When you take a look at this current Mets team, it’s not that dificult to figure out that they are woefully short in the power department. During last weeks interview between Jeff Wilpon, Omar Minaya and Mike Francesa, a great deal of time was dedicated toward finding a big-time power hitter. It got quite confusing as Francesa tried to get them to say where they would add that power hitter; first base or leftfield? Or even yet another position that could become vacated after a trade.
Obviously, another big issue for the Mets is acquiring a top of the rotation starter to pair up with Johan Santana and head the rotation. With another top starter onboard, the rest of the rotation would sort itself out in spring training from an assortment that includes Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez, John Maine, Nelson Figueroa, Jon Niese and Fernando Nieve.
The Mets are not expected to pick up the option on J.J. Putz who never returned from surgery this season. It once again leaves an opening for a setup man. Bobby Parnell, Pedro Feliciano and Brian Stokes all tried their hand there toward the end of the season and had their moments, but did little to really distinguish themselves and really standout.
Then there’s the everday catchers job which now remians in the hands of rookie Josh Thole who started and finished strong, but had a 1-22 slump in between, and Omir Santos who had some moments, but looks more like a backup catcher.
Considering all of these things, where do you feel the Mets need to focus most of their resources and attention above all?
Even if the Mets got a #2 starter and a big time outfielder they still have too many holes to fill. Last season, everyone said the Mets just needed to fix the bullpen (specifically a set-up man) and then they would be ready to win it all. So Omar got K-rod to replace the injured Wagner and Putz to set up and Omar held a press conference proclaiming he fixed the problem and the Mets are ready. Well, now Putz is gone and we need a legitimate set-up man once again..Everyone is now saying that it’s no big deal and we have bigger needs to fill but last year everyone was saying it was the bullpen that is so important and was to blame for the collapse(Heilman being ineffective, etc.). Also, K-rod is worrisome..He had a the worst year of his career and a worse year than Wagner (who is also no longer a Met)ever had as a Met. I’m sure at the end of next year everyone will be saying that all Omar needs to do is add a set-up man and we’re good to go..
Good pitching beats good hitting all the time. Get the pitcher first. Why build a pitchers park and then just have one good pitcher on your staff? Thanks Omar.
I wonder how much consideration there is to bringing Delgado back for 1 year if Delgado is willing to take about 75% less money compared to what he made this year. I mean most people seem to not want Murphy to be the 1b and i can’t totally disagree. I mean if they bring in a SP, LF and C along with a middle reliever, is it so bad to bring back delgado at a real low number compared to what he was making this year? And by the way that was a big time hit by Guerrero in the 9th today.
please, this is for all Met fans who are considering this, We do not need Vladamir Guerraro. he is strictly a DH and his skills are declining.
The answers to all your questions can be found on mlbtraderumors.com
First of all, Guerrero has played at least 140 games or more every year except 2 yrs, this one being one of them, second, the guy has hit 300 or better 11 yrs in a row and hit 295 this year, the guy went on a tear when he came back from injury on aug 4th hitting 360 with 11hr’s and 30 rbi’s, the guy hit 400 in the playoffs, the guy is hardly done, if heyman is right about guerrero getting only 2yrs and 20 mil(10 mil per year) i would rather take him for that and not trade any players at all, I would also rather have Guerrero for that price then pay Holliday or bay 5 to 7 years for anywhere near 75 to 120 million dollars. Then I would go get Molina and Lackey, if Delgado is willing to come back for a really low number compared to what he made last year, i would highly consider it. If the mets could sign bengie molina to C along with a middle reliever like dotel or biemel, so be it. I believe a lineup of Reyes, Castillo, Guerrero, Beltran, Wright, Delgado, Franceour and Molina is more then formidible. A rotation of Santana, Lackey, Perez, Pelfrey and Maine is fine. A bullpen of K-rod, Dotel or Biemel, Stokes, Parnell, Felicano could be ok…..maybe this Jerry Mejjia could contribute in the pen, they say he throws 100mph. I think lackey for 4 yrs 60 mil(15 mil per year is possible), I think delgado in the 3-4 mil range is possible, Molina in the 4 mil range is possible, 2 yrs 20 mil for Guerrero(10 mil per) I would do in a second if Heyman is right. Dotel or Biemel in the 2 mil neighborhood is quite possible.
Please stop with Molina love in.The guy is the slowest person in professional sports.400 lbs dart players can run faster than him.He is too old.Lets get a younger more agile catcher ROD BARAJAS.I agree with all your other players except Molina.The Mets dont need a singles hitter who is going to clog the basepaths.
CAPSLOCK=DISABILITY ACCOMODATION
STEVE, BASED UPON THESE COMMENTS, I’M THINKING EITHER U’VE A BLIND CRUSH ON BARAJAS OR YOYU’RE HIS AGENT; POSSIBLY TRANDFERING SOME YADIA ANGST TO BIG BROTHER. CONSIDERING YR “KID” BARAJAS IS ONLY 1 YR YOUNGER THAN BENGIE, THE “SINGLES” HITTER WHO PLAYED IN MORE GAMES & HAD MANY MORE X-TRA BH THAN BARAJAS. MORE 2B,3B,HR. NON-DSTATISTICAL ADVANTAGES: BENGIE ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH NL HITTERS’ WEAKNESSES & STRENGTHS. IT’S FAIRLY TOUGH TO CLOG BASEPATHS AS U SAY WITH 8 MORE EXTRA BASEHITS & A COMPARISON:
MOLINA BARAJAS
BA .265 .228
OBP .285 .258
SLG .442 .403
OPS .727 .661
SO, CAN WE GET OFF THE BARAJAS SCHTICK? I TOO WAS CONCERNED ABOUT AGE; BUT SUPRISED TO SEE BENGIE, DOB 7/20/74 Vs. BARAJAS 9/05/75. EITHER WAY, I’M THINKING 2Y DEAL 12M MAX. NL FAMILIARITY IS DECIDER IN MY BOOK.
