Adkins released; Heath Bell trade not so good

The Mets have granted free agency to Pitcher Jon Adkins, Pitcher Lino Urdaneta and Outfielder Ricky Ledee according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America.

John Adkins was traded to the Mets last off season for Pitcher Royce Ring and Pitcher Heath Bell to the Padres for Adkins and Outfielder Ben Johnson.

Adkins was 2-4 with 5 saves, 44 strikeouts, and a 3.99 era in 48 games for AAA New Orleans. Johnson was injured for a large chunk of the season. He played just 53 games with a .271 average and just 2 home runs and 12 rbis. Johnson is now 26 and so far has not lived up to his potential. In 2005 he was a Baseball America Triple-A All-Star. He has shown some pop in his bat before and at the time of the trade I thought it was a steal with Johnsons potential and the lack of success of Bell. Now Bell is nasty for the padres and the Mets just have a aging, slumping, injured Ben Johnson.

To see whats happening in the Winter Baseball Leagues and Arizona Fall League vist Mets Prospects throughout the offseason as it will continue to be updated throughout the off-season.