Last week, Bart Hubbuch of the NY Post told me that the Mets are not looking to block the arrival of first base prospect Ike Davis because they view him as an All Star first baseman waiting in the wings. Judging by what we’ve seen and heard from several scouts and MLB executives, maybe the hype on Davis is somewhat justified. I sincerely hope it is, although I personally would like to see Davis continue his hot hitting in Buffalo before I will start heaping praise on him. It seems that AAA has been the place where all Mets prospects and phenoms go to die.
I also have been told by someone who is very familiar with the San Diego Padres thinking, that Adrian Gonzalez will not be traded and that somehow the Padres will find a way to get some sort of extension done with him.
The Brewers have repeatedly said that Prince Fielder is not on the block and that he never has been regardless of what the rumor mongers have put out.
So now that we’ve cleared the clutter a little bit, and have an understanding that the Mets’ plant to anoint Ike Davis as their first baseman in 2011, lets reconsider the plan at first base for the 2010 season.
We are faced with three options.
Stick with Daniel Murphy as the everyday first baseman for one more season.
Find a right handed hitting first baseman to platoon with Daniel Murphy. (The Mets have already warmed up to this idea.)
Sign a full time first baseman off the free agent heap that includes Adam La Roche and Nick Johnson.
Re-sign first baseman Carlos Delgado to an incentive laden deal.
See anything you like?
My Thoughts…
I am still not convinced that Daniel Murphy can takeover as the everyday first baseman, especially if the Mets don’t sign a big homerun bat for leftfield.
I’m not entirely opposed to finding a right handed platoon partner , but the good ones still view themselves as everyday players, which leave the likes of Rich Aurilia and Kevin Millar as the best options that won’t break the bank. Troy Glaus is also available, but he would be far more costly.
When you look at Nick Johnson and Adam La Roche head to head, the former Brave seems like the better fit and the one with more power, but with Ike Davis waiting in the wings, would either of them settle for anything less than a 3 or 4-year deal?
As much as it irks me to say it, Carlos Delgado seems like the most logical choice. Of all the options, Delgado would easilyy out-homer and out-slug any of them over the course of a full season. The risk you take though, is whether or not you’ll get a full season out of Delgado. But it’s because of that risk that you could probably get him for a base salary of $5 million dollars, and he most likely would sign a one-year deal.
Your thoughts?
*Mets Merized Online Needs Your Help*
There’s no name out there who would make an impact on the team at large. This free agent class sucks! If the Mets aren’t able to make a deal for Adrian Gonzalez, then I guess platooning Murphy with a right hander would make the most sense, but it’s like choosing which of the ugly stepsisters to take to the ball.
Daniel Murphy as the everyday first baseman is not even a scenario that should be considered so I’ll skip that.
I think platooning Daniel Murphy with a right-handed complement is the worst scenario of the 3 realistic ones.
As for Carlos Delgado, if the Mets are afforded the luxury of waiting to see him play some winter ball in PR for awhile before making a decision and he proves to be in excellent health and can give us something around 400 ABs or so, 20-27 HRs, and a 260-290 BA, i think they’re going to go with him and so would I. Hopefully Delgado will cooperate with them and sign an incentive-laden contract.
What Delgado also gives us is an experienced glove at 1B and I think his presence could be very welcomed after last year’s disaster.
But if Adam LaRoche says he can’t wait for them to see how Delgado is, then I would sign Adam LaRoche.
I cannot emphasize enough about the importance of having a life-long experienced first baseman to hold together our infield. All this talk of any old person filling in there irresponsible and shows no knowledge of what it takes to field a winning team.
I totally agree. I should of included it in my post, but signing Delgado is predicated on the condition he proves that he is not limited in anyway at the plate or in the field.
I am sorry but Delgado tanked it for willie, and started hitting as soon as the clubhouse door closed behind the guy. No coincidence. I have had no respect for him since. I do not want a guy like that on my team. Just like I did not want Gary Sheffield, who intentionally threw games away as a Brewer. I’ll tkae LaRoche for a year.
BAYONNE, YOUR 90% CORRECT; WITH THINKING THERE’S ACTUALLY A LaROCHE OPTION IS WHERE YOU LOSE POINTS IN MY OPINION, IF YOU’VE FOLLOWED HIM AT ALL SINCE ATL DEALT HIM CRYING TO BUCS, YOU’D KNOW HE’S LIKELY WILLING TO “PAY THEM TO STAY”(EXAGERATED ONLY SLIGHTLY, LOL!. BESIDES ATL ISSUE WITH HIM SHOULD BE EVERYONE’S INASMUCH AS HE ADMITS BEING CONFOUNDED BY HIS IMPERCEPTIBLE PRODUCTION IN FIRST HALF & NEAR HOF PRODUCTION IN SECOND HALF.
I’VE STATED ALL ALONG DELGADO WAS THE OBVIOUS THIRD BEST CHOICE BEHIND ONLY #1, FIELDER & #2, GONZALEEZ, WHOM I NEVER BELEIVED WAS AVAILABLE DESPITE RUMORS APLENTY. FIELDER’S AVAILABILITY WAS SO MUCH MORE LOGICAL CONSIDERING THE BREWS WON’T BE ABLE TO LOCK UP A BORAS’ CLIENT LT IN AN AFFORDABLE RANGE FOR A SMALLISH MIDMARKET TEAM. THEY ARE FACED WITH AN ASTRONOMICAL ARBI AWARD LIKELY FOR ‘11 THROUGH ‘14 OR SO TO LOSE HIM AS F//A AFTER BORAS HAS BELED THEM DRY IN ARBITRATION. LOGICAL PROGRESSION.
“What Delgado also gives us is an experienced glove at 1B….”
Is there something in the drinking water on the other side of the Hudson River? Delgado at his best — and he is no longer at his best — was a very mediocre first baseman. He is now immobile, often doesn’t like to dive for hard hit balls, has poor footwork at times, and has below average hands.
I want the Mets to sign Holliday for leftfield,thats it.Then you can handle Murphy being Murphy at 1st.The guy will hit ,lots of doubles 15-18 homers,thats alright for a #7 hitter.And he is cheap,wont cost you any propects.Also Evans is your answer as Murphy’s right handed counterpart.Just put him in there give him his atbats.Also Evans is young and cheap and doesn’t cost any prospects.
Evans can’t even hit .200 in the minors. He’s out of the picture.
I know I’m partial to Murphy. Is Delgado a superior defensive 1st baseman? I don’t think so. He’s got no range at all, although he can pick the short hops pretty well.
A one year trial for Murphy makes sense in a scenario where your building for 2011. Then you can re-evaluate Murphy against Davis, or making a move for Fielder, Gonzalez, etc.
This modest 2 year plan shouldn’t consider Delgado.
Danny, here’s my problem with Murphy. If we give him a one year try as you and many others suggest, what purpose does that serve the Mets in the long run?
Ike Davis is all but penciled in for 2011 and beyond.
Even if Murphy does have a decent season (decent meaning .265 15 65), what happens in 2011? Does he go back to LF? No Does he go to 2B? No.
Do the Mets have to trade him with no leverage after 2010? Yes.
And here is the worst case scenario. What if he an epic fail by May?
The worst case scenario is just as likely as the best case scenario which isn’t really a best case anyway.
This has to be handled like a chess game, and good GM has to look at 2-3 moves down the road over a long period of time.
Murphy is not the first baseman of the future, and he clearly isn’t a shoe-in for first baseman of the present either.
Mets should cut their losses while there is still a limited trade market for Murphy. If we wait a year, he’ll have as much trade value as Nick Evans… ZERO.
I called for the Mets to trade Nick Evans after his callup. They should have listened back then. I hope they dont make the same mistake with Murphy.
Holliday/Murphy OF-1b Combo wouldn’t even be better then a Sheffield/Delgado, combo if healthy, I think when it is all said and done delgado is the 1b for next year. What does Murphy do well? He does not hit well, field well or throw well, the only thing he is, is young and cheap, that’s it.
Just because Mike Francesa says it, doesn’t make it true.
Murphy is a better fielder than Delgado. Delgado was better around the bag, but Murphy is aggressive, and ranges farther. He’s not afraid to go to second on a bunt. Many of his mistakes were the mental kind that you get from rushing, or inexperience. He actually has a pretty good arm.
