Estrada Traded to the Mets for Guillermo Mota

[giffted1]

I'd rather have just kept Estrada, rather than add Kendall and Mota.

 

If anything this trade gives me a reason to break out an old Offspring CD.

[PeaveyFury]

Yeah, I'm fine with the deal as it is, I guess. Nothing groundbreaking in any sense of the word, but it at least gives us another arm to try in the pen, which we wouldn't have had if they non-tendered him, which seems likely.

 

If Kendall performs like he did in the 2nd half of 07 instead of the first half, I think we've upgraded the team and added a body in the pen.

 

The best job in America might be being Johnny Estrada's Real Estate salesman.

[Fatter than Joey]

Seth McClung throws hard (and poorly) too, and he doesn't cost $3 million.

 

Now hold on Robert -- He did manage to hit Pujols http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

I'm with you -- I'd rather get Max St. Pierre than have a salary swap with the Mets.

 

If Melvin signs Kendall for $5M+, I am going to start thinking Yost is the brains of the operation.

[Ennder]

Mota's stats don't look too bad unless you obsess on ERA. I'm still glad we don't have Davis, given our defense/bullpen last year I don't see how he would have been an upgrade over what we had.

[jlau20]

This is excellent news. If he really was injured this year, oh well, I guess he was what he was, but I'd much rather move him and not run the risk of him getting 'fatter and lazier' again.

[TooLiveBrew]

So...

 

Turnbow

McClung

Mota

 

who's got the crush on BBQ righties? Doug or Ned? If this is really all we could get for Estrada, then there's something we've yet to hear about him, I'd guess.

[valpocrewsader]

Sorta wondering why the Mets didn't just sign Kendall instead of having a short-term solution with a shakey history in a deal that required giving up a player. I'm sure there's lots of reasons, but it makes me think that one of them is that Kendall is going to get a lot more than $3.2 million a year.

[endaround]

Mota's stats don't look too bad unless you obsess on ERA. I'm still glad we don't have Davis, given our defense/bullpen last year I don't see how he would have been an upgrade over what we had.

Well sure. But Davis could have been traded for something else. You know, something worthwhile.

 

[endaround]

Sorta wondering why the Mets didn't just sign Kendall instead of having a short-term solution with a shakey history in a deal that required giving up a player. I'm sure there's lots of reasons, but it makes me think that one of them is that Kendall is going to get a lot more than $3.2 million a year.

Because the Mets wanted out of Mota's contract

 

[clancyphile]

I'd rather have just kept Estrada, rather than add Kendall and Mota.

Agreed. We just downgraded at catcher, and added a reliever who gives up gopher balls.

Now, Mota's numbers got distorted somewhat by one outing where he got lit up like a Christmas tree (0.2 IP, 6 ER), but that meant his ERA would "only" be 4.90.

Unless we have some magic, Mota's gonna be lit up.

[danzig6767]

Mota's stats don't look too bad unless you obsess on ERA. I'm still glad we don't have Davis, given our defense/bullpen last year I don't see how he would have been an upgrade over what we had.

 

I might take comfort in Mota's other stats if his ERA didn't stink the last four years

 

[RobertR]

I think the Brewers likely could have found someone on the waiver wire or Rule 5 that's as likely to be as effective as Mota. He's below average, not young, not likely to improve, and has steroid strikes against him. Greg Aquino is likely to be just as effective. Frankly, it smells like a deal where Melvin wanted to avoid the embarrassment of basically trading Doug Davis for Claudio Vargas.

 

That said, I think both sides "lost" this deal. I can see Mets fans turning on Estrada even faster than Brewers fans.

 

Robert

[igor67]

This deal smacks of Melvin being intrigued that maybe Mota could find some mojo, and that He realizes that Estrada's OBP just killed the team. I suspect his scouting staff believes that A good chunk of Kendall's OBP from the second half is sustainable. If Kendall can give us a .330 OBP and do a better job with the stolen base department it's a reasonable sort of trade.

