Hendry Tried To Trade Marquis For Heilman

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Earlier this off-season, the Mets had the opportunity to trade Aaron Heilman for a 30-year-old pitcher who's averaged 32 starts and 13 wins for the past five years while his teams won four division titles and a World Series. As part of the deal, the Chicago Cubs were willing to pay part of the pitcher's $9.875 million salary in 2009, the year before he became a free agent.

But the Mets passed on the deal because they were trying to use Heilman in other deals (for bullpen help) and because they didn't think Jason Marquis was better than what they have in their projected 2009 rotation.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
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