Butch
07-15-2003, 08:44 PM
UGH he's an S.O.B. . . . I would HATE seeing him on the Yankees . . . I love booing the bastard . . . I cannot believe this might happen. In fact, while I was at the Mets game on Saturday, I was telling a Mets fan friend of mine that I was wishing they'd trade him to the Red Sox . . . would be great for us Yanks fans . . .
http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2003/0715/1581125.html
Mets close to trading Benitez to Yanks for prospects
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN.com news services
The Yankees and Mets are closing in on a deal that would send All-Star closer Armando Benitez across town, to serve in a set-up role for Mariano Rivera.
Sources have told ESPN's Peter Gammons that the Yankees have agreed to absorb the remaining money on Benitez's contract for the rest of this season, or about $3 million, and the two sides are negotiating the identity of prospects who would be sent to the Mets. In rare cases, a team trading a hefty contract would be willing to pick up a portion of the salary, but the Mets were reluctant to do so with Benitez.
Sources say a prospect the Mets may receive from the Yankees is right-hander Jason Anderson, who has spent parts of this season with New York. In 22 appearances -- all in relief -- for the Yankees, Anderson, 24, is 1-0 with a 4.79 ERA.
Benitez, meanwhile, is 3-3 with a 3.10 ERA, but has seven blown saves in 28 opportunities.
"It's not done, but it's very serious and very close," said one official. "It's not done, but it might get done tomorrow (Wednesday), it might get done Friday; you don't know always know how things like this go."
Because the Yankees will pay Benitez's salary, Grade B type prospects would go to the Mets, rather than someone like left-hander Brandon Claussen, considered the Yankees' best young pitcher.
The Yankees know first-hand of Benitez's fragile psyche. He set off a nasty brawl between the Orioles and Yankees in 1998 when he drilled Tino Martinez in the middle of the back, following a home run by Bernie Williams.
Two years later, after Benitez was traded to the Mets and became their closer, the Mets led the Yankees in the ninth inning of Game 1 of the World Series. But Benitez walked Paul O'Neill, allowed a single to pinch-hitter Luis Polonia and another hit before Chuck Knoblauch drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly.
Just a few weeks ago, Benitez completely collapsed while trying to close out the Yankees, walking home the tying run; the Yankees eventually won the game in extra innings.
But the market for relievers is thin, and the Yankees have a glaring need for a right-handed reliever. They had substantive talks with Texas for Ugueth Urbina, but the Rangers made a deal last week with the Florida Marlins, and Benitez is apparently Plan B for the Yankees.
The Yankees hold a two-game lead over second-place Boston in the AL East but are concerned about their bullpen heading into the second half of the season. While Mariano Rivera has been outstanding, converting 16 of 17 save chances, the rest of the bullpen has been shaky in the absence of Steve Karsay, who is injured and hasn't pitched at all this season.
Juan Acevedo was released after struggling, and Antonio Osuna was sidelined from June 14 until last weekend by a strained groin. Chris Hammond, who replaced Mike Stanton during the offseason as the top left-hander in the bullpen, has been inconsistent.
The Mets, last in the NL East at 40-53, have gone into a rebuilding mode following the firing of general manager Steve Phillips on June 12. Second baseman Roberto Alomar was dealt to the Chicago White Sox on July 1 and outfielder Jeromy Burnitz was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. The Mets received prospects in both deals.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was in Tampa, Fla., on Monday and Tuesday for organizational meetings and could not be contacted by The Associated Press. Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz declined comment to the Associated Press.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2003/0715/1581125.html
Mets close to trading Benitez to Yanks for prospects
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN.com news services
The Yankees and Mets are closing in on a deal that would send All-Star closer Armando Benitez across town, to serve in a set-up role for Mariano Rivera.
Sources have told ESPN's Peter Gammons that the Yankees have agreed to absorb the remaining money on Benitez's contract for the rest of this season, or about $3 million, and the two sides are negotiating the identity of prospects who would be sent to the Mets. In rare cases, a team trading a hefty contract would be willing to pick up a portion of the salary, but the Mets were reluctant to do so with Benitez.
Sources say a prospect the Mets may receive from the Yankees is right-hander Jason Anderson, who has spent parts of this season with New York. In 22 appearances -- all in relief -- for the Yankees, Anderson, 24, is 1-0 with a 4.79 ERA.
Benitez, meanwhile, is 3-3 with a 3.10 ERA, but has seven blown saves in 28 opportunities.
"It's not done, but it's very serious and very close," said one official. "It's not done, but it might get done tomorrow (Wednesday), it might get done Friday; you don't know always know how things like this go."
Because the Yankees will pay Benitez's salary, Grade B type prospects would go to the Mets, rather than someone like left-hander Brandon Claussen, considered the Yankees' best young pitcher.
The Yankees know first-hand of Benitez's fragile psyche. He set off a nasty brawl between the Orioles and Yankees in 1998 when he drilled Tino Martinez in the middle of the back, following a home run by Bernie Williams.
Two years later, after Benitez was traded to the Mets and became their closer, the Mets led the Yankees in the ninth inning of Game 1 of the World Series. But Benitez walked Paul O'Neill, allowed a single to pinch-hitter Luis Polonia and another hit before Chuck Knoblauch drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly.
Just a few weeks ago, Benitez completely collapsed while trying to close out the Yankees, walking home the tying run; the Yankees eventually won the game in extra innings.
But the market for relievers is thin, and the Yankees have a glaring need for a right-handed reliever. They had substantive talks with Texas for Ugueth Urbina, but the Rangers made a deal last week with the Florida Marlins, and Benitez is apparently Plan B for the Yankees.
The Yankees hold a two-game lead over second-place Boston in the AL East but are concerned about their bullpen heading into the second half of the season. While Mariano Rivera has been outstanding, converting 16 of 17 save chances, the rest of the bullpen has been shaky in the absence of Steve Karsay, who is injured and hasn't pitched at all this season.
Juan Acevedo was released after struggling, and Antonio Osuna was sidelined from June 14 until last weekend by a strained groin. Chris Hammond, who replaced Mike Stanton during the offseason as the top left-hander in the bullpen, has been inconsistent.
The Mets, last in the NL East at 40-53, have gone into a rebuilding mode following the firing of general manager Steve Phillips on June 12. Second baseman Roberto Alomar was dealt to the Chicago White Sox on July 1 and outfielder Jeromy Burnitz was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. The Mets received prospects in both deals.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was in Tampa, Fla., on Monday and Tuesday for organizational meetings and could not be contacted by The Associated Press. Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz declined comment to the Associated Press.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.