BARAJAS WOULDN’T BE TERRIBLE CHOICE. I LIKE THOUGHTS OF BENGIE AGGRESSIVLY SHEPARDING OUR BACKEND THROUGH THE LINRUPS OPPOSED.
bengie 265 average 20 homeruns
rod 226 average 19 homeruns
my pick bengie
Matt holliday 313 average 24 homeruns over a farther avay fence 109 rbis
Jason bay 267 average 36 homeruns over the 300 feet away green monster and 119 rbis
my pick matt
john lackey 11-8 3.83 era
jason marquis 15-13 4.04 era
my pick get both you will dominate the nl east 3 star pitchers 1 good pitcher (john maine) and one on and off pitcher (ollie perez) in the playoffs use the 3 stars and if you need to john maine
CAPSLOCK…ETC.
STEVE, COULDN’T FIND YOUR “ONLY 2 MOVES” NOTE; VLAD IS GOING TO BE 35 BEFORE ST & ONLY PLAYED IN 100G IN ’09. MY 2 MOVES WOULD BE HALLADAY & FIELDER; BUT WHY ONLY 2? IF THEY LIMIT IT THUS, THEY’LL SURRENDER DIV TO PHL WITHOUT FIRING A SHOT. THEY NEED AT LEAST 3. MY BEST 3 WOULD BE FIELDER,HALLADAY,CRAWFORD; BUT FAILING THAT AS TOO MANY TRADES, I REPLACE HALLADAY W/LACKEY THEY’VE ALREADY GOT A #1 SP; BUT CAN SETTLE FOR A #2 IF ADDING 50HR POTENTIAL @ 1B+LF FIELDER OWNS THE PORCH IF ACQUIRED!
I was debating between Halliday and Lackey……and part of me is very leery about giving Lackey a deal in the 5 yr 80 mil range, I know Halliday would command a much bigger price in terms of prospects and in terms of an extension, but he is by far a much more of a sure thing. What do u guys think? Halliday is not a Boras client, so chances are u could get an extension done after u trade for him.
Question, if u could only make 2 moves this off-season for mets and have to deal with the rest, what would they be?
For me it would be trading for Doc Halliday and signing Guerrero to a 2 yr deal. So that means the rotation is halliday, Santana, Perez, Pelfrey, Maine, ehh that’s ok. That means the lineup would be something like…..Reyes, Castillo, Guerrero, Beltran, Wright(or Wright, beltran, Guerrero, u decide)Murphy, Franceuor and Thole….Not great, but it’s a little better and those Mets fans that want to see young guys play get to see Murphy and Thole play everyday. Then the bullpen would be…..K-rod, Mejja(i hope), Parnell, Stokes, Felicano, not exactly horrible.
ANTHONY, RE. LUXURY TAX CEILING AND SPENDING LIKLIHOOD YOU MAY WANT TO SCOPE OUT THE PROJECTED PAYROLL COSTS I POSTED EARLIER ON THIS THREAD. I BELIEVE PRUDENT COMBOS OF TRADES & SIGNINGS CAN FILL HOLES WELL & STILL KEEP PAYROLL UNDER 150M WHICH, BELIEVE IT OR NOT STILL ACCOMODATES AN IN SEASON HALLADAY ACQUISSITION BEING 28M UNDER THE LINE.
LUXURY LINE SET FOR ’09 WAS 162M, 2010 IS 170M, 2011 IS 178M…
ONE OTHER NOTE U MAY HAVE MISSED IS VLAD WILL TURN 35 IN OFFSEASON & BELTRAN’S KNEES CAN’T COVER LINE-2-LINE ANOTHER SEASON. SO BIG D IS NECESSARY IN LF. ELIMINATES HOLLIDAY & BAY, IN MY OPINION. CRAWFORD IS THE BEST GOLDPLATED ANSWER TO BAT SECOND & ROAM LF. IMAGINE THE HEATERS HE’LL SEE BEHIND REYES. THAT’D BE FEASTING BORDERING ON GLUTTONY. PORCH’S NEW UNOFFICIAL NAME WOULD BE “FIELDER’S PORCH” IN THE NL WHO WOULD CHALLENGE THIS DEEP A LINEUP:
REYES, CRAWFORD, BELTRAN, FIELDER, WRIGHT, FRANCOUER, MOLINA,CASTILLO
SUPPORTING ROTATION:
SANTANA,LACKEY,MARQUIS,PEREZ,MAINE
IF HEATH RESTORED THE ONLY QUESTIONS ARE THE PRICE OF POSTSEASON DUCETS
I’D ALSO GIVE STRONG CONSIDERATION TO RESIGNING PUTZ TO A MORE COST EFFECTIVE SETUP CONTRACT WITH A BUILT IN BUMP IF HE BECOMES THE CLOSER. OTHERWISE OTHER THAN MAYBE MISCH/BOSTICK AS 2nd LOOGIE TO FELICIANO I’D KEEP PEN AS IS.
THE ABOVE FIGURES PELFREY & NIESE GET DEALT IN FIELDER DEAL.
