One of the Mets’ most important issues could be what the A’s do with Dan Haren and Joe Blanton, and ultimately what Oakland does may be based on what the Mets or somebody else offer.
The A’s, according to assistant GM David Forst, are still determining whether to trade the right-handers. The verdict will depend on both the health of several Oakland players and what teams might offer for Haren or Blanton.
“We honestly have not made that decision,” Forst said over the phone yesterday. “We’re certainly open to discussion, but every day that goes by we hope to get more information about our own team and the status of our players health-wise and I hope to get more info about what other teams are willing to do if we do decide to trade one or both of these pitchers.”
Forst said that “potentially someone is going to have make that decision for us by giving us an offer that we couldn’t refuse.” But that hasn’t happened so far, which is partly why Haren, Blanton and closer Huston Street are still in Oakland.
The A’s players whose health is critical are third baseman Eric Chavez, shortstop Bobby Crosby, starter Rich Harden and reliever Justin Duchscherer. If the A’s get good reports about the quartet’s status, they will likely keep the trio (Haren, Blanton and Street).
Blanton (14-10, 3.95 ERA) is first-year arbitration-eligible. Haren (15-9, 3.07) is owed a guaranteed $9.5 million the next two years and has a $6.75 million team option in 2010 – a very cheap deal.
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Yorvit Torrealba’s agent, Melvin Roman, revealed to The Post last night that he has gotten in touch with the players’ union to learn whether he has any possibilities for taking action against the Mets because of the catcher’s contractual collapse with the team.
According to Roman, “We agreed to the terms, pending on him passing the physical and then according to them, he didn’t pass the physical.” But the agent said though the Mets claimed Torrealba had a partially torn shoulder, two Rockies doctors as well as orthopedic surgeon James Andrews said Torrealba is healthy.
Torreabla re-signed with the Rockies yesterday, agreeing to a two-year deal with an option.
Mets GM Omar Minaya did not return a message on his cell phone last night.
Asked why he believed the deal didn’t go through with the Mets, Roman replied, “I don’t know.”
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Earlier in the day, Minaya reiterated a Post report that Jose Reyes isn’t going to be dealt for Johan Santana, whose chances of becoming a Met have nearly extinguished. Minaya classified Reyes as “a core player for us,” and said that “I don’t see us trading Jose Reyes for one of those guys being mentioned.”
Minaya said he doesn’t think it’s a sensible move.