8
2011
It’s A Good Thing Pujols Isn’t A Marlin
An article by 
So Albert Pujols is heading to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the next decade, which is great news for Mets fans. Pujols had been heavily courted by the Miami Marlins before deciding to head out west.
Though the Mets will have to deal with Jose Reyes within the division for the next six years (or at least until the Marlins trade him away like they do all their star talent), no Pujols in the division is a big plus.
Granted, the current Marlins first baseman, Gaby Sanchez, is becoming synonymous with Pat Burrell in being an ultimate Met-killer. But then again, Pujols is Pujols.
The Marlins order is already going to be difficult to pitch to with Mike Stanton, Logan Morrison, Hanley Ramirez (if he stays) and now Reyes. Just imagine if “The Machine” was placed right in the middle.
Since many Mets fans have already given up 2012 and possible 2013 (I haven’t just yet), the non-Pujols signing may not be felt until the Mets are competitive once more, whenever that may be.
Pujols to the AL makes the most sense since he’ll have the option to DH in the latter stages of his career. It will be weird when the Mets play the St. Louis Cardinals to not see Pujols in the middle of the order.
The Marlins have been the talk of the league, bringing in Reyes, former Met Heath Bell and lefty Mark Buehrle. However, adding Pujols would have made them the hands-down favorites in the NL East.
While the Mets may not have much of a shot at the division title this year, not having to deal with Pujols in the division when the team does become relevant again is a big win.
Indirectly, Pujols signing with the Angels could be the move that most affects the Mets this offseason, except of course for the Reyes deal.
In Alderson we trust? You be the judge.
About the Author: Jim Mancari
Jim Mancari hails from Massapequa, N.Y. He recently earned a Master's degree in Journalism at Hofstra University. He is a devout Mets fan and takes pride in his team, despite their lack of success over the last few years. Like all Mets fans, Jim has plenty of hope. He also writes as the sports reporter for the Brooklyn Tablet newspaper and the senior editor of metroBASEBALL Magazine. Click my name to view my personal website.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 42 | 28 | .600 | - |
| Nationals | 34 | 35 | .493 | 7.5 |
| Phillies | 34 | 37 | .479 | 8.5 |
| Mets | 25 | 40 | .385 | 14.5 |
| Marlins | 22 | 47 | .319 | 19.5 |
Last updated: 06/18/2013
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As it stands now, the Marlins will be a force for the next 5 years. With Pujols they would be the best team in the NL.
Do the Cards now try to bring in Carlos Beltran ( who has received little interest this offseason) for RF at say 2 yrs. 9MM per with Berkman moving to 1B? The Cards can’t be that crazy about Allen Craig in RF or at 1B with Berkman in RF.
That’s a pretty smart idea.
Acc. to Peter Gammons, the Marlins are still trying to maneuver and improve- discussing Hanley to 2B, bringing in Aramis Ramirez for 3B and also considering Jon Niese in trade.
Wright and Niese for Hanley Ramirez and the LHP Chad James. Wright and Ramirez make the same salary you put Ramirez at SS Murphy at 3B Turner to 2B make Ike Davis the face of the franchise.
Yea I know, it’ll never work.
Sorry I mean I enjoy the creativity NJ, but I just do not want Hanley here. I honestly think if he was here everybody who wanted him would regret it. It’s not a word used in todays culture but fans of yesteryear would call Hanley a bum or a dog. We don’t need that here. We have enough problems, we don’t need a guy who is supposed to be the best guy on a team acting like a child when things don’t go his way.
I think if you’re looking to package Wright and Niese which I don’t think will happen, you can do better for the franchise than Hanley. Again, great talent… poor attitude. We don’t need that.
BTW I don’t think there’s a chance in the world this team trades wright right now. Reyes was a big enough PR nightmare, I don’t think you can deal Wright unless you want Citi Field torn down.
I don’t have to tell you my thoughts about Wright but I have to admit you can make a case that getting Hanley for Wright could be seen as a ballsy move if you believe that Wright is on the way down based on his recent seasons.
Add to that what would be better an infield with Davis, Tejada, Ramirez and Murphy in 2012 or Davis, Murphy, Tejada and Wright? I could see an argument for either.
Still I admit the x factor of Ramirez’s attitude in NY makes me wonder if he could survive here.
