5
2011
Trade Target: Jesus Flores
An article by 
One player that Sandy Alderson should target this winter is Washington Nationals catcher, and former Met farmhand, Jesus Flores. The Nationals are unbelievably deep behind the plate not only in the majors, where Wilson Ramos is a budding star, but also in the minors where they are stocked with catching talent at nearly every level.
The Nat’s have in-house options at the back-stop position for years to come with such prospects as: Slugger and top prospect Derek Norris, Dave Freitas, Adrian Nieto, Jhonatan Solano, and Sandy Leon. On the big league roster last season you had the young stud Ramos, being mentored by the wise, old sage, Ivan Rodriguez, and a disgruntled number three catcher by the name of Jesus Flores. Why was Flores disgruntled you might ask?
At age 27, he was finally healthy after two years recovering from a torn labrum in his shoulder. Stuck behind Ramos and Pudge, he only amassed 86 AB’s in 30 games for 2011. Clearly, he is severely blocked and with Derek Norris literally breathing down his neck, Flores is surely noticing a big squeeze to his playing time when he feels he should be the starter.
“It was great just to make my comeback, to be on the field again and start. I didn’t have a really great spring training with numbers. But physically, I was seeing myself improving. I was healthy. My shoulder was coming along. I started the season in Triple A, just getting used to the everyday playing. When I got called up, I could see that everything wasn’t the way I was used to it before. It was an adjustment, I had to adapt to the situation. I’m still 27. I’m in good shape. I still have a lot of talent to be a No. 1 catcher.”
When asked if he would welcome a trade and a new opportunity somewhere else, he stated:
“I don’t know, it’s hard to answer that right now. Wilson (Ramos) is having a great year. I’m happy for such a good kid. He’s kind of the same position I was before I got hurt, and he’s taken advantage. That’s good. But I will keep working and preparing to be the No. 1. I just want to play.”
Well Mets fans, I think we could offer Flores a chance to play everyday and seeing as he’s just what we need to take over the lion’s share of playing time from Josh Thole, the only question is “what are we waiting for?”
I know the Mets are limited as to what they can offer a team in a trade but let’s face it, Jesus Flores is not exactly Joe Mauer or Buster Posey. To acquire him would take a fair proposal, but the Mets have enough quality players in the system, to make one. I think this is one move that Sandy must seriously explore. Flores will definitely be traded this winter, and now the question is, to whom?
About the Author: Peter Shapiro
The first time I went to Shea was not for a Mets game, it was for the Beatles concert there in August of '66. My first Met game was '67, a guy named Salty Parker was the interim-manager then. My first pennant race was 1969. As a 12 year-old that summer and fall, I managed to get to the park for 3 games. The first was the beginning of the Miracle which actually started on Tuesday July 8, 1969 with a day game against the Cubs. I was there a lot in '73. I saw games 3 & 5 of the 1973 NL Playoffs against the "Big Red Machine", from the upper deck behind home plate. It was from there that I witnessed the fight between Bud Harrelson and Pete Rose, and the mayhem that ensued. And that sweet victory in game 5! I saw a couple of WS games at Shea that year against that legendary Oakland A's club. I was there in 1985 for every single game Dr. K pitched including his two 16 strikeout performances, and the day he one-hit the Cubs on an infield single and the Mets won 1-0. I loved being a Met fan in those days. Hopefully we are once again preparing to emerge from the darkness.
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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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perhaps pointing this out probably isn’t worth my time, but:
Fact 1: Josh Thole is 2 years younger than Jesus Flores and hasn’t been recovering from a debilitating injury for 2+ years
Fact 2: Josh Thole hit .268/.345/.344 over 386 MAJOR LEAGUE plate appearances this season. Was it an underwhelming performance considering our expectations? Yeah, that’s probably fair to say. But it wasn’t particularly bad, either.
Fact 3: Jesus Flores missed ALL of 2010 (logged zero professional at-bats at any level) and in 2011 managed a hideous .234/.252/.378 batting line over 218 MINOR LEAGUE (AAA) plate appearances.
SO, I ask you, given those three facts above:
WHY ON EARTH SHOULD THE METS THINK JESUS FLORES IS A MLB-QUALITY BASEBALL PLAYER AT THIS POINT IN HIS CAREER, LET ALONE AN UPGRADE OVER THOLE, LET ALONE AN UPGRADE OVER THOLE WORTH TRADING ASSETS FOR IN ORDER TO ACQUIRE?
well, they need a 2nd catcher anyway, and it hedges your bets having 2 young guys with the potential to step up and solidify the position.
Yeah sure Bart, what do we need to strengthen the catching position for? WE HAVE JOSH THOLE! Start printing the play-off tickets for 2012! See ya in ST!
You forgot the most important reasons and most important use for a catcher on a baseball team and that’s his defense, arm, handling of pitchers, etc.
Give me a guy with 3/4 the offensive stats of Josh Thole and he’s my starting catcher as long as he excels at the criteria I mentioned above. Any additional offense he can supply is a bonus but I DO admit we need somebody who can provide more offense than Nickeas.
That’s why we need a catcher who excels at defense but we can also rely on to start in case the Thole experiment fails.
Totally agree with you there Bayonne, before he got hurt, Flores was known as a catch and throw guy. Thole will never be that. Also, the position takes a serious beating and catchers get bad injuries all the time. It never hurts to have organizational depth there, and the Mets unfortunately do not.