BECAUSE FIELDER IS IKELY ONLY 1 YR ANSWER, MY UNTOUCHABLE IS DAVIS & THE 2011 POTENTIAL F/A CLASS OF 1B IS:
Player Club
First Basemen
Lance Berkman HOU *
Wes Helms FLA
Jason Giambi COL
Ross Gload FLA
Paul Konerko CWS
Derrek Lee CHC
David Ortiz BOS *
Lyle Overbay TOR
Carlos Pena TB
Albert Pujols STL *
BAD FINGERS…SHOULD READ IF HEALTH RESTORED… NOT INPMY REACQUISITION OF HEATH BEALL(LMAO)
Well I still think the over/under on the amount of needs type moves the mets make is 2, Wilpon did say the FA market was a little light and kept emphaizing trades, so let me throw this out there, i have a pretty good idea what it will cost for Doc Halliday, but now, not that I am exactly for bringing this guy in here, because i am not, but I could see it happening, what would it cost in a trade to bring in OF Brad Hawpe from the Rockies? Could we get both Halliday and Hawpe in trades? I could see it happening that the mets get these 2 guys and go with Thole and Murphy at C and 1b respectively and maybe Mejja for the bullpen with what we got, maybe they bring in a LH guy like Biemel, but after those 2 I might not see a whole lot happening.
Guys the mets are not raising the payroll to 160 or 170 mil payroll. Be real. The mets are not taking Fielder and Crawford on the last year of there deals unless they know they can get an extension on either. And with Fielder we know that won’t happen with Boras. I think they do 1 trade and 1 FA as far as a note worthy move goes. Maybe Halliday, maybe Brad Hawpe and if he is allowed to maybe Bengie Molina, after that, that’s it, I think they have a better chance of getting a big pitcher then a big hitter, lower the expectations on the big hitter folks, because the mets are not getting a star hitter, maybe a Hawpe type. Halliday in a trade or Lackey in the FA market is possible as far as a big pitcher goes, but there not getting a mega hitter, Hawpe or Abreu type… perhaps, but the idea of a Holliday, Bay, Guerrero, Fielder, Crawford….ur dreamin……
ANTHONY, FIELDER FOR ONE YEAR IS A PERFECT SOLUTION SINCE THEY NEED ONLY A 1Y BRIDGE TO GET TO IKE DAVIS AND 10.5M IS EASILY DOABLE ESP IF IT DOESN’T COST TONS OF PROSPECTS. SINCE BREWS’ GM ALREADY ANNOUNCED A PRIORITY FOR ADDING 2 ARMS TO THE ROTATION & A WILLINGNESS TO DEAL THEIR TOP PROSPECT TO DO SO, I BELIEVE A PELFREY+NIESE OFFER GETS A LOT OF ATTENTION ESP BY NOT DEMANDING THAT PROSPECT. THE ONLY SUCCESSFUL WAY OF DEALING WITH A BORAS CLIENT IS ON A 1Y ONLY DEAL & BTW METS’LL REAP THE DRAFT PICK COMPENSATION IN THE END. CRAWFORD IS REP’D BY BRIAN PETERS & HAS 6Y OF MLB SERVICE & MAY REMAIN AFFORDABLE TO KEEP AFTER HE PLAYS OUT HIS OPTION. THE POSSIBILITY OF SOLVING 1B,LF & HR OUTAGE FOR ONLY 20.5M FOR 1Y IS TOO AWESOME TO LET PASS WITHOUT A STRONG EFFORT.
Here is what I’ll say ok, if the mets sign Lackey as a FA, big if because they will have to overpay to get em, if they do, then ur idea of trading for either Crawford or Fielder makes sense, and it will be one or the other and not both and if they do get one of those guys it will be because they think they can get one of those guys to an extension and if Lackey is signed, the hitter I think they would trade for out of either Crawford or Fielder is Crawford, boras is not his agent, his speed will help and if he has to be he can be the leadoff hitter if reyes cannot start the season on time. But there only making one trade, there not getting Fielder and Crawford and Halliday i think they only get one of them. But if they sign Lackey as a FA, i could see them trading Fernando Martinez and Mike Pelfrey to get Crawford, I could see it. Then I could see Luis Caastillo getting traded for either Bonderman or D-train to replace Pelfrey, both Bonderman and D-train are on the last year of there contract. Then if they trade Castillo then I can see Orlando Hudson being signed to play 2b. If they sign a get another 1b, I think it will not be Adam Laroche based on what u said about Lacroche crying when he got traded from Atl to Pitt, I remember that, I think that the mets would sign either Nick Johnson or bring back Delgado back for about 25% of what he last year. I don’t see them bringing in a big-time power bat in here. But if u everyday position players of C Bengie Molina, 1b-Nick Johnson, 2b Orlando Hudson, SS Jose Reyes, 3b David Wright, LF-Carlos Crawford, CF-Carlos Beltran, RF-Jeff Franceour, i don’t think it is that bad, especially if u have Lackey and Bonderman in the rotation to go with Santana, Perez and Maine, if u sign say Biemel and make him the other lefty in the pen with Felicano and this Mejja that throws 100mph makes the team to go with K-rod, stokes, Parnell, i don’t know if this team would win the division, but i think they would be a very tough team to knock out of the playoffs. To me it would be a lot like the 1999 team.
ANTHONY, WHAT’S YOUR SOURCE INDICATING A DETROIT INTEREST IN CASTILLO? MAGIC 8-BALL? IF, AS U CLAIM HE WAS A LOUSY SIGNING, HAS 90 YR OLD KNESS, ETC. WHY IS DETROIT SUPPOSED TO BE INTERESTED WHEN HUDSON’S ON MKT? IT’S ILLOGICAL. FIELDER @ 1B FOR PELFREY,MAINE,MURPHY IS LOGICAL & IMMEDIATLY COST EFFECTIVE.FROM TONE OF BREWS’ PETERSON ANNOUNCMENT HE HAS MUCH THE SAME PITCHING INFLUENCE AS HE HAD W/NYM. PERUSE BREWS’ CURRENT ROTATION, CONSIDER LOOPER LIKELY TO WALK & TELL ME WHERE THEY GET THEIR REQUIRED 2 ‘ESTABLISHED’ SP? THE ONLY TRUE DOWNSIDE TO A FIELDER ACQUISITION IS AN ARBITRATION HEARING Vs BORAS AFTER ’10 IF AWARD IS ASTRONOMICAL THEY’LL EITHER PAY IT OR RELEASE HIM WHEN DAVIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE READY AND BOTH BERKMAN & POUJOLS ARE F/A. MUCH STRONGER POOL OF F/A IN ’11.