His hitting was best when he was getting regular work. No way can you platoon him. His worst times of 2009 were when he was platooning with Tatis and Sheffield, and it showed. Even Manuel said it, even if he didn’t act on it because his mouth and head have never communicated.
If he hit ~15 Homeruns (prorated to a full season) in his basically rookie season, I think it’s a fair estimate to think he hits a couple more with a year under his belt, a steady place in the lineup, and a better lineup around him. Sign the big bat for LF. Get some healthy, not overpriced with injury risks, pitching, 2 catches, power pinch hitters and away we go.
Oh Boy,
Now we are heading into the Twi-light Zone.
Now we have people actually believing that Daniel Murphy is a better fielding first baseman than 17 year veteran Carlos Delgado.
There is no response for that one…..
@ Bayonne
When has Delgado ever been considered even an average fielder at first base? Using the logic you put forth in this comment, I’d be wrong to say Mauer is better than Molina, because Molina is a 12 year vet.
@ Evan
No, it’s not that. Again people misunderstand things and interpret them in their own way.
I’m not ignorant like you and would assume that you or anyone else would think that Molina is a better catcher than Mauer solely on his years of service. I’m not like that.
Man, these internet chats force you into the most ridiculous arguments.
Look..Carlos Delgado is an established first baseman for around 17 years or so. I’m not even disrespect him by comparing him to Murph.
And to boot…i hardly ever saw him play when he was with Toronto all those years.
I am ASSUMING Joe Mauer is a better catcher than Molina. To be honest, I have no idea as I haven’t seen any of them play too much
But that nonsense is off topic anyway. I’m done here.. you guys can pick apart words and do more spinning than a figure skater all you want.
Oh,
and before the spinners pile on and say “Well how can you tell Delgado is a better first baseman if you hardly saw him all those years with Toronto?
The answer is..i can tell just by watching him with the Mets. That’s it.
Murphy at 1B in 2010 will be a heckuva lot better defensively than Delgado. Carlos had his day and he likely will be another Moises Alou physically next year and with each succeeding year. He’ll likely get hurt again and it will impact his hitting. Carlos has a lot of moving parts to his swing and has shown he needs time to synchronize the dynamics.
i think Delgado ends up being the 1b if i had to guess. I think u also get some combo of either Hudson at 2b and Pierre in LF or Castillo is not traded, ends up being the 2b and the mets trade for Jose Guillen even though i want no part of it. I also think the Roy Halliday situation ends up being like the Santana situation 2 yrs ago.
Why not just promote Ike Davis to the majors and trade Daniel Murphy to the American League for a starting pitcher?
Pete, Ike Davis barely spent half a season in Class-AA Binghamton. Although he has shown amazing bat speed and can turn on a fast ball with the best of them, he has yet to show he can hit any breaking pitches. At best, he would need at least a half season in AAA before we can really ascertain his readiness for the major leagues. At Buffalo he would be able to face a much better quality and a more experienced class of pitchers. That will truly tell the story of whether Ike is a prospect or a suspect.
Sounds to me like you just described Daniel Murphy who is equally as suspect. Ike Davis seems to have a higher ceiling and if it nets us a starting pitcher then the funds can be used to plug up other holes.
So Pete you want IKE to start in 2010??What are you going to do ,when he struggles???He already strikes out alot! If he struggles and hits 260 does that mean he is a bust?? All players need learning curves!!Murphy will hit he will have lots of doubles,he will be okay till Ike is ready.Are you listening to Omar to close,when he says certain players need to be fast tracked?? Because fast tracking players is not working.Pelfrey-Evans-parnell-Fmart.players like Ike have potential but have to come up the system 1 step at a time.He will be in Queens but there is no need to rush him,if its 2011 or 2012,you will want him to come up and be ready to play not look overmatched like Martinez did.
What I am saying is that if you can get a decent young starting pitcher for Daniel Murphy you pull the trigger. IMO the odds of either Davis or Murphy batting .260 next year are 50-50. Davis has more power so no offense to you Mr. Murphy but bye bye Daniel. I like Ike.
