According to reports on XM Radio and on Cubs.com, Angel Pagan was traded to the New York Mets today for two minor leaguers, pitcher Ryan Meyers and outfielder Corey Coles.
Updated 2:28pm C.T. with information on both players obtained from the Mets in the trade.
In a weird twist of fate, Angel Pagan was traded back to the organization in which he came from two years ago....the Cubs purchased Angel Pagan from the Mets on January 25, 2006. Pagan spent most of his tenure with the Cubs on the DL but was an important piece of Lou Piniella's bench in 2007 until his season was cut short because of colitis.
Ryan Meyers is 22 years old and was 1-4 with 13 saves and a 2.79 ERA in 41 games last season in Single-A ball. Meyers was 1-4 with a 2.14 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP in 33 games with 13 saves, all in relief, with low-A Savannah. He pitched in 8 games for Port St. Lucie and did not have a record with a 5.59 ERA and a 1.86 WHIP. Meyers was drafted by the Mets in the 17th round in 2003.
Last season was the first time Meyers spent the entire year in the bullpen and according to Scout.com, he could have found his niche. Meyers is 6-5 and underwent Tommy John Surgery in 2004, his first year in pro ball. Meyers' fastball tops out around 92-93 MPH, has a changeup and curve ball that is reportedly a good one and has the ability to pause a hitter when he throws it consistently. Scout.com feels the key for Meyers is to mix his speeds and to pitch to contact.
Corey Coles was listed by Baseball America as the Mets 30th best prospect in their system before the 2007 season. Coles is a left-handed hitter and spent last season in Double-A and Triple-A. He was drafted by the Mets in the 5th round in 2003.
Coles spent most of last year in Double-A but started the year in High-A and played 9 games in Triple-A to end the season. He hit .296 with a .352 OBP in 66 games in Double-A with 1 home run and 22 RBI's.
Baseball America stated one of Coles' strengths is his plate discipline and "his ability to make sound, consistent contact all over the field." Coles is tough to strike out and makes good contact but lacks power....he had just 18 extra base hits in 2007. Baseball America ranks him as a solid outfielder that makes good reads and makes good jumps on balls. Coles has average speed with a below average arm, despite the fact he was a pitcher in college. Coles was compared to Orlando Palmeiro.
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Now he goes back to the mets. I wonder if Murton is staying.
Here's about all that can be said about minor leaguers Coles and Meyers.... Pagan's trade could open up a spot for a versatile, switch hitting OF like free agent DaVanon, ex of the D-backs and A's, or my man Coco Crisp (in a trade). JimK
This trade doesn't make sense to me. Why would we trade Pagan who is a switch hitter with excellent speed and an average arm for a pitcher who had tommy john surgery in his first season and an outfielder with below average arm and average speed. And why is Murton still on the team, what has he done for us? He is probably the worst base runner ever.
Sean,
In my opinion, I think this is just another case of Lou getting rid of players that he deems unreliable. In the case of Barrett and Izturis it was a lack of productivity; in this instance it was Pagans inability to stay healthy. This is one of the strengths that Lou has brought to the Cubs organization. If the skipper can’t count on you, you’re not going to be around very long. We saw this with Theriot and Izturis, and now with Pagan due to the emergence of Sam Flud.
I think this is a good trade for the Cubs. They are getting rid of players that don’t fit into the system, and in return stock piling young arms.
I hope Angel gets to prove how good he was as a kid at the mayor league level some day. Good luck man and I feel sad to see him go. He must be really pissed because he really loved Chicago and even bought a house. He also hated the Mets for never giving him a chance. I suspect they are going to part ways with the impressive Gomez if they traded for Pagan.
Well I guess I still have Soto to play some
Daddy Yankee 'reggaeton' in the locker room and representing my home town. Go SOTO! Bye Angel, I guess I hate you now?LOL!
By the way BD...I agree.
Agustin,
I had the same thought as you about Gomez. Is this the precusor to the Mets dealing Gomez, Martinez, Humber, Pelfry and/or Mulvey in a Bedard or Santana deal?
Pagan is a switch hitter? With excellent speed?
I guess I'd have seen this if he had ever played in a game...
Angel had "potential", but he won't be missed, because he was never on the field anyway. And even when he was playing he wasn't the great base stealer he was supposed to be. He's just a below average player who can't ever stay healthy. His departure maybe opens up a roster spot for Colvin at some point in time.
This trade isn't a big deal to me, and won't have any impact on the team. But I guess it is some news, something we haven't had in a while. Will this Roberts deal EVER get done?
I wonder if the cubs will pick up anybody else before spring training.. The silence is killing me
the team is gambling the 2008 season on Fukodome....
0 significant other additions.... I dont see the Cubs winning more than 4-5 additional games...
Aw man, I hope that this doesn't bite us in the ass like always! haha Now we have to play Pie in center, or where ever. He has to step us with all the potential we think he has, and hopefully not turn into a Corey Patterson. I just think that Pagan had IT, switch hitter, speed, some power, and actually was telling myself, "Hey, we still got Pagan. He seems like a decent ball player but hasn't been healthy. I just get a sick feeling about this when I heard. Maybe these minor leaguers will come out to something. I don't like that Meyers' Tommy John surgery, because only works to prolong a career NOT improve. See list
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_John_surgery
#List_of_baseball_players_receiving_the_surgery
It's not a bad move, Pagan couldn't stay healthy. These guys may turn out alright, the outfielder seems ok. Not an earth shattering move by any means but it does show that Hendry's mind is still running scenarios and not just sitting on his hands.
I also liked Pagan. I had no problem with the job he did when he played. I would have liked to see him at 100% health.
Pagan has speed, and though he doesn't have the arm, he can read the flyball pretty well.
His long and old colon (intestine) problem that broke out in the summer hampered his ability to play in 2007. If he found a suitable medicare, I can't see why he's a bad player.
On the contrary, Eric Patterson is not proven, and he still has problem at the plate (unlike Pagan, who hit well for a few weeks). I would expect E-Pat become a trade bait.