Milledge traded
The Mets have traded OF Lastings Milledge to the Nationals for C Brian Schneider and OF Ryan Church. Schneider hit six home runs with 54 RBIs last season, batting .235 in 129 games.
Schneider, who turned 31 Monday, will battle Ramon Castro for time behind the plate, replacing Paul Lo Duca.
This likely means Johnny Estrada, acquired last week from the Brewers in exchange for Guillermo Mota, won’t be with the Mets next season.
Church had 15 homers and 70 RBIs in 144 games.
He turned 29 in October and made his major league debut in 2004.
Omar Minaya said “Yes” when asked if Church were an everyday player, and that “today he is” the Mets right fielder.
Milledge, 22, once considered the Mets’ top prospect, had his 2007 season cut to 59 games by injuries. He played 56 games in his debut season of 2006.
He generated controversy with a rap record that featured explicit lyrics and when he high-fived fans after hitting a game-tying home run against the Giants (his first in the majors). Veterans put a piece of paper reading “Know your place rook” in his locker during the 2006 season.
Though fans may not like the deal, Minaya said, “I’ve been through this before when we traded Kris Benson. The fans didn’t quite understand that at the time. But when you’re a general manager, you do take that into account.”
