Mets Trade Most Productive Outfielder

[Duque]

Steve Phillips is working overtime. I like this move, though - Shinjo is easily replaceable, and Relaford is nothing special. Estes has the potential to be pretty good, especially in Shea.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news/ap/...metstrade.html


Mets trade Shinjo, Relaford to Giants for Estes
By BEN WALKER
AP Baseball Writer
December 16, 2001


NEW YORK (AP) -- The busy New York Mets made another deal Sunday, trading outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo and infielder Desi Relaford to the San Francisco Giants for pitcher Shawn Estes.

Shinjo and Relaford both were nice surprises for the Mets in 2001, but the opportunity to trade them for a proven starting pitcher was too good to pass up.

Estes was 9-8 with a 4.02 ERA in 27 starts for the Giants. The 28-year-old lefty was an All-Star in 1997 when he won 19 games and has averaged 29 starts the last five seasons.

Coming off a World Series appearance in 2000, the Mets struggled to an 82-80 mark that left them third in the NL East. General manager Steve Phillips promised changes in the offseason and has made good on his word.

On Friday, the Mets traded outfielder David Justice to Oakland for reliever Mark Guthrie and a minor leaguer. Justice was acquired only a week earlier from the New York Yankees for third baseman Robin Ventura.

At the recent winter meetings, the Mets obtained All-Star second baseman Roberto Alomar in a major trade with Cleveland. They also signed a pair of free agents, getting outfielder Roger Cedeno to become their leadoff hitter and adding David Weathers for the bullpen.

Shinjo, 29, played exceptionally well in his first year in the majors. A star in Japan, he hit .267 with 10 home runs and 56 RBIs for the Mets.

Shinjo was outstanding in the field, and his hustle made him one of manager Bobby Valentine's favorite players.

Relaford was merely a journeyman when, after splitting the year with Philadelphia and San Diego, he was plucked off waivers by the Mets after the 2000 season.

Relaford, 28, blossomed into a productive player, hitting .302 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs in 301 at-bats.

After Relaford showed a live arm at shortstop and third base, Valentine even gave him a chance to pitch. Relaford threw one hitless inning in a blowout and was impressive enough that Valentine said he might consider letting the infielder pitch in another game.

Estes was 15-6 in 2000 and helped pitch the Giants into the NL playoffs, where they lost to the Mets.

Estes joins a rotation that last year included Al Leiter, Kevin Appier, Steve Trachsel, Glendon Rusch and Bruce Chen.

Rusch's name has surfaced in trade speculation for the last few months. The Mets also are looking to add a power hitter, with free agent Juan Gonzalez among the possible candidates.

[Xanadu Dragon]

Too bad Buzz is on a boat for the next week or so.

I have a feeling he would not have liked this one.

Isn't Estes the one that got busted for riding a stolen bicycle?

[sweaver]

I would have liked it better if they had traded Ordonez instead of Relaford, but other than that, yes. Estes lives on the edge but can be good.

[CubFan7125]

Could this be the last move that clears the way for JuanGone to be playing at Shea next year? After all there are clearly no more impediments on the Mets outfield.

[willyg]

I do not like/understand this trade at all.

Estes makes big (4.867 last year, believe 5+ this year) money, the guys you dealt do not. Mets just added another 4 mil or so in payroll.

Granted this means another deal is coming (Estes, Chen, Rusch, Trachel) but I still do not like it.

Sorry Buzz, enjoy watching Estes walk the ballpark.

Although I do agree something has to be happening with the Mets OF situation.

[Xanadu Dragon]

Well, right now, the Mets OF is Cedeno, Payton, Timo and Benny, no?

Am I missing someone?

No way in hell do they go with that group - - - at least if they want to try and win.

One would have to think more deals are in the works. Still not sure about Juan Gone? Read where the Mets GM said something like "I thought he was a risk last year, why would my mind change in a year?"

I think they're going to send Estes to S.D for Lankford - - - or package Rusch and Trachsel or Appier for an even bigger bat? Or it could be Rusch and someone for Burnitz?

[willyg]

The Mets outfield situation in general stinks. If I was a Met fan I would be ticked as heck. Burnitz, Lankford, for all intensive purposes they stink.

Last two years for Lankford 789 AB's 293 K's. That is greater than 37% of the time. He's a bum if you ask me.

Same thing w/Burnitz. He strikes out a ton as well, 150 times last year, but at least he hits 30+ out of the yard, but than again you've got a .250 hitter if you are lucky.

If I am the Mets I wouldn't touch either of these guys for anything.

If you are going to trade guys, good young left handed pitching, pay an outfielder 8 million or so bucks per year, go after someone good. Put a package together for Brian Giles, don't go after these bums.

[sweaver]

This would mean an outfield of Agbayani, Payton and Cedeno with Perez in reserve. Better than last year's, a bit. Still need a good power bat.

[willyg]

An outfield of Benny, Payton, and Cedeno would be one of the worst in baseball.

Cedeno is a leadoff hitter who steals bases but doesn't get on base enough.

Benny should be in the AL as a platoon DH.

Payton is a quazi third outfielder.

Perez is a quazi big leaguer.

[Xanadu Dragon]

I actually think Payton has some potential.

[CubFan7125]

I don't know, just a thought, but there could be a deal in the work for 1 of the lefties like Chen, Estes or Rusch for an outfielder(Burnitz?) . I am presuming that they would not trade Al Leiter.

Steve Rosenthal posted this item in his column today at sportingnews.com. .

Mets: GM Steve Phillips was the star of the meetings, acquiring a leadoff hitter (Roger Cedeno), No. 3 hitter (Roberto Alomar) and two relievers (David Weathers, Mark Guthrie) while dumping David Justice. Phillips later added Shawn Estes to create a surplus of lefthanded starting pitching. Grade: A

[BuzzBuzzard]

Originally posted by Xanadu Dragon
Too bad Buzz is on a boat for the next week or so.

I have a feeling he would not have liked this one.

Back from the boat, but caught wind of it while I was gone and love the deal.

[SmedIndy]

Isn't Estes an injury risk? Dusty really rides his pitchers hard, and I think Estes always takes 15 days off or so.

[BuzzBuzzard]

Show me a pitcher that does not miss a few starts during the course of the season. They are the true exceptions. A trip to the 15 day DL does not bother me. And let's not lose sight of who they gave up. Shinjo, while he was the best OFer last season is not a guy you build your team around.

[SmedIndy]

The point is that Estes may be due to a long term breakdown. I would only consider him a 3 or 4, really.

As to your other question:

162/5 = 32.4. So I looked at all the pitchers who had 32 starts or more. This doesn't count relievers who moved to the rotation, or vice versa.

There were 54 pitchers who made 32 starts or more.

63 who made 30 or more, and they may not have missed any but may have been passed over due to schedules, etc.

Estes tied for 78th in games started.