15
2012
David Wright: Money Isn’t The Issue
An article by 
The New York Post reported earlier today that David Wright is more interested in winning championships, than the money he is bound to receive when his contract expires at the end of this year. David states “the money issue for me, I don’t think that will be deciding factor.” David, the fans like the sound of that, but you aren’t the first athlete to utter those words before bolting town for a bigger pay check.
Every athlete says they want to win. For the most part, the fans want to believe that is true. But at the end of the day it will come down to the all mighty dollar signs. David has earned every right to test out free agency. He has played in New York for his entire career in the shadow of his cross city rival Derek Jeter. A player, who I might add, that he has outplayed. No Yankees fans will ever admit that, but it’s the truth.
David is saying all the right things. He doesn’t want this to turn into a media circus. He saw how the Mets handled the Jose Reyes situation last year, so that has to be in the back of his mind. The funny thing is I actually believe what David is saying. Most of the time, when athletes make these statements, they are being disingenuous. Call me naive, but I do think David will opt to stay in New York – that is, if the Mets are willing to resign him.
I think David has a real opportunity to solidify his legacy as a New York Met this offseason. We often see NFL quarterbacks, and other NFL position players, rework their contracts in order to free up salary space so their teams can sign other players that will help them win a championship. If David wants to win that bad, and remain a Met, maybe he can do something similar. This will ultimately be frowned upon by the MLBPA, who wants every player to get as much money as they can in free agency. It would also be a bold move in showing us that these players are motivated by more than the all mighty dollar.
If David agrees to take less money, the Mets might be able to add some pieces to the puzzle, and get back to playing winning baseball. The Mets could also take the money they save by signing Wright at a discount, and sit on it, instead of reinvesting it in players that can help them win a championship. Maybe that’s why David wants to see what the team’s future plans are before making his decision – if he takes less money he probably wants to see a commitment by the Mets to reinvest that money into players that can help them win again.
My gut tells me David wants to retire a Mets player. My brain tells me that his statements were just a good P.R. move – a move, in the game of chess, taking place between a player who has managed to do everything right for the length of his career, and his team. New York Mets – it’s your move.
About the Author: Mitch Petanick
Mitch is currently an Editor and Minor League Analyst for Mets Merized Online. His baseball experience includes being a former All-Conference collegiate baseball player who had numerous professional tryouts, and he is currently a hitting instructor. He has been involved with the game of baseball for over 30 years now as a player, coach, and consultant. Mitch is also a former Featured Columnist on Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @FirstPitchMitch.
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What?! why the F! should David Wright take less then market value?
If an ownership group in NEW YORK! can not pay market value for ONE prime player there is a problem that needs to be addressed by MLB. The Wilpons say there is no problem, lets see.
CHrist man don’t make this about David Wright! This is about ownership.
My sentiments exactly.
They barely got away with not resigning Reyes – and only b/c we had a viable replacement in Tejada (even though he’s not Jose Reyes).
Not resigning Wright? Yeah, I’m interested in how they think they’re going to spin that.
They won’t Srt they will simply fire or let expire Sandy’s contract and then once the damage has been done continue to blame the previous regieme for all the problems the way they have with Omar and Madoff!
It’s a vicious cycle here.
i believe that its not about the money for him , but thats said , it means the mets have to show him that a WS is in range the next few years . And i really think he has no problem with leaving new york if a true contender offers him the same , or even a little less then the mets . I remember Reyes said last year there is a good chance he stays in New York …..
I dont think SA can put David a masterplan on the table , i am not sure SA wants to do that anyway . To make things clear about what i hope for ….
KEEP DAVID WRIGHT AS LONG AS HE PLAYS THE GAME OF BASEBALL
lets go mets , lets get the reds
Nobody takes less.This team has no plan period, let alone a plan to make the playoffs the next 2 years.Goodbye David, you were a fun player to watch.
Move Murphy to third base where he belongs, put Spin at second where he belongs, trade Wright for a MLB ready power hitting outfield prospect and lets get this rodeo on the road. We’ve never won anything with Wright and we certainly wont be any worse without him. Give him the Jose treatment only this time actually trade him and get something for the future.
Sandy is it you ???
Hi Angelo,
Actually, Metscentric makes a good point in the sense that this is how the front office will spin not re-signing David. They have Murphy to replace him at third and Flores, Vald or Turner to take over at second.
I actually thought they should have traded him before the deadline if their plans were to not resign him. That way they get whatever they could for him instead of ending up with nothing. That makes me think they will resign him.
If they traded Wright at the deadline this year he’d be able to opt for free agency this offseason
Which is why they should have done it because we still would be have a chance to resign him and have some prospects in our pocket.
Solid thinking there. You are right.
that’s a fantasy scenario sorry Mitch.
If the Mets traded Wright, the odds he’d opt to FA and come back to the Mets this winter are so slim that even Pete Rose wouldn’t bet on it
100% fantasy, but posiible, and at least we would get some prospects…then again after hearing the mets wanted top three prospects for Hairston I can only imagine what they would ask for with Wright lol
Nah first of all if he could opt out then his market value was down for trade anyway – besides a team acquiring him wouldn’t get any comp picks for him unless the deal happened prior to the season
If he was traded, every team who needs a 3B would go after him. He wouldn’t need the Mets anymore after they trade him.
The company line per jessup… a proven lie…. if nobody takes a rental star anymore how come Greinke was moved. He was moved because unlike the mets front office led by the liar and fraud sandy, some teams want to win….why do they want to win? it builds fan support, it makes money for the owner, two things that losers like sandy and the puppets led by supreme puppet jessup don’t care about….its all about protecting their god, as false as he is. how many lies can you spew out each day puppet jessup… Oh, as many as lord sandy and co. feed me.
Amazin – Again if you want to act like you know what you’re talking about, try reading the conversation first.
It is unrealistic to think the Mets would trade Wright before July 2012 and then sign him in Winter 2012.
That is what the topic was.
don’t distract from the FACT that YOU JESSUP were PROVEN to BE WRONG AGAIN. Your words are LIES or are just wrong. over and over and over , and to defend yourself you try the loser’s number one gimmick, try to change the subject. Defending a failed god is difficult at best, and for those who have closed their minds to any sense of reality its impossible. time for the lord to get a new puppet. Your strings are twisted, and you are outed. Unemployment line coming soon for a broken puppet. poor jessup, but you deserve no more or less.
Sorry Amazin but I think anybody with any baseball knowledge would tell you it’s unrealistic to think the Mets could have traded Wright this summer and then re-signed him in the winter.
So I don’t think anybody but the voices inside your head would tell you I am “proven wrong” especially with the Greinke deal.
But if Greinke signs with Milwaukee, you can come back and tell me how I was wrong
Jessep it appears you have a stalker. Everytime you comment this guy is right behind you.
Fonzie: You ain’t kidding. My fan base is growing daily. Can you do me a favor? Can you email me morgantownminers@gmail.com ?
Again See Cliff Lee!
Hi Jessep,
“If the Mets traded Wright, the odds he’d opt to FA and come back to the Mets this winter are so slim that even Pete Rose wouldn’t bet on it”.
- That’s depending on the odds he’d be given.
BINGO! Thats what I wanted to do with Beltran this year!
Ok we got our Kid for him now lets go re-sign him for less than he was making last year and pretty much maintain our good lineup albeit with a promising starting pitcher to look forward to!
Right because it was painfully clear Beltran enjoyed his time here so much right?
Come on… he was gone.
The chances a player would sign with a team after they trade him AFTER all the drama and problