Rumor: NYM trade Heilman to SEA for Meche?

by Mean Dean on Jul 24, 2006 11:45 PM EDT

Third-hand here, as supposedly Sons of Sam Horn is reporting that ESPN Radio is reporting this deal.

As a Mets fan, I guess I'm ok with it. I'm biased towards Heilman because he's our farm system product, but he's probably not really any better than Meche, who is having a nice year (as a starter -- something Heilman has yet to do), and is the same age. I'll definitely be curious to see how Heilman does in the M's rotation, and hope he does well.

The disconcerting thing, though, is that if I understand correctly, Meche is a free agent at the end of the year. So if he doesn't make a significant difference in the postseason, this trade could become a bad one: they could lose him altogether as a FA, or even if they re-sign him, they could have just signed him in the off-season anyway. If he is important in getting the team to the World Series, I won't care about that stuff, but if not, ehh. I hope he does make a difference, and I think he is capable of that, but... we'll see.

I wonder if Pelfrey would take Heilman's spot as a setup man. It would make sense IMO, since he is a one-pitch pitcher at this point.

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Damaged good

Meche is a fool's gold. He's had what, two labrum surgeries already? BUt he'll be good until his next surgery.

by yoda1 on Jul 25, 2006 12:09 AM EDT reply actions

Meche has been pitching without injury

since 2002. And throwing mid 90's for long stretches of that period as well.

by chaney on Jul 25, 2006 2:16 AM EDT up reply actions

I thought

this one had been debunked already.

by jeck on Jul 25, 2006 12:11 AM EDT reply actions

Meche

If he's truly a labrum success surgery, he's a good pitcher.

But seriously, if the Mets want a 3.80 ERA pitcher with good strikeout numbers, why don't they just let Heilman start?

by limozeen on Jul 25, 2006 12:37 AM EDT reply actions

because

Heilman's been awful lately. His changeup is nowhere near as good as it used to be. It used to have late, diving action that generated swings and misses. For the last 3 months, it's just sort of floated to the plate. He doesn't have a viable 3rd pitch. He isn't stretched out to start. Basically, the answer to your question is because he'd get rocked.

by jeck on Jul 25, 2006 12:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Maybe this should have read...

"Why didn't they just let Heilman start?"

by limozeen on Jul 25, 2006 12:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Amen...

Praise Jebus! Someone else sees through the one hitter!

I think Heilman sealed his fate with that inexcusable play yesterday, if it wasn't already. He says he's lost his new (old) arm angle again, but IMO it's more due to the fact that hitters have now seen him enough to figure it out...

Of course he could get traded and prove a lot of people, including myself, wrong. People said that about Jae Seo too though, and that deals worked out rather well...

by MetfanBren on Jul 25, 2006 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions