Lastings Milledge Reportedly Traded to Nats

by may7 on Nov 30, 2007 11:10 AM PST Comment 59 comments

Though he is not and has never been a member of the A's, this reported trade by Fox Sports has significance to the A's since it has long been rumored that Mr. Milledge is the apple of Billy Beane's eye and has at least been twice rumored to be Oakland bound in exchange for Joe Blanton. Unless Billy Beane has some secret deal with the Nats, it looks like his quest for Mr. Milledge will become legendary myth on par with Kevin Youkilis......

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We're using the DLD for this

also it looks like if Billy really wanted Lastings he could've had him for Denorfia and Bowen more or less (with probably a high upside reliever tossed in). That's how dumb this deal is.

by awesomer on Nov 30, 2007 11:03 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Thank God!

Milledge is talented but not talented enough to make up for his immaturity.

by jjham15 on Nov 30, 2007 11:37 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Lastings Milledge

Apparently Billy or no one else had much interest. Terrible deal for the Mets.

But I good not help feel that Billy at this cheap should not take a flier on him considering his high ceiling potential.

If Milledge fulfills his potential, this could be one of the worst deals ever for the Mets.

The downside could be that Milledge would be trouble where ever he goes.

by sinned on Nov 30, 2007 11:37 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I was getting a little tired of hearing about him

so... good news.

by mikeA on Nov 30, 2007 11:38 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I hope to god

that Omar didn't just get Ryan Church for us

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Nov 30, 2007 11:49 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Ryan Church...the new Kotsay?

I hope not!

I am Ray Fosse's man crushes for Clay Wood and Jason Kendall.

by franks a lot on Nov 30, 2007 11:53 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Omar Minaya is a f****** idiot.

Omar Minaya is Jim Bowden's beeatch.

Rosenthal says that the Mets offered Estrada to the Nats, free of charge, but that the Nats preferred to look elsewhere for a Schneider replacement.

by rfloh on Nov 30, 2007 12:05 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

he's been hanging with isaiah thomas too much

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Nov 30, 2007 12:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

new hot stove sig!

Omar Minaya is Jim Bowden's beeatch.

by rebus on Nov 30, 2007 12:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Omar

Anyone that would even CONSIDER giving Pedro Martinez 4 years guaranteed is a complete moron...

by kitoko on Nov 30, 2007 7:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

NO,

Pedro Martinez was a great decision.

Rosenthal says that the Mets offered Estrada to the Nats, free of charge, but that the Nats preferred to look elsewhere for a Schneider replacement.

by rfloh on Nov 30, 2007 10:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

Ryan Church is an underrated player, but Church plus Schneider is not close to equal value for Milledge. The Mets just traded a young player with upside for not all that much. If Milledge even approaches his ceiling than the Mets are going to regret this trade.

I'd like to eat my lunch, but Billy just kicked me out of my office.

by BlameChannel53 on Nov 30, 2007 12:07 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

why was Milledge such a prospect?

I've never really gotten that. His numbers in the minor leagues were solid, but if he didn't play for the Mets no one would have heard of him.

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Nov 30, 2007 12:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Would they have heard of Chris Young?

His numbers in the minors are not merely "solid". Look at his age and levels.

Look at the fact that he was a league average hitter at 22 in MLB. Look at the fact that he can play CF. Look at the fact that the only reason who didn't play CF in MLB is because there is a certain Carlos Beltran on the Mets roster. Look at the fact that assuming he never improves, and that he is fully formed at age 22, he is a league average CF.

His FLOOR is a league average player.

Rosenthal says that the Mets offered Estrada to the Nats, free of charge, but that the Nats preferred to look elsewhere for a Schneider replacement.

by rfloh on Nov 30, 2007 12:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

league average hitter?

Granted solid may have been light (actually went back and forth between solid and decent), but he had one really good year as a 19-year-old in 2004 and has put up okay/solid/decent numbers since then, but not nearly enough to merit the hype surrounding him. Add to that the injury problems and attitude and you get a solid, but not great prospect. Would I kick him off the roster? No, but I'm glad we didn't trade Haren for him.

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Nov 30, 2007 1:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

OPS+ 105

at age 22 in MLB. YES, league average hitter. A 22 year old league average hitter who can play CF.

Chris Young: OPS 853 in the minors. Age 23.

Milledge: OPS 860 in the minors. Age 22.

Young OPS+ 89 at age 23.

Milledge OPS+ 105 at age 22.

Milledge is a league average hitter NOW.

Rosenthal says that the Mets offered Estrada to the Nats, free of charge, but that the Nats preferred to look elsewhere for a Schneider replacement.

by rfloh on Nov 30, 2007 1:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Chris Young ...

is a high end defensive CF ... Milledge is not an embarrassment to his team in CF and is certainly destined for a corner. He has to hit a lot more to play.

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Nov 30, 2007 1:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

that's true,

but it's still an f'n A trade.

Omar Minaya is Jim Bowden's beeatch.

by rebus on Nov 30, 2007 1:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Milledge is destined for a corner

based on what?

A certain guy named Carlos Beltran?

Rosenthal says that the Mets offered Estrada to the Nats, free of charge, but that the Nats preferred to look elsewhere for a Schneider replacement.

by rfloh on Nov 30, 2007 1:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

have you seen his neck?

he'll be 240lbs by next christmas

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Nov 30, 2007 1:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

in less than 200 ABs

would you seriously take Milledge over Young?

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Nov 30, 2007 1:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes.

Based on the fact that he is a better hitter and younger.

Rosenthal says that the Mets offered Estrada to the Nats, free of charge, but that the Nats preferred to look elsewhere for a Schneider replacement.

by rfloh on Nov 30, 2007 1:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

you obviously never played MLB2k7

Young dominated the league for years

and in real life, he had a slugging >.500 the last three years in the minors while Milledge has based his career on high batting averages and speed (which has already fallen off a cliff as measured by sb's). Granted, I'm biased towards power hitters, but I'd take Chris Young every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Nov 30, 2007 1:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I would take Chris Young as well

But that doesn't mean Milledge is not a legit prospect.

I'd like to eat my lunch, but Billy just kicked me out of my office.

by BlameChannel53 on Nov 30, 2007 1:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Nov 30, 2007 1:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

damn it

you exposed my evil plot to twist the debate into a slightly different topic

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Nov 30, 2007 1:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

let me help you with the twist

Chris Young will be a stud, and all doubters will regret their blasphemy.

I'd like to eat my lunch, but Billy just kicked me out of my office.

by BlameChannel53 on Nov 30, 2007 1:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

"Chris Young will be a stud"

so Omar will be his beeatch too? Besides being Bowden's beeatch.

Rosenthal says that the Mets offered Estrada to the Nats, free of charge, but that the Nats preferred to look elsewhere for a Schneider replacement.

by rfloh on Nov 30, 2007 2:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

"Chris Young will be a stud"

so Omar will be his beeatch too? Besides being Bowden's beeatch.

Rosenthal says that the Mets offered Estrada to the Nats, free of charge, but that the Nats preferred to look elsewhere for a Schneider replacement.

by rfloh on Nov 30, 2007 2:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

And what of Young's

OBP?

Maybe I'm biased towards players who don't put up a below 300 OBP in a HITTER's park, but I'd take Milledge every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Rosenthal says that the Mets offered Estrada to the Nats, free of charge, but that the Nats preferred to look elsewhere for a Schneider replacement.

by rfloh on Nov 30, 2007 2:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

difference in OBP

Young's low obp was driven entirely by an absurdly low BABIP (lower than Milledge by .059). Milledge had a higher isoOBP by .012, which could be argued is a repeatable skill, but I doubt their future obp's will that different.

Milledge was just traded for two guys who might be out of baseball in a couple of years and we probably couldn't get Chris Young straight up from Arizona for Danny Haren.

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Nov 30, 2007 2:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That just means that

Omar Minaya == Jim Duquette.

Dan Symborski kindly did the ZIPS projection for Milledge's career.

Some highlights: 466 HR, 485 2b, 2282 hits, 278-379-524.

As for Young, yeah 143 Ks and 49 BBs in 624 PAs are also a repeatable "skill".

Rosenthal says that the Mets offered Estrada to the Nats, free of charge, but that the Nats preferred to look elsewhere for a Schneider replacement.

by rfloh on Nov 30, 2007 2:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

wow, that's insanely aggressive

I doubt anyone would have pegged even A-Rod to have that kind of career based on <400 AB's.</p>

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Nov 30, 2007 5:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

How about for Justin Upton. ;)

by OldhamA on Nov 30, 2007 5:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Regret?

This is Kazmir for Victor "can be fixed in 10 minutes" Zambrano redux.

Rosenthal says that the Mets offered Estrada to the Nats, free of charge, but that the Nats preferred to look elsewhere for a Schneider replacement.

by rfloh on Nov 30, 2007 12:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree

I was going to throw out that comparison, but got distracted. The one caveat with Milledge is his alleged makeup issues, but anyone who does not understand how valuable a prospect Milledge is based on his performing as a league average outfielder at the age of 22 simply isn't paying atention. There's somewhere around a 90% chance that the Mets end up looking retarded in two or three years, or sooner.

I'd like to eat my lunch, but Billy just kicked me out of my office.

by BlameChannel53 on Nov 30, 2007 1:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

When Kazmir got traded

there were alleged "makeup" issues too.

Minaya == Jim Duquette.

Rosenthal says that the Mets offered Estrada to the Nats, free of charge, but that the Nats preferred to look elsewhere for a Schneider replacement.

by rfloh on Nov 30, 2007 1:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

I kind of like Church as a player - he hits right-handers well, can sort of handle center field, and the Nats seemed too eager to relegate him to the bench so he seemed like someone you might be able to pick up for cheap. He's basically the player we're hoping Denorfia will be, with a little better bat and a little worse glove. But he's also already 29, so he isn't going to be any more than that.

Milledge is almost as good right now, and is only 22. Despite some struggles last year, there's still a good chance he'll turn into a star.

And as an added bonus, the Mets also get an aging catcher who can't hit at all and is due $5 million each of the next two years.

Huge win for the Nationals.

Urban drives a taxi.

by andeux on Nov 30, 2007 12:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

From Dan Szmborski

2009 ZIPS projections:

Milledge 2009: 286/365/500
Top Comps: Rondell White, Andruw Jones (Flood down to 3rd)

Church 2009: 263/344/461
Top Comps: Don Lock, Gus Bell

Rosenthal says that the Mets offered Estrada to the Nats, free of charge, but that the Nats preferred to look elsewhere for a Schneider replacement.

by rfloh on Nov 30, 2007 1:22 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

2009 is a ways away

but CHONE calls him .271/.352/.423 in 2008. I would dance for joy if the A's got that from CF this year.

by MrIncognito on Nov 30, 2007 3:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Trading Milledge= NYM facing reality...

that they don't have the chips to get a top tier starter. Regardless if it's Santana, Danny, Bedard, Kazmir, Sheets, Peavy, Oswalt, etc... Their chips do not, and will not, equal to what ARI, LAD, LAA (for others, not Danny), NYY, and BOS can match. I think they saw quite clearly that if Danny was going anywhere it was LAD, NYY, or BOS (more so on the last two) who would be in panic mode if the other gained Santana.

by AsWin on Nov 30, 2007 6:26 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

How do you figure that?

Neither Minnesota or Oakland was interested in Milledge, therefore his departure does nothing to weaken Minaya's bid on Santana or Haren.

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Nov 30, 2007 6:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Because...

as mentioned by NY reporters when this deal went down 1) Reyes is not going anywhere 2) Maine is needed in the staff 3) Gomez is needed to fill in the spot when Alou departs. I'm taking this right off the mets boards. And Oakland did have interest in Milledge apparently but decreased. It was not the center piece. Now if Maine, Reyes, and Gomez are off the table and our interest in Heilman is decreased then no matter if they offer us ten guys (which obviously is not realistic) they can't compete with the quality others can provide. Milledge was not going to be a centerpiece but it still might have been a piece.

NYY, DET, BOS, LAD, and ARI all have better quality/more ML ready propects. As someone mentioned before me on here (and they are correct) the NYM are offering B level prospects at best. Even the biased NY reporters are saying how difficult it is to achieve a top tier pitcher with what they have. It's why they were denied Bedard and won't get Santana. Add to that the fact that BOS and NYY are going to be in an arms race for both Santana and Danny (who is the second best option out there). I'm not even going into if someone like MIL, CIN, CLE, or SD goes into crazy mode to make a franchise move and offers something major (for example what if MIL offered Hardy or Weeks). Or if CLE feels that CC is going to go and needs to replace him. Those are major what ifs but stranger things have happened.

Personally, it wouldn't surprise me if BOS and NYY both wanted Haren over Santana and hence the reluctance to part with Ellsbury or Hughes. BOS really only needs a #2 behind Beckett and NYY well they need an ace as Posada would say. Actually if they wanted to go into super frenzy mode, they could actually use both Santana and Haren, especially if Andy doesn't return... but that's another story and not that likely.

by AsWin on Nov 30, 2007 6:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't care where you got it, its not accurate

Alou is signed through 2008. Church can cover a corner for the next 4 years and the Mets' top prospect is OFer Fernando Martinez, who spent half of last season in AA. The way the Mets push their prospects it would take a catastrophic injury to Martinez to keep him from replacing Alou in 2009.

The Yankees don't have a good CF to trade. Boston has Ellsbury, who as far as I know grades the same as Gomez. The Red Sox also have the arms to make a deal work. However, they weren't willing to part with more than 1 of Ellsbury, Lester or Buchholz in a deal for Santana, so I don't know if you could get 2 of those guys for Haren. The Dodgers don't have a CF to trade. Now if you want to skip CF and grab Kershaw and Hu (if we aren't taking care of CF we better do something about SS and no, I don't think anyone is getting Kershaw and Kemp in the same deal. Only way that happens is if the Dodgers get a 72 hour window to negotiate a contract extension with Santana.)

Arizona has Upton but I don't think they have any arms... I haven't really researched them though so I could be wrong.

I think at the end of the day the Mets have as good a group as anyone else is willing to part with.

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Nov 30, 2007 7:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Well your penchant for NYM's prospects..

is well documented and honestly IMO it's overvalued. Most people (fans and experts) disagree with you currently.. but who knows. I obviously, agree with the right now current majority, I don't think the NYM are going to be anywhere near what other major players can offer and you do.. we'll have to agree to disagree.

Now if Omar's mindset were to change and he were to offer Reyes, for example, his chances would increase. The problem is not the CF situation you seem to be obsessed on but providing the ML level prospects we need. Haren is not going to go for the B level prospects that NYM are willing to part with.

by AsWin on Nov 30, 2007 7:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

No ...

but NYM would be a suitable suitor for Blanton.

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Nov 30, 2007 7:31 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

You beat my point by mere seconds!

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Nov 30, 2007 7:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

You're missing the point

Other teams may have 1 or 2 better prospects, but they aren't going to package all of them together to get Haren. You aren't going to get Kershaw and Kemp, you might get one or the other. You aren't going to get Ellsbury and Buchholz, you'll get one or the other.

Besides, I think Blanton is the one to go!

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Nov 30, 2007 7:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Look at the ZIPS

projection for Milledge I posted above. It projects a HOF career. If he sticks in CF, a sure fire, no doubt, first ballot HOF career.

Are you saying that ZIPS is a Mets fanboy?

Rosenthal says that the Mets offered Estrada to the Nats, free of charge, but that the Nats preferred to look elsewhere for a Schneider replacement.

by rfloh on Dec 1, 2007 12:19 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Any projection 20 years out ...

for a player with less than a full season of ML ABs is only slightly less worthwhile than reading tea leaves.

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Dec 2, 2007 5:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Despite the insane Gomez love-fest

(seriously, only the Yankees have a WORSE prospect to offer at CF-- Kemp, Ellsbury, Maybin and Upton are all kiloparsecs ahead of Gomez in quality, and I don't even LIKE Ellsbury), the reason the Mets don't have any shot at Haren (or at least shouldn't) is that their pitching prospects are basically crap. They don't have a major-league ready guy like Buchholz or Hughes available who's any good.

cardinalprecepts.blogspot.com

by PaulThomas on Nov 30, 2007 9:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

When did Detroit get involved in all this?

Leave Maybin at home.

Matt Kemp is not a CFer. He's a RFer.

Upton's a better CF prospect but Arizona isn't well stocked with arms. The best bets there are Micah Owings and Greg Smith. More importantly, are they even interested in Haren if it costs them Upton? I don't see a deal, not even for Blanton, if Upton isn't involved. That's right, I'm saying no to Carlos Quentin.

Ellsbury is not that far ahead of Gomez but that doesn't really matter because it sounds like the Red Sox are the front runners for Santana. But for the record, I'd be happy with Ellsbury instead of Gomez especially if we could somehow snag Buchholz in the deal.

As for the Met's arms, they aren't as good as Boston's arms but they're better than Arizona's and at least on par with anyone not named Kershaw in LA.

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Dec 1, 2007 12:17 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs