Mets Send Top Pitching Prospects To Marlins - It's Happened Before !

The recent trades for Carlos Delgado and Paul LoDuca cost the Mets 2 top pitching prospects in Yusmiero Petit and Gaby Martinez. Will they develop into stars or will they become the latest in a long line of one-time prospects who never make it ?

Projecting any young pitcher is always difficult. Remember the names Jose Martinez, Jesus Sanchez, and Juan Castillo ? All were once regarded as top pitching prospects in the Mets' system. Martinez was rated highly enough to be the Marlins' first choice among all pitchers available in the expansion draft, coming off a 20-win season in the FSL. Sanchez was considered the jewel acquired in the Al Leiter deal, much more highly regarded than "throw-in" A.J. Burnett. And Castillo dominated the Eastern League on his way to obscurity. And if you read my early blogs, you'll find out about other great prospects like Les Rohr, Dennis Musgraves, Jerry Hinsley, Ron Locke, etc., etc.

It is MUCH easier to project a hitting prospect and that's why I am so opposed to dealing Lastings Milledge. Will he become the next Willie Mays or even Torii Hunter or Marquis Grissom ? Tough to say, but barring serious injury or other unforeseen events, he will almost certainly be a major league player, and that's more than you can say for ANY young pitching prospect, no matter how highly touted.