Mets 2010 Trade Target: Jake Westbrook

Jake Westbrook, RHP Cleveland Indians
2010 season: 4-4, 4.76 ERA, 85 IP, 1.46 WHIP

A year removed from Tommy John Surgery, Jake Westbrook is back in the big leagues. An above average major league pitcher, Westbrook has a career 67-68 record with a 4.34 ERA, while pitching for the New York Yankees (1 season) and Cleveland Indians (9 seasons). A 21st overall pick in the 1996 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies, Westbrook was traded to the Montreal Expos for Mike Lansing and later traded again to the New York Yankees with Ted Lilly for pitcher Hideki Irabu. Westbrook made his major league debut on June 17, 2000 with the Yankees, going 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA for the season. After being sent down, Westbrook, along with Zach Day and Ricky Ledee were traded to Cleveland for Indians' slugger David Justice. In his career, Westbrook has always hovered around .500, having 9 or more losses in each full season that he has pitched, including a career high 15 losses in 2005. Westbrook's best season was in 2004, the year he made the AL All-Star team, when he went 14-9 with a 3.38 ERA. One can make a case for the amount of losses that Westbrook has each season, due to a poor Cleveland bullpen and lack of run support throughout his tenure. Westbrook is in the final year of a 3-year $33 million contract, which runs out after this year making him a free agent.

This season, with the Indians again struggling, Westbrook, 33, has been made available. Among the most interested reported teams: The New York Mets.

The Mets have been linked to Westbrook this year in trade rumors. While the Mets rotation of Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, Jon Niese, Hisanori Takahashi, and R.A. Dickey has pitched surprisingly well, the Mets reportedly want to put Takahashi back into the bullpen where he has pitched his whole career. Takahashi, originally just a fill-in while John Maine rehabs, has pitched surprisingly well as a starter, going 6-2 with a 3.13 ERA. However, the Mets feel he is more effective in the bullpen. If the Mets want to put him back in the bullpen, this would open up a spot in their rotation for Westbrook. After disappointing seasons from Oliver Perez and Maine, the Mets look to upgrade their rotation as they make a playoff push. They may feel that a trade for Westbrook could improve their chances.

A rotation of Santana, Pelfrey, Niese, Westbrook and Dickey would be a great rotation for the Mets. With Santana being Santana and Pelfrey having a career year, inserting Westbrook, who has been an AL pitcher his whole career, will improve the rotation. It's been a proven that some AL pitchers who move to the NL become better pitchers because they face weaker hitters (see Roy Halladay). The AL has always been portrayed as the stronger league, and it's been proven. Perhaps putting Westbrook into the NL will help to resurrect his career and he will become a much more effective pitcher.

While Westbrook would be a good fit for the Mets, there are some questions as to if he can stay healthy, especially after coming off Tommy John Surgery, and if the Mets will really need him. One reason why the Mets may not need him is because they sent down top prospect Jenrry Mejia yesterday, in order to stretch him out to be a starting pitcher. Perhaps they envision Mejia coming back up mid-season and taking Takahashi's spot in the rotation, therefore having no need for Westbrook. However, I don't think that the Mets envision R.A. Dickey pitching like Cy Young all season, so perhaps they may look to trade for Westbrook just incase Dickey comes back down to earth. A rotation of Santana, Pelfrey, Niese, Westbrook and Mejia, with Dickey and Takahashi in the bullpen would be incredible for the Mets.

Then there is the issue of what to give for Westbrook. I can't imagine the Indians asking for a King's Ransom for him because he's not on the same level as the last two guys they traded in Cliff Lee or CC Sabathia. I could imagine the Mets giving a B minus-level prospect, with a couple of C-level throw ins. An ideal package could include RHP Jeurys Familia as well as C Josh Thole and RHP Tobi Stoner. The Indians would probably require the Mets to pay his $11 million salary. If the Mets can get away with Cleveland paying full salary or paying half, I do the deal. The Mets didn't want to commit $14 million to John Lackey, so why would they want to commit $11 million to Westbrook, who isn't as good? If the Indians are able to get that much talent back, I'd be surprised. While Omar Minaya is subject to make trades, this would be a great deal for the Mets and would drastically improve the rotation.

I think that a trade for Westbrook would make the Mets an ultimate contender. Moving an AL pitcher who has to face the Red Sox, Rays, Yankees, Twins, and Angels every year to the NL, where he would face the Nationals, Pirates, Astros, and Diamonbacks would improve Westbrook's stats. The best thing that could happen for Westbrook is to get out of Cleveland, where the bullpen and lack of run support will cost him wins. If traded to the Mets, their powerful bullpen and immense run scoring would help him do better and attribute to success. I could see him going 15-6 with an ERA in the 3.60's in the NL. The Mets should make a push to acquire him, as he would make the rotation much better.