Carlos Delgado and the Mets are on a collision course for the 2010 season. All signs point to it and this post illustrates some of those signs. Lets hope that it all works out and that we have no casualties. Does anybody know if Delgado is playing winter ball?
They should just let Murphy play.As I said earlier last year was his first full year.He can still get better.His first full year wasn’t that much worse than Youkilis first year. Murphy 266 BA 12 HR’s 63 RBI. Youkilis 279 BA 13 HR’s 72 RBI.Also Youkilis hit in a very good lineup while Murphy didn’t.Give Murphy a chance.
I can’t believe how quickly some of you are ready to throw Murphy to the wolves. First he gets put in LF, a position he has never played, and everybody jumps on him because he isn’t an instant star. He probably did so badly because he was trying too hard, knowing how fast ownership and management, and the fans, would turn on him. Then, he gets moved to 1B, again a position he has never played, and fields the position pretty well – actually showing a very good range and making some very good plays. His batting is improving the more comfortable he gets. Even Keith has had some very nice things to say about his play, and I’d listen to his opinion before any of you. I’m not saying don’t sign Delgado, I’m saying I don’t think he can play the field full-time any more – especially after playing winter ball. If we play them both pretty much equally, we get about .280 and 15-20 HR out of the 1B position, plus we’ve always got a good PH on the bench, sometimes with strong HR power. I think the Mets could do a lot worse.
Thanks for the comment Steve. I dont think anyone is throwing Murphy to the wolves, only trying to look at the big picture.
If Murphy is the Mets first baseman of the present and the future, than trade Ike Davis along with other pieces for Halladay or to upgrade in another area. What purpose does Davis serve if he is to be blocked by Murphy?
I hope we’re not going to suggest making Davis the LF of the future as we did with Murphy.
If you’re going to put Davis on the fast track tio 2011, than trade Murphy.
We have too many holes on this team to accomodate 2-3 first basemen of the future. Make a decision and lets move on.
Joe D,
I’d just like to look at Murphy some more, and see lf he settles in and learns the position. He seems to have the intangibles that every manager wants to see in his players, and it seems like his skill set fits the position, except for the perception that a 1st baseman HAS to be a power hitter. Remember, one of the best to ever play the position, (and a talented broadcaster, too!) number 17, had a hitting style quite similar to Daniel Murphy. Lots of singles and doubles, 10 to 15 HR’s a year. He hit for a little higher average – .300 career, give or take a couple of points. But, his BA for his first five years in the majors was .274, and in his 5th year in the bigs, at 23, his BA was .255. My point is that you don’t have to be a slugger to be a great first baseman.
Also, Davis is not a sure thing. For one thing, he still needs to learn to hit a curveball, from what I’ve read on some of the Mets’ blogs that follow the minor leagues. Murphy’s here, he can play the position, let’s see what he’s got.
It’s not that anyone hates Murphy, the question is really a simple choice:
Are the Mets better off with Dan Murphy as our first baseman for the next five years and Ike Davis blocked?
or
Whatever we can get for Murphy + 1 year of Delgado in 2010 + Ike Davis in 2011?
Joe D
Murphy might succeed or fail if given the chance this year. We do not know. I just think Murphy can hit. I would be disappointed if he hit .265 with 15 HR and 65 RBI (virtually the same as ‘09) If he does that I was wrong.
But I’m banking on .290 18 HR and 80 RBI and an improved glove. If he does that he’s got lots more trade value. Who knows maybe you keep him and trade Davis. Or Maybe you move Davis to the outfield (which I hear he can play and has an incredible arm)
Let’s recall when the Brewers traded Overbay to the Jays and kept Prince Fielder. The Murphy/Davis situation is similar.
This is copied from Wikipedia.
“On December 7, 2005, Overbay was traded from the Milwaukee Brewers along with pitching prospect Ty Taubenheim to Toronto in exchange for outfielder Gabe Gross and pitchers Dave Bush and Zach Jackson.[5] Although, the trade was ackowledged as a needed acquisition for the Blue Jays,[6] Overbay has not had the statistical impact hoped for, at least beyond 2006. In 2007 to 2008, Overbay statistically trailed Bush in the Sabermetric categories Wins above replacement player and Value over replacement player.”
