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January 21, 2006
Ken Rosenthal is reporting that Omar Minaya has dealt starting pitcher Kris Benson to the Orioles for relief pitcher Jorge Julio and minor leaguer John Maine:
Here’s the situation — Minaya obviously didn’t like Benson. Going into last season, he may have liked him or he may have felt the need to sign after what was given up to get him, but after falling apart down the stretch it was fairly obvious he wasn’t going to be Omar’s guy. In this deal, the Mets get younger — and possibly better. The Mets bullpen now features two twenty-six year old power arms in Duaner Sanchez and Jorge Julio setting up one of the most powerful arms in baseball, Billy Wagner. The Mets also replace an inconsistent thirty-one year old starting pitcher with a younger, better Aaron Heilman. Also, as a throw-in, the Mets add John Maine — an Orioles top prospect for years — and send him to Norfolk to pitch alongside Brian Bannister. Really, it’s not that bad a deal. Julio’s numbers are pretty wince-inducing, but there’s a shot his homers will go down pitching in Shea, and there’s always a chance that those awful mechanics can be straightened out by Rick Peterson (or barring that, Guy Conti, Pedro Martinez and/or Billy Wagner). But, twenty-six year old power relievers are hard to find, especially ones that are relatively inexpensive and under contract for longer than a season. If he gets straightened out, the Mets could have another Armando Benitez — minus the big spot meltdowns. You have to assume Omar’s not done. He’s not going into the season with a rotation that features Steve Trachsel and Victor Zambrano. Hey, Omar, in case you missed it, Jeff Weaver would look pretty nice in blue and orange for a year. 220 Responses to “FOXSports.com Mets trade Benson to Orioles”Leave a ReplyYou must be logged in to post a comment. |
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Well put by you also, Mets86.
Fire Willie, thanks for all the info on John Maine. Sounds to me like he could maybe become Bobby J. Jones…
perfectly put, argon!
That’s pretty good, I never would’ve thought Jones!
I really think I’m more intrigued by what kind of trade chip Maine makes right now. Is this really the guy Bily Beane wanted a year or two ago? Where Maine’s trade value lies could turn out to be the bottom line in this deal for the Mets.
i hear everyone talking about maine as a trade chip. I think we should give him a good look this season before we trade him.I mean billy beane did want this guy so we could be talking about a very good pitcher here that has alot of potential. Personally i would hate to give up anyone(especially our top outfield and pitching prospect) for a guy we can probably get via fa next year.
Well, a year or two ago his stock was much higher than it is now…
2003 - splitting the season between low A and high A, Maine pitched 146.2 innings, allowing 91 hits and 38 walks, and striking out 185. WOW!!!
2004 - Maine continued his dominance in 5 AA starts, then posted this line in AAA: 119.2 IP, 123 H, 52 BB, 105 K
2005 - repeating at AAA, Maine went 6-11 with a 4.56 ERA. His other numbers were similar to 2004:
128.1 IP, 128 H, 42 BB, 111 K
In the majors, he went 2-3 with a 6.30 ERA, walking 24 and sriking out 24 in 40 innings (allowing 39 hits). He allowed 8 HRs, compared with 13 in 3 times as many innings in AAA.
To me, this looks consistent with a guy who matured early in terms of command and approach, but lacks the stuff to put away advanced hitters.
He’s proven more than Bannister has, and ought to be our first call-up option in case of injury (assuming we don’t trade him).
P.S. Bannister turns 25 in February, Maine turns 25 in May.
Two predictions:
1. victor diaz will be more highly regarded by 95% of visitors to this site by the allstar break next year. i.e., 15HR, .290, .350 by AS Break.
2. the ban on meth will upend everything in basebal this year.
Cruz, dead on, I can see that, if Diaz gets the PT, as well as #2.
Argon, 1st part is true. The second is true too, but may be bc of the different situations. I mean by that, he’s proven more than BB bc he’s had the opportunity to, maybe bc BAL’s starters is less deep and they could or had to recall a guy like him to start while the Mets could let BB season more rather than push him (and by push I mean neither would’ve been ready, but O’s may need to have gambled that he was last year). So I think alot depends on ST and who impresses more, both will get ample opps there w 3 starters in WBC. All in all though, for us Norfolk fans, it will be fun to have a rotation of BB, Maine, Scobie, Soler and Maclane.
Wow, that’s an incredible year!! Thanks for the analysis, Argon.
Definitely true, FW. I just figure Maine’s a safer bet as a call-up because he’s logged 248 solid AAA innings while Bannister’s logged 45.1, so you have a much better idea of what you have with Maine. But who knows, maybe Brian’s stuff translates better vs. major leaguers…
True also Argon. While it seems he’s safer or more of a “known” entity, maybe a little less so sonce he’s new though too. And maybe into ST RPete tries to “fix” him from his woes last yr, and he works on that in Nor w whoever the pitch coach will be down yonder. While he’s working they may recall BB if the need arises (or even Soler if you know about his most recent thing in PR), since he’s had more recent success, as well as having a hunch his stuff may be more suitable to MLB than a guy w 2 pitches that top at 90; but who knows
Depends on how potent the stuff was, and how replaceable it is by over-the-counter options. I imagine we’ll see widespread caffiene abuse, and I wouldn’t be surprised if coffee and Red Bull gave players about the same boost that greenies did. Expect to see a lot more fielders fidgeting during long innings as they try not to piss themselves…
Esp when Trax is pitching….
I’m way late to weigh in but I like the trade.
I think Benson was overpaid and i don’t have faith he’ll ever be better than a number 3 possibly 4 - plus i think he’s a puss - his nutty wife who’s a whore for attention calls the shots and he jumps. I don’t think the guy is tough enough to stand up to anna or be a top flight major league pitcher - later Kris - I won’t miss you
Julio I like. Sometimes these guys need a change of scenery - shit, look at Benitez, as much as it kills me to say it he’s been pretty much aces since he left shea. btw to me Benitez is a major steroid guy - exposed last year when he went down with “steroid-knee”
Maine??? - who the hell knows - the stats say he’s prob not gonna be any good but some guys mature later…
mostly i think it’s a savings of 5M(?) /yr for the next two, and sending slutty anna ‘ms. clause’ benson away to baltimore where she can be closer to the trailer park trash she grew up in
I have two questions for RIck Peterson:
First, what will his thoughts be if Benson blossoms under Mazzone’s tutilage???
Second, who does his perm????
oh yeah, I forgot to mention what a bonus moving Heilman into the rotation will be. I know in theory it weakens our pen but heilman might eventually turn out to be a 20 game winner - i don’t want him in the pen
I don’t think Leo will be able to help Benson as much as you think. While he could help him a little, I think this would be offset by a move to the AL and a move from Shea to Camden which is a great hitters park. If anything I would expect Benson’s numbers to up a little bit from this year.
I am late on this but I have the answer:
Chris Woodward’s wife is stunning.
And I’m late in seeing your post, but do you have a link to her pic, Nails?? :)