Mack Ade – AM Report – 7-12-13 – 2004 All Over Again, Dustin Lawley, Chis Sale, Cory Mazzoni

I remember the 2004 trading deadline like it was yesterday. I was writing a morning report for NYFS and the word came down that the Mets had traded for both Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano. It came just at the end of the trading deadline signaling that the Mets were going to give it a run for the pennant. They had had the kind of first half season we are having right now and, if I remember, were around six or seven games out of the playoff race going into the all-star break. No one knew if the team would be a buyer or a seller and, once these two deals were announced, there were very few people upset with the loss of what it took to get these guys on our team. Sure, Scott Kazmir was a top prospect, but both Benson and Zambrano were MLB-tested (I particularly enjoyed the arrival of Benson who was in the same graduation class at Clemson as my daughter) and we were going to fit, right? Well, a gazillion losses later over the next two weeks and so much for that. Benson wound up finish the season 4-4, 4.50, Zambrano went 2-0, 3.86 in three games, and the team finished in 4^th place at 71-91. 

                                                                                                               The Milwaukee Brewers signed lefty Aaron Laffey 

I need your help on this one. I’m trying to decide if St. Lucie LF Dustin Lawley is a baseball prospect. He hit his 19^th home run on Wednesday which is more than anyone else in that league. The 24-year old is also up to 67-RBI which tied him for first in that category also. He also seems to be getting better at this each season. In 2011 (K-Port and Sav), he went 10/44… last year (Savannah), it was 14/66. And this season with round 45 days to go it’s 19/67. He’s never going to win a batting title, but he’s a .267 lifetime hitter. Isn’t these the kind of numbers we want to see from our outfielders. Can you do more than lead your league in home runs and runs batted in? He needs to get moving. Send him to Binghamton for the rest of the season. Play him in winter ball in Arizona. He strikes out a little too much but the numbers are far better than from guys like Matt den Dekker. I want him in Las Vegas in 2014 as a 25-year old stud pounding balls out of the stadium. Maybe then somebody will write about this guy


Binghamton starter, Cory Mazzoni, had some discomfort in the 4th inning last night and had to come out early. No word yet on any long term injury.

The Mets have signed 16-yr. old Venezuelan SS Luis Carpio ($300K)

Steve Wilson - Hey Mack, hope you’re doing well. I just read Chris Sale could be put up for trade! Would you trade for him?

           

     Trade for a 6-6 24-yr. old lefty who is 2.78 in the pros for a bad team? Why would I want someone like that J

Sale has been a favorite of mine since his days at FGC. It’s also an excellent contract ($3.5mil/2014, $6mil/2015, $9.15mil/2016, $12mil/2017.

This is a proven star lefty that, when added to Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler, could make the most potent threesome in baseball.

Obviously, Chicago would want team controlled pitching and I’d do a package that included both Noah Syndergaard and Rafael Montero. I still have Gee, Hefney, and Niese so I don’t need either of them.

Would you add Rios as well?

I assume you are referring to 32-year old Alex Rios. I would not be interested in anyone 32-years old. If I’m going old, I’d resign Marlon Byrd or try and talk Carlos Beltran to come back, but I want players younger than my captain.                               

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