I got a question because somebody mentioned it, why would anybody look to trade Castillo for Bonderman or Robertson on the Tigers, they both have been awful for the past couple years.
U want to tell me, Bonderman because he is on the last year of his deal…..eh maybe, i don’t love it but, u get me Halliday with Pelfrey in the deal…..eh perhaps…….another guy to consider with that team is the D-train as well, he would be on the last year of his deal, u want to tell me D-train or Bonderman being there on the last year of their deals….ehh maybe, i know there is a chance of getting Orlando Hudson if u do that but the thing that gets me is we got one Oliver perez already, i don’t know if i want another one.
ANTHONY, BEWARE OF O’DAWG.
CONSIDER THIS…AZ LET HIM WALK. HE WAS A LATE, LAST MINUTE P/U NY LAD WHO WERE QUICK TO INTERRUPT HIS IMPRESSIVE YR TO GIVE HIS SPOT TO JOURNEYMAN BELLIARD, A GNATS CASTOFF.
3 PLAYERS I FEAR WHO WON’T PLAY UP TO PAST STATS: ABREU,VLAD,HUDSON. I CAN’T PUT MY FINGER ON WHY, JUST SAY IT’S MY GUT FEELING ON ALL 3. PERHAPS THEY’VE COME OF AGE AS HUDSON,32, GUERRO,35, ABREU,36. WHEN SANS JUICE 33 IS ‘OLD’ LIKE IT USED TO BE. MAYBE, MAYBE NOT; BUT THE WRITING ON THE WALLS, SAYING HUDSON’S LOST HIS JOB TWICE IN 2 YRS; GUERRO IS LISTED AS A DH NOW, ABREU IS ABREU STILL ALLERGIC TO FENCES & WALLS.
NO MATTER HOW U ANALYZE IT THE METS DO NOT HAVE AN ACTUAL CLEANUP HITTER ON ROSTER WITHOUT DELGADO MAKING FIELDER THAT MUCH MORE IMPORTANT AN ACQUISITION.
HERE’S HOW I SEE THEIR MUST HASVES FOR ’10: #2 SP, 1B, #1C, CLEANUP HITTER. TO THE DEGREE ANY OF THE POSITION FIXES ARE CLEANUP HITTERS THAT’S GRAVY. FIELDER IS ONLY DUAL SOLUTION I SEE. 1Y IS PERFECT SINCE THEY’LL GET THE ADDED FIRST ROUNDER & 1B F/A POOL MUCH,MUCH BETTER IF DAVIS REALLY NEEDS MORE TIME… 2010 1B POTENTIAL F/A:
Player Club
First Basemen
Hank Blalock TEX
Russell Branyan SEA
Carlos Delgado NYM (B)
Nomar Garciaparra OAK
Jason Giambi COL
Ross Gload * FLA
Aubrey Huff DET (B)
Nick Johnson WAS (B)
Adam LaRoche ATL (B)
Kevin Millar TOR
Robb Quinlan LAA
Matt Stairs PHI
Mike Sweeney SEA
Jim Thome LAD
Chad Tracy ARZ
2011 POTENTUIAL FREE AGENTS:
Player Club
First Basemen
Lance Berkman HOU *
Wes Helms FLA
Jason Giambi COL
Ross Gload FLA
Paul Konerko CWS
Derrek Lee CHC
David Ortiz BOS *
Lyle Overbay TOR
Carlos Pena TB
Albert Pujols STL
FIELDER AT 1B FOR 2010 @ 10.5M IS A REDUCTUION FROM DELGADO’S 12M IN ’09
WITH BREWS STATED TARGET TO ADD 2 ROTATION ARMS, I BELIEVE PELFREY+NIESE GETS IT DONE ESPECIALLY SINCE FIELDER’S 10M IS 25% OF THEIR CURRENT ’10 PAYROLL COMMITMENT. THE BIG TRICK IN GETTING BOTH FIELDER & CRAWFORD IS KEEPING DAVIS AWAY FROM RAYS DEMANDS SINCE U MAY NOTICE PENA IS ON THAT ’11 LIST. I WOULDN’T WALKAWAY @ DAVIS INCLUSION; BUT I WOULD HESITATE & TRY OFFERING OTHERS. HISTORICALLY RAYS LOOK FOR YOUNG PROSPECTS WHICH DOESN’T HINDER FIELDER OFFERING. BOTH TRADES CAN BE SOURCED WITH DIFFERENT ASSETS. 20.5M FOR A COMBO OF FIELDER & CRAWFORD FOR 1Y IS A STEAL OF A HUGE SOLUTION TO ’10 ROSTER HOLES.
I could see Halliday as the player we trade for, not Crawford or Fielder, sorry guys. Pelfrey, Martinez and Thole…..maybe Mejja as well, maybe not for Halliday. I could see Castillo getting dealt to Det for either Bonderman or D-train, both on the last year of their deals. I could see the Mets getting either Hawpe via trade or Abreu via FA as the OF we get, I could see Hudson if castillo is dealt and maybe Bengie Molina at C. Maybe Biemel as that extra lefty, are there a lot of flashy names there, yeah one, but that’s it, but that’s what i see, i don’t see all these falshy names coming in. Reyes, Hudson, Beltran, Wright, Hawpe/abreu, Franceour, Murphy, Molina, not terrible but not that great. Rotation-Halliday, Santana, Bonderman/D-Train, Perez and Maine. Bullpen-K-rod, Stokes, Parnell, Biemel, Felicano, maybe Mejja also if he is not traded, interesting team, they better then the Phillies……eh don’t know, could they make the playoffs with that team, maybe.
