Mets acquire RHP Putz in three-team deal

Dec 11, 2008 - 6:22 AM LAS VEGAS (Ticker) -- The New York Mets are continuing their bullpen makeover in a big way.

The Mets on Wednesday night acquired Seattle Mariners closer J.J. Putz in a three-team trade also involving the Cleveland Indians.

Putz, 31, will join Francisco Rodriguez - who was signed to a three-year deal earlier in the day - to form a dominant combination at the end of games for New York.

New York also received outfielder Jeremy Reed and righthander Seth Green from Seattle.

"This was a trade that took some time to get done," Mets general manager Omar Minaya said. "But it came together quickly this afternoon."

The Mariners acquired righthander Aaron Heilman, lefthander Jason Vargas, outfielder Endy Chavez, first baseman Mike Carp and two minor leaguers from the Mets along with outfielder Franklin Gutierrez from the Indians.

Cleveland obtained righthander Joe Smith from New York and infielder Luis Valbuena from Seattle.

"Omar and I talk so frequently, we pretty much know what each other's needs are," Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro said. "(Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik) was familiar with our players already. We have an area of depth in our outfield, and we've got to be creative in how we fill our needs.

"We are trading a guy (in Gutierrez) that we think is going to be a very good everyday major league center fielder, but we've got a pretty good one in Grady Sizemore."

The Mets entered the month of September in first place in the National League East for the second consecutive year but again lost the division title to the Philadelphia Phillies en route to missing the postseason.

Much of the blame was directed toward an injury-plagued and inconsistent bullpen, which tied a franchise record with 29 blown saves - including 16 after the All-Star break.

"To you Mets fans, we've addressed the bullpen by getting Mr. Putz," Minaya said.

Putz is coming off an injury-marred 2008 in which he went 6-5 with 15 saves and a 3.88 ERA.

He arguably was the best reliever in baseball in 2007, when he posted 40 saves and a 6-1 record while recording a 1.38 ERA, a 0.70 WHIP and a .153 opponents batting average.

The Mets were determined to unload the 30-year-old Heilman, who went 3-8 with a 5.21 ERA last season and was a frequent target of fan criticism.

In addition to Putz, New York acquired another arm in the bullpen and a versatile outfielder in the deal.

Green was 4-5 with a 4.67 ERA and one save in 72 appearances for the Mariners last season, while Reed batted .269 with two home runs and 31 RBI in 97 games, making starts in all three outfield positions.

Seattle is attempting to acquire as much talent as possible after becoming the first team with a $100 million payroll to lose 100 games.

Chavez will replace Reed as a fourth outfielder, while Gutierrez - who owns a .258 batting average with 22 homers over parts of three seasons - becomes an option to replace free agent Raul Ibanez as the Mariners' starting left fielder.

Chavez hit .267 with a homer and 12 RBI in 133 games and primarily was used as a late-game defensive replacement for the Mets last season.

Carp has a chance to work his way into a role as a first baseman or designated hitter with Seattle.

Cleveland, which reportedly is deep in negotiations with closer Kerry Wood, is remaking its bullpen, and Smith could serve as a righthanded specialist. He went 6-3 with a 3.55 ERA in 82 games with New York last season.

Valbuena likely will compete for the second base job for the Indians. Should he win, the club could move Asdrubal Cabrera to shortstop and Jhonny Peralta to third base.