Mets Eye Redding March 18, 2005 http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseb...180628mar18,0,380669.story?coll=ny-mets-print PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - While the Mets remain focused on Matt Ginter as the logical in-house replacement for Steve Trachsel, they have begun to look outside as well, eyeing the Astros' Tim Redding and the surplus of starters currently clogging the Nationals' roster. A year ago, the Mets were interested in Redding as the July 31 trade deadline approached, but instead pulled the trigger at the last second on the twin deals for Victor Zambrano and Kris Benson. Redding, a 27-year-old righthander, has a 5.19 ERA in three exhibition appearances. The Astros also released Peter Munro yesterday, who became the odd man out in Houston's crowded competition for the No. 5 spot, but a Mets official said last night they have little interest in the former Cardozo High star. The Nationals present a few intriguing options, but new general manager Jim Bowden would have to be willing to trade with a division rival. Zach Day, John Patterson and Jon Rauch are battling for the last spot in the Nationals' rotation. On the bullpen front, the Mets are very interested in former closer Billy Koch, who was released yesterday by the Blue Jays. The Mets made a run at trading for Koch during the 2004 winter meetings, and pitching coach Rick Peterson is also a Koch fan, having tutored him with the A's. Staff writer Ken Davidoff contributed to this story. __________________
This may just be a smoke screen. How bad can a front office to shamelessly declare you are (and have been) interested in Koch and Redding on the same day. How can a GM justify being interested in two zeros? Maybe they can twist the pitching style like they "successfully" figured out Hidalgo's problem. Redding for Matsui. Why not?
[Met's Pitching Coach] There's an easily correctable flaw in Redding's delivery[/Met's Pitching Coach]
Sporting News reports that the Mets are close to sending Jason Phillips to the Dodgers for Kazuhisa Ishii... I guess their interest in Redding decreased a bit... http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/3474474