26
2011
The Coming Fire Sale?
An article by Craig Lerner
Jon Morosi of FOX Sports is convinced the Mets are on the verge of a fire sale and that it could happen well ahead of the July Trade Deadline. “Think about it, he said. ”If you’re a manager, and your boss fears a potential operating loss of $70 million, dumping liabilities from the books would be a really good way to impress him.”
He lists Carlos Beltran as an example of why they will act sooner rather than later.
Well, Beltran earns a little more than $3 million per month. So, the Mets owe him about $6 million between now and the July 31 deadline, and then about $6 million more after that. It’s doubtful that Alderson could find a team willing to pay Beltran the roughly $12 million he is due over the remainder of this year; the Mets would probably need to include cash in the deal. But if Alderson waits two months to make a trade, the Mets will have paid Beltran $6 million that they can’t recoup. The motivation to save that money could compel Alderson to initiate trade talks earlier than usual.
It does make sense, but how can they do something like this with the Mets still in reach of at least a Wild Card spot?
That said, if it puts the Mets in a better longterm position wouldn’t it be a good thing?
Here is what he sees happening:
BELTRAN
It’s not easy for a hitter to change leagues at midseason, because that involves learning a new set of pitching staffs. But that could actually work in Beltran’s favor. The Yankees, Angels, A’s, Mariners and Tigers have had below-average production at right field, DH, or both. Yankees GM Brian Cashman knows how to add supplemental bats as the season goes along. We’re nearing the 10th anniversary of David Justice for Robin Ventura, so I’d say we’re due for another interborough trade.
Aug. 1: New York Yankees.
REYES
Like Beltran, Reyes will become a free agent at season’s end. It will be almost impossible for the Mets to lower the payroll and keep Reyes, as Wilpon all but confirmed in his public statements. Reyes will earn $11 million this year. That isn’t off-putting, as long as he keeps stealing bases, scoring runs and hitting over .300. He would make sense for a number of teams, including Cincinnati, San Francisco, Oakland, and St. Louis (if Ryan Theriot moves to second).
Aug. 1: Cincinnati Reds.
RODRIGUEZ
Rodriguez is precisely the type of reliever who is valuable at this time of year. He’s appeared in 21 postseason games, with good results: 5-4, 3.13 ERA, three saves. Because of his contract, suitors will likely want K-Rod to be a setup man. So, he should be of particular interest to teams that have soft spots in front of strong closers, such as Boston, Detroit, and Texas.
Aug. 1: Texas Rangers.
He also lists Pelfrey and Wright as potential players Mets could trade, but sees them as staying put when the dust settles.
About the Author: Craig Lerner
I'm a data analyst and researcher for a leading news agency who loves life and is hooked on the Mets. I love following the Amateur Draft and have a particular fondness for the Mets Minor Leagues who I follow each day. Give me a cold beer, a summer day, and a Mets game, and I'm good to go.
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pathetic, a NEW YORK team having a fire sale, ala royals, pittsburgh, and marlins (- the good scouting)..
what does geography have to do with this?
should i even answer that???
Well, I did ask it. What does geography have to do with payroll? In case you haven’t noticed, winning doesn’t have much to do with payroll and we want the Mets to win, right?
btw, imo, trade pelfrey and bay, and wright with prospects, get pitching, and ace and a solid #4..
Pelfrey staying put with the Mets on August 1st? Don’t count on it.
The Cincinnati Reds get close to zero production from their SS and LF players. At SS, they’ve gotten 4 hits in the last 75 AB’s prior to last night’s 19 inning loss. I don’t want it to happen, but Reyes and Bay are undoubtedly on the Reds radar.
The point of a fire sale is to dump salary and over turn the roster.
To do that, they would have to trade Bay, who is not playing up to his hefty contract. If the Mets ate a big chunk of his salary (which they would most likely have to) it defeats the point of the fire sale.
I would still try and move him. Do you see Bay getting any better with us at this time. We are going to pay him anyway. If someone takes him for a minor leaguer, who knows how good he can be. We need someone more productive than Bay is at this point.
I wouldn’t call this a fire sale. It’s what any team should do in the same situation. Trade players in the final year of a contract that you have no intention of bringing back. That’s not a fire sale Mr. Morosi, that’s just good baseball sense. Take whatever you can get and if the player projects as a Type-A free agent, make sure you get more than what the compensation picks are worth.
Did I read correctly that they the Mets could be in the chase for a “wild card”? Yeah and Cameron Diaz can’t keep her hands off of me-in my dreams man, in my dreams!
What it comes down to is if the Mets can afford to keep high priced talent like Reyes and Wright around while they rebuild. Do you go out and try to get a nice return with trades or do you hold them a few years and maybe have them depreciate in value. There is no quick fix here – the team is lousy on both sides of the ball. I’d start with the cornerstone of all great Mets’ teams: young arms. This is where the organization (and its fans) will need to show some patience.
I know no one wants to hear this proposal, but trade Beltran to the Yankees. Eat some cash and you could probably get one of their very solid catching prospects. Austin Romine is nearly ML ready and could replace Josh Thole almost immediately. Romine has very strong defensive skills and at least average power potential as a hitter. The Yankees are deep in catching prospects (Jesus Montero and Gary Sanchez are two other premium prospects they have) so dealing Romine doesn’t hurt them.
And don’t look now, but they Yankees also lost Rafael Soriano for 6-8 weeks with an elbow issue. K-Rod as a Yankee set-up man anyone? The Yanks can afford K-Rod, wouldn’t have to use him as a closer and worry about the ’12 option vesting, and could very well help them as a set up guy for Mariano. Not sure what they’d be willing to deal for K-Rod, but you have to think the appeal for them would be there. Get teams like the Tigers and Rangers interested in K-Rod and the potential return could be very good for Alderson and the Mets. I know K-Rod can veto trades to 10 teams, but you have to think a chance to pitch for a legit WS contender (i.e., Texas or NYY) would very much appeal to him. Of course, you don’t know if the Yanks want to do business with the Mets since they basically blame them for overuse of Pedro Feliciano! LOL
I know I’d hate to see former Mets helping the Yankees, but in this case both Beltran and Rodriguez could fill obvious holes with them and there is a legitimate match up for a trade here: say C Romine and a pitching prospect such as Dellin Betances or DJ Mitchell. Just a random thought.
Response to Joel Sherman column of today 5/27:
Joel,
I agree with all you said today, but considering the $ reality, I totally wouldn’t mind trading strikeout Wright, move Murphy to his only realistic position, 3B, let Beltran go, trade head case Pelfrey, but KEEP REYES. They let this superstar barely in his prime go, the player to build around, and they’re saying “we give up, fans, we’re going to stink for a long time” I believe Reyes would sign a long term deal, maybe starting at $13-$14M and escalating from there, and the sports media are sadly resigned to him being gone in July, without a whimper, let alone outrage!
There must be a public campaign for Wilpon to keep Reyes and sell the rest of the team before it’s too late and let this great player’s departure become even worse than that of Tom Seaver, which I well remember!
Rob Gould
Fort Lauderdale
P.S. I tried to write Mr. Alderson. Do you know how to contact this guy?