Milliage to the Nats?

[MaTH716]

Rumor has it that the NY Mets shipped Lastings Milliage (who has been supposedly linked in deals for Roy Oswalt, Johan Santana, Dan Haren and other big time major leaguers) to the Washing Nationals for Ryan Church and Brian Schnieder. Very stange deal, any thoughts?

[Heels1989]

Look likes it official. Here is the ESPN link

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3135229

Schnieder I guess will be the Mets starting catcher. Church was highly thought of within Nats org but has been inconsistent over last couple of years.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

Rumor has it that the NY Mets shipped Lastings Milliage (who has been supposedly linked in deals for Roy Oswalt, Johan Santana, Dan Haren and other big time major leaguers) to the Washing Nationals for Ryan Church and Brian Schnieder. Very stange deal, any thoughts?

I don't like that deal at all. I assume that means they aren't going to tender Estrada who I like better than Schneider to begin with. Church will be 30 and had the same average as the 22 year old Milledge had last year while hitting 15 HRs in 480 at bats as opposed to 7 in 180 for Milledge. This is baffling to say the least.

[SniperSB23]

I feel sick right now. I haven't been so annoyed by a trade since Kazmir for Victor Zambrano.

[MaTH716]

The same division also, I am sure that Mr Milliage will stick it to the Mets more than a few times.

[SniperSB23]

Milledge was a bigger prospect than Preston Wilson and at 22 already has parts of two years major league experience as opposed to Wilson who was 24 when he was traded and had two weeks of MLB experience. Yet we got Mike Piazza for Wilson, and Ryan Church and Brian fricken Schneider for Milledge. God this pisses me off.

[Cannon Shell]

I dont think it is that bad a trade at all if the Mets are trying to win now. Church had a sneaky good year last year hitting .272 with 43 2bs, 15 hrs, 70 rbi's, scoring 57 runs, with a .349 OBP and .464 SLG%. This was done starting 3/4 of the games in the worst park for hitters in the league. He bats left handed, can play all of the outfield positions well (he is a good defensive player) and will be willing to play a role on a team that may sit him against lefthanders. This will allow the Mets to give Alou (who quietly had a good year despite numerous injuries) rest aginst really tough righties especially since he isn't a 150 game a year player anymore. With Beltran in Center and Church and Chavez in the corner OF positions, the Mets will have the best outfield defense in the NL.
Schneider ( a lefty catcher) will most likely platoon with Estrada and probably be a late innings defensive replacment too. He doesn't hit much but is a way better defensive catcher than Lo Duca who was basically a terrible catcher whose main attribute was that he didn't strike out much. Of course he didnt have any power or even walk near enough to make up for the roughly 60 BB's or singles that he allowed to be doubles behind the plate. Estrada/Schneider is an upgrade over Lo Duca/Castro.

Milledge simply wont be effective as a part time player and the Mets cant take a chance at him flopping and trying to find an expensive replacement mid season. He strikes out too much, make only decent contact and probably not ready to handle the immense pressure that the Mets will have on them considering the collapse. He may just be the latest Mets phenom who wasn't. If he turns out to be the next Alex Rios I will admit I was wrong but I'm gonna guess he wont.