13
2011
Could a New Investor Translate Into a Mets Run at Pujols?
An article by 
With the Pujols and the Cardinals miles apart and their set deadline fast approaching, it appears the 3-time MVP will hit the free-agent market following the completion of the 2011 season.
With many teams interested in arguably the best player in baseball, the market will likely become an all out frenzy to acquire Pujols. One of these teams could be the Mets, but their current financial state puts them at an early disadvantage. If the Wilpons successfully sell their desired 25% stock in the Amazins, this could translate into the Mets becoming one of the larger contenders for Pujols come next winter.
On January 28th the Wilpons announced they would like to sell a 20-25 percent stock in the Mets to “ensure the team’s financial security”. The estimated value of that 20-25 percent stake is roughly $200-250 million, a figure that would not only ensure their financial security but give them excess.
The timing for this lack of finances could not have come at a worse time for the Mets as next off season they will have roughly $60 million dollars at their disposal to spend on free agents. If they do not get an investor, it would most likely drastically reduce their flexibility in the 2011-2012 off season to pick up some top-tier free agents.
But if the Wilpons do find a buyer, this could create a situation to take on more payroll. This will not necessarily be the case given the Wilpon’s financial situation and Alderson being keen on lowering payroll, but picture a Mets team with the resources to retain Reyes, sign Pujols and have money left over? I do not think anyone can argue that this would put the Mets back on the map and once again give the Phillies a run for the NL East title.
But what to do with Ike Davis? We just can’t get rid of him, he is too valuable. Ike Davis was drafted as a first baseman/outfielder. Davis played right field in college and could perform with great success there. He has the range as we have seen at first base. In 2010, Davis not only covered the entire area around first with ease but the dugout and the front row of the first base side of Citi Field as well. Davis could utilize his range in spacious right field, making room for Pujols at first base.
If Pujols became a Met, the lineup would make any pitcher’s knees shake and stomach drop as they would take the mound. In 2012, the lineup would ideally feature Reyes, Pagan, Wright, Pujols, Bay and Davis, assuming Beltran likely walks as a free agent or is traded before Opening Day of 2012. Coupled with the arms of Santana, Dickey, Pelfrey and Niese, the New York Mets would once again be a feared and respected team in the baseball world.
It is a long shot at best, near impossible if the Wilpons do not find an investor, but if they do, Albert Pujols could be on the Mets radar and not out of the question to acquire if he hits the free agent market next winter.
About the Author: Clayton Collier
Clayton, a Long Island native and die-hard Mets fan, started writing online about three years ago. He is currently a Journalism major with a minor in Broadcasting at Seton Hall University. Although very disappointed with the current state of the team, Clayton remains hopeful that the young prospects in the farm system will bring the Mets back to a respected franchise in baseball once again. Besides writing for MMO, Clayton is also a staff member at 89.5 WSOU, Seton Hall's modern active rock radio station. You can contact Clayton by following him on Twitter: @Clayton_Collier or E-mailing him at MaybeNextYearMets@yahoo.com
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Let’s just PUHLLEASEE give this Pujols talk a rest. It’s not happening nor should it.
Why do you say its not happening? Werent you the one who knocked me for saying Ike Davis would win 1B job in spring training? You said Mike Jacobs was going to have a great year and was a lock and we were set there. Sure Ike got sent down but 3 weeks later I was proven right.
I see you speak in absolutes all the time as if you have the inside track but you’re wrong just about all the time whenever you do that.
Yes I was wrong about Jacobs. You want a medal? If I was right ALL the time I wouldn’t be here. I can’t help if if Mets Management agree with me in bringing Jacobs up north. He was only 2 years removed from 30 HRs. I was wrong. So? So that means no more predictions?
Sorry, but that’s not happening. I think it’s a mistake to throw big money at a guy who will be 32 by the time he’s ready for new contract. Especially when we have a guy now that I think will be a 25-40 HR guy. The money u use on Poo Holes could be put to a pitcher or make up the difference in HRs at another position. What if we have NO pitching what good would Pujols do anyway
This years wrong will be on Daniel Murphy Bayonne. He will be the starting 2nd baseman. I will wait for your post in April.
I’m not sure it’s going to be Daniel Murphy, though he’s the bast choice if the team is considering a proven major league hitter. The best choice is Reese Havens, a guy with more talent than anybody else mentioned.
The biggest factor will be Haven’s number of games played. He’ll hit, he’ll field, he’ll throw, he’ll run. And his swing is the best of any current Mets infielder, bar none. But can he play enough?
Why, because you say so? It is still the off season, and I’d much rather talk hypothetical about this then rehashing the same negative crap every day.
Bayonne it is VERY simile, you do not have to participate in ever thread, stay away from the ones that annoy you. Much easier then coming across as an arrogant jerk.
