Justice for....GUTHRIE????

[SmedIndy]

So you convert Robin Ventura, who is slipping but still could provide a highlight or two and has enough patience to somewhat offset his low BA, for Mark Guthrie??

MARK GUTHRIE?

A 36-year old mediorce lefty reliever?

What....was...that????

Not that I'm a Mets fan, but WHY???

[Skipper Steve]

What are you talking about? Is there a report?

[ChrisCary]

Originally posted by Skipper Steve
What are you talking about? Is there a report?

Mets still pay 1.5 million of Justice's salary but other than that it's a straight trade

I'm listening to FAN and they're talking about Mark Guthrie also. His 4.47 ERA isn't great by any means, but his K:SO ratio (20:52) isn't bad.

I always knew that Justice was trade bait. I mean if Carl can be traded to Texas, anyone can be traded. The Mets fans seem much more interested in Juan Gone in OF, not Justice (so-so , many K's, not much lumber anymore).

[willyg]

This trade is all about clearning $$$$.

The Mets had Ventura, he would have made 8.25. They dealt him for Justice, he makes 7. (Save 1.25 there).

Now the Alomar trade. I think Lawton could have gone to arbitration and he made 3+ last year, so probably around 5.5 - 6.0. In return you get Alomar 8.0 (Add 2.0 there).

Take Dave Justice's 7M and 1.5M for Guthrie (1.8M). (Save 3.7 there).

Sign Roger Cedeno (Add 4.5 there).

4.5 + 2.0 - 1.25 - 3.7 = ADD $1,550,000.

If the Mets are true to their word they still have some money to clear before they make a run at Juan Gone.

willyg, nice breakdown of the $ numbers. Not only has Juan Gone said he wanted to be reunited w/Robby, the Mets fans on WFAN are saying he should just come on over.

Now if they somehow manage to get Tino, I'm going to see a giant smile whenever I see more Mets fans. Just when I thought too much of a good thing was never enough.

[BuzzBuzzard]

WillyG has hit it dead on. The Vetura/Justice deal was done simply to make the Alomar deal possible from the perspective of nobody else wanted Ventura, but they had to move him to open up 3B.

The Mets never wanted Justice either, so they dump him for next to nothing in personnel return, but get rid of the contract. Then they use the money for Juan Gon, or maybe Bonds.

[SmedIndy]

No wonder. It is a money trade. Damn.

I hate NBA trades because they have to work out the damn salary cap so some crusty old vets get traded then released the next day.

I know money trades happen all the time, but ususally they involve a veteran for prospects, and that's happened since the dawn of time.

So that's why this surprised me. I thought it was a straight baseball deal.

[CubFan7125]

Memo to all Mets Fans:

Step off the ledge, Relax. Wait for the other shoe to drop. Steve just found someone to take Justice's salary. This should probably clear the way to sign JaunGone. And even if you don't just remember how bad Robin Ventura looked at the plate last year, I think you are better off with Alomar & Alfonzo & anybody in the outfield than Ventura, Alfonzo & whatever you had in the outfield. So just relax and let Mr. Phillips finish wheeling & dealing before you panic.

[SmedIndy]

I'm not a Met fan. I still carry a grudge from 1969. I was just commenting that as a straight player for player deal, it was odd.

Originally posted by BuzzBuzzard
WillyG has hit it dead on. The Vetura/Justice deal was done simply to make the Alomar deal possible from the perspective of nobody else wanted Ventura, but they had to move him to open up 3B.

The Mets never wanted Justice either, so they dump him for next to nothing in personnel return, but get rid of the contract. Then they use the money for Juan Gon, or maybe Bonds.

I predict that if the Mets get Bonds, we'll be calling you guys bandwagoneers. This from a Yankee fan, too.

Originally posted by SmedIndy
No wonder. It is a money trade. Damn.

I'll give Mets GM Steve Phillips credit, he saw the big picture in freeing up 3B to allow Fonzie to go there. Despite my hearing that Fonzie doesn't like 3B, for the good of the team, he'd be wise to swallow his pride.

As for Justice, I figured he at least slugged in the past so someone may try resurrecting his bat, the same way the Sox helped Coney pitch again for a year. Either that or there's one born every minute, since Texas now has Crazy Carl.

I don't think Bonds will be playing at Shea, but Juan Gone seems likely. Is his glove any good? I've heard only so-so. Sheffield I don't think is likely, since the Dodgers GM expects way too much in return and I've heard the Mets don't have much to trade for w/farmhand Alex Escobar gone in the Alomar deal.

[Skipper Steve]

Amazingly, ESPN.com and CCNSI.com still have not reported this trade.

[Skipper Steve]

Just saw on Lee's ATM report:

This has now been classified as a rumored deal.

[Skipper Steve]

Now it's a deal:

Friday, December 14

Justice traded for second time this week

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Associated Press


The New York Mets have traded outfielder David Justice and cash to the Oakland Athletics for left-hander Mark Guthrie and minor league right-hander Tyler Yates.

More information is upcoming.