At the end of the 2006 baseball season Flores was considered to be a real bright light in our farm system. Guys that project to be good catchers in the Majors very rarely hit 21 HR’s as 21 year olds in A+ ball. He did that. Survived a year on Washington’s 25 and became their property, got hurt and had some setbacks in his rehab. In the meantime Washington took advantage of Minn when Nathan went down and traded Matt Capps for Wilson Ramos (made possible by the 10 year deal to Mauer) and drafted Norris.
Flores is a VERY credible trade target and exactly the type of thing we should always be looking to do. I don’t think Washington would die if they traded him to us but all things considered they would probably prefer to trade him elsewhere. Lot’s of teams have a need at catcher and many might be a better fit for them. Their not taking gizzards just because their dealing from a surplus. Many teams would be interested in Flores.
What would Washington want position wise? They have CF and SS to address in their system, that means they’d want to talk Valdespin, Tovar, Kirk, Den Deker or Puello. I’d go Den Deker or Tovar and consider Kirk but look real hard elsewhere and I’m sure they would do the same.
One potential fly in the ointment is whether they believe Norris will remain behind the plate. Many don’t.
Dude, the Jesus Flores thing gets beat to death. St Lucie offensive numbers DON’T guarantee you’re going to be a ML hitter. Yeah, he’s been beat up, but let’s give this a rest already!
This guy wants an all home grown team and if it’s not home grown than the player must be acquired as a minor league and come up as a Met. Oh and NO PLAYER shall EVER be over 30.
And as soon as a player leaves for any reason there is one already capable in the minors ready to come up, major league ready, and ready to insert into departing players spot and ready to produce. And at EACH LEVEL TOO!! One right after the other.
That’s the t agee fantasy view of what the Mets should be running and he will never let us live it down until it happens. Team Utopia.
given the severe lack of catching depth (not to mention talent) in the Mets system, heck yeah I would like to get him, assuming he costs a reasonable price (based on all the facts noted above).
No clue what the nats can get back 9or what they would be asking), but if the price is reasonable, certainly worth a shot.
Aaaaaah yes, the offseason. Time for the bloggers on here to mention 3-5 people per day for the next 4 months, who, in their dream world, believe the Mets have a chance to obtain. Flores…what a dream that would be, a 27 year old catcher who has played in 59 games the past 3 seasons (including the 2009 season where he played 0 games due to injury) and in his most recent season he batted an amazin’ .209 and threw out 20% of would-be base stealers. Jesus Flores…let your imaginations run wild Mets nation. Can’t wait to see who the next name that is thrown around to enhance this roster is!!
hey, buying low works in the stock market! sometimes…
Let me ask you matt, you must be ok with more Ronnie Paulino, huh? If not maybe we could sign one of the big-time free agent catchers available……. oh, there aren’t any…….? That’s ok, we don’t need a catcher anyway. I mean, there’s absolutely no chance of Thole getting hurt next year. Oh, and even if he did we always could put Mike Nickeas behind the plate everyday, with Raul Chavez backing him up.
Given my option of Thole (.268/.345/.344, 21% CS%), Flores (.209/.253/.314 20% CS%), and Paulino (.268/.312./.351 20% CS%)…sure, I’m ok with more of Paulino. It’s a lose-lose-lose situation, but at least with Paulino, he’s a proven .273 hitter and a career 30% CS%. Thole regressed offensively and defensively last season and Flores…c’mon, be serious.
Given that Washington is well stocked and that Flores is blocked I don’t think it would take that much to get him. I doubt they’d be too worried about dealing him within the division, after all, he is no Bryce Harper. The whole point of going after Flores is potential. Yes, he missed all of 2010 and spent 2011 recovering. However, it sounds as though physically he has fully recovered and all he needs is the right opportunity to play regularly. What he brings that Thole doesn’t is better catch-and-throw skills and power at the plate. I would guess that if he could play 100-120 games he might give you a .250-.265 avg., 12-15 HR, and 50-60 RBI as well as more reliable work with the pitching staff. Jesus Flores is a low risk/medium reward type of player who is worth the investment, IMO. But I also would still pursue a veteran backstop to back up Thole in case Flores cannot be acquired or doesn’t pan out if he does.
If the option is another barajas type, might as well take a shot at upside potential.
Defense up the middle.
what about that Dusty Ryan (got the last name right?) guy? I was surprised to see he was only 27. I thought he was one of those 34 YO crash davis types.
I believe he hit OK, does he not have a good glove?
Parnell for Flores? Then find a young CFer who can coer a lot of ground and resign Reyes. That improves the defense and makes them a 500 team again.
jesus flores is a career 250 hitter with only 17 hr’s in 660 at bats and more than 750 plate appeareance, hasn’t played more than 82 games on any of his 4 season as a major leaguer, is always hurt, and defensively, he’s trown out 29% of base stealers….
can somebody explain to me the lovefest with this guy???? i don’t care what he did in the minor leagues or spring training, that s*** don’t count!!!! everyone is down on thole, i get it, but if we’re gonna replace thole (who btw, in 600 career at bats is a 275 hitter and while provides no power with only 6 hr’s his OBP (since i know a lot of ppl love that stat) is 350, and his rate of catchin base stealers is a 27%) let’s replce thole with someone who’s actually good and durable, not someone who can’t hit, can’t get ppl out, can’t stay healthy and can’t do anything special.