ANTHONY, I DON’T SEE CASTILLO BRINGING THAT MUCH ESP WHEN OTHER TEAMS ARE AWARE OF FAN’S IRE TOWARDS HIM & METS’ MOTIVATION. I BELIEVE LUIS HAS BECOME MORE VALUABLE TO US THAN TO OTHERS. I DO SEE METS PASSING ON HALLADAY, SIGNING LACKEY & PERHAPS MARQUIS IF PELF IS DEALT. I WOULD PUT
SANTANA,LACKEY,MARQUIS,PEREZ,MAINE UP AGAINST ANY OTHER NL ROTATION. ESP IF THEY ADDED 80+ HR IN FIELDER,CRAWFORD,MOLINA. ALL DOABLE AT >150M PAYROLL FOR ’10.
ANTHONY,WHEN U LOOK AT THE ENTIRE NYM PICTUIRE SURROUNDING 1B U’LL REALIZE A 1Y SOLUTION IS ALL THEY REALLY NEED THERE. IKE DAVIS IS POLANNED TO DEBUT IN 2011. IF HE’S NOT READY, THE F/A 1B POOL IS MUCH BETTER FOR 2011 THAN 2010. A LT COMMITMENT TO SOMEONE NOW ISN’T REALLY IN THEIR BEST INTERESTS @ 10.5M TO FILL BOTH 1B & CLEANUP HOLES FOR 1 YR IS A BARGAIN TOO GOOD TO LET PASS. BREWERS, STATED A #1 PRIORITY, IS ACQUIRING TWO CHEAP, CONTROLLABLE ROTATION ARMS. WE’VE GOT A BEVY OF 3,4,5 SP IN PEREZ,PELFREY,MAINE,NIESE,NIEVE,MISCH. ALL BUT PEREZ QUALIFY ON BOTH COUNTS CHEAP & CONTROLLABLE. BREWS INDICATED A WILINGNESS TO SACRIFICE THEIR #1 PROSPECT TO GET 2 SUCH SP. THEY’RE GOING TO LOSE FIELDER AFTER THIS YR ANYWAY & 10.5M PRINCE CONSTITUTES A HUGE CHUNK OF THEIR CURRENT 2010 PAYROLL(39M). I’M NOT SAYING THIS IS ALL GOING TO HAPPEN. I’M JUST SAYING THE MOVES I PROJECTED ARE ALL POSSIBLE TO HAPPEN. THE EVIDENCE RE. FIELDER IS MUCH STRONGER THAN DET INTEREST IN CASTILLO, I BELIEVE. WHY WOULD BREWS BALK @ GETTING 2 SP & KEEPING THEIR PROSPECT? ESPECIALLY FOR A PLAYER THEY’RE LOSING ANYWAY.
There not trading big prospects for a 1 yr solution, if there going to do a 1 year solution at 1b, it will be Murphy or delgado at 30% of the salary he made last year, my guess, it is murphy at 1b, he makes no money and if he fucks up hitting wise at 1b, they will call up Davis in the middle of the year to see what he’s got. I think they will either trade for Halliday or Crawford, forget Fielder. The only way the Crawford thing happens is if they sign Lackey, which is a little bit of a long shot considering u will have to outbid 5 to 10 teams to get em and overpay for him. If they want a 1 year solution at C, the darkhorse candidate their is Jason Varitek, until Thole is ready if he is not traded. I think if they get Halliday in a trade, I think they will get a Brad Hawpe type OF, if they get lackey, i think then they trade for Carlos Crawford or a OF like that. Lets remember Jeff Wilpon is the real GM of the mets, not Omar, Omar is a puppet with 3 yrs left on his contract.
ANTHONY, I’VE BEEN SAYING FOR MONTHS THAT OMAR’S MAIN PURPOSE AS DEFINED BY FRED IS TO ACT AS A SECRET SERVUICE AGENT & THROW HIMSELF IN FRON OF THE BULLETS INTENDED FOR JEFF. THAT’S HIS PRICE TO PAY TO HAVE WHAT MUST’VE BEEN HIS DREAM JOB. HE WAS SHAFTED OUT OF IT WHEN AN INSECURE PHILLIPS SOLD HIS ATTRIBUTES TO MLB TO PLAY GM FOR EXPOS
AFTER A CAREER IN SCOUTING, ONE WOULD HAVE TO ASSUME, BEING GM FOR YOUR CHILDHOOD TEAM IS WORTH ALMOST ANY PRICE. I DON’T THINK HE’S BEEN AS POWERLESS AS GAMMONS INDICATES SINCE I BELIEVE IT WAS OMAR THAT KEPT WILLIE FROM BEING FIRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER ’07 COLLAPSE AND OMAR WAS SUCCESSFUL PLEADING WILLIE’S CASE BEFORE FRED IN OPPOSITION TO JEFF UNTIL WILLIE F’D IT ALL UP WITH HIS “RACIALLY MOTIVATED” INDICTMENT INTERVIEW. WILLIE SIGNED HIS OWN EXECUTION ORDER WITH THAT ONE. CERTAINLY HE APOLOGIZED; BUT U CAN’T UNRING A BELL. FRED’S MORTIFICATION ESP IN FRONT OF RACHEL ROBINSON MUST HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE. THINK ABOUT IT. WHY ELSE WOULD OMAR HAVE PUT HIMSELF INTO A POSITION OF HAVING TO ENDURE A TURNAROUND R/T BICOASTAL FLIGHT, IF HE EXPECTED TO PULL THE TRIGGER BEFORE THE TEAM BUS LEFT FOR THE AIRPORT. FRED CHANGED HIS MIND, JEFF POUNCED IMMEDIATLY, JEFF LIKELY WOULD’VE DONE IT VIA TEXT OR PHONECALL, THE COWARDLY IDIOT SON. HE PROBABLY WROTE THE BERNAZARD ANNOUNCEMENT.