At the time, getting the above 3 players, the Brewers got an excellent return for Overbay. If Murphy has a good season his trade value will go way up, much more compared to his trade value going down if he has a bad season.
You are right about Evans but it doesn’t mean you’re right about Murphy.
If you have a modestly long 2 year plan, you do not have to play your Murphy/Davis card yet.
Why are we so fixated on power, when our ballpark is not conducive to ‘power’, particularly balls hit to Right CF?
i think it makes sense to pair Murphy with a RH guy at 1B. Since when is Delgado even an average 1B in the field? And why pay him 5mm, with a club option (probably) when we could sign Nady for about that?
Murphy will likely improve at the plate in 2010, now that 1B is his position and he’ll be in a better lineup. And if he can bat .270 with 15/75, and field the position well, you’re telling me that he ‘ll have ‘limited trade value’ at best?
i strongly disagree. In fact, life throws surprises. What if we get Pierre for OF in 2010 and what if Ike Davis shows more athleticism in the OF than Murphy did and could pair part-time with Pierre in LF in 2011, getting used to MLB pitching, while Murphy is on his way to become that 1B of the future?!? Long shot? Sure thing, but you never know.
You don’t think that, if Murphy is having a solid year at 1B and at the plate next year, Ike Davis doesn’t go shag a few in AAA?
Sure he would. And if Murphy has a good year in 2010 and Ike Davis is still the heir for 1B in 2011, then Murphy could very likely bring something valuable back to us in a trade.
What do you trade Delgado for in 2011..spare change?
In a previous post, I extrapolated Murphy’s post-AllStar numbers based on a 600 ab season.
Very good numbers:
2bs – 65
3bs – 7
HR – 17
RBIs – 87
I would expect both his hitting and on-base average to improve given that the volatility and struggles of his experience in the outfield is now behind him.
Yeah, I don’t expect 65 doubles, but he DID hit 27 doubles in 266 abs post-AllStar break. He also found something of a gap-power stroke that adapted well to Citifield. He and Thole could cause opposing righthanders alot of problems.
I think we should go ALL OUT for Matt Holliday. Take note that, in addition to Murphy, practically all of our minor league prospects hit from the left side…Thole, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Ike Davis, Reese Havens & Chris Carter.
Thinking big picture, if we get Holliday, then we’ll have Matt, Wright, Santos & Francouer from the right side, Murphy & Thole from the left side, with Beltran & Reyes switch-hitting. We would not be susceptible to lefty starters and, with our minor leaguers named above on the rise, righty starters will pay a pretty stiff price when they play the Mets. All we need is a little patience.
I do not consider Carlos Delgado a solution at this time.
I forgot to mention F-Mart. Wonder why…
Tommykitty i totally agree with you.I also believe the METS should go hard after Holliday.Even he might not hit 40 homers ,but he will hit 25-30.Just like Murphy he will also hit a ton of doubles.Plus the guy has speed and is a good baserunner.the future is looking better.So if you sign a guy like HOLLIDAY,you add him with Beltran,Wright,Reyes.You will 4/8 top players at those positions.Then you can add the young kids slowly at there own pace,no need to rush.
Tommy,
I think you’re right on about Delgado and Murphy. As for Davis, he hit terribly at Brooklyn in his first year. So let’s give him some time and see what he does as he sees sliders and curves.
i’m in the minority on Holliday. i still say we won’t get him. And, okay, if we do sign Matt, who do trade Castillo ‘for’?! i really want Figgins to play 2B and give us solid defense there.
The reason why Holliday is a good choice is not beacuse of his power.It is his hitting.I think he is an elite hitter.He hit over .310 five seasons in a row.
I wonder if the D backs will trade Snyder for Castillo? We would be getting a catcher and dumping castillo at the same time.
Really? i didn’t know the guy ‘hit’ over 300 consistently. So, i’ll just close my eyes when i see him charging a line drive?!? Kidding. If we can get him, i guess we should try. You’ve made a strong case.
Geez, i like your Castillo for Snyder idea. Will anybody take Castillo is my larger question? He can hit, but he’s a singles guy, and his ‘D’ ain’t good.
