If the Mets regard their bullpen as a priority, there is at least one trade they could make today.
Granted, they’d be showing the same disregard for money and/or prospects they showed in the Paul Lo Duca and Carlos Delgado deals, but they could swap righty Aaron Heilman for the Devil Rays’ closer, Danys Baez.
However, Mets officials have continuously stated that Heilman is unlikely to be moved this winter, a stance that has shifted almost 180 degrees over the last year.
Although Mets GM Omar Minaya talked with the Devil Rays repeatedly during last week’s winter meetings, he remains unwilling to move Heilman. The reluctance to trade the Mets’ 2001 first-round pick is worth reviewing, especially with quality relief options dwindling.
In the last two seasons, Baez has saved 71 games – 30 in 2004 and 41 last year. He has blown 11 saves, though, including eight last season – the same as Braden Looper. Also, he’ll be a free agent after 2006, and he’ll make $4 million this season.
But the Cuban defector is only listed as 28 years old, and he has had far more experience in late-inning situations
than Heilman, who prefers to start. The Mets felt they had an “eighth-inning closer” with Roberto Hernandez last season; Baez could serve the same role.
And in the event that Billy Wagner suffers an injury, Baez could slot into the ninth-inning gig presumably without missing a beat.
Heilman, 27, is something of an enigma. He washed out in the majors in 2003 and 2004, going a combined 3-10 with a 6.36 ERA. With his career in jeopardy, he reverted to an old delivery and enjoyed tremendous success in 2005, posting a 5-3 record and 3.57 ERA. He saved five games in six tries and earned “holds” in five more. His
ratio of walks to strikeouts, 37/106, was tremendous, and pitching coach Rick Peterson was impressed with
the swings and misses he induced with his deceptive change-up.
And Heilman’s salary is still close to the majorleague minimum; he’s not even arbitration eligible yet.
It appears the Mets believe Heilman has turned the corner. Others believe his trade value will never be higher.
The specter of the horrendous Scott Kazmir-for-Victor Zambrano deal also hangs over the franchise, though, which may be another reason the Mets are reluctant to trade with Tampa Bay.
The Mets, for some reason, want to trade Kris Benson (10-8, 4.13 ERA) and acquire Javier Vazquez (11-15, 4.42), who failed with the Yankees. Heilman could be a chip in a Vazquez trade or one for the Red Sox’s Manny Ramirez down the road.
But there are few relief options that appear better than Baez at the moment. Julian Tavarez, whom the Mets and Yankees have expressed interest in, is erratic. Rudy Seanez, who was 7-1 with a 2.69 ERA last year, is 37. Octavio Dotel has received offers from 11 teams.
Meanwhile, Baez is there for the taking – albeit at a high asking price.