JEFF, IS THE CULPRIT BEHIND OUR DISMAL TALENT PIPELINE. JEFF IS THE ONE THAT BENEFITS FROM THE FOG SURROUNDING NYM DECISION MAKING. THINK OF IT AS A SMOKESCREEN. JEFF IS ALSO EXECUTIVE IN-CHARGE OF SNY. EXPLAINING THE ANTI-MET PROGRAMMING POSTURE. WHY? SO HE CAN APPEAR TO BE THE WHITE KNIGHT SAVING THE FRANCHISE. EVER WONDER WHY HE & NOT OMAR WAS THE SOLE MET NEGOTIATOR OF THE SANTANA DEAL? OMAR HAS THE REPUTATION & CONTACTS, JEFF STAYS IN SHADOWS ON FAILURES & ONLY STEPS UP ON SURE THING POSITIVES. I COULD GO ON FOR PAGES ON JEFF’S DILITANTE ACTIONS DESTROYING THIS FRANCHISE; BUT I WON’T. SUFFICE IT TO SAY THE FACTS HAVE ALL BEEN PRESENTED PIECEMEAL ENOUGH TO REQUIRE A LOT OF ATTENTION TO PUT TOGETHER. JEFF IS THE PROOF TO THE RENOWNED “PETER PRINCIPLE” & THE FOIBLES SURROUNDING HIRING FAMILY.
And Jeff is the one making the decisions about what the team will go after this off-season, so why should Mets fans have any confidence at all in Jeff doing what needs to be done this off-season?
Sounds like mets plan is Roy Halliday and Matt Holliday-Joel Sherman-NYPOST-[link] also, Times had it that Mets were going after Roy Halliday as well, also according to Heyman says Mets were looking for a LH hitting C, not a RH hitting C and Mets had interest in Vartiek last year and probably have interest in him again. Seems like Murphy would be the 1b and would get a RH compliement for Murph off the bench. It’s also being talked about that the mets are going to re-work Putz’s option and bring him back. So it sounds like the Mets plan is Holliday in FA, Halliday via trade, Vartiek at C with thole in the minors, and Putz. Also in the Sherman article it says Lackey is from Texas, wants no part of NY and wants to pitch for the one of the Texas teams, i guess he’s out.
Mets are not bringing in Fielder and Crawford, one or the other, if they sign Lackey, big if at that, I think they bring in Crawford for Pelfrey and Martinez and sign Crawford to an extension. There not bringing in a guy for 1 year.
ANTHONY, IT’S VERY LOGICAL THAT FIELDER IS CERTAINLY ATTAINABLE FOR REASONABLE NON=PROSPECT TRASDE PKG. I’VE OUTLINED MY LOGIC IN AN E-MAIL TO EXPATRIATED NY FANS I’M FRIENDLY WITH. IT’D LONG, VERY CLEAR & VERY LOGICAL I’LL ASTTEMPT TO COPY IT HERE AS IT’S TOO MUCH TO RECREATE:
CONSIDER THIS: FIELDER IS SIGNED TO A CONTRACT THAT EXPIRES AT END OF 2010 FOR 10.5M A HUGE CHUNK OF THEIR PAYROLL MORE THAN 12%. IN 2011 PRINCE WILL HAVE ONLY 4.068 YRS OF SERVICE TIME, SHORT OF 5Y REQUIREMENT TO EARN FREE AGENCY RELEASE. THAT WILL MAKE 2011 AN ARBITRATION YEAR. PRINCE IS REPRESTENTED BY SCOTT BORAS. NOT AN EASY ARBI OPPONENT WHO ALREADY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS CLIENT, RYAN HOWARD, HOLDING THE PRESENT DAY ARBITRATION AWARD RECORD. I CAN NOT IMAGINE WHAT BORAS WILL DEMAND FOR PRINCE IN A WINNER TAKE ALL ARBITRATION CONTEST; BUT 20M IS NOT TOTALLY OUT OF THE QUESTION, SHOULD HE WIN BREWS WILL EITHER HAVE TO BREAK THEIR PIGGYBANK OR RELEASE FIELDER SANS ANY COMPENSATION MAKING PRINCE A TOTAL F/A A YR PRIOR TO EARNING IT BY SERVICE TIME. A 26 YR OLD CAREER .280+ HITTER WHO’S AVG 40 HR/SEASON HIS ENTIRE CAREER(4 FULL SEASONS) WILL CERTAINLY PROVE TOO COSTLY FOR A MIDMARKET TEAM IN MILWALKEE.
A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE ON BREWS PAYROLL POSITIONS:
Milwaukee Brewers
Contract information is unofficial & collected from various published reports.
Service time in years & days (through 2008 season)
A group led by Mark Attanasio bought the Brewers in 2005 for $223M. (The Allen “Bud” Selig Trust had purchased the club for $11M in 1970.) Forbes magazine valued the club at $347M in April 2009.