I think the Cubs would want to trade Bradley for Castillo.But the Mets don’t want to do it. They will most likely have to work out a three way deal. The Rangers might be the only team who might want Bradley. Because he did very good for them. I won’t be surprised to see a three way deal between The Mets,Cubs and Rangers.
i just checked Holliday’s stats with Oakland. Something like 11Hrs/54RBI’s, .286 avg in 385 AB’s, which extrapolated over his 581 AB’s for the full season, works out to be roughly 19Hrs/91RBI’s.
He hit .353 at STL with 13Hrs/55RBI’s in just 235 AB’s. His stats at St Louis, if extrapolated on the same basis, works out to be 32Hrs/136RBI’s. Monster numbers.
So, perhaps it was Oakland’s large park and ‘average’ lineup vs STL’s comfy park and Pujolz factor.
If, supported by Wright and Beltran, he could hit 20Hrs/100RBI’s…who could argue?
i’ll just close my eyes when he charges a line drive. Next question is, can we get him?
Bayonne Mets Fan
I do understand your frustration. The trade scenarios, the Jeter – Wright comparison are ridiculous. Signing and trading for 10 new guys to win a championship in one year is not happening. It is not worth the time or effort to comment.
No one can argue that Delgado is a good 1st baseman. I don’t think you’re doing that. His experience does make him better defensively than Murphy. But he is not better enough to clinch the argument.
I see an upside for Murphy. You don’t. Neither of us know or don’t know baseball for this opinion.
It’s hard for me to envision Adrian Gonzalez a Met next year. Also Roy Halladay a long shot. I don’t want Lackey for 5 years. Matt Holliday is a good enough player that he would be worth it.
Other than that, it’s plan B. Do you see this any differently?
88 wins and no playoffs would not be awful next year. It’s always possible that the Mets can win it all in 2010, but unlikely. They would need everything to break right. It woudn’t be nearly as a long shot as ‘69.
I’ll throw another thought towards Bayonne’s way with the Murphy arguement he had 500 abs, close to a full season worth abs he hits 260, hits 12hr’s and 60rbi’s, he has a 313obp, please lets stop with murphy at 1b he stinks.
Daniel Murphy
July BA-.250,OBP-.323,runs-9,hits-21,D-9,T-0,HR-1,RBI-11,BB-9,K-17
August BA-.292,OBP-.308,runs-9,hits-33,D-11,T-1,HR-1,RBI-11,BB-3,K-18
September BA-.278,OBP-.298,Runs-13,hits-25,D-9,T-2,HR-4,RBI-15,BB-3,K-9
He was just as good in August as September.
And why would anyone think his good September numbers were against September call ups.
9/03- 2 for 4 with double(Marquis), HR (against lefty Beimel)
9/06- 3 for 4 with Triple (Gregg), HR (Wells)
9/12- 2 for 4 with Double (lefty Moyer)
9/15- 2 for 4 single and double (Tommy Hanson)
9/17- 3 for 4 single,double (Jurrjens), HR (lefty O’Flaherty)
9/20- 2 for 4 double, triple (Mock)
9/21- 2 for 4 with a double and HR against Derrek Lowe
9/22- 1 for 4 against Jurrjens
9/25- 2 for 4 double(Nolasco), single (Nunez)
If you look at the game log, you’d see his best games were against some of the best pitchers.
Murphy is not a everyday 1b, sorry. Ur last point means a whole lot of nothing. So he did a few games in August and September when the mets were out of it, how did he do in April, may and June when the mets were still in the race, he did squat.
Anthony
My point was only to show Bayonne Mets Fan that he was not only good in September. And most importantly he wasn’t facing September call ups when he played well in September.
Can you deny the above.
What about last September when the Mets were in the race he batted 313.
Players don’t have to be a star their first year to be productive MLB players. I will give you two examples. Kevin Youkillis first year 279 BA 13 HR’s 72 RBI. now 305 BA 27 HR’s 97 RBI. Kendry Morales first year 234 BA 5 HR’s 22 RBI 57 games. Now 306 BA 34 HR’s 108 RBI. How do you know that Murphy can’t turn around and do what Morales and Youkilis did.
