Feb
8
2011

The Expendables: Starring David Wright?

An article by John Delcos

It wasn’t surprising to hear David Wright is already is Port St. Lucie working out long before his report date. He’s consistently been an early show. A lot of Mets arrived early which is a good and refreshing sign. What better way to begin a new culture?

Wright is correct when he said the Mets haven’t won anything, but he’s been saying that since the spring of 2007. He broke no new ground there.

“It’s to the point now where you’ve got to put up or shut up,” Wright told reporters. “When it’s all said and done, I want to win, and we haven’t done that. … We have to be a team on a mission, no question about it.”

Saying they are on a mission is one thing. Following through on that mission is something else, especially with what the Mets are saying are limited resources. Perhaps the most telling thing Wright said was his admission the Wilpon’s legal and financial struggles have distraction potential.

“Anytime you’re talking about, in the clubhouse, anytime you’re talking about something that has nothing to do with the pitcher that you’re facing that night or the hitters that you’re facing if you’re a pitcher then, you know, it’s somewhat of a distraction,” Wright told XM Radio.

And, you know there will be plenty of trade and contract talk around the trade deadline involving Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes, and what moves the Mets should make.

There is one certainty in the uncertainty that is the Wilpon mess, and that is there will be limited if any spending this year, especially with the Mets likely to eat the Oliver Perez contract. The Mets, as they’ve done the past few seasons, will likely not make any additions at the trade deadline, regardless of how well they are doing. To the contrary, they will attempt to sell off some of their parts, maybe even Reyes.

We don’t know the severity of what’s to come of the Wilpons and how this could play out. Should the Mets be forced to deal Reyes in July, and the Ponzi fallout lingers into next season, who is to say Wright won’t become expendable? He’s signed through 2012 (with a club option for 2013), productive and making a salary relatively easy to unload (he’ll make $14 million this year and $15 million in 2012, with a $16 million option for 2013).

If the Mets are forced to go into full rebuild mode, Wright would bring the most back in return.

I hope it doesn’t come to this, and I believe the Mets will do everything they can to keep Wright, but we don’t know what conditions will be beyond their control in the future. And, that would be very distracting.

About the Author: John Delcos

I am an active member of the BBWAA and have covered Major League Baseball in several capacities for over 20 years, including ten in New York working the Mets' and Yankees' beat. I covered the Baltimore Orioles for eight years and the Cleveland Indians before that. I currently serve as an editor and senior staff writer for Mets Merized Online. Follow me on Twitter @jdelcos.

19 Comments + Add Comment

Maggie February 8, 2011 at 1:54 pm

Wright’s salary pays itself from merchandising alone, I would put money on it. You can’t throw a stick without hitting at least 2 Wright jerseys. Aside from this being just an absurd idea to begin with, it would result in a net loss of revenue, I guarantee.
- Char February 8, 2011 at 1:59 pm
  
  Not to mention the loss in ticket sales from those going to the ballpark solely to see him play.
Liz February 8, 2011 at 2:11 pm

That would be the last straw for me. I would root for him no matter what team he got traded to. Hell, I may even root for that team too as long as it’s not the Yankees, Braves or Phillies.
Mr North Jersey February 8, 2011 at 2:41 pm

By the way the movie “The Expendables” was one kick a$$ action movie.
any February 8, 2011 at 2:47 pm

simple way for the players to not be distracted by the owners issues. Just refuse to discuss them. Once the games start, the press isn’t going to waste their limited access asking the same silly questions about the owners anyway.

so, issue them all a laminated card with the phrase “I am not involved in the owners financial situation, and I have no comment on anything not related to the game”. And tell them to just quote that if any media type strays into that territory.

hell, print up a whole box, and just hand them out instead of speaking!
- Donal February 8, 2011 at 4:01 pm
  
  You have way more faith in the media than I do.
  - any February 8, 2011 at 5:32 pm
    
    at some point, it will just get comic. The whole situation has pretty much been beat to death already, and likely there won’t be anything new for a while. Even these hacks will get tired of asking the same non questions day after day.
- Metsie February 9, 2011 at 9:47 am
  
  Sad to say that would not work. You know what the press does when you refuse to talk about something?
  
