Piazza for Green?

bulldog55 · 11-10-2004, 06:37 PM

***DISCLAIMER***
This rumor is being propagated by Peter Gammons and should be greeted with the same credulity afforded to stock market tips from your unemployed neighbor.

Quote:

Green-Piazza Deal Discussed
* GM DePodesta has preliminary talks with Mets about reacquiring the former Dodger.

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — Dodger General Manager Paul DePodesta spent most of the first day of the general manager meetings Tuesday hiring an executive with whom he has had a long-standing relationship, but it was a meeting he had with the New York Mets that could net a name familiar to Dodger fans.

DePodesta and Met General Manager Omar Minaya discussed a trade that would result in catcher Mike Piazza returning to Chavez Ravine in exchange for outfielder Shawn Green.

The talks are in the preliminary stages and could include other players, but the swap makes more financial sense for the Dodgers than another potential deal involving Green, a trade that would bring outfielder Sammy Sosa to the Dodgers.

However, Sosa is guaranteed $35 million over the next two seasons and would get a $4-million buyout in 2007, making any deal for him prohibitive. Dodger interest in Sosa is lukewarm at best and even his agent concedes a deal is unlikely.

"The stars and the moon would have to align for Sammy Sosa to be traded," said Adam Katz, Sosa's agent. "I expect him to be a Cub."

The contracts — and statistics — of Green and Piazza are nearly identical: Both players are owed about $16 million next year in the last year of long-term deals and both players batted .266 last season with diminished power numbers.

DePodesta cautioned that no deal is imminent and that he is talking to many teams.

"In our discussion with the Mets, we threw out a handful of things and brainstormed about how we can help each other out," he said.

"No definite proposal was made. We agreed to continue to keep an open mind."

DePodesta also emphasized that the Dodgers are not intent on trading Green, a popular player whose production has dropped the last two seasons.

"We are not interested in moving Shawn unless a compelling offer is made to us," he said.

In terms of on-field needs, the Dodgers have a void at catcher. Piazza, 36, has battled injuries the last two seasons and there are questions about his ability to catch every day. The Mets tried him at first base last season but he struggled, making eight errors in 68 games. He caught only 50 games.

Green, who turns 32 today, would be considered a good fit with the Mets, who are shopping for a first baseman and a right fielder.

Piazza was immensely popular with Dodger fans during his five-plus seasons as the team's regular catcher. He was rookie of the year in 1993 and during his first five full seasons averaged 33 home runs and 105 runs batted in.

He was traded to the Florida Marlins in May of 1998 by the new Fox ownership and shipped to the Mets days later. Piazza put together five strong seasons in New York before his production tapered off in 2003.

Generating excitement by bringing back a beloved player is not a sound reason to make a trade in DePodesta's view, however.

"The best deals put a winning team on the field," DePodesta said.

"That's the No. 1 goal. If there is some consideration above and beyond, that's a nice tiebreaker, but it isn't the foundation for a deal."

Piazza and Green can veto a trade. Green has already said that he prefers to remain with the Dodgers but would consider waiving his no-trade clause.

Neither player should start packing, however. Even if negotiations result in a trade, it wouldn't happen quickly.

"We are not in a rush to do anything," DePodesta said. "It will be interesting to see how the free-agent market plays out in the next month or two. We don't want to be foolishly aggressive in the trade market."

http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseba...rts-mlb-dodger

Karros270 · 11-10-2004, 06:41 PM

Hmm, sounds familiar.

bulldog55 · 11-10-2004, 06:52 PM

In that once again Green is being shopped for an old, broken down slugger, or that it was already posted in the Sosa thread which I am now noticing?

Karros270 · 11-10-2004, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulldog55

or that it was already posted in the Sosa thread which I am now noticing?

bingo

bulldog55 · 11-10-2004, 06:59 PM

Yeah, well ... shut up!

Skipaway · 11-10-2004, 07:00 PM

This is probably still a backup plan, since there are still good 1Bs out on the market.

Karros270 · 11-10-2004, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skipaway

This is probably still a backup plan, since there are still good 1Bs out on the market.

It makes sense to me even though I don't like it. If Green and Piazza put up comparable numbers then Piazza is worth more to the Dodgers if he plays catcher since they have a sink hole at that position.

That's assuming of course that the Dodgers don't plan to re-sign Green or Piazza. If that's the case then the swap is only for one season and after that they are off the hook for a huge salary.

bulldog55 · 11-10-2004, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karros270

It makes sense to me even though I don't like it. If Green and Piazza put up comparable numbers then Piazza is worth more to the Dodgers if he plays catcher since they have a sink hole at that position.

That's assuming of course that the Dodgers don't plan to re-sign Green or Piazza. If that's the case then the swap is only for one season and after that they are off the hook for a huge salary.

But if Green puts up his numbers over 162 games and Piazza plays 100, who's more valuable then?

In any case, I couldn't imagine the Dodgers resigning Green unless he has a huge year or takes a huge paycut.

Skipaway · 11-10-2004, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karros270

It makes sense to me even though I don't like it. If Green and Piazza put up comparable numbers then Piazza is worth more to the Dodgers if he plays catcher since they have a sink hole at that position.

That's assuming of course that the Dodgers don't plan to re-sign Green or Piazza. If that's the case then the swap is only for one season and after that they are off the hook for a huge salary.

I think the situation would be what the Mets are looking for in the market. If they can sign some big bats at 1B or corner OF, Green would be useless for them.

