Brewers Trade Johnny Estrada to Mets For Guillermo Mota

645 · November 20th, 2007, 05:43 PM

Brewers acquire RHP Guillermo Mota from Mets

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Brewers today acquired RHP Guillermo Mota from the New York Mets in exchange for C Johnny Estrada, it was announced today by Brewers Executive Vice President and General Manager, Doug Melvin.

Mota, 34, recently finished his ninth season in the Major Leagues and went 2-2 with a 5.76 ERA over 52 relief appearances with the Mets. Mota also appeared in 7 games with Triple-A New Orleans posting a record of 0-1 with a 7.04 ERA.

The Official Site of Milwaukee Brewers: Official Info: Press Release

645 · November 20th, 2007, 05:53 PM

MILWAUKEE -- Johnny Estrada's tenure with the Brewers lasted two days short of a calendar year.
The team dealt Estrada to the Mets on Tuesday for veteran reliever Guillermo Mota, opening a hole at catcher that could be filled by free agent Jason Kendall.

Mota is 34 years old and coming off his ninth Major League season. He was 2-2 with a 5.76 ERA in 52 appearances with the Mets after returning from a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. The Mets, nonetheless, inked him to a two-year, $5 million contract, and in a statement on Tuesday, Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said Mota was "a quality relief pitcher who can pitch out of the back of the 'pen.

The Official Site of Milwaukee Brewers: News: Milwaukee Brewers News

645 · November 20th, 2007, 06:03 PM

The New York Mets announced today that they have acquired catcher Johnny Estrada from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for righthanded pitcher Guillermo Mota.

"Johnny adds depth to our catching situation," said Mets General Manager Omar Minaya. "He's a former All-Star who switch-hits and has hit over .300 three times in his career."

Estrada, 31, hit .278 (123-for-442) with 40 runs scored, 25 doubles, 10 home runs and 54 RBI in 120 games with the Brewers last year.

The Official Site of New York Mets: Official Info: Press Release

645 · November 20th, 2007, 07:41 PM

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Mets acquired Johnny Estrada from Milwaukee for reliever Guillermo Mota on Tuesday, moving quickly to plug their hole at catcher after talks with Yorvit Torrealba collapsed.

Estrada batted .278 with 10 homers and 54 RBIs for the Brewers this year. He is eligible for arbitration this winter and can become a free agent after the 2008 season.

"Johnny adds depth to our catching situation," Mets general manager Omar Minaya said. "He's a former All-Star who switch-hits and has hit over .300 three times in his career."

Mota served a 50-game steroids suspension at the beginning of the season and finished 2-2 with a 5.76 ERA in 52 appearances. Often booed at home, the 34-year-old right-hander struck out 47 and walked 18 in 59 1-3 innings.

Mets acquire catcher Johnny Estrada from Brewers for reliever Guillermo Mota - MLB - Yahoo! Sports

645 · November 20th, 2007, 07:43 PM

FLUSHING, NEW YORK (TICKER) -- The New York Mets found their catcher Tuesday, acquiring Johnny Estrada from the Milwaukee Brewers for righthander Guillermo Mota.

The Mets were searching for a starting backstop after talks with free agent Yorvit Torrealba broke down last week.

New York elected not to re-sign Paul Lo Duca, the team's starter for the past two years, who is a free agent.

"Johnny adds depth to our catching situation," Mets general manager Omar Minaya said. "He's a former All-Star who switch-hits and has hit over .300 three times in his career."

Mets acquire C Estrada from Brewers - MLB - Yahoo! Sports

JoseA · November 22nd, 2007, 06:47 PM

I don't like it one bit...Sure Estrada was a lazy catcher who couldn't run for his life, but he was great for a catcher at hitting.

This Mota guy hasn't been doing to good lately, well at least the past few seasons.

Anyone think the Estrada deal has something to do with his fight with ole' Ned Yost?

645 · November 23rd, 2007, 12:33 AM

It's not just his fight with Yost that lead to this trade.

1) Not only he couldn't run he couldn't stop anyone else from running as he was the worst catcher in the league at throwing out runners attempting to steal.

2) He just didn't see eye to eye with Pitching Coach Mike Maddux on how to handle the pitchers and the Brewers thought he just didn't call a smart game.

3) He was a free swinger that wasn't all that selective at what pitches he would swing at and would almost never take a walk and his on-base percentage was just as bad as his Batting Averge for it.

So the bottom line is Jason Kendall will be a much better catcher for the Brewers for he may not hit with as much pop or throw out stealers much better but he's call a much better game and he will play with high-energy approach for Kendall is that kind of player and sence kendall has a .375 lifetime on-base percentage he will get on base much more offen and to have a catcher that can get on base is a good thing for the Brewers who have some big young Power hitters that can knock him in.

Then for Mota, It is easy to look at his numbers and yeah there are not too good but he did have an outstanding season for the Dodgers in 2003 and he was outstanding after joining the mets in 2006. So we know him being a good pitcher is possable and Mike Maddux is one of the best pitching coaches in the league if not the best who had a few success stories like turning Dan Kolb into a All Star Closer and then when he was traded to the Braves he compleatly fell apart and Derrick Turnbow has been another one. So Maddux does have a history of getting the best out of the pitching and Mota maybe good enough to maybe get lucky and be that next success story and it all starts with having a good catcher making the right calls on the field of play and to go along with the well proven ideas of the pitching coach and Estrada clearly wasn't always that guy.

So I tell you I feel sorry for the Mets. Why do you think Estrada goes from team to team. It's becouse where ever he plays the teams learn all his down sides are just not worth the little pop he might give them.