  Make something up and cite an unnamed source!
  
  I have been in that business for over 35 years and it simply isn’t the same business anymore!
Mikey February 8, 2011 at 3:44 pm

I know I said this in another thread, and it sucks…but I think the only way to make sure Jose and David stick around is to go to games this year. I loathe the Wilpons, and I have little to no expectation for this team this year, but I do know that a Met squad without Wright and/or Reyes is a non-competetive team for at least the next 3 years.
- Pete February 8, 2011 at 3:55 pm
  
  Well I don’t know about Wright, but Reyes is a goner by mid-season.
  - Mikey February 8, 2011 at 6:23 pm
    
    Even if they’re say, three games back in the Division or the Wild Card?
    
    Unlikely, I know…
    - Harry C February 8, 2011 at 6:52 pm
      
      I don’t think you are correct Mikey. The only way to save Jose is to get rid of the wilpons and their entire front office. This Alderson has set the tone to lose Jose. Has to watch him play!! Well, if he does great he won’t sign a Met deal. He’ll test the markets and teams like Boston and Philly will need a SS after ’11. If he struggles then Alderson has the excuse of he’s not good enough for his minimum salary Mets. You want Jose to stay then don’t go to the games and make the Wilpons need for cash greater.
      - Mikey February 9, 2011 at 9:16 am
        
        Even assuming you’re right, it’s not like the Wilpons will pack up shop by mid-season, thereby ensuring that Reyes gets a new contract. I’m sick of the Wilpons, too, don’t get me wrong! But if fans took it out on the players because they hate the owners, then nobody would have gone to Yankee games for 20 years, y’know?
- Metsie February 9, 2011 at 9:54 am
  
  It’s not going to be lack of money that determines if they stay or go. It will be due to baseball reasons. If we are going to rebuild then they will go if they can help get the players that will speed that proccess up.
  
  And in Reyes’ case don’t forget how Cliff Lee played out this year.
  
  Phillies traded him last year in his walk year to get what they needed to get Halladay and then when he came out in FA they went and resigned him. They paid him about the same amount as they would have if they had simply resigned him so it didn’t cost them a penny to do it and they got another Ace on top of it!
  
  The same thing could happen with reyes!
  
  Beltran could be resigned after the season too but I think that is less likely.
  
  Wright is probably the least likely to go with the exception of Bay who is a bit untradable at this point and only an overwhelming offer could change that.
  
  But if they struggle to hit again this season it actually makes sense to get what you can for them so that it doesn’t take 5 years to get back to a point where signing big contract FAs makes baseball and financial sense.
francis February 8, 2011 at 6:53 pm

at $100 per head, a guy who puts an extra 3,000 fans in the seats on average is worth $24 million a season.

i don’t know how many fans per game wright is good for, but this is the math that jeter’s agent probably uses, and is good starting point for this discussion.
Jonathan February 8, 2011 at 7:01 pm

Ummm… I want the real life Mets (not your fantasy league) to win a World Series. I don’t believe in dopey 23 year girls buying Wright merch as the path to a Championship coming to Flushing. D-Wrong Stuff and this phoney core has not won a damn thing with more than enough seasons to prove something. Let’s move forward please.
- srt February 8, 2011 at 8:02 pm
  
  Yeah because the only Met fans in the stands wearing a Wright jersey are 23 year old ‘dopey’ girls.
  
  I’ll go along with the dopey though I don’t think it’s young females this adjective should be applied to.
  - Mr North Jersey February 8, 2011 at 8:29 pm
    
    By the way that was a Left Hook. Kapow!!!
    
    Watch out for the upper cut.
- Donal February 9, 2011 at 8:50 am
  
  David Wright has been one of the best players in the majors and a top 3 3rd baseman the last 5 years, even with his rough 2009. In fact, Beltran, Wright and Reyes have been better than the Phillies’ top 3. It’s the supporting cast that has been the let down.
  
  Blaming three guys on a 25 man roster for not winning the World Series is foolish.

NL East Standings

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB
Braves	23	18	.561	-
Nationals	23	19	.548	0.5
Phillies	20	22	.476	3.5
Mets	16	23	.410	6.0
Marlins	11	31	.262	12.5

Last updated: 05/18/2013

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