What about Adam Dunn ? I know he’s got a 2 year contract with Washington but if we could make a deal to get him I think it would be a good option. He does strike out a lot but he hits a lot of home runs. I think he would be a good fit and I know he’s a left handed bat but you can platoon him with Murphy at first but you can also play him in left field. One you can put Murphy in left and Dunn at first or vice versa and when one of then have the day off you put them at first and put pagan in left and have the other one coming off the bench. I also think it works out well for us in 2011 because if Davis is ready you can put Dunn in left and Davis at first and if Davis isn’t ready by 2011 you still have Dunn as an option for first base and Dunn would still be young cause he’s only 29 right now. Having Dunn would I think solve 2 of our issues ( left field and 1st base ). Let me know what you guys think.
i just checked Dunn out. He just turned 30, got a big body, but he can hit HRs for sure, averaging 41 w/101 RBI’s in his 6 full seasons in the Bigs.
i see him more as the LF and not 1B unless Murphy flubs his 2nd chance and we get no RH platoon going there.
Washington is in the NL East, although the perennial basement. What would they want for Dunn? Would they dare take another of our vaunted ‘can’t miss’ guys, like they took Milledge? i refer to Martinez. So Martinez, Pagan, Stokes for Dunn? Would the Nats do that? Would we? i would.
But, we begin to have a problem here. Some guys are calling for Brandon Phillips, as i do for Crawford, etc.; we can’t just shred our farm system and then complain in 3 years when all the guys we got in these trades are in their mid-30s and declining in prowess.
Which is why i like FA signings. Both Phillips and Dunn look real good, BTW, but c’mon, it’d be like eating too much candy!
I agree but if Dunn was an option I don’t think he would cost much via trade. Now hold I understand we have no RH bat to platoon with Murphy but as far as I can see Davis is a LH bat and he’s supposed to be up in the bigs by 2011 if not earlier. All I’m saying is that Dunn could be another possible option whether he plays left field or first base. I would take my chances with a swing and miss Dunn as long as I see him hit 40 plus home runs it wouldn’t bother me because every Mets knows that’s what we need in our lineup.Both he and Holliday we provide protection for Wright and so what if Dunn doesn’t hit for average.Delgado never hit for average but did we care no I don’t think we did because he hit 38 home runs and drove in 114 RBI’s in 06. So he would provide protection for everyone around him and I believe that would bring ever body back to form Reyes gets on base, Wright moves him over, Beltran drives one in and then Dunn clears the bases and with Dunn in the lineup every body in front and behind him would see better pitches.
i just checked Holliday vs. Dunn. Dunn hits more HRs (41/yr career avg vs 25/yr for Holliday), but it’s hit or miss for Dunn, with Holliday sporting a .318 career Avg vs .249 for Dunn who has averaged 101 RBI’s/yr in 6 full seasons vs 99/yr for Holliday in 6 years. Dunn just turned 30; Holliday turns 30 in January.
Holliday is clearly the better ‘hitter’. IF we can get Holliday, we should try. i agree with Chicho.
As far as Castillo stands, i hope we trade him. That Cubs/TX/Mets trifecta was bandied about recently. We were going to get Millwood in the deal. Didn’t happen.
We need solid ‘D’ up the middle…would help the pitching. Figgins would be great; Phillips as well. Figgins costs money; Phillips, players.
My current thought on how the 2009 Met power outage is to be handled is to trade with a team that wants to financially downsize. The teams that best fit this description are the Tigers and Reds. With the Tigers, I am seeking Miguel Cabrera (at 1B) and Edwin Jackson. With the Reds, I am seeking Brandon Phillips (at 2B) and either Branson Arroyo or Aaron Harang.
