Jump to content

Mets-Tigers minor trade


faba

Recommended Posts

/02/2005 2:05 PM ET

Notes: Ginter dealt to Detroit

Mets acquire left-handed reliever Colyer in return

By Marty Noble / MLB.com

With Matt Ginter out of options, the Mets were able to get something in return for the righty on the final day of Spring Training. (James A. Finley/AP)

Related Links

JUPITER, Fla. -- The mystery of the makeup of the Mets' bullpen was solved Saturday afternoon when Matt Ginter, the king of camouflage, disappeared from view. The pitcher, who had hoped to find relief work in Queens, became a member of the Tigers staff -- and perhaps their rotation, too -- when, for the second straight year, he was traded in the final days of Spring Training.

The Tigers, who had been scouting the Mets most of the spring, sent 26-year-old left-handed reliever Steve Colyer to the Mets in the exchange. Colyer, who appeared in 41 games with the Tigers last year, was assigned to the Mets' Triple-A Norfolk affiliate.

The trade appears to give the Mets' bullpen the look of relative permanence. Manager Willie Randolph had mentioned Ginter as an afterthought Friday when he reviewed the bullpen personnel, saying Ginter still could begin the season with the Mets if Kris Benson were unavailable to pitch because of the pectoral strain he suffered Monday.

Benson's status as the starter for the Mets' fifth game Saturday in Atlanta was no longer in question when the trade was completed. He already had played long toss and hadn't experienced any discomfort that suggested he wouldn't be ready. But a source with the Mets indicated the completion of the deal hadn't been contingent on Benson's health.

Because there are no options remaining on Ginter's contract, the Mets would have had to assign him outright to the minor leagues had they opted to retain and demote him. Another club probably would have claimed him. This way, they received something in return, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound pitcher with a good fastball, but with control issues.

Ginter, obtained by the Mets from the White Sox for Timo Perez on March 27, 2004, hadn't allowed an earned run in 14 innings this spring. He had a 1-3 record and 4.54 ERA in 15 games -- 14 starts -- last season. He had become a popular figure in the clubhouse, particularly among the hunters and fishermen. Ginter, Braden Looper and Mike DeJean had lockers in one corner of the Spring Training clubhouse they liked to call "Camo (for camouflage) Corner."

The three already had planned hunting trips for upstate New York in mid-May.

Colyer, who walked 12 and struck out six in 10 2/3 innings in 11 exhibition appearances, had been removed from the Tigers' 40-man roster before the trade. He is not on the Mets' 40-man roster as Ginter had been. Pitching his home games in a pitcher-friendly park, Colyer produced a 1-0 record and 6.47 ERA last season pitching merely 32 innings in his 41 appearances. He allowed an average of 16 base runners per nine innings.

The Mets already have three left-handed pitchers in the bullpen: Dae-Sung Koo, Mike Matthews and Felix Heredia. So the chances of Colyer pitching in the Major Leagues soon seem slim.

The rest of the crowded 'pen includes closer Looper, setup man DeJean, Roberto Hernandez and Manny Aybar.

Sorry I deleted the thread by mistake so reposting-Ginter was out of options so the Mets got something for him-just another arm

Ginter can help the Tigers with long relief so it seems a good trade for you Tiger fans

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Trade is idiotic for the Mutts. With that patch work relief corp they couldn't find a home for Ginter? So they trade him for a bag of used batting practice balls?

I would understand needing to trade him because he was out of options if the Mets had a deep pen and 5 healthy starters.... but with Benson and his peck muscle issue, Pedro and Glavine getting up their in years and Zambrano's health issues you HAVE to find a spot for Ginter somewhere.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Willie and Minaya obviously did not think much of Ginter or he would have been on the roster- I think they are looking down the line to make a trade for established relief pitcher to shore up the bullpen. That being said the Mets , Yanks, Red Sox you name the team that does not have some question marks on their pitching staffs with age, injuries, depth etc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

small trade, not bad for the Tigers and considering we gave up Cody Ross for Coyler, who also hasn't reached the majors since, we didn't not lose anything getting rid of him. Ginter should be too bad for the pen, but the only way he's making the rotation is if Ledezma struggles mightily, which I doubt.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...