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Greg Maddux a Met?

Do you want the Mets to get Greg Maddux (if just for a minor leaguer)

Yes	8 votes
No	16 votes

MFS62 Jul 28 2006 02:27 PM

Do you want him, even for a minor leaguer? Yes or no. ]Maddux could be N.Y. bound: Glavine swaying him to join Mets July 28, 2006 Chicago Tribune Cubs general manager Jim Hendry finds himself in a somewhat unusual position: His team has nowhere to go and not much to trade as the interleague deadline approaches Monday. His only real high-level chip in trade talks is Greg Maddux, who could be pitching for the final time in blue pinstripes Saturday. Maddux has agreed to go to a contender, perhaps even to New York, which previously was believed to be off limits. Hendry and Maddux have talked about the possibility of leaving the Cubs for a second time, probably for good, even though Maddux says he probably will pitch at least one more year. If he does, it's likely to be with a contender. Though Hendry obviously is trying to be accommodate Maddux, given his future Hall of Fame status, Maddux also is trying to be accommodate the team that originally signed him. "Nobody wants to be traded," Maddux said. "If something happens, I understand. If nothing happens, I understand that too. What's going to happen? I have no idea. "Jim has to do what's best for the organization, and if that's trading me, I'm happy to go, and if that's keeping me, I'm more than happy to stay." Maddux may not bring much back from a trade, given his age (40) and record (8-11), but it could save the Cubs about $3.5 million in salary. And it could give Maddux what may be a last hurrah at a second World Series championship, something that obviously is not going to happen on the North Side of Chicago. When he was asked if he wanted to pitch next season, Maddux replied: "Yeah, I think so. We'll see. Honestly, the only thing I'm really worried about is my start Saturday. I'm going to get through that and then have a game plan after Saturday." Does he think his body is telling him to retire? "I don't feel that way," he said. "You know what? My last game in New York, I enjoyed the hell out of that. I love pitching there. I love pitching in Wrigley Field too." Old Atlanta teammate Tom Glavine, now with the playoff-bound Mets, has been lobbying to get Maddux in New York, and maybe Maddux has changed his mind about pitching there if he could be in a pennant race with his good friend. But with Maddux, you never know. One thing is known, Maddux will leave if Hendry comes to him with a trade proposal to a contender, especially one near his Las Vegas home. And there are plenty of them, considering all five National League West teams and all four American League West teams have a legitimate shot at the postseason. "I told him a long time ago I have no interest in getting rid of a Greg Maddux," Hendry said. "If people call, I will let Greg know and we'll go from there. But. .. he has earned the right to do what he wants. If things come up between now and Monday, it will be something I would keep Greg informed of." So Maddux could have plenty of eyes on him Saturday against the Cardinals, in what could be his second swan song here. "I know he likes playing here and wanted to come back here and it hasn't worked out [well]," Hendry said. "When we got Greg, we really thought we would be winning pretty significantly for a couple of years." Other than Maddux, the Cubs have little to trade. Second baseman Todd Walker is available, but he may be a last-day departure because most teams still are holding out hope of getting the big-name hitters like Carlos Lee and Alfonso Soriano. So it looks improbable the Cubs actually will be able to add a big-name for this year and the future. It rarely happens that way in July. "For us to add a high-profile guy," Hendry said, "it would have to be somebody we felt we could keep after this year and those opportunities haven't really come up. We are certainly capable of seeing guys develop here the next couple of months and then having a very good off-season [in the free-agent/trade market] and being very competitive here next year. "Our intent is to be very aggressive. By the end of September it will be very clear what we need. We certainly don't want to go through this again. It has been a tough year and a half, and we have to do our best to fix it." ----- Copyright (c) 2006, Chicago Tribune Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News. Later

metirish Jul 28 2006 02:32 PM

I voted no, our pen is working hard enough as it is.... SC = ?

Willets Point Jul 28 2006 02:34 PM

An aged former Brave joining the Mets long after his most effective days are past him, making short starts that tire the bullpen, and not really improving the team? I get this feeling of deja vu.

Willets Point Jul 28 2006 02:37 PM

TransMonk Jul 28 2006 02:38 PM

I'd take him on for next to nothing. My caveat would be that he would have to fit the role that best suits the team. I don't want to send him out to the mound every 5th day to allow 7 runs a game just because he's Greg Maddux. That being said, I think he would perform better on a better team.

Elster88 Jul 28 2006 03:11 PM

Willets Point wrote: An aged former Brave joining the Mets long after his most effective days are past him, making short starts that tire the bullpen, and not really improving the team? I get this feeling of deja vu. Glavine improved the team, at least. I don't see Maddux helping the team. We don't need a fifth starter, we need a third starter.

Yancy Street Gang Jul 28 2006 03:15 PM

I don't object to getting an aging former Brave, but Maddux has been awful. I can't get too excited about an aging awful former Brave.

KC Jul 28 2006 03:30 PM

I will vote no - he ain't nothing so special and if Glavine's lobbying for him ol' Tommy boy just lost a little ground with me that took awhile to gain. It's dumb and it's outdated, but having too many Braves help (hopefully) get to the next level would be (to a much lesser degree in terms of talent) having Jordan and Pippen help the Knicks into the playoffs to me.

