With the Winter Meetings already underway, Mets GM Omar Minaya (or according to some, Jeff Wilpon in disguise) is faced with the daunting task of building a World Series contending team for 2010.
Aside from the obvious needs of a left fielder and a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher, Minaya has made it clear that the team will be looking to upgrade at second base.
This past week there have already been rumblings about a potential deal that would send the incumbent, Luis Castillo, to the Chicago Cubs.
If Minaya is able to move Castillo, the talk is that the team will pursue the guy they let get away last season, Orlando Hudson.
Hudson seems to be a pretty good fit for the team. He is noted as being a good clubhouse guy, has produced consistently over the past five years or so, and according to numerous sources, wants to play in New York. However, what if the Mets could do even better than Hudson?
According to Ed Price and Jeff Fletcher of AOL Fanhouse [Hat tip to MLB Trade Rumors for the link], the Cincinnati Reds are in cost cutting mode after a large drop off in fan attendance. As a result, in an effort to remain financially sound, the team is looking to unload some of their pricey veterans.
At the top of the list is All-Star second baseman, Brandon Phillips, who has two years and $17.75 million left on his contract along with a $12 million club option for 2012.
To a struggling small market team, like the Reds this contract looks horrendous. However, to the Mets the contract doesn’t nearly look so bad, especially when you consider that they owe Castillo $12 million for his two remaining years of service.
The question that still looms is that if the Mets can trade Castillo, which second baseman should they pursue?
To answer this let’s take a look at how both Phillips and Hudson performed last season.
Both players totaled roughly the same amount of at-bats last year. Both of their averages are similar, with Hudson having slightly better numbers.
However, the power numbers are where Phillips really shines. Last season alone, Phillips hit more than double the amount of homers that Hudson hit and drove in nearly one third more runners.
Phillips is also a speedster, which would compliment lead-off hitter, Jose Reyes nicely.
Acquiring Phillips, would give the Mets a legitimate power threat in the number two hole, which is something they haven’t had in quite some time.
It would also compensate the lack of power at first base, assuming that they stick with Daniel Murphy, as they are interested in doing.
The only downside to taking Phillips over Hudson is that a deal involving Phillips will require the Mets to give up prospects, whereas Hudson would only cost the team cash. However, you’d have to think that due to this potential trade being a salary dump that the return would not include any elite prospects if the Mets agreed to take on all of Phillips’s salary.
It should be interesting to see which direction the Mets go throughout the next few months, but if do, in fact, look for a new second baseman, Brandon Phillips should be their guy.
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i agree 100%. Phillips would be amazing on the Mets.
Wow great point there! Brandon Phillips would be a great fit for the Mets!
Make it a mega deal and get Votto (1b) and Arroyo as well. Cincinnati is looking to dump salary per MLB TradeRumors this am.
there is no way possible you get votto. arroyo or harang maybe, but votto makes next to nothing and that is the only thing that team has to actually make fans want to go to watch them.
I still don’t understand the obsession with Hudson over the past few years, especially over Castillo – the blind hatred for me makes me shake my head. His numbers are no better then LC’s yet people are still bandstanding for him. I also understand that Castillo is now tradeable and if we can get something in return I’m all for it, but to “unload” him to sign someone that actually lost their starting job last year makes no sense.
NOW, have Phillips there – I’m all for it…..I wish the Hudson talk would go away.
what team will deal for Castillo if they can deal for Phillips who only makes a little more money and is twice the player? What team will trade for Castillo when it can sign Hudson who is a better player and will probably be cheaper? We are stuck with Castillo unless we take Matthews,Burrell,Pierre etc. It was a terrible contract,Omar!
You make a good point, but out of those guys I wouldn’t mind Pierre.
I totally agree with you Chris.I also read that on MLB traderumours.Cincy has an up and coming 1st baseman.So we also wouldnt have to loose Ike Davis,who could switch to the outfield in Buffalo.If we could trade Castillo to the Cubs for Bradley.Then trade Francour-Murphy-Pelfrey-Holt-Havens to Cincy for Arroyo-Phillips and Votto.We could have Reyes-Phillips-Beltran-Votto-wright-Bradley-Molina-Pagan.
I like both players but you would have to trade for Phillips and Hudson you would only have to give him straight cash !
I would love to get Brandon Phillips if the Mets move Castillo. Why not see if we could simply move him to Cincy along with some cash? Phillips would certainly upgrade us in the power department and I had no idea he had that kind of speed. 25 stolen bases to go with 60 extra base hits? What the heck are we waiting for?
Phil you made a solid point as far as how much we would have to give up, and if this is a salary dump, it shouldn’t cost us much in terms of prospects. They may actually take a Castillo and a prospect like Familia who isn’t even in our top ten.
Orlando Hudson won gold glove, no mets
What’s with the Reds Brandon Phillips and Johnny Cueto? Both wear their hat as if it needs a GPS to point straight ahead.
On the serious side, Phillips is only 28, which three and a half years younger than Hudson. Getting him might not be so easy. Go Omar!
Though Brandon Phillips is intriguing, Hudson may be more cost effective. If second base was the only need the Mets had than yes go get him at all costs, but it isn’t. Also to a previous poster please don’t say MLB Trade Rumors says that the Reds are looking to deal, they just regurgitate information that others worked hard to garner. It is easy to copy and paste they shouldn’t get credit for it.
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What’s the matter with the way Phillips wears his cap? If that’s his style, that’s his style.
Brandon Phillips would be huge on this team. And he’s got that attitude that only a New Yorker could appreciate. He would be our answer to Jimmy Rollins, no doubt in my mind.