This deal is about as dumb a deal as I can ever remember one GM making. First off Hu could have been had this spring for nothing he's out of options and the Dodgers weren't about to make a place for him on their 25 man roster. So Sandy does everyone but the Mets a favor. Michael Antonni isn't about to be mistaken for Cy Young anytime in the near future but he is exactly what the Mets 25 man roster didn't have yesterday and today is 1 LHP short of finding one.
Michael was at least a left hand arm. He enjoyed some limited success through AA but was hit pretty hard in AAA ball in two short stints at Buffalo in 09 and 10....What this young man always showed was his ability to stay in a game. He has maintained over a six inning plus average per start through out his minor league career. On a team like today's Mets that alone should have been reason enough to hold onto him through next Spring Training.
Hu, is another minor league shortstop who signed with LA back in 2003 as a non-drafted free agent from Taiwan. Hu, was out of options and would have been granted "free agency" if requested if the Dodgers didn't take him to LA next April. So here Sandy did everyone in LA a great big favor. For a first trade it's a minor disaster, only because it's a minor league trade. From the Mets view it could certainly have been part of the Major Disaster that seem to be evolving during the short span of the Alderson GM-ship as another very serviceable left hand pitcher bites the dust. I'm beginning to believe Sandy doesn't like LHP. First it was Michael O'Connor who was released, then Takahashi was allowed to walk, followed by Feliciano, (O'Connor was re-instated following Feliciano walking) now it's Antonini to LA.
....The move leaves the Mets without a LH stater at AAA and possibly as many as three shortstops. So is there a "plus" anywhere here ? YES ! Sandy answered that question to him during his Press Conference where he said he would be actively seeking Oriental ballplayers...At least Sandy remains politically correct.