Opening Day payrolls for 25-man roster
(salaries plus pro-rated signing bonuses):
2009: $ 80,182,502 (RANK 17th IN SIZE)
2008: $ 80,937,499 (15th)
2007: $ 70,986,500 (19th)
2006: $ 57,568,333(24th)
2005: $ 39,934,833 (27th)
2004: $ 27,528,500 (30th-LAST)
2003: $ 40,627,000 (28th)
2002: $ 50,287,833 (21st)
2001: $ 43,886,883 (23rd)
2000: $ 35,800,000 (23rd)
2010-14 payroll obligations
2010 payroll obligations for former players:
$7,150,000 (Bill Hall)
AN INCREASE OF FIELDER’S SALARY FROM 10.5M TO 20M WOULD VAULT THE MILW PAYROLL TO A HIGHPOINT OF APPROX #12-15. AN UNSUSTAINABLE ELEVATION FOR THEIR PLAYOFFLESS MIDMKT TEAM. GM BOB MELVIN & ASS’T GM GORDON ASH CAN CERTAINLY SEE THIS WRITING ON THE WALL AS PLAINLY AS I CAN & I BELIEVE ALL THEIR ASSERTIONS OF NOT DEALING THE MIGHTY FIRSTBASEMAN ARE AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE THE OTHER CLUBS COME TO THEM, A POSITION OF STRATEGIC DEALING STRENGTH.
THE BREWS PUBLICLY PROCLAIMED AN INTENTION TO ACQUIRE 2 “ESTABLISHED” ROTATION ARMS TO AUGMENT THEIR CURRENT ROTATION THAT COMPILED A 5.3+ ERA(HIGHEST OF ANY ROTATION IN 2009) THEIR MOST EFFECTIVE ’09 SP, BRADEN LOOPER:
STATS SUMMARY
W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV SVO IP H R ER HR HB BB SO AVG WHIP GO/AO
SEASON 14 7 5.22 34 34 0 0 0 0 194.2 226 123 113 39 5 64 100 .289 1.49 1.29
HAS A REFUSABLE TEAM OPTION OF 6M FOR 2010. RUMORS ABOUND HE’S CONSIDERING TURNING IT DOWN IF P/U PREFERRING OPEN MKT FOR MORE YRS/$.
THE BREWERS JUST HIRED RICK PETERSON AS THEIR NEW PITCHING COACH.
THERE ARE FEW FRANCHISES OUT THERE WITH A PLETHORA OF AFFORDABLE “ESTABLISHED” SPers. WHO NEED A 1B FOR 1Y MAKING 10.5M.
ALL OF THESE FACTORS FUTHER ENHANCE MY BELIEF THAT A PKG WITH A NUCLEUS OF 2 SP FROM (PEREZ,PELFREY,MAINE,NIESE,NIEVE,MISCH) ALL 3 THRU 5 ESTABLISHED STARTERS WITH PELFREY & MAINE, 2 PETERSON FAVORITES, BEING MOST LIKELY WILL GET IT DONE! THE METS CERTAINLY NEED PROVEN POWER, PREFERABLY LH TO BAT CLEANUP WITH THESE STATS, THERE’S NONE BETTER IN MY OPINION:
STATS SUMMARY
G AB R H TB 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS GO/AO
SEASON 162 591 103 177 356 35 3 46 141 110 21 138 2 3 .299 .412 .602 1.014 1.08
CAREER 675 2380 382 675 1310 139 8 160 453 345 66 535 14 9 .284 .381 .550 .931 0.97
CAREER STATS
SEASON▲ TEAM▲ G▼ AB▼ R▼ H▼ TB▼ 2B▼ 3B▼ HR▼ RBI▼ BB▼ IBB▼ SO▼ SB▼ CS▼ AVG▼ OBP▼ SLG▼ OPS▼ GO/AO▼ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲
2005 MIL 39 59 2 17 27 4 0 2 10 2 0 17 0 0 .288 .306 .458 .764 0.73 158
2006 MIL 157 569 82 154 275 35 1 28 81 59 5 125 7 2 .271 .347 .483 .831 1.01 158
2007 MIL 158 573 109 165 354 35 2 50 119 90 21 121 2 2 .288 .395 .618 1.013 0.83 158
2008 MIL 159 588 86 162 298 30 2 34 102 84 19 134 3 2 .276 .372 .507 .879 1.01 158
2009 MIL 162 591 103 177 356 35 3 46* 141 110 21 138 2 3 .299 .412 .602 1.014 1.08 158
CAREER 675 2380 382 675 1310 139 8 160 453 345 66 535 14 9 .284 .381 .550 .931 0.97
* TIED RYAN HOWARD FOR ML LEAD IN ’09
THERE IS ACTUALLY AN OBVIOUS UNCOMFORTABLE DOWNSIDE TO THIS FROM A NYM OWNERSHIP PERSPECTIVE. THEY’VE AVOIDED ARBITRATION HEARINGS LIKE THE PLAGUE, THE ONLY ONE IN PAST NUMBER OF YEARS WAS WITH OLLIE PEREZ BEFORE THE ’08 SEASON( A LOSS TO BORAS).
WORST CASE SCENERIO WOULD BE RELEASING PRINCE AFTER 1Y IF HEARING GOES DISMALLY, THERE’S NO WAY BORAS SETTLES OUTSIDE OF OR BEFORE ARBITRATION. HE KNOWS THE SCORE. THEY CAN ALSO SWALLOW HARD & PAY “THE KID” HIS DUE SINCE IT WOULD NOT ENTAIL LUXURY TAX VIOLATION. UNFORTUNATLY, THOUGH U MAY WANT TO, U CAN’T WIN & TOTALLY AVOID BORAS’ CLIENTS. SOONER OR LATER U MUST FACE THE DEVIL. AT LEAST IN THIS CASE IT’S A YOUNG TURK POWERHITTER OF STATURE IN A POSITION WITH AN OPENNING,. AS A BONUS PRINCE WORKED HARD & IMPROVED HIS DEFENSE & RANGE IN ’09.
IN ADDITION TO SIGNING LACKEY AS #2SP THEY SHOULD INK MARQUIS TO REPLACE PELF @ #3 ANY ROTATION BEGINNING WITH SANTANA,LACKEY & MARQUIS IS STRONGEST IN FLUSHING SINCE ’86 REGADLESS OF #4 & #5 W/FIELDER @ 1B INK MOLINA & GO TO WAR!
