PORT ST. LUCIE – The Mets are debating whether to include Jason Isringhausen in any deal for Kenny Rogers, and their uncertainty could mean they will lose out in the chase for the Athletics’ lefty.
The A’s have been insisting that if they are to trade Rogers to the Mets, Isringhausen must be part of the deal.
Some in the Met organization are ready to give up on the 26-year-old right-hander, while others want to hold on to him.
And of course, questions about the health of Rogers’ left elbow could hold up a deal for a few more weeks.
The teams were close to a deal five days ago, but the Mets’ gnawing reluctance to abandon Isringhausen scuttled it. Since then a possible deal remains alive – but the Cardinals and Indians, who have been tracking Rogers all spring, could leap into the fray to steal him away from the Mets.
The Indians have been trying to get Rogers, who went 16-8 with a 3.17 ERA last year, for about a year now; and the Cardinals have been looking to fill the void left when Matt Morris was lost for the season due to injury.
The Mets are telling the A’s that if they do include Isringhausen, Oakland must also take Masato Yoshii as a way of clearing out some salary. Yoshii makes $2 million this year and $3 million next. Rogers, in the final year of his contract after the Athletics declined an option for 2000, is going to earn $5 million this year.
But the Yankees, Rogers’ former team, are paying half of that, which means Yoshii and Rogers would be a virtual wash. And of course there is the delicious irony for the Mets that if they did get Rogers, George Steinbrenner would be footing part of the bill for him to win games at Shea.
According to a West Coast source, Met GM Steve Phillips spoke with A’s GM Billy Beane on Monday night and afterward the A’s still were very hopeful of making a deal, though it may have to wait until later in April, and it could be with another team.
Met pitching prospect Octavio Dotel also has been mentioned in the deal, but for the A’s the key is Isringhausen.
Two Decembers ago, the Mets were ready to trade Isringhausen to the Marlins as part of a package for Kevin Brown, but the Marlins found out Izzy’s elbow was bad and nixed the deal. Since then Isringhausen has had reconstructive surgery,
Although Phillips acknowledges Isringhausen is not ready for the major leagues yet, Izzy has pitched in minor-league games and looked good so far – good enough that some Mets are beginning to wonder if he really might fulfill his promise of years ago.
But after two surgeries, a broken wrist and history of missteps, others in the organization wonder.
Another reason the Mets probably are holding back is that they still are hot for Jeff Fassero and may need Isringhausen, Dotel or even Yoshii to get him.
The Mariners will try to sign Fassero before the season starts, but if they cannot do it, they will look to trade him. He makes $4.75 million this year and will be a free agent after the season.
Meanwhile, the Mets await word about the condition of Rogers’ elbow. When asked if he was having the medical records of Rogers examined, Phillips said, “no comment,” which suggests he is.
While the A’s say Rogers is totally fit and is only being held back for precautionary reasons, Rogers will not be the Opening Day starter, and his innings will be limited in his first few starts.
That would jibe with Phillips’ assessment that it was “probably unlikely” he would be able to make a trade for a front-end starter before Opening Day. Everything is on hold until they are sure about Rogers’ health, and Izzy’s value.
