28
2011
Mets Can’t Make The Same Mistake Again With Wright
An article by 
I guess I’m just like the Mets in a way, just passing the time until spring training. Even for teams with little chances, spring training brings anticipation and hope.
I’m not going to bother you with posts about the Mets not going after guys like Matt Garza and Prince Fielder, because you know as well as I do that’s not going to happen. That’s not news, it is stating the obvious.
To answer the question everybody is asking: I don’t know when Bud Selig will step in and do something about the drowning-in-red-ink Mets. He does have a double standard, going hard after the Dodgers’ ownership while letting the Mets skate. Selig has agendas; it has been that way with him for a long time.
The Mets have close to a billion dollars in debt they must pay off in the next few years, and that doesn’t even count what they might be on the hook for in the Ponzi scandal. It’s not going to get any better any time soon.
Jose Reyes is one thing. They could justify not bringing him back based on their economics and his injury history. But, David Wright is another. He’s arguably the the image of the franchise the Mets haven’t had since Tom Seaver. Reading tweets the Mets aren’t going to trade him to the Phillies offer little consolation, because we can only imagine it is a matter of time.
Wright will be a Met until at least the end of July, but other than that there are no guarantees. Privately, the Mets regret not dealing Reyes when they had the chance to get something back. They gambled and lost they could compete in the second half. Privately, they realized they had no chance in keeping him.
They can’t afford to make a similar mistake with Wright. If he’s healthy and playing well and the team is going nowhere, then what’s the point in holding on to the dream that never happened?
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.
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What about the 2013 team option that Wright can void if he’s traded? If he’s worth enough to bother trading in July, wouldn’t it make more sense to pick up the option and trade him in the offseason? And if he’s not worth picking up the option, would anything of value come back in a trade?
There is language in his contract to prevent that.
Off topic- Acc. to Olney, the Red Sox have traded for the A’s Andrew Bailey. Josh Reddick is part of that trade.
reyes’s value had to have tanked as soon as he went on the DL. Horrible timing for the Mets if the plan was to trade him.
There’s also some question as to just what Reyes could have brought back in trade even if he had been healthy. Beltran brought back Wheeler, but that looks like the biggest possible score for a rental this year. The likely result would have been Wheeler for Reyes and a couple of lesser prospects for Beltran, not two Wheeler-level prospects for the pair. The Beltran deal seems to have inflated some people’s idea of the market for two-month star rentals.
Its not really the same situation as Reyes…at least not yet. With the team option for 2013, the Mets still have some time to make a decision on Wright. They can wait it out…see what teams are willing to offer for him at different periods of time…or they also have time to sign him to an extension if they want. Bay and Santana’s contracts are up after 2013 (assuming the options don’t vest) so the Mets will have a lot more financial flexibility than they do now.
I’d listen to everyone. LAA have a need. NYY may too if A-Rod goes down. Boston (if Youk goes down with no Lawrie around) Philly, Atlanta if Chipper goes down and Salcedo being the only bat they have in the minors, SF if Sandaval balloons up again, Cinn if Rolen goes down. Lots of possibilities and only SD really having a surplus of 3B in the minors.
3B is a very weak area right now and realistically we have no hope of getting a Major League capable catcher unless Cordero comes through and that’s not until 2015 at best so a can’t miss catcher and another high impact kid sounds good to me.
Lutz can get us to Flores or Marte or we can pick up a place holder but two high impact kids here for 6-10 years would really make a difference. We’re not going anywhere in 2012 or 2013 anyway.
We’re not going anywere agee until fred/jeff/saul/bud and most of lord sandy are all gone and the new team sets up shop and goes to work…..
You all do know the new bargaining agreement devalues trades of guys made in mid season in their walk year don’t you all? Wright becomes a walk guy if traded, option voided, traded mid season no draft picks, the 12 mil offer to get drafy pick will not apply. Wait it out lord sandy hoping those three extra HRs just zoom his value….trick three folks, any, donal and one more into buying tix for your hapless club.
Good point Omar. I forgot about the midseason trade costing compensation. Wonder if that means you could pick up his option and trade him before the 2013 starts, like in ST.
Personally I’d prefer to grab two impact kids, one a backstop and a suspect or two at the first sign of a hot streak.
It was reported 2 weeks ago that the Mets cannot pick up Wrights option until after the 2012 season so they can’t pick up the 2013 option now and then trade him.
Right so they pick it up in November 2012 then trade him in January -March 2013. Still would play a full year for the team he’s been traded to and options have to be picked up by the winter meetings which occur in November.