Ike Davis runs like he has a piano on his back…sure, he makes some stellar plays at 1B, but moving him to the outfield is ridiculous, especially the outfield in spacious Citifield. Right field in Citi is a complete mess with the Mo-zone and all the other twists and turns out there. As for him being in OFer, he played 2 games in the minors in the outfield and made an error in 4 chances. Ike also pitched in college, should the Mets get Pujols, maybe they can move Ike to the pen to be a lefty specialist.
If Pujols comes to the Mets, we can afford to lose a little defense. Ike has a good arm, and great range. He may not be fast on the bases but he still has range on the field.
It would be similar to Piazza and Hundley, except hopefully a better result with Davis.
Davis pitching is completely different. Many high school and college players both pitch and are position players. He was drafted as a first baseman and an outfielder. His minors stats in the outfield are too small to make an accurate assumption of his fielding ability. He hadn’t played the outfield in a year, he was likely to be a little rusty.
IF…IF…IF the Mets manage to acquire Pujols…the best thing for the Mets and Ike Davis, would be to trade Ike to a team that would use him as a first baseman, his natural position. Plus, if Ike has a good 2011, and in the offseason the Mets, somehow, acquire Pujols, Ike could probably be worth a good starting pitcher and a nice prospect on the trade market. Therefore, the Mets would be acquiring Pujols and a good pitcher, plus a prospect. Did I mention…IF?
Baseball Prospectus and I think it was Think Factory, both believe that Ike Davis paralells Francoeur. They said he wont top 15 homeruns and that he swung at over 30% of pitches outside strike zone and that his BABIP showed he was extremely lucky last season. I’ll try to find a link.
Ike is no slam dunk.
2 pieces of literary garbage just based on numbers.
That’s what it’s come to now. So you believe that because they say it? Unbelievable.
They do a pretty good job backing up their work.
Why are your numbers (40 HRs for Ike Davis) better than theirs?
I don’t see how Davis parallels Francoeur.
Davis has more power, he hit a lot of long HR’s last year. With the type of power he has, he will easily top 15 HR’s.
Davis walked 72 times last year, which is more than David Wright, Matt Holliday, Ryan Howard, A-rod, Hanley ramirez, and Joe Mauer. How is that like Francoeur?
Don’t worry about his BABIP. Adrian Gonzalez BABIP’s was almost exaclty the same as Davis, nobody is talking about Gonzalez being lucky, are they?
This time I agree with you Bayonne. The time a new owner or purchaser was on board the Pujols situation would be over.
well, depending on who comes off the payroll, they could sign Pujols and resign reyes, and keep the payroll right about where it is.
beltran, ollie, and castillo are roughly 38 mill. 30 to pujols, and a bump from 11 to 17ish for reyes, and roughly a wash.
Not saying by any stretch of the imagination that it will happen. Just that it certainly can if they can keep the payroll roughly the same (meaning that it won’t require a massive payroll bump of any kind).
I don’t think Pujols will be coming to the Mets and I really don’t want him to. Nothing against him as a man or a player, but it just seems we’ve been down the expensive veteran road before and it never fails to bite the Mets in the rear. He is an icon in St. Louis and it makes me happy to see guys stick their whole careers in one spot if everyone involved is happy. Player, fans and ownership. I think it gets done, maybe not before Spring Training, but it will. Like Jeter/Skankees, he’s worth more to the Cards than anyone else.
I think Wilpon’s days of majority ownership of the Mets are numbered. The pressure exerted on the Wilpon family to relinquish ownership of the team will become increasingly more demanding as the severity of the financial constraints placed on them becomes more evident.
I just can’t see Major League Baseball tolerating one of their large market teams being owned by people who can not afford to pay prevailing market prices for personnel.
Profit sharing in MLB was established for small market teams like, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, etc, not a team from New York.
We could only dream about that but what if. What if the Mets realize that a guy like Pujols is a once in decade type of player. He would instantly resurrect a team and a franchise for next 10 yrs. They would save money by having him in the lineup. It doesnt matter which stadium or which pitcher, he is the best hitter in baseball. I wasnt aware that Ike can play OF and I would be curious to see him play there. He may be quick reacting at 1st but the outfield is much different. I seriously cant see him playing there but trading him for some pitching wouldnt be bad, escpecially if he has a good season. Anyway, we are not going to get him and I would bet on it. I will still dream about it.
First base and the outfield make very different demands on an athlete. There’s a difference between a quickness and speed. Ike is instinctively quick at 1B for one or two steps, though his lack of foot speed would probably make him a poor defensive outfielder on balls hit in the gap or in front of him.
I’d like to see a foot race between Ike, Lucas Duda, Mr. Met and Fred Wilpon!!! Anybody care to predict winner?
I would hate to lock that much money in one individual…especially at his age. Lets see where Davis goes this year and then worry about FA first basemans.