Last night the Mets completed a 3 team, 12 player swap that will bring veteran closer JJ Putz to New York. New York sent reliever Aaron Heilman, LHP Jason Vargas, fan favorite outfielder Endy Chavez, 1B/DH prospect Mike Carp, and two other minor leaguers to the Mariners for Putz, CF Jeremy Reed, and middle reliever Sean Green.The third team in the mix, the Cleveland Indians, sent Franklin Gutierrez to Seattle, in exchange for right-handed reliever Joe Smith from the Mets, and 2B Luis Valbuena from the Mariners.
There are two positives about this "old fashion trade" as Minaya put it: First, it undoubtedly gives the Mets the best 8th & 9th inning tandem in the game with Putz setting up Francisco Rodriguez. The only tandem that would have come close would have been that of Wood & Marmol if they were still a pair.
Second, and more importantly for most Mets fans, it sends Aaron Heilman as far away from New York as possible. Aaron had a rough go of it last year with a nagging knee injury and a penchant for giving up home runs in clutch spots. The New York fans were tough on him and he never had the mental dexterity to get the job done. I hope for his sake he has a better run of it in Seattle.
This opens up 2 spots on the 40-man roster for the Mets. One spot will be occupied by Francisco Rodriguez, who took a tour of Citi Field yesterday and will wear #75 this season, and the other is to be determined.
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