In Newsday, David Lennon posted an interesting article about the possibility of Godzilla coming ashore in Flushing next season. I hope Omar Minaya doesn’t read that article. We don’t need him to get inspired by it.
The Mets need a power hitter who can play left field or first base. Hideki Matsui hit 28 HR for the Yankees in only 456 at-bats, but almost every one of his at-bats came as a designated hitter, as his balky knees prevented him from playing his customary left field position. The guy’s knees are so fragile that he can hurt them just by swinging too hard, as the picture to the left suggests.
Matsui has had both of his knees repaired surgically and he is 35 years old. Citi Field has far more room to cover in left field and higher walls to contend with. There is no way Matsui could handle it at this stage of his career without looking foolish or getting hurt.
First base is another story. His knees might be able to handle it, but will his glove? He has no experience playing first base, but then again, Daniel Murphy wasn’t a first baseman either and he filled in quite nicely at the position from a defensive standpoint. However, Murphy’s club-leading 12 HR were far less than the team would like at a position where power hitters normally play.
Matsui is coming off a 4-year, $52 million contract. Although he will surely have to settle for far less money and years, he will still probably get a contract with an average annual value of $8 million or so. Adam LaRoche is younger, does not have the injury history Matsui has and won’t be that much more expensive than Matsui (LaRoche made slightly over $7 million in 2009 and will probably be looking for a contract that averages about $10 million annually).
If the Mets don’t mind signing an older player with an injury history, they might as well re-sign Carlos Delgado for a year. If they want a hitter with good power but don’t want to make a trade (such as for Prince Fielder), then Adam LaRoche is the way to go. However, what about the incumbent first baseman, Daniel Murphy?
He started swinging a more powerful bat after the calendar flipped to September. Over the team’s last 30 games, Murphy hit .293 with 5 HR and 17 RBI. He also added 10 doubles and two triples over the same time period. His .586 slugging percentage and .897 OPS over the last month of the season were comparable to the stats expected from a power-hitting first baseman. It would be foolish to project a full season for Murphy based on 30 games worth of data, but it also isn’t unreasonable to suggest that he can turn into a 20 HR, 80-90 RBI player next season, especially if he has Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran getting on base in front of him for the entire season.
The best part about Murphy is that he’ll only be 25 by Opening Day and his salary is well under $1 million. I say keep Murphy at first base to see if the power develops and if it doesn’t develop in 2010, then the Mets should consider acquiring a power-hitting first baseman for the 2011 season. That year’s free agent class is far more attractive and includes more legitimate power hitters such as Lance Berkman, Derrek Lee and Carlos Peña, to name a few. Of course, it’s also possible Ike Davis might be ready for the majors in 2011, assuming he’s not traded by then.
If Murphy stays at first base next season, then the Mets can use the money they saved by not signing a free-agent first baseman and use it on a power hitter to fill the left field position. As much as I like Angel Pagan, I do understand the need for an extra home run threat in the lineup. Angel Pagan cannot fill that role. If the National League had a DH rule, Hideki Matsui would be fine. However, since he’d have to play the field, he should have a big red “X” over his name. I don’t really have a clear-cut favorite for the position, but I definitely have a “do not sign” card over one of the options.
To the front office, I beg you. Please do not even consider signing Hideki Matsui unless if you’re secretly trying to reenact the movie “Major League” by signing players who you think will make this team worse. The Mets still have fans who care about the product you’re putting on the field and would like you to use some common sense every once in a while. Thank you.
*Mets Merized Online Needs Your Help*
Good article Ed. And I do hope that Murphy who showed good signs that he has improved at a very good pace once he settled in at first.
By mid season he improved at fielding and at hitting, including with power as the season went on. I can see him hitting at least above 25 over the fense next year.
frediswrong
Just the thought of adding Hideki Matsui to the Mets makes me want to puke. Perish the thought.
The Mets dont need older players with injury concerns.PERIOD DONT BRING THIS UP AGAIN.Plus Murphy is going to be a decent enough player at 1st.Even if he gets platooned with Evans.I think Murphy is good for 280-300avg. 15-20 homers.75-90rbis,depending where he hits in the lineup.Id love to see the Mets add Bay.We could have Reyes-castillo-Wright-Beltran-Bay-Murphy-francour-Barajas.Plus Pagan-Evans-Santos-ahern on the bench we would score enough runs to win.But 1st we need a better pitching staff
1) Jason Bay is not leaving his team
Let’s just deal with players who may really be available, not players who we HOPE are available otherwise it’s a waste of time.
2) The Mets will not be using a platoon of Daniel Murphy & Nick Evans at 1B
3) Murphy possibly can have those types of offensive years 2 or 3 times in his career but they’ll be with another team
4)As great a guy and as hard a worker Murphy is he has very little upstairs and First Base is the GLUE of the infield. You have to have intelligence as well as talent to be a winning ball player.
Jon Heyman discussed the Hideki Matsui scenario was very briefly on the Mike Francesa show and it would not happen because Heyman was specifically advised that Matsui’s knees “blow up” when playing the field more than one day. So Hideki Matsui is not coming to the Mets.
And for you people continuing with this Daniel Murphy nonsense there’s really not much more to say if you haven’t learned by now.