Sounds like the mets real plan this off-season is-Matt Holliday in FA, Roy Halliday via trade and Jason Vartiek in FA, and note it sounds like they will re-work JJ Putz’s option to bring him back, thougts……………………………….
Details
mets get matt holliday lackey/jason marquis and a first b with power to hit 25 or ,more homers
Mets likely to make a run at two of the most expensive free agents – John Lackey and Matt Holliday – in an attempt to fill the team’s two biggest holes-newsday.com, link-chapman article
ANTHONY, YOUR LAST 3-4 POSTINGS ARE ALL OVER THE MAP. SEEMS U JUST WANT TO TRASHTALK RATHER THAN BE SERIOUS. CERTAINLY U R ENTITLED TO DISLIKE OMAR FOR PEREZ & CASTILLO DEALS. A TAD OFFBALANCED IF U IGNORE PEDRO,BELTRAN,BENSON,MILLEDGE,SANTANA,CHURCH DEALS. ALL IN ALL THE FAIR MINDED OF US WOULD TRUST IN OMAR’S ABILITY TO MAKE A TRADE MORE THAN HIS ABILITY TO SIGN A FAIR CONTRACT. HE’S CERTAINLY BEEN AT HIS BEST WHEELING & DEALING WITH OTHER TEAMS. CLUNKERS? NONE FOR POSITION ASSETS. PITCHING INS & OUTS ALL OWNED BY PETERSON,PITCHING CZAR, SEE JOB ANNOUNCMENT BY JEFF WHEN HIRED. PETERSON IS RENOWNED FOR HIS “MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY” APPROACH THAT JEFF EMPOWERED BY GIVING HIM ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY OVER NYM PITCHING ASSESTS & FRANCHISE APPROACH. NOT JUST THE ML ROSTER, THE ENTIRE FRANCHISE. SO HE BANISHED KAZMIR,BELL, LINSTRUM, BANNISTER, OWENS AND APPROVED THE IMPORTING OF ZAMBRANO,PEREZ,MAINE, VARGAS,BOSTICK IN RETURN. IGNORING ALL DEALS INVOLVING PITCHING DISCARDS/ACQUISITIONS THE PAST 5 YRS. ARE AMONGST THE BEST TRADE YRS, POSITIONALLY, EXCLUDING CASHEN YRS. OMAR’S STRENGTH IS TALENT EVALUATION, HIS WEAKNESS IS MARKET PREDICTING & FIN’L PLANNING. THUS THE BIGGEST CONTRACT FOR SANTANA WAS THE PERVUE OF JEFF EXCLUDING OMAR. OMAR ACQUIRED, JEFF SIGNED. ALL THIS BS IS TYPICAL MET BLURRING OF RESPONSIBILITIES & WE FANS NEED A SCORECARD TO TRULY ASSESS CREDIT & BLAME WHERE IT BELONGS. SORRY FOR POST LENGTH; BUT UNRAVELING IT ALL ACCURATLY TAKES WORDS TO EXPLAIN.
Well my last post of the mets going after Lackey and Holliday is in Newsday in the Chapman article, secondly u have this prince fielder fetish, get it out of ur mind, they are not going after prince fielder, period. There not making deals for guys on the last year of there deals unless they know they can sign them. U want them to trade for a star in Fielder keep him for a year and let him leave, are u clueless or something, the mets are not doing that. Oh and Omar’s best asset is talent elvaluation huh, ok, great job on castillo, giving him a 4 year deal to a guy with 90 yr old knees and hardly is ever in shape, Moises Alou, signed him for 2 yrs and those 2 yrs he has been hurt both times, Oliver perez, signing him to a 3 yr 12 mil per deal when he was bidding against himself for that piece of S$$$. Pedro Martinez, i loved the signing but lets faced facts, they signed him to a 4 yr deal and he was healthy for a year and a half. Milledge for Schneider and Church, garbage trade. Carlos Beltran signing, yeah he is somewhat productive, but he is anywhere near the player he was when he was with the royals and astros, he came here he stop stealing bases totally, this was a 30-30 guy, not with the mets though. Trading bannister to the royals for that reliever, that really worked out. trading Lidstrom and heath bell for nothing. Loduca was not bad, but he faded after a year, wagner was ok, but got hurt his third year and was really not healthy the 4th year either. tim redding and livan hernandez were lousy signings. Bradford was a good signing, but then he lets him walk and signs scott schowensis, terrible job. Sheffield was a no brainer for the price, but he could not hold up health wise either, signing a 50 yr old Juilo Franco to a 2 yr contract….ughh no comment on that. The thing that could cost him is job is his idea that Daniel Murphy could play LF when he was a 3b/some 1b in the minors, mostly 3b, never played OF and he thought he could LF at citifield at that. It was only when Santana came forward and voiced his displeasure did they decide to get him out of LF and now he thinks Murphy is an everyday player when he may now proof once and for all that he is not, make no mistake they have a mindset of getting an OF and starting Murphy at 1b there is no doubt in my mind. Omar’s tenure has been about 50-50, u can be a omar apologist all u want but while he has done some good things he has done some real lousy things also. This is a huge off-season he better get it right or he’s out come next year.
Omar’s job is online the line, if i was him, I’d be trying to bring in Lackey, Holliday or Abreu for LF, Bengie Molina(who he has wanted since 2005)or Pudge(who he has wanted for the last 2yrs but could not trade schneider or castro until it was too late) to C, Nick Johnson or Laroche for 1b,(Johnson my preference, he can’t go with murphy with his job on the line, he has to make the playoffs or he is out.) and Biemel. Jeff Wilpon has made it clear to Omar that he is not trading the organizations top prospects, so his only avenue is FA.