Saturday, March 27, 2004
Timo no mo'
The Mets traded Timo Perez who was to play the superfluous role of "sixth outfielder" to the White Sox in exchange for twenty-six year old right-handed reliever Matt Ginter.
Perez hit just .269/.301/.364 last year in 346 at bats with the Mets. It was his fourth season with the team and only slightly better than his career worst 2001 when he hit .247/.287/.356 in 239 at bats. He had a halfway decent 2002 (.295/.331/.437) but never emerged as more than a solid backup after bursting onto the scene with a solid September and October in the National League Championship year of 2000. He hit even worse than Roger Cedeno last year, while playing adequate defense, and had an easily moveable contract, so he wound up the odd man out in the right field melange.
Ginter spent most of last year at AAA, where he'll likely start this year as well. He posted a 3.03 ERA in 68 1/3 relief innings, striking out 52 and walking 22 while giving up just 2 home runs. The last time he spent significant time in the majors, he struggled mightily agaisnt lefties (they hit .342/.388/.477 off him in 111 at bats), but the previous year he handled them well (.215/.321/.277 in 65 at bats) so maybe he's capable of being more than just a ROOGY. Either way, he's not likely to ever be more than a back of the bullpen arm and this trade probably has as much to do with opening up a roster spot for Jim Duquette's much-needed backup middle infielder as it does with Ginter. ¶ joe | 7:33 PM |
The Mets traded Timo Perez who was to play the superfluous role of "sixth outfielder" to the White Sox in exchange for twenty-six year old right-handed reliever Matt Ginter.
Perez hit just .269/.301/.364 last year in 346 at bats with the Mets. It was his fourth season with the team and only slightly better than his career worst 2001 when he hit .247/.287/.356 in 239 at bats. He had a halfway decent 2002 (.295/.331/.437) but never emerged as more than a solid backup after bursting onto the scene with a solid September and October in the National League Championship year of 2000. He hit even worse than Roger Cedeno last year, while playing adequate defense, and had an easily moveable contract, so he wound up the odd man out in the right field melange.
Ginter spent most of last year at AAA, where he'll likely start this year as well. He posted a 3.03 ERA in 68 1/3 relief innings, striking out 52 and walking 22 while giving up just 2 home runs. The last time he spent significant time in the majors, he struggled mightily agaisnt lefties (they hit .342/.388/.477 off him in 111 at bats), but the previous year he handled them well (.215/.321/.277 in 65 at bats) so maybe he's capable of being more than just a ROOGY. Either way, he's not likely to ever be more than a back of the bullpen arm and this trade probably has as much to do with opening up a roster spot for Jim Duquette's much-needed backup middle infielder as it does with Ginter. ¶ joe | 7:33 PM |