1 SS Jose Reyes
2 CF Carlos Beltran
3 2B Brandon Phillips
4 1B Miguel Cabrera
5 3B David Wright
6 RF Jeff Francoeur
7-8 C Bengi Molina – one of many free agents
7-8 LF Angel Pagan
SP1 Johan Santana
SP2 Aaron Harang or Branson Arroyo
SP3 free agent (Harden, Sheets, Marquis)
SP4 Edwin Jackson
SP5 Oliver Perez
Gone from the current roster include Castillo, Pelfrey, Maine, Murphy, Chris Carter, Lance Broadway, F. Martinez, T. Redding, J. Niese, Ruben Tejada and possibly others (Ike Davis). The three way (Cub-Met)trade for Luis Castillo gets done with the Tigers as the third party. There would be cash coming to the Mets in dealing with Cabrera’s monster contract.
Disagree
SS Reyes
2b Hudson
3b Wright
CF Beltran
1b Dunn/Murphy
RF Francoeur
C Snyder
LF Pagan
SP Santana
SP Santana
SP Lackey
SP Marquis ( Garland, Pineiro, Sheets )
SP Pelfrey
SP Maine
i think we’re getting crazy here. How do we have enough to get miguel cabrera, edwin jackson, and brandon phillips?
The Tigers may be shedding payroll, but they’ll want a ton for Cabrera AND a bunch + for Jackson in the deal. Did Jackson have his breakout year or his ‘career’ year? His #s before 2009 don’t cut it.
Cabrera’s a monster, but forget getting him + he’s got personal issues that’d be front page/back page in NY.
i’ll dream with Plan B: Marquis, Garland, Sheets, trade Castillo, sign Holliday; either sign Figgins or trade for Phillips.
THAT would be a bonanza under the tree….Cabrera too?! Fuhgeddaboudit.
Hey, I was thinking out of the box a little, if the Mets bring in a Lackey and Molina and bring back Delgado for 1 more year and they did this Guillen thing for Pagan, would they look to bring Chavez back as a 4th OF, there not getting Holliday or bay for LF, sorry to disappoint u
Normally, i’d love to get Lackey. But i a smell a rat: why aren’t the Angels desperate to re-sign Lackey? The guy’s a horse, when healthy. He’s got to be hurt. Stay away.
Guillen’s a disaster; plenty of options better than him to trade for: Crawford, Granderson, Dunn, Pierre, Phillips.
And why can’t we get Holliday? Only takes money. The Red Sox will re-sign Bay. If the Yankees don’t pine for him, and i agree with Chicho, the Yanks probably go for pitching (good idea!!), we’ll vie with STL, Angels, Dodgers maybe, for Holliday? Who knows? He’s a Boras client. ‘Nuff said: $$$,$$$,$$$.
Holliday may not be the gold glove we need in LF but i am now convinced that he’s a stellar hitter.
Again, i prefer to sign FA’s, rather than trade for guys 30+ and regret the damn trade 2 – 3 years out, when our guy is aging and we have little depth at the top levels of our farm system. Sound familiar?!
I would rather have Vlad Guerrero for 1 year then Holliday for 5-7 yrs at 18 mil per.
Everyone is forgetting that part of the Mets moving on include moving Delgado out of the picture and letting Beltran, David and Jose become the clubhouse leader which is hard with Delgado imposing his will on the younger players. If for no other reason than this I would not bring Carlos back. Let Davis get his 400-500 at bats in AAA, maybe surround him with some decent players in Buffalo and then lets see what 2011 brings. Let Murphy play with a RH platoon player and please do not bring Carlos and his un-healthy body back. IMO
Vladimir turns 35 in February, best case, lasts for 1 – 2 more years; Holliday turns 30 in January. But, my absolute fantasy for LF is to trade for Crawford. i doubt we’ll do that.
Anyway, i can feel it in my bones, the Burrell rumor is legit…makes warped Met sense. We trade Castillo for ’somebody’.
Now i hope we sign Figgins…and import a lot of pitching.
I would take Vlad for 2 yrs as opposed to Holliday for 7 yrs. But again, the mets need to sell tickets, the guy that can do it out of all those guys is Roy Halliday, that one i would wait out and actually see how that plays out, i want to see Toronto trade him to the Red Sox or yankees, i just don’t believe it, if the Yankees and red sox don’t trade for him then i think the mets have a shot at getting him. But if the Mets can’t trade castillo to get an OF and they can get a Halliday or lackey for a big pitcher, then I would sign Guerrero for a 1-2 year deal at 8 mil a year.