Elster88 Jul 28 2006 03:41 PM

Depends on the minor leaguer. If we can get him for Lima, sure. But no one who I actually want sniffing the major league roster. I guess that makes me a no.

Yancy Street Gang Jul 28 2006 03:48 PM

Sounds like that makes you a YES. The way I read the question is do we want Maddux, assuming that we only give up a token player, somebody we won't end up missing.

metsmarathon Jul 28 2006 04:13 PM

i'll take him for an old parkway token.

Yancy Street Gang Jul 28 2006 04:17 PM

As I interpret it, the question is, would Maddux be a positive or a negative addition to the roster? On the plus side, if he has anything left, he's a crafty veteran who could pitch some key innings, like Orel Hershiser did in 1999. On the minus side, he eats up innings the rest of the way that would otherwise have gone to Pelfrey or Maine, Maddux continues to be awful, and the Mets miss out on a chance to get more big league experience for their younger starters. And, as someone else (Willets?) pointed out, short starts by Maddux will help wear out the bullpen. I'm less concerned about this, since we're only a few weeks away from roster expansion and with the lead the Mets have, they should be able to afford to give Sanchez, Wagner, etc. more rest in the final month so they can be recharged for the postseason.

Rotblatt Jul 28 2006 04:38 PM

]And, as someone else (Willets?) pointed out, short starts by Maddux will help wear out the bullpen. Maddux has averaged 6.21 IP per start, which would tie him for 2nd on our team with Glavine (Pedro's #1 with 6.36). Out of 21 starts, he's gone 7 or more innings 8 times and has gone fewer than 6 only 6 times. Now, I'll grant that his 4.83 ERA isn't impressive, but he's close enough to average that I think he'd be a fine innings-eater for us, and would help--not hurt--our bullpen over the stretch. Personally, I'd rather see what we've got in Maine, Bannister &/or Pelfrey by throwing them at major leaguers than trotting Maddux out there. I'm thinking those three potentially have more upside than Maddux at this stage in his career (well, Pelfrey does, at least). Barring one of those three catching fire, though, I think Maddux would probably represent a net upgrade for our rotation.

Johnny Dickshot Jul 28 2006 05:25 PM

Didn't pitch any stretch better than the guy he might replace the other night. Color me unexcited. I can't envision him a differencemaker any longer.

G-Fafif Jul 28 2006 05:59 PM

Willets Point wrote: An aged former Brave joining the Mets long after his most effective days are past him, making short starts that tire the bullpen, and not really improving the team? I get this feeling of deja vu. When will people finally get off Warren Spahn's back?

Elster88 Jul 28 2006 06:03 PM

]Out of 21 starts, he's gone 7 or more innings 8 times and has gone fewer than 6 only 6 times. I would guess the majority of the 8 7+ inning starts were before June.

TheOldMole Jul 28 2006 06:23 PM

G-Fafif -- ROFL!!!!!

Willets Point Jul 28 2006 06:25 PM

G-Fafif wrote: ="Willets Point"]An aged former Brave joining the Mets long after his most effective days are past him, making short starts that tire the bullpen, and not really improving the team? I get this feeling of deja vu. When will people finally get off Warren Spahn's back? Nice. You get my post of the day award.

Zvon Jul 28 2006 06:49 PM

No sir. We dont need another oldie but goodie. Or use-to be goodie. He could provide help, but not on a consistant basis- He's not what we need.

Rotblatt Jul 28 2006 10:42 PM

Elster88 wrote: ]Out of 21 starts, he's gone 7 or more innings 8 times and has gone fewer than 6 only 6 times. I would guess the majority of the 8 7+ inning starts were before June. Nope. 5 came in June & July. He's gone 6 or more innings in his last 8 starts. He hasn't had good results, but he's pitched far into games, and outside of May, his peripherals have been good. I'm content to stand pat, but I wouldn't hate trading a minor-league scrub for Maddux.

metirish Jul 29 2006 02:26 PM

] "That's total BS - whoever said that," Glavine said Friday. "I've talked to Greg and I've asked him what's going on, but I've never tried to sell him on coming to New York." Glavine on reports that he tired to recruit Maddux.

smg58 Jul 29 2006 11:49 PM

No. I don't see him as an upgrade over Maine and El Duque at this point.

Zvon Jul 30 2006 12:18 AM

Maybe for some real scrap heap players....but like a said-we dont need an oldie but useta be goodie. (he did picth very well today, and I was impressed by this.)

Willets Point Jul 30 2006 07:39 AM

metirish wrote: ] "That's total BS - whoever said that," Glavine said Friday. "I've talked to Greg and I've asked him what's going on, but I've never tried to sell him on coming to New York." Glavine on reports that he tired to recruit Maddux. Bastard, what's he got against New York!

Edgy DC Jul 30 2006 08:13 AM

I imagine that to say otherwise would be to cop to tampering.

Willets Point Jul 30 2006 08:56 AM

Forgot my SC.

Edgy DC Jul 30 2006 12:08 PM

Oh, I getcha. Don't worry, I getcha. Just tossin' in my tuppence.

cleonjones11 Jul 30 2006 01:31 PM

Greg Maddux...what does he bring to the table? I'll take John Maine...

Yancy Street Gang Jul 30 2006 01:47 PM

Edgy DC wrote: I imagine that to say otherwise would be to cop to tampering. Players can't be charged with tampering, can they? I think it's only management types.