I had not seen that about the option, but I was wondering. good to know.
so basically, trading him next off season is exactly the same as trading him this season, from the perspective of the acquiring team, since he will be a
oops. it will be a 1 year deal for the team getting him this off season or next.
They can not pick up the option as was stated but they could esily renegotiate the option away and guarantee the year the option covers if they wanted to before a trade.
The question is will Wright be willing to do that knowing it means another year away from being a free agent and a possible trade to someplace he really doesn’t want to go!
I truly believe Wright is a goner and the better he does this season the more likely it is!
I look at it this way, jose told everybody just before the season ended, that he loves new york and the mets fans, then all of a sudden he takes himself out of the game with his tail bewteen his legs, jose played us, made us believe he would stay. Then jose became one of them, meaning the money to be overpaid then what he’s worth. I hope david wright can put an end to the hole in his bat, needs to readjust his movement on his swing, go back to going towards right field. The mets as one really killed it for us again. This is way the owners need to go sell, sell, sell. These players and one agent who is just about the money and not the game. It’s simple, you do the math and see why people won’t be able to go to these’s games because they the players are over paid, it’s vey sad don’t u think.
I guess I am among the few that feel that David still has a lot to contribute this year and going forward with the Mets. I guess the days of a player staying with a team long term has gone down but why not David and why not going forward?
Why can’t he be our Piazza, Seaver, etc?
How long can you live, especially in a town like NY, trading or allowing your better players to leave or be traded and not have some anchor to the team going forward?
Not sure if I have mentioned this before…but Colorado would be a perfect spot for Wright…put him in between Tulo and CarGo, and he won’t have pressure, plus the Rox want him, in return…Nolan Arenado! Wilin Rosario would be a nice piece also, since the Mets have no catcher anywhere in their organization. Also, if the Rox really are interested in Niese, include him for Edwar Cabrera (or Tyler Andersen or Tyler Matzek if Cabrera is asking too much). Wright and Niese to Colorado for Arenado, Rosario, and Cabrera. Someone get me Alderson’s phone number so I can talk some sense into him.
Can I ask why Colorado would trade their best 3B prospect for rental ex. star that is expensive? I can see where they may do this for C or a P prospect, but not Arenado.
Sign and trade…a la, Santana in 08.
I’d certainly take it if it was a possibility, but I wouldn’t bet the ranch on it happening. I do like the thought process, though.
I agree. However, if I were Sandy…I would be calling the Rox everyday trying to get this to happen. 3 years from now, even Fred Wilpon will agree that Arenado is a superstar…whether he is a Met or not.
That is an excellent proposal Arenado. Wright, Niese for Arenado, Rosario and a high end pitching prospect.
Wonder if O’Dowd would go for it? Alderson certainly should, we aint going anywhere for a couple of years.
I’ve been begging for this deal for months…of course, I doubt Sandy and his cronies frequent this site.
could you blame them for not hanging out here?
anyway, if the rockies called to offer that deal, I doubt Sandy would turn it down.
We heard he was talking to O’Dowd but things are a little more tightlipped around here now. Something could break between now and April. If they did discuss something along these lines O’Dowd is probably waiting for the payroll to cripple the Mets and Alderson’s waiting for other options to evaporate for Colorado.
I wonder how Rosario’s knee is healing.
I think Wright would be perfect for a stress-free place like Colorado…Niese, however, pitches up a lot and his curveball wouldn’t be as affective in the thin air of Denver, but if they want him…they can have him. By taking Wright, they would have no need for Arenado, so prying him away should take minimal effort…convincing them of the other 2 would be the hard part.
They would have no need for him until Wright walks for free agency and they have a big old hole at 3B yet again.
If Wright EVER gets traded to the Phillies, I’m gonna throw myself in front of a bus!!!!!! DO NOT WANNA SEE THAT HAPPEN………EVER!!!!! NO MATTER WHAT!!!!! Too many damn Phillies fans around here for my liking living so close to Philly
Don’t the Reds have 2 good catching prospects, plus a few pitchers?
Rolen has health problems and I don’t think they were sold on either of his back ups. Besides, both are still young.
Given the state of the NL Central, the Reds could actually win the division if they add some power to their line up.
Not that I want Wright traded. But, if it has to happen, that is where I would look.
“Don’t the Reds have 2 good catching prospects, plus a few pitchers?”
They traded one of their good catching prospects (Grandal) for Latos, so getting a good catching prospect from Cincy is out the window.
D’OH. Never mind then.