Don’t trust September stats! 266-313-427 were Murphy’s stats even with a good September! Those are the worst 1B stats in the league and the guy isn’t a very good defensive 1B either. What’s wrong with him going back to Buffalo and learning how to play the position? It’s not like he’s a good hit no field guy he can’t hit either.
i agree with you 100%. NO TO HIDEKI MATSUI! you’re right, he would make this team worse. he’s way past his prime, hes like 35, and i dont care what he says, he cant play outfield, i dont even want him for first base.
heres who Minaya should get:
John Lackey (number 2 starter)
Matt Holliday (left field)
Brandon Webb (he has an option for ‘10, Backs might decline, hes been hurt all year, if he hits the market, jump all over him Minaya, because he is an ace when healthy, and you could get him pretty cheap.)
trade Luis Castillo, sign Orlando Hudson (second base)
Bengie Molina (catcher)
Jason Marquis (number 4)
now, look at trading for Adrain Gonzalez. i know we wont get him, but just look at trading for him. i also look at trade for Roy Halladay. if the deal is right, take him over John Lackey.
and yes, i know all of those deals wont be done.
DO NOT SIGN:
Hideki Matsui
Russel Branyan
Adam LaRoche
Carl Pavano
DO NOT TRADE FOR MILTON BRADLEY!!!!!!!
CAPSLOCK=DISABILITY ACCOMODATION
TRASDES ARE BEST MADE FROM SURPLUSES, THE ONLY SURPLUS I SEE ON THE NYM ROSTER IS IN 3-4-5 SPing WITH PELFREY,MAINE,PEREZ,MISCH,NIESE,NIEVE.
FORTUNATLY FOR NYM THE PENCHANT FOR MATSUI TYPES LEFT WITH PHILLIPS. EVEN ALOU COULD PLAY LF UNTIL HE GOT INEVITABLY INJURED HE DIDN’T START ST HOBBLING. MATSUI = VAUGHN.
THE SOLUTIONS FOR 2010 ARE, IN MY OPINION:
2 TRADES & 3 SIGNINGS.
TRADES: PELF & NIESE FOR FIELDER
“WHATEVER IT TAKES” FOR CRAWFORD EXCL DAVIS* & MURPH*
SIGNINGS: LACKEY(15M PER), MARQUIS/PINERRO(10-12M PER), MOLINA(6M PER)
*FIELDER, A BORAS CLIENT ONLY A 1 YR SOLUTION THUS THE NEED TO RETAIN 1B OPTIONS
ADDED PAYROLL: FIELDER(10.5M), CRAWFORD(10M)
2010 PAYROLL:APPROX. 147M
There’s one problem with that. The Brewers are saying they won’t trade Fielder. Also, I would put Murphy in a Crawford deal, but I wouldnt put Davis, Mejia, or Reese Havens in.
oh, i forgot to mention, Rays might deal Carl Crawford or BJ Upton, if thats true, jump all over them and trade for one.
orlando hudson is on the bench for his team during the playoffs. Why sign him?
well, besides the late season slump, he still had a pretty good year. hes also better definsevly then Castillo, younger, and is a clubhouse leader with a really good attitude, who always plays hard. we would also be cheaper than Luis.
Yes, he is, but this is a warning sign, and the Mets should not ignore warning signs–they cannot afford it—-and they have brought in too many washed up vets over the years based solely on reputation.
i think he’ll have a better season than Castillo next year
Forget old, injured players like Matsui or a Delgado redux. Forget losers like Branyan and the always injured Nick Johnson. Forget anyone 35 or older. Get DeRosa to hold onto first until and if Ike is ready or someone better pops up. Bring Lackey in here. Fact is, we are not deep enough to trade for someone who is really good. For power maybe Cruz. I do not want fat, old, slow Benjie Molina. Barajas is fine. I do want a real second baseman. Our infield defense is atrocious. But Hudson is no spring chicken and the Dodgers have given up on him. Get a good glove for second. People who have been talking abouit guys like Uggla are insane. Has anyone watched David Wright play third or Murphy play first. The infield must be tightened up. Keep Francoeur unless you can package him with another good player for some stud who is eating up salary on a smaller market team. But even if we could do alll that, we would still be a third place team. Because our good is not really as good as we think.
Good article Ed. There is no place for Godzilla on this team. We should fill the LF hole with Holliday or Bay. A huge effort should be made to get Adrian Gonzalez for 1B and trade Murphy to the AL.
I am tired of hearing the Mets linked to aging veterans. Signing Matsui will set this franchise back another 2 years. Minaya better not even think about it! Also can we please stop selling Daniel Murphy. September stats mean nothing. The guy is just not that good. He is also TERRIBLE defensively no matter where you put him. I don’t know about the rest of you Mets fans but I want to WIN a WORLD SERIES. I am tired of being sold mediocre players as keys to winning. I will not be fooled any more. If I see Murphy starting next year I will know where this team is heading…….to another year of losing and missing the playoffs and the line by ownership to “Wait till 2011….we will play meaningful baseball in September.”
While it makes sens to try to build him up if you are planning to add him to a trade or something, Omar would have to be assuming that the other GMs in the league are just as dumb as he is. With Bowden gone, I think Omar has no peer.
Hello,
Can i take a one small pic from your blog?
Thanks