Angel Pagan for Andres Torres and Ramon Ramirez

posted 12/7/11 9:31 AM PST
by Jason Martinez

In what appears to be a 'change of scenery' move, the Mets and Giants exchanged center fielders coming off of disappointing seasons. Andres Torres goes to New York, along with reliever Ramon Ramirez while Angel Pagan heads west to San Francisco. All three players are arbitration eligible, although Pagan and Torres were non-tender candidates before the trade. Here's a breakdown of how each roster is affected by the trade. You can vote at the bottom of the article on who you think got the better end of the deal.

New York Mets

Ramirez will play an important role for the Mets
Picture courtesy of Icon Sports Media, Inc.

In a matter of one hour, the Mets completely revamped their bullpen by signing free agents Frank Francisco and Jon Rauch and trading for Ramirez yesterday evening. It will cost the team around $12 million in 2012 but it could be well worth it, considering how many wins the bullpen cost the team after Francisco Rodriguez was traded to Milwaukee last July. Francisco and Rauch teamed up to close for the Blue Jays in 2011 but the duo had mixed results. After beginning the season on the DL, the 32 year-old Francisco struggled after being activated but finished strong with a 1.37 ERA in his last 25 appearances. Rauch, 33, had a good start (2.45 ERA, 5 Sv in 5 chances in April) but was mediocre the rest of the way before missing most of August and September with two separate DL stints.

Ramirez, however, could be the key to the makeover. The 30 year-old has a career 3.16 ERA in his six big league seasons and was especially good after being acquired by the Giants a few months before the team won the World Series in 2010.

After playing an important role in the Giants' Championship season in 2010 (.822 OPS, 16 HR, 43 2B, 8 3B, 26 SB), the 33 year-old Torres was not the same player last season. His OPS dropped to .642 and he spent time on the DL for a strained Achilles' tendon and a shin contusion. The trade may be welcoming for the switch-hitter, who was in somewhat of a crowded outfield situation in San Francisco to what looks like a clear path to a starting job in New York. Expect to see Torres leading off and playing center field on Opening Day 2012.

San Francisco Giants
The Giants have plenty of bullpen depth after re-signing Javier Lopez and exercising the club option on Jeremy Affeldt. The relief crew was also getting very expensive so someone had to go. By trading Ramirez, the Giants saved approximately $2-3 million and brought in a center field option who is 3 1/2 years younger than Torres. Like Torres, the 30 year-old Pagan saw his production drop in 2011. After hitting .290 with 11 HR, 69 RBI, 31 2B, 7 3B, and 37 SB in 2010, the switch-hitter missed more than a month early in the season with a strained oblique and finished the season with a .694 OPS.

How he fits in with the Giants is unclear at this point. Right fielder Nate Schierholtz is well-regarded by manager Bruce Bochy and Melky Cabrera also figures to be in the outfield regularly after recently being acquired from Kansas City for Jonathan Sanchez. Brandon Belt or Aubrey Huff (whoever doesn't play 1B) is the favorite to play left field. Pagan may have to earn a starting job in Spring Training.