mind. With Halladay, there's no need for Niese. Where would Tejada go with Reyes there and Wilmer Flores up and coming?

This offer just never made sense.

You seriously are rocking a Francouer avatar?

I don't think his own family would do that.

 

[Anthony]

You seriously are rocking a Francouer avatar?

I don't think his own family would do that.

Especially after being shut out by the Nationals.

 

[Miami Flash15]

There is really no point of the Mets trading their future away for a big name player. Injuires have haunted them all season long and continue to. The Marlins have a better shot to win the East compared to the Mets.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I believe Heyman.

Of course Toronto would deny it, because it ended up not happening and public opinion obviously thinks it would have been terrible.

It's not like anyone is meeting Toronto's outrageous demands. If they really want to move him, that might be the best package they can get. Phillies arent giving them Drabek, BoSox arent giving them Bucholz, and the Yankees arent interested, period.

 

[Obst]

I believe Heyman.

Of course Toronto would deny it, because it ended up not happening and public opinion obviously thinks it would have been terrible.

It's not like anyone is meeting Toronto's outrageous demands. If they really want to move him, that might be the best package they can get. Phillies arent giving them Drabek, BoSox arent giving them Bucholz, and the Yankees arent interested, period.

Ruben Armaro said yesterday that Drabek isn't untouchable.