http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe New York Mets need a starting pitcher if they are going to make a run for the playoffs down the stretch. Roy Oswalt now appears out of the questions as the Mets and Astros can’t come to terms on anything.
That leaves four options for the Mets of guys who have been tossed around baseball. The Indians are looking to trade right-handed pitcher Jake Westbrook. Westbrook makes no sense to me. The man is a mediocre pitcher at best. He is a Major Leaguer. I get it… But unless the Mets can magically get the Indians to throw in Kerry Wood at a halfway decent price, the move makes no sense.
Fausto Carmona is another name the Indians are throwing around. Carmona is only 26 years old and his ERA for the season stands at an impressive 3.64. Moving to the National League may help Carmona as well taking the DH away. The question with him is how he would handle the pressure of New York?
Yet the way Carmona’s contract is written would leave the Mets with three club options to pick up after his current contract runs out at the end of 2012. That could be good for Mets fans who would like to see how he handles the pressure.
Another name being thrown around is Cubs left-hander Ted Lilly. Lilly and his 4.10 ERA are interesting to many Mets fans because of the way he handled himself in New York when he was across town wearing pinstripes years ago. Lilly is not the youngster he was in pinstripes when they traded him 8 years ago to the Oakland Athletics. He is now at the tender age of 34 and he is owed $5.5 million for the rest of the year.
Kevin Millwood is another name being tossed around but I wouldn’t take him too seriously. His 5.77 ERA and 2-8 record make me think the Mets are not interested at all in the 35 year old.
So the question I pose to Met fans is which starting pitcher is better? Would you rather have the cheap contract of Westbrook or Millwood? Or would you rather have the young, ripe, but may not be ready for New York arm in Carmona, or the experienced but aging Ted Lilly?
Either way the Mets will have to give up prospects. It will take more to get Carmona or Lilly then it will for Westbrook or Millwood.
It’s an interesting debate for Mets fans, one Omar Minaya is still pondering.
The Mets Report 
One thought on “Mets 2010 Trade Needs – Lilly, Carmona, Westbrook, Millwood”