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Signing Zeile was bad enough when it cost us only money. When it forces us into a trade that actually gives up a talented, relatively young, and cheap pitcher, it turns the inexplicable into the idiotic. The point is really simple: if you're going to give up something of value, even of modest value, get some value in return. Zeile represents no value in return.

What Sam said.

The whole situation (starting with Zeile) was handled with butterfingers by Mets management. In the scope of things it is extremely minor from a player/personel standpoint, but it was still sloppy.

Its the little deals like this that get under my skin and make me nervous for the future - like letting Scutaro and Watson walk only resigning Timo and McEwing, the handling of Vlad-Gate, etc. Are these growing pains for Duquette as he gets his GM feet under him, or are these the type of moves he will make oversights on during his tenure? I don't know.

Its quite possible I'm being too critical as even the best GMs make mistakes (see Billy Beane and Brian Sabean circa December 2003). Still, I'd love to see more attention to detail out of Duquette (not to mention a decent PR team for the Mets, but I digress).

Mike makes a good point. Is this more troubling from a player-for-player perspective, or because it is potentially indicative of the Jim Duquette administration? How much were the Mets really bothered by Cerda declining to play Winter Ball, and did that make him a more likely candidate for Zeile's roster spot?

Most troubling is the Mets current system for evaluating bench/utility players. They seem to value versatility and veteran presence over more objective, quantifiable attributes like ability to get on base or defensive prowess. In particular, the reluctance to let Joe McEwing go (and to sign him for two years no less) because he's mediocre at multiple positions. The willingness to pass over productive role players like Robert Fick and Russ Branyan in favor of retreads like Zeile et al is a big problem.

Cerda will never amount to anything. Do we need a history lesson of Met "prospects" that never panned out? If so, I'll go back to Tom Hausman. Zeile will not hurt, and he's relatively cheap. I'd rather have a veteran backing up at 3rd and 1st anyway. I guarantee Cerda will not be heard from again and will vanish within 2 years in KC or elsewhere. Comparisons to Mike Stanton? I think not. More like Takashi Kashiwada (thanks Bobby V.!)

The key here is young and cheap. Cerda is a servicable lefty--one of four in the Mets bullpen (Franco, Stanton, and some young'un). He's also young and cheap, and Todd Zeile is not.

If the Mets turn out to be a .500/non-playoff contending ballclub, they could have used Cerda or Franco or Stanton as trade bait for some wild card contender, and get better minor/major league talent in return. This guy we got back from KC is 29 years old.

You don't give up a serviceable LHP for free.

Cerda was a decent lefty, and he's young. The pitcher they got for him will not figure in the Mets plans. Ziele doesn't really enter into it, becase he's a position player, and Cerda is a pitcher. I think Pedro Feliciano is a better lefty reliever than Cerda, and maybe this trade gives him a better shot to make the team. The Mets should have tried to trade Mike Stanton, instead of getting rid of the young guy.

What scares me the most is that John Franco and Mike Stanton will be the only lefties going into the season in the bullpen. Aside from Ring, there really is no lefty talent. With that being said, Cerda never truely impressed me. He was given a shot many times last season to justify having a spot for this season, and he failed.

Sedlacek could compete for the fifth starter spot, unless, heaven forbid, they sign Ericksson. However, he's most likey destined to AAA, where as Cerda probably could crack the Royals roster competing with the likes of Mike Venafro for a lefty pen spot.

Signing Zeile could mean Danny Garcia loses a roster spot, which could have negative effects on me.