Mets get Estrada for Steriod User

Omar Minaya has pulled off yet another spectacular deal for the New York Mets. Minaya was able to pawn off Mets relief pitcher Guillermo Mota and his steroid-free 5.76 ERA on the Milwaukee Brewers for former All-star catcher Johnny Estrada. While Mota was certainly instrumental in helping the Mets clinch the NL East in 2006, he did more harm than good in 2007 without that "extra edge". Estrada on the other hand will bring his switch hitting, .278 average to Shea where he will split time with Ramon Castro who signed a two-year deal with the Mets last week.

Even though Estrada is coming off arthroscopic knee surgery, I'd rather take my chances with him than Mota who looked awful this past year. Both will be free agents after this year, so Omar didn't get himself in too deep with a huge contract either.

I became very skeptical of Minaya after he balked on acquiring a good reliever at the trade deadline in July. I also wasn't sold on signing Yorvit Torrealba to be the Mets catcher of the future because he put up mediocre numbers at best and few would have even given him a second thought if it weren't for the fact he was on the Rockies this year. Thankfully that fell through, and even though I think bringing back Paul Lo Duca would have been the best option, the Estrada deal is a great one.

While pitching is still a concern for the Mets, I don't think the loss of Mota will be felt by the team next year. Minaya is still looking into acquiring a top of the rotation starter after Tom Glavine returned to Atlanta and free agent Livan Hernandez is also being considered because of the way he eats up innings. Whatever happens, my faith in Omar has been restored, and I can't wait to see what he does next.

Andrew Rohlin