Anyway it’s a thought. Maybe someone else can have some fun with it and further it along.
I like that plan.
No where NEAR enough. The Mets are in a situation where they don’t have to trade Wright yet. The Marlins, if they trade Hanely, it is out of desperation and his value will be much lower. Not too many teams going to be meeting high demands if he is already disgruntle and the team knows the Marlins need to move him.
Ok, offered then who?? murphy for hansley??
Honestly, I don’t see them trading him to start with. It would basically make all their money spent pointless, unless of course they sign Prince. That being said IF IF IF they trade him it will not be to NY. I could see something like SD for Headley and Latos?
If Hanley is balking at going to 3B, I really don’t see him buying into going to 2B!
Would the Mets actually trade Niese to the Marlins after they walked off with Reyes? That’s ratrher difficult to imagine even with the quality of this mgmt.
Since they missed out on Pujols and Wilson…I would expect the Marlins to be contenders in the Prince Fielder sweepstakes.
However, I understand this is Mets site, which is why you are trying to make this out to be some sort of a “win” for the Mets…but, not having Pujols in the division is far more important to the teams in the division who will actually be competitive for the next 10 years…The Mets do not fit that category.
Albert and Hanley — one guy is a winner, the other is an infantile loser. One is a clubhouse guy, the other is a Tony Bernazard.
We weren’t getting Pujols so I didn’t much care what team landed him. In fact the yuck-yuck factor for me would have been quite high had the Marlins landed him.
Speaking of….Miami offered him more money but he took the LA offer anyway. I’m sure the no trade clause had much to do with that. Maybe also Albert just didn’t trust whatever it is Loria is trying to pull off down there.
I know it’s an insane amount of money either way but just goes to prove that with some FAs it’s not all about the money. Same thing with Wilson. Can’t help but think Reyes signed a little too quickly – unless his agent convinced him that was the only offer he’d likely get for that amount of $$ and years.
I don’t want that dog Hanley on the Mets. The Mets need high character warriors heading the franchise not somebody like Hanley.
omg hanley will not be a met! stiff as sandy is, i know he’s not that stupid
When reyes signed with the marlins most of you (sandy’s BK) said “ohh, it wasn’t like we won anything with him”, but what most of you don’t realize is, we haven’t won crap with wright either, not only that, but, by having a bunch of good guys in the locker room does not guarantee you a WS championship… with that being said, if i’m sandy, i am on the phone trying to find out what it’ll get to have hansley here, if it starts with david and ends with wright, i am signing up for that.. as much as evertyone is dogging him, you don’t think hansley is a STUD!!!?? you don’t think he’ll try to prove the marlins wrong and put up MVP like numbers?? come on man, let’s not forget the talent this kid has, he’s only 27, he doesn’t make as much, finish off the CORE of the 2006 mets and move on…
his name is Hanley, can you stop calling him Hansley?
If you are trading for Hanley you are trading for him to be the face of this team. The guy who takes kids like Tejada, Davis, Duda under his wing. The guy who answers questions when times are tough because Hanley over Wright doesn’t do anything in the standings, so things will still be tough.
Hanley is not that guy. You’re just trying to get rid of Wright for the sake of getting rid of Wright.
He’s DeSean Jackson, all the talent in the world but a poor attitude. I don’t want that here. We’ve seen it. We saw it with Bobby Bonilla. I’m not interested. I don’t need Mets players to be saints, I need them to not be accused of being lazy by THREE people, 2 managers and 1 17 year vet. It’s not an accident.
I don’t need a guy who pouts because his team is trying to win and tries to build a lineup around him and because of his ego he has to take what was a great day for that franchise with Reyes and turn it sour.
He is a great, great talent. I don’t deny that but when Wright and Hanley are both at their best, there is not a big difference in production. The difference is attitude.
ramirez is 3x better than bonilla ever was at any point in his career
I’m not saying Bonilla was as talented as Hanley. I’m saying they both have or had the same problem. Great talent, poor attitude. Bonilla finished 2nd and 3rd on MVP ballots 2 years in a row. Hanley has finished 2nd, and then 10th and 11th. Bonilla in comparison to the NL when he was 27, 28 was very good.
The point is still true. The Mets with all of their negative PR and energy do NOT need a lazy guy who has a poor attitude