[bobbledude25]

Good bye Johnny. I'd rather see Lou Palmasano at catcher then Kendal though

[saget]

I disapprove of this trade.

 

Adding Mota and probably Kendall? How the heck does that make us better? It really feels like we just got worse.

[Fatter than Joey]

Sorta wondering why the Mets didn't just sign Kendall instead of having a short-term solution with a shakey history in a deal that required giving up a player. I'm sure there's lots of reasons, but it makes me think that one of them is that Kendall is going to get a lot more than $3.2 million a year.

 

Maybe they don't offer Estrada arby -- and effectively get Mota off the books.

[Shootkick1000]

Rotoworld speculates that the Mets (hopefully) threw in some money to cover Mota.

 

Maybe i'm being unreasonably optimistic, but I'm guessing that Mota doesn't break Spring Training with the team.

 

Oddly enough, while I don't Kendall's Offense or defense will be substantially better than last year, I -do- see him leading to a much happier pitching staff. You don't just dispose of a guy(Estrada) in this manner unless he's made of cancer and fail. And at least Kendall is slightly speedier than Estrada. Then again, so was Cotton Hill.

[endaround]

Hey maybe Mota fails another drug test and slips right into the Elmer Dessen's spot in both salary and playing time!

[PeaveyFury]

Has anyone seen anything in print form to confirm if cash/salary were picked up or PTBNL were included?

[Nader Raider Tim]

Wow, I kind of thought with all of the Kendal talk the Brewer might try and trade Estrada. This isn't the kind of return I was expecting. If you are going to get rid of your starting catcher then you will need to find a replacement. Most likely sign a free agent for at or above what Estrada is going to earn. So, in my humble opinion, trading Estrada should have been to save a couple of bucks to try and offset the cost of bringing in a free agent catcher.

 

That being said I really don't have much of a problem with this deal. Melvin had a player that it became abundantly obvious that he wanted no part of going forward, and traded him for a player the Mets wanted no part of going forward. Mota seems like he might be a nice reclamation project. If I remember right dosen't Mota have a bit of experience closing?

 

What does the catching situation look like now. I am assuming Kendall gets signed. I like Kendall enough but am curious how much money he will get over how many years? Is Palmasano roughly penciled in as the backup? Or is Mike Rivera still around? Veteran free agent backup? Is Henry Blance out there, or any other defensive specialist?

[saget]

How is Kendall character-wise?

[JohnBriggs12]

Non tendering might have been the better option. For whatever reason, Melvin always seems to want something, even if bad back when nothing might be better. The fact that Mota will make $3.2 million means he'll get thrown out there. Granted he throws hard, but so does Turnbow.

 

That being said, Mota has the arm to be successful and he's had plenty of ups that followed down periods. Perhaps getting out of NY might help. I can certainly live with the deal.

[shelmark]

There is no way we can get worse at C. Kendall will bring leadership, hard work, and integrity to our team. I know a lot of people don't put a lot of stock in that, but Estrada gave the impression that he was just going through the motions. Just an opinion, I know many do not like Kendall due to his terrible 2007. I think he will rebound somewhat if he isn't asked to catch as much as he did last year. Only Russell Martin caught more innings. I am so happy Estrada is gone I don't care what we got.

[fondybrewfan]

I dont mind the trade all that much. Crap for Crap. Just sucks that we had to trade Doug Davis for this guy. Just imagine if we were looking to trade DD this offseason instead of Johnny. OUr return would have been a heck of a lot more. I also hope Melvin is looking at other options besides Kendall. I just understand how he could be our everyday catcher. If he really does indeed call a good game and that just isnt the usual standaed rhetoric then I would like the trade a little more. Ill also like Kendalls walks coming out of the 8 hole. As long as he glued into the 8 hole. I wish Doug were going after Torrealba but there doesnt seem to be any indication that they are

[Mr QL]

Got rid of Estrada, I don't really even care for who.