Soon after the Philadelphia Phillies bowed out of the Ted Lilly acquisition dance, it appears that the New York Mets and Minnesota Twins may also be heading home alone.
The New York Post has reported that a Lilly to the Mets deal is “very doubtful” because the team is not willing to take on the $4 million Lilly is owed this year and give up prospects. If that’s really the hold up… um, were the Mets expecting the Cubs to give Lilly to them for free if they’d just pay his salary? I guess good for the Cubs for holding out for, you know, something.
As for the Twins, Jon Morosi says that the Twins are “unlikely to get” Lilly. Whether that means they want him, but don’t have what it takes, or they simply don’t want him, is unclear. Either way, if true, it dims the chances the Cubs deal Lilly and net a good return in the process.
At present, the Dodgers and Tigers are the only remaining suitors for Lilly whose interest has not yet been publicly tainted.