31
2009
Delgado To Make Winter League Debut On Sunday
An article by Hojo's Mojo
According to Jorge Arangure Jr. of ESPN, Carlos Delgado will make his Winter League debut this Sunday.
After several delays, free agent first baseman Carlos Delgado will finally be making his winter league debut on Sunday, according to a report out of Puerto Rico. Delgado missed the majority of last season with the New York Mets after undergoing right hip surgery. His delay has been due to complications with that hip.
Delgado had originally stated that he would delay his return to baseball activities until mi January, so this is a positive step in that regard.
I believe that the Mets are still interested in Delgado and will closely monitor his progress. Minaya had met with Delgado earlier this month, and it is believed that both sides would welcome a reunion of sorts.
With the addition of Jason Bay, it would seem the Mets could still use some left handed thump in the lineup.
It’s my opinion that a one-year incentive laden deal with a $3-4 million dollar base salary could prove to be a wise investment as it would allow Ike Davis a full year of seasoning in AAA, and may even give the Mets a trade piece in Daniel Murphy who will turn into a pumpkin once the Ike Davis era begins in 2011.
What are your thoughts?
About the Author: Rob Johnson
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I’d still take him on that kind of a deal.
I’d like to think Delgado will be amenable to such a simplified contract but, I’m guessing he will hold out for a guaranteed multi-year deal. He knows the Mets really want him to return and he is, in fact if healthy, the best lefty bat out there. I don’t see a quick signing.
sixxis, I disagree, the biggest stumbling block I perceive would be the value of the incentives. to me I would certainly consider a 3M base with incentives up to 12M(last yr’s value) as a plus since, as with most incentives, the club only profits when they’re met. I believe Carlos is a very intelligent man who likely understands proving himself for 1y them marketing himself to AL as a DH could be his most lucrative avenue of progress. I wouldn’t be shocked if Big Papi had another struggling yr to have Boston very interested in a productive Delgado DH @ a lucrative contract, with Carlos’ proven ability with power the other way he’d certainly dent that Monster pernmanantly.
Carlos Delgado and Adam LaRoche fill the bill,
but starting pitching must be the first priority.
The second priority is to get a lefty for the bullpen.
Vern, La Roche is invisible pre-ASG & only a Monster post-ASG. besides, he’ll likely offer to pay Atlanta to stay there.lol
What is this fascination with Adam LaRoche? I just don’t see it. This guy is not a team changer and isn’t the kind of player I associate with being on a pennant winning team. He isn’t a reason to give up on Murphy.
Give it up already. Delgado can not play 1st base anymore. At best he is only a DH.
Willie found out he couldn’t during his regime.
Des, Willie was a modern day Capt. Queeg(see “THE CAINE MUTINY” book or movie) weighing the sugar. Likely couldn’t deal with an intelligent, veteran player who wouldn’t get on his knees for the Yankee shrine.
Most ignore the simple set of facts that had Willie ignoring Carlos’ post surgical(wrist/hand) struggles only addressing it by dsropping him in the oreder, instead of Jerry’s rolling up his sleeves & ordering Carlos to work directly with him in the early BP sessions as well as with HOJO during normal BP sessions. thus we all got to see the results Willie never worked for, a Delgado resurgance starting with the dismantling of Ruth’s original house.
Very original–I saw this same thing on another Mets blog two hours before you. Why not give credit?
Well he cited the original source: ESPN, which is probably what the other blog used. What else do you want?
I was about to say the same thing, lol. And I only read 2-3 Mets blogs anyway in addition to this one, whose to say this author doesnt do the same. I definitely dont see it on MetsBlog or Mets.com, but it is on ESPN.
Hey Dan, MLB Trade Rumors posts the same info, and not only did they not mention the Mets blog (you forgot to link it in your comment) you’re talking about, but neither this site or the original ESPN story! How’s that for a kick in the pants, lol.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/12/mets-rumors-bay-molina-delgado-pineiro.html#comments
At this point, what Delgado’s bat gives; his iron legs takes away on ‘D’. And with Castillo anchored at 2B, we need a good glove and bat at 1B. That may not be Murphy, but it is definitely NOT Delgado.
Can I first say that I have always liked Delgado even before he became a Met. But I think it’s time to move on. His presence gives the team to much of a 2007-2009 fel and not in a good way. Let him move onto the AL where he can have a couple of more solid seasons as a DH.
I hope he has a good AL career but his batting streaks are going to be troublesome. Also, he has too many moving parts which need synchronizing, not likely to happen as a DH or especially as a PH.
Considering that the Mets only need a one year fix until their top prospect takes over in 2011, there’s nothing wrong with bringing Delgado on for one more year, IF HEALTHY.
Who else is really out there that would sign for one year?
I love Delgado! I dont think it would hurt to bring him along for just one more season, especially at a huge discount. I cant fiorget how hot he was in the postseason of 2006 unlike David Wright. We’ll need Delgado’s bat in the post season if we make it that far. I think we are one starting pitcher away from wrapping up at the very least a Wild Card spot, and possibly even the Phillies who remained injury free last season.
Unless we can move castillo and get a better 2b we cannot have a right side of the infield defense wit 2 old players who cannot play defense anymore. If he comes in on a 3-4 mill wit incentives I’ll take him, although I’m not 2 fond of him. But again, wit castillo out, delgado in. If not, then no thanks. Next.
“…it would allow Ike Davis a full year of seasoning in AAA, and may even give the Mets a trade piece in Daniel Murphy who will turn into a pumpkin once the Ike Davis era begins in 2011.”
Working in the Mets public relations department must has some benefits. They only say nice things, and they are not accountable sometimes until years later, when other sure fire prospects are being praised to the moon. I don’t think you work there. But I’m not fully convinced. And I don’t think you should be so certain either.
Researcher Victor Wang points out that there is a healthy dose of realism to keep in mind when we’re looking at the any one club’s farm system.
* 10% of top 10 hitting prospects bust.
* 21% of top 11-25 hitting prospects bust.
* 35% of top 26-50 hitting prospects bust.
* 45% of top 51-75 hitting prospects bust.
* 43% of top 76-100 hitting prospects bust.
* 59% of ‘B grade’ hitting prospects bust.
These statistics don’t mean we can’t hope and pray Ike Davis is the next coming of the sure thing. But some detachment is needed. Anyway, why are you certain there will be a positive performance differential between Davis and Murphy? Baseball is played on the field, not at the typewriter!
Great point des. What I’m wondering is what really happens if murphy then has a great 2010 (crossing my fingers), lets say 300 18 80 40 doubles. Then what? R we gonna then tinckle wit murphy again just so our “future” 1b plays in 2011? Having a prospect is a toss up. Not all of them pan out, as we have seen, since 1983 we pretty much have 4 players from the farm who really pan out.
Des: 10% of top 10 prospects in MLB or in any one team’s system?
Bob L. — The information I presented came from an article titled, “A Dose of Reality for Prospect Watchers,” by Erik Manning at Fan Graphs. It’s located at:
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/dose-reality-prospect-watchers/
Erik Manning writes:
“I think as we look at minor league stats and read scouting reports, if we are not careful we can get rose-colored glasses when it comes to our outlook of the future of these players. The truth is most of these players we find ourselves pulling for simply won’t ever make it.
“Victor Wang has done some tremendous research about prospects and their value. In determining their value he had to find the rate of which players bust in each category he divided them into. This is a healthy dose of realism to keep in mind when we’re looking at the any one club’s farm system.”
He then produces criteria involving Baseball America and prospect wonk John Sickels. Parsing all the material is not straightforward since it involves a universe of top 100 players without team designation.
So take a look at it and see if you generally agree with it. When I posted my view, I used the material as a generic guide applicable to most situations and teams. More investigation is needed to specifically answer your question.
While not exactly a gifted fielder, his IB play is competent if he’s healthy and mobile. I definitely have mixed feelings about him returning.
On the other hand, imagine the power surge in a lineup w/ Bay, Beltran, Delgado, Francoeur, and Wright!
The Apple WIll Rise Again!!
Which part of putting Murphy at 2B didn’t Mets management understand? If Chase Utley and his hands of stone can learn 2B so can Murphy. Utley was a really crappy minor league defender at 3b so the Phils moved him to 2B where he was just plain bad. Utley is an avg fielder at best and I see similarities between the two. From what I see Murphy is a better athlete then Utley is. If Delgado is resigned send Murphy to AAA to play 2b everyday. 20 hr, 85 RBI and .280-.290 BA from a 2nd baseman,I can live with avg defense.
You might be trying to squeeze blood from a stone here. I have a feeling Murphy may be nothing more than a utility player and a bat off the bench. Realistically he hasn’t responded well at any position so what’s to think he can learn 2nd?
They tried Murphy at 2B in the AZL last year and haven’t mentioned it ever since!
Murphy was hitting well when I think he got hurt in Arizona.
The issue I have is the wisdom of Mets management taking Murphy, a sort of beef and potatoes guy, and processing him as if he were a beef sausage. I think it showed that Omar and staff were indecisive and lacked commitment to Murphy’s career development. Talks involved LF, part time 3B, 2B, and 1B. The kid gave his all but enough of the sausage strategy. So in my view, they screwed up, not Murphy.
I was displeased with their handling of both Murphy and Ryan Church. Omar’s and Jerry’s statements were a hodgepodge of conflicting comments. Not professional and not good.
What I’ve always said…..
You cant’ make the judgment on whether Murphy is an everyday player or a UTL roll player at age 24, that’s just too early. Look, Jeff Kent and Chase Utley both were terrible in the field early in their careers. Both needed a place to play where their defense could be hid, 2nd base. Murphy can flat hit. He’s bigger then both. He’s faster then both.
To Bob L’s point, Murphy was spiked in the AFL All-Star game and was done for the rest of the AFL season. Castillo was already under contract for 3 more years then. The plan then was for Murphy to play LF. He played 2b in AA, not very well but still played there. Ultimately Murphy may be better suited to DH and could be used as trade bait.
My point is if Delgado is resigned you need a plan for Murphy; AAA to learn 2nd base is my suggestion.
Your idea makes sense, Pedro, if Murphy is not our 1B in 2010. But, you know what? Predictions are like throwing darts in the dark. Murphy may use the 2009 season as a ‘life-lesson’ and be primed to bust out in 2010. Who knows? His ‘D’ got better late in the year, and so did his bat.
I am with you Des, we are already anointing Davis the future of 1B but we have to wait and see how he does in spring training and AAA before we hand him the position. He needs at least 400-500 more at bats to make sure his season in AA and Arizona league was legit. Murph has done a great job playing a position that he didn’t play before and showed some pop so he is not just a has been. Bringing Delgado back as some have posted here would be a bad move for Mets defense. Pitchers like Pelf depend on ground balls and last year with Jose out there were a lot of balls that were not fielded. Delgado before he got hurt was not a good fielder and not with hip issues he will bend down to grab that groundball even less. I know we need a LH bat but to depend on Delgado and his defense is a scary proposition. I say get a RH platoon for Murph and then see what 2011 and Davis bring.
A frightening reminiscence from 2007 came to mind.
Ruben Gotay actually played 2B,SS and 3B for the Mets, with most of his time at 2B. He was not a good fielder and he had limited range.
Shawn Green played RF and Carlos Delgado was at 1B.
When a sharp grounder or pop fly was hit to the right side of the Mets defense, it was often the start of events with the runner winding up at first base. The grounder would go through to the outfield unless it was within a few feet of Gotay or Delgado. The short fly was even more of a mystery with usually unpredictable results. Green would get a late start on the fly, Gotay couldn’t cover the area going back and Delgado was doing a terrific imitation of the Statue of Liberty. He didn’t move.
I agree with you both. And I wouldn’t mind seeing Murphy get take some ground balls at 2nd and 3rd so perhaps we could have 2 good young players if Davis is the real thing.
Murphy probably would have done better in the outfield and at 2nd if he’d had a chance to learn them in the minors instead of leaving him stuck behind Wright for so long.
Again, do we need a 38 year old 1st baseman with a surgicaly repaired hip that desperately? If he’s smart he’ll look to go where many ballplayers trying to stretch thier careers go, DH Land.
Omar’s plan from the beginning was to bring back Delgado. Say what you want unless Delgado gets hurt and can’t perform he is your first baseman for 2010. We should have looked at Texiera last year and at least try to make a trade for Adrian Gonzalez this year.Can you imagine how our infield would be for the next 5-10 years with Gonzalez,Wright,and Reyes anchoring it.. How long will it take for a Davis to even approach Gonzalez’s numbers. The METS track record on phenoms making it is very poor.As for starting pitching the only pitcher left who can be considered to be a #2 is Ben Sheets,but Omar will never go there because of the risk of injury. After last year he will not take that risk. Sheets needs to prove he is back and healthy and would make the biggest impact on the rotation-that would be my pick. Minaya is predictable and his loyalty to Delgado is documented.
I agree entirely with each of your points. Minaya has long been fixated with Delgado and that won’t end soon enough. Sheets is the best option left, but I’m concerned about his refusal to showcase himself this off season and yet he wants no less than $12 million. He needs a new agent who can give him better advice and a better reading of the market this year.
Delgado could hit 25-30 HR’s but he won’t help you in any other way. He can’t run, field, throw or even move and that’s before his hip surgery. I mean has anyone been watching his play at 1B? Put him on your fantasy team if you want but he’s never been anything but a DH to begin with (even playing on astro turf in a dome) The wear and tear on him bending down on every pitch alone will ensure an early exit to the DL and for what? So every ground ball to the right side becomes a single? Every short pop up a double? Every foul pop a 2nd life? Yeah Delgado could hit 25-30 HR’s but at what cost?