In a special series that ran on Fox Sports, Rotoworld’s Matthew Pouliot ranked each MLB team based on what the roster would look like if the team had kept all the players it originally drafted and signed, including international players. It’s a fantastic way of looking at how well or how poorly a team has done at signing and developing players.
The Mets came in at number 20 out of 30, with the Seattle Mariners taking top honors and the Cincinnati Reds bringing up the rear. The rankings include players that were active since 2008 and Pouliot also considered projected 2010 values in determining his rankings..
Here is a glimpse of what the Mets would have looked like. Players in italics are no longer with the team.
Rotation
A.J. Burnett
Scott Kazmir
Brian Bannister
Mike Pelfrey
Jon Niese
Bullpen
Heath Bell
Octavio Dotel
Matt Lindstrom
Bobby Parnell
Aaron Heilman
Guillermo Mota
Joe Smith
Lineup
SS Jose Reyes
3B David Wright
RF Nelson Cruz
1B Mike Jacobs
C Jesus Flores
2B Kaz Matsui
CF Carlos Gomez
LF Daniel Murphy
Bench
INF Ty Wigginton
OF Angel Pagan
OF Jay Payton
OF Lastings Milledge
C Raul Casanova
Wow… We retained no top of the rotation (1-3) starters and only two everyday players.
The part that really bothers me is that the Braves (3), Phillies (4), Nationals (5) and Marlins (16), were all ranked ahead of the Mets.
Obviously, the Mets need to do a better job drafting and they also need to take a hard look at their player evaluation personnel. I’m not exactly thrilled with the Mets’ drafts under Omar Minaya. The last time the Mets had a top ten pick they selected Mike Pelfrey ninth overall, and he has yet to distinguish himself or justify his selection and big signing bonus. Others in his draft class included Justin Upton, Alex Gordon, Ryan Zimmerman, Ryan Braun, Troy Tulowitski, Jacoby Ellsbury, Cameron Maybin, Jay Bruce, Matt Garza and Clay Buchholz.
The Mets spent the least amount of money in this years draft and were ranked 30th among all major league teams in salaries and bonuses paid. According to Baseball America, the Mets spent just $1.9 million on seven players.
Many have ridiculed the Mets for drafting players based on signability rather than taking the best overall players, but I find that a little far fetched and hard to prove. However, I do agree that the Mets should shun Bud Selig’s slotting system as the Yankees and Red Sox have, and start behaving more like the big market team that they are.
If the season were to end today, the Mets would have the sixth overall pick in next years June Amateur Draft.
Do you still have confidence in the Mets ability to draft the best available players?
By the way…
Unlike years passed, the Mets will not forfeit any draft picks for signing a Class A free agent this off season because they finished in the bottom ten this season. That means they are free to sign any free agent they want without the fear of losing their top pick in next years MLB Draft.
In other words, if you were going to make a big splash on a Jason Bay, John Lackey or Matt Holliday, this of season might be the best opportunity to improve the team without hurting their ability to improve the farm system. Last season, the Mets forfeited their first round pick when they signed Francisco Rodriguez.
I don’t know about you, but I find that it makes me feel better talking about the future of the Mets, rather than dwelling on this downer of a season.
But I’d be less than forthcoming, if I didn’t admit that my confidence in the Mets’ ability to make good decisions, has been somewhat shaken.
*Mets Merized Online Needs Your Help*
But I’d be less than forthcoming, if I didn’t admit that my confidence in the Mets’ ability to make good decisions, has been somewhat shaken.
Are you kidding me??? Somewhat shaken? Why don’t you try saying completely effing shattered!
Have you noticed how Omar Minaya has disappeared from the spotlight since his last fiasco? Where is he? He hasn’t been seen since he admitted Reyes and Delgado wouldn’t be back in August as he had thought before the trade deadline. What a joke!
Where’s Jason Bay?
Jaon Bay was drafted by the Expos and was a Met for all of three weeks. The Mets havent drafted a 30 hr outfielder since Darryl Strawberry. They only wish they could have drafted Jason Bay.
Bay was originally drafted by the Expos.
I was not aware of that rule that protects the bottom teams first round pick. If that’s the case, the Mets would be foolish not to sign Lackey AND Bay or Holliday. It’s a golden opportunity and it wouldnt cost them more than what they were paying Delgado, Putz and Wagner.
1. Reyes
2. Castillo
3. Beltran
4. Bay
5. Wright
6. Francoeur
7. Thole/Santos
8. Murphy/Davis
1. Johan
2. Lackey
3. Maine
4. Pelfrey
5. Niese/Perez/Nieve
2005: pelfrey, niese, parnell, thole, brown
2006: mulvey, smith, murphy, stoner, stinson
2007: kunz, vineyard, moviel, rustich, niesen, clyne
2008: davis, havens, niewenhuis, holt
Some international signings: fmart, mejia, tejada, pena, guerra
confidence = zero
Who did we trade Burnett for?
We traded Burnett in the trade that landed us Mike Piazza.
Al Leiter
Mike was Geoff Goetz, Preston Wilson and Ed Yarnall
Omar and friends are below averagre at accumulating talent, which includes via the draft. This was obvious before this analysis. And since it’s the most important thing a GM does, he should be fired. And the Mets should spend a good bit of money hiring a guy who has shown he does it well. That money would save loads of money elsewhere.
This answer is so simple it hurts me to keep thinking about it, mostly because I know that Wilpons won’t do it and they’ll try to save money by hiring (in 2 years, when they continue to give Omar too much time) Ricco or some other in-house bum who is part of the problem, and we’ll go through this moronic cycle again.
JOHN, FYI, SLOTTING ADHERANCE IS A FRED DICTATE THAT OMAR’S ON RECORD WITH NOT AGREEING WITH. WHILE I AGREE THAT DUE TO THESE RESTRICTIVE WILPON DICTATES OF NOT PAYING DRAFTEES OUTSIDE OF GUIDELINES.
I MUST POINT OUT THE FOOLISHNESS OF THIS REPORT SINCE, JUST OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD I SEE AT LEAST 2 POSTSEASON APPEARANCES THAT DO NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT DEALING SOME OF THESE ‘FODDER’
THEY WENT TOWARDS ACQUIRING:
LIETER
PIAZZA
HAMPTON
DELGADO
PUTZ
SANTANA
WHO WANTS TO UNDO THOSE DEALS? NOT I! HAMPTON WAS AN OBVIOUS LONG TERM BUST; BUT WOULD U HAVE PREFERRED DOTEL? TO ME THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE MAKER BETWEEN THE ‘05 ALSO RANS UNDER HOWE & THE ‘06 RUNAWAYS UNDER WILLIE WAS THE DELGADO DEAL OR WOULD U HAVE PREFERRED JACOBS?
IT’S NOT WHO U TRADE AWAY; BUT WHAT DOES IT BRING BACK!
BTW, WILL ALL OF YOU THAT WANTS HEILMAN BACK PLEASE TAKE THAT BIG STEP OFF OF THE LEDGE WE’RE ALL STANDING ON. THANK YOU!
I have zero confidence. Watch Minaya and co blow this and pick a guy who wouldve gone in the 3rd round tops.
I have zero confidence in the Omar miniya administration drafting the best available player.
How can he be able to take the best available player in the draft when his focus is primarily in South America?
I’ll trust him to choose the most fundeMENTALLY unsound latin player….or should I be politically correct and say “international” player.
It’s been documented that the Mets spend the least money in the draft because they don’t draft anyone. Again their focus is on Latin…opps, INTERNATIONAL players.
mean to post here, not above.
2005: pelfrey, niese, parnell, thole, brown
2006: mulvey, smith, murphy, stoner, stinson
2007: kunz, vineyard, moviel, rustich, niesen, clyne
2008: davis, havens, niewenhuis, holt
Some international signings: fmart, mejia, tejada, pena, guerra
Good post. That 2008 class shows promise and hopefully the Mets don’t find a way to destroy these guys. Davis and Nieuwenhuis appear to be the first in line to come up and we sure could use the impact they may provide.
Wow, the 2007 draft looks like a big FAIL. And 2006 doesnt look that good either. Let’s face it, there’s not one can’t miss blue chipper in the entire lot of them. Not one blue chipper after five years of Omar Minaya drafts.
the ‘07 draft class’ first 6 picks (all pitchers)
1)eddie kunz – stud-in-question reliever – 1.39 career minor league whip with 94 ks to 66 bbs in 127 innings.
2)nathan vineyard – last i checked on vineyard he was out for all of 2009 having shoulder surgery and considering retirement.
3)scott moviel – afl bound – control pitcher – 1.34 career whip in 238 ip 177ks, 72 bbs
4)brant rustich – stud reliever – 1.09 career minor league whip with 115 ks and only 35 bbs in 120 innings.
5)eric niesen – afl bound – strikeout pitcher – 1.46 career whip in 289 ip 238ks, 128 bbs
6)stephen clyne – non-stud reliever – 1.50 career minor league whip with 122 ks to 83 bbs in 150 innings.
Unfortunately, the Mets are a large market team with small market mentality. It’s pretty obvious to me that the Coupons are more interested in taking money out of the business than investing to improve the performance. They run the business as a today franchise rather than developing the future, and today means how much cash flow can be put in their pockets now. Mr. Manyana is clueless and has no insight how to build for the future. The team won’t be fixed until the administration is fixed first.
The only thing I’d like to see Omar draft for the Mets is his letter of resignation….
now thats funny and I think something we can all agree on.
Count me in.
I agree for sure.
That was funny, but very true
ABSOLUTELY!!! Excellent line.