Who in their right mind would trade a hot bat for Jeff Francouer?
Nobody...
But we'll take just about anyone at this point.
The Cubs actually could take him off your hands and help you out. Francoeur would fit in as a late-inning defensive replacement in RF, with Colvin moving over to LF, or alternately as the short side of a platoon split with Colvin. The Mets need starting pitching, and Ted Lilly as a 50% fly ball pitcher would be filthy at Citi Field. The Cubs also have a number of players on their major league and Triple A rosters that could fill the Mets' roster needs created by the 3-catcher platoon, Fernando Tatis' injury, and the lack of a viable option on their 40-man roster (though Feliciano seems like he ought to be around more than Carter).
Francoeur's Expiring Contract works as salary relief for Lilly's contract (i.e., the broke-ass Wilpons have the remainder of Lilly's contract added to payroll, but Frenchy's subtracted). By adding an addition inexpensive marginal player or two who would fill the 24th and 25th roster spots more effectively than your current options, the Cubs would be sweetening the pot to justify the Mets' parting with a more valuable prospect package. Buffalo SP Dillon Gee, for example, is an arm not rated too highly, but still a decent prospect. Binghamton Mets OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis, likewise, is a guy who is hanging around the middle of the top 20 in Mets prospect rankings. He is a 5-tool player who strikes out too much, which is as much a Cub kiss of death as "Clippers big man" in the NBA.
Ted Lilly (or Brett Myers, for that matter) actually does have decent value. He can be a rent-a-player. But he also can be offered a contract. And he also would likely be a type A free agent for drafting purposes. Options.
Mets needs:1) Starting Pitching (Santana, Pelfrey, Dickey, ----, ----)
2) Backup at both corner infield positions (Fernando Tatis, 1997-2010)
3) Fifth Outfielder (Chris Carter, at present)
On the block:Jeff Francoeur:
-RF, New York Mets, R/R
-4.6 years MLB service time
-current contract: 1 year, $5mm (~$2.07mm remaining)
-post-2010 status: Arbitration-3rd year (final year club control)
Treating with the Chicago Cubs:*Meeting Need #1:Theodore Roosevelt Lilly III:
-SP, Chicago Cubs, L/L
-9.6 years MLB service time
-current contract: 4 years, $40mm (2007-2010)
-2010 year value: $13mm (~$5.30mm remaining)
-post-2010 status: Free Agent
-2010 Stats:
17 GS, 111.1 IP, 6.55 IP/GS, 6.55 K/9, 2.10 BB/9, 1.54 HR/9 (1.87 HR/9 at Wrigley/1.02 HR/9 Away), 8.00 H/9, 1.12 WHIP
53 R/48 ER, 3.88 ERA/4.64 FIP (4.28 Home ERA/3.27 Road ERA), .236/.283/.420 batting against, 10/11 Stolen Bases, 61.6% first pitch strike percentage
*Meeting Need #2a and #3:+
Xavier Nady:
--OF/1B, Chicago Cubs, R/r [intentional lower case]
--6.56 years MLB service time
--current contract: 1 year, $3.3mm (~$1.35mm remaining)
--post-2010 status: Free Agent
--2010 Stats:
.220/.289/.340 batting line in 159 PA, .265 BABIP (.312 career), .121 ISO (.174 career), 27% K rate, 5.7% BB rate
.250/.347/.417 vs. RHP with 3 HR in 72 PA
617 career innings played at 1B, 692 innings in LF, 3499 in RF
+
Micah Hoffpauir--OF/1B, Iowa Cubs (AAA), L/L
--1.05 years MLB service time, age 30
--current contract: 1 year, scale wage
--post-2010 status: Club Control-3rd Year
--2010 stats:
.240/.328/.445, .255 BABIP, 57 K/40 BB, 22 2B, 13 HR, 65 RBI
vs. RHP: 226 AB, .265/.350/.509, .272 BABIP, 18 2B, 11 HR, 52 RBI, 29 BB, 35 K
--Career MLB Stats (2008-09):
.264/.323/.453, .304 BABIP, .189 ISO, 23% K rate, 8% BB rate, 24.7% Line Drive Rate
214 innings at 1B, 102 innings in LF, 223 in RF
Meeting Only Need #2:+
Jeff Baker--1B/2B/3B/OF, Chicago Cubs, R/R
--3.55 years MLB service time, age 29
--current contract: 1 year, $975,000 (~$410,000 remaining)
--post-2010 status: Arbitration-2nd Year
--2010 stats:
.246/.294/.397, .315 BABIP, .151 ISO, 28% K rate, 6% BB rate
vs. LHP: .333/.372/.552, .382 BABIP, .219 ISO, 18% K, 5.3% BB, 6 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 12 RBI in 94 PA
as PH: 6-14, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBI
--Career split stats:
vs. LHP: .297/.353/.545 in 380 PA
as PH: .210/.282/.343, 22-105, 7 XBH, 9 RBI, 10 BB, 43 K
Meeting Only Need #3:+
Sam Fuld--OF, Iowa Cubs (AAA), L/L
--0.11 years MLB service time, age 28
--current contract: 1 year, scale
--post-2010 status: team control
--2010 stats:
.255/.344/.370, .271 BABIP, .115 ISO, 32 BB, 25 K, 74 G/243 AB
vs. RHP: .279/.357/.432, .290 BABIP, .143 ISO, 22 BB, 17 K, 183 AB
Baseball America's top-ranked defensive outfielder in Cubs' system
--2009 MLB stats:
65 G, 115 PA, .299/.409/.412, .326 BABIP, .113 ISO, 17 BB, 10 K