SoxWin · 11-10-2004, 07:26 PM

I don't understand the fascination with trading Green. To improve the team yes, but for the names that have been bandied about? No frigging way. I doubt you can trade him and improve much anyway, unless you eat a big chunk of that contract.

benchwarmer · 11-10-2004, 07:27 PM

Word out of Boston has Manny reportly getting interest from the Mets. Would the sox dare trade the soon to be AL MVP!?!?!

Joshv02 · 11-10-2004, 07:33 PM

Yes. Either that or waive him.

I wouldn't be surprised if Green is waived, too. Too bad; I like Jewish players

UngratefulDead · 11-10-2004, 07:36 PM

Think they'd be interested in A.J. Pierzynski?

Karros270 · 11-10-2004, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulldog55

But if Green puts up his numbers over 162 games and Piazza plays 100, who's more valuable then?

That's the big question. The Dodgers always have Ross to fall back on.

Karros270 · 11-10-2004, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benchwarmer

Word out of Boston has Manny reportly getting interest from the Mets. Would the sox dare trade the soon to be AL MVP!?!?!

I heard the Sox had said they would be keeping Manny this time.

bulldog55 · 11-10-2004, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshv02

Yes. Either that or waive him.

I wouldn't be surprised if Green is waived, too. Too bad; I like Jewish players

I would. The Dodgers aren't THAT set on shipping him out. This isn't a Manny Ramirez situation. Frankly I think the liberal media is overblowing the Green thing.

Anachronism · 11-10-2004, 09:04 PM

With Green's "no-trade" clause, and with him enjoying California, I think it is really premature to suggest any trade... I don't think Green will go this far north again

rudel.dietrich · 11-10-2004, 09:35 PM

I think this is a tactic to other teams who might think 'hey look at this crap that LA wants for Green, let's offer something slighty better and he is ours'.
And if nothing transpires then Green may be the kind of player who thinks 'no one wants me...ill show them all' and then he puts up a carrer year.

UngratefulDead · 11-10-2004, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fallschirmjager

And if nothing transpires then Green may be the kind of player who thinks 'no one wants me...ill show them all' and then he puts up a carrer year.

Just like Nomar?

GreekMetsFan78 · 11-11-2004, 03:40 AM

As a Mets fan i like the deal, just get rid of him.

11-10-2004, 06:41 PM	#2
Karros270 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,392	Hmm, sounds familiar. __________________ now everybody's praying...don't prey on me

11-10-2004, 06:52 PM	#3
bulldog55 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: California's Canada Warnings: 17 Posts: 2,479	In that once again Green is being shopped for an old, broken down slugger, or that it was already posted in the Sosa thread which I am now noticing? __________________ Commissioner, Trans-Continental Base Ball Association Owner/GM, Los Angeles Electrics (TCBA), Beaverton Rangers (OTBL), Portland Mavericks (Union League), and Los Angeles Superbas (Century League) Being smart, don't always make you popular.

11-10-2004, 06:59 PM	#5
bulldog55 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: California's Canada Warnings: 17 Posts: 2,479	Yeah, well ... shut up! __________________ Commissioner, Trans-Continental Base Ball Association Owner/GM, Los Angeles Electrics (TCBA), Beaverton Rangers (OTBL), Portland Mavericks (Union League), and Los Angeles Superbas (Century League) Being smart, don't always make you popular.

11-10-2004, 07:00 PM	#6
Skipaway Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Where you live Posts: 11,017	This is probably still a backup plan, since there are still good 1Bs out on the market. __________________ Jonathan Haidt: Moral reasoning is really just a servant masquerading as a high priest.

11-10-2004, 07:26 PM	#10
SoxWin Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Blissful ignorance Posts: 3,315	I don't understand the fascination with trading Green. To improve the team yes, but for the names that have been bandied about? No frigging way. I doubt you can trade him and improve much anyway, unless you eat a big chunk of that contract. __________________ It's called partying. When you do a lot of it, you're bound to be places where the police show up. I smoke a lot of pot and drink a lot of beer. I also graduated Suma Cum Laude. ****ing sue me. - Luis Rivera

11-10-2004, 07:27 PM	#11
benchwarmer Banned Join Date: May 2004 Location: Red Sox Nation Posts: 1,461	Word out of Boston has Manny reportly getting interest from the Mets. Would the sox dare trade the soon to be AL MVP!?!?!

11-10-2004, 07:33 PM	#12
Joshv02 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: , " Posts: 3,082	Yes. Either that or waive him. I wouldn't be surprised if Green is waived, too. Too bad; I like Jewish players __________________ Brookline Maccabees. RIP

11-10-2004, 07:36 PM	#13
UngratefulDead Banned Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 3,415	Think they'd be interested in A.J. Pierzynski?

11-10-2004, 09:04 PM	#17
Anachronism All Star Reserve Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Great White North Posts: 945	With Green's "no-trade" clause, and with him enjoying California, I think it is really premature to suggest any trade... I don't think Green will go this far north again __________________ "Ruth did it on Beer and Hotdogs..."

11-10-2004, 09:35 PM	#18
rudel.dietrich Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Zürich, Switzerland Posts: 8,608	I think this is a tactic to other teams who might think 'hey look at this crap that LA wants for Green, let's offer something slighty better and he is ours'. And if nothing transpires then Green may be the kind of player who thinks 'no one wants me...ill show them all' and then he puts up a carrer year.

11-11-2004, 03:40 AM	#20
GreekMetsFan78 Minors (Double A) Join Date: May 2004 Location: Greece Posts: 133	As a Mets fan i like the deal, just get rid of him. __________________ "If you build it....They will come"