November 20th, 2007, 05:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
645 Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,347	Brewers Trade Johnny Estrada to Mets For Guillermo Mota Brewers acquire RHP Guillermo Mota from Mets MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Brewers today acquired RHP Guillermo Mota from the New York Mets in exchange for C Johnny Estrada, it was announced today by Brewers Executive Vice President and General Manager, Doug Melvin. Mota, 34, recently finished his ninth season in the Major Leagues and went 2-2 with a 5.76 ERA over 52 relief appearances with the Mets. Mota also appeared in 7 games with Triple-A New Orleans posting a record of 0-1 with a 7.04 ERA. The Official Site of Milwaukee Brewers: Official Info: Press Release

November 20th, 2007, 05:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
645 Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,347	Brewers acquire Mota from Mets MILWAUKEE -- Johnny Estrada's tenure with the Brewers lasted two days short of a calendar year. The team dealt Estrada to the Mets on Tuesday for veteran reliever Guillermo Mota, opening a hole at catcher that could be filled by free agent Jason Kendall. Mota is 34 years old and coming off his ninth Major League season. He was 2-2 with a 5.76 ERA in 52 appearances with the Mets after returning from a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. The Mets, nonetheless, inked him to a two-year, $5 million contract, and in a statement on Tuesday, Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said Mota was "a quality relief pitcher who can pitch out of the back of the 'pen. The Official Site of Milwaukee Brewers: News: Milwaukee Brewers News

November 20th, 2007, 06:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
645 Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,347	Mets acquire catcher Johnny Estrada The New York Mets announced today that they have acquired catcher Johnny Estrada from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for righthanded pitcher Guillermo Mota. "Johnny adds depth to our catching situation," said Mets General Manager Omar Minaya. "He's a former All-Star who switch-hits and has hit over .300 three times in his career." Estrada, 31, hit .278 (123-for-442) with 40 runs scored, 25 doubles, 10 home runs and 54 RBI in 120 games with the Brewers last year. The Official Site of New York Mets: Official Info: Press Release

November 20th, 2007, 07:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
645 Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,347	Mets acquire catcher Johnny Estrada from Brewers for reliever Guillermo Mota NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Mets acquired Johnny Estrada from Milwaukee for reliever Guillermo Mota on Tuesday, moving quickly to plug their hole at catcher after talks with Yorvit Torrealba collapsed. Estrada batted .278 with 10 homers and 54 RBIs for the Brewers this year. He is eligible for arbitration this winter and can become a free agent after the 2008 season. "Johnny adds depth to our catching situation," Mets general manager Omar Minaya said. "He's a former All-Star who switch-hits and has hit over .300 three times in his career." Mota served a 50-game steroids suspension at the beginning of the season and finished 2-2 with a 5.76 ERA in 52 appearances. Often booed at home, the 34-year-old right-hander struck out 47 and walked 18 in 59 1-3 innings. Mets acquire catcher Johnny Estrada from Brewers for reliever Guillermo Mota - MLB - Yahoo! Sports

November 20th, 2007, 07:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
645 Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,347	Mets acquire C Estrada from Brewers FLUSHING, NEW YORK (TICKER) -- The New York Mets found their catcher Tuesday, acquiring Johnny Estrada from the Milwaukee Brewers for righthander Guillermo Mota. The Mets were searching for a starting backstop after talks with free agent Yorvit Torrealba broke down last week. New York elected not to re-sign Paul Lo Duca, the team's starter for the past two years, who is a free agent. "Johnny adds depth to our catching situation," Mets general manager Omar Minaya said. "He's a former All-Star who switch-hits and has hit over .300 three times in his career." Mets acquire C Estrada from Brewers - MLB - Yahoo! Sports

November 22nd, 2007, 06:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
JoseA Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,097	I don't like it one bit...Sure Estrada was a lazy catcher who couldn't run for his life, but he was great for a catcher at hitting. This Mota guy hasn't been doing to good lately, well at least the past few seasons. Anyone think the Estrada deal has something to do with his fight with ole' Ned Yost? __________________ Register here and join the discussion

November 23rd, 2007, 12:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
645 Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,347	It's not just his fight with Yost that lead to this trade. 1) Not only he couldn't run he couldn't stop anyone else from running as he was the worst catcher in the league at throwing out runners attempting to steal. 2) He just didn't see eye to eye with Pitching Coach Mike Maddux on how to handle the pitchers and the Brewers thought he just didn't call a smart game. 3) He was a free swinger that wasn't all that selective at what pitches he would swing at and would almost never take a walk and his on-base percentage was just as bad as his Batting Averge for it. So the bottom line is Jason Kendall will be a much better catcher for the Brewers for he may not hit with as much pop or throw out stealers much better but he's call a much better game and he will play with high-energy approach for Kendall is that kind of player and sence kendall has a .375 lifetime on-base percentage he will get on base much more offen and to have a catcher that can get on base is a good thing for the Brewers who have some big young Power hitters that can knock him in. Then for Mota, It is easy to look at his numbers and yeah there are not too good but he did have an outstanding season for the Dodgers in 2003 and he was outstanding after joining the mets in 2006. So we know him being a good pitcher is possable and Mike Maddux is one of the best pitching coaches in the league if not the best who had a few success stories like turning Dan Kolb into a All Star Closer and then when he was traded to the Braves he compleatly fell apart and Derrick Turnbow has been another one. So Maddux does have a history of getting the best out of the pitching and Mota maybe good enough to maybe get lucky and be that next success story and it all starts with having a good catcher making the right calls on the field of play and to go along with the well proven ideas of the pitching coach and Estrada clearly wasn't always that guy. So I tell you I feel sorry for the Mets. Why do you think Estrada goes from team to team. It's becouse where ever he plays the teams learn all his down sides are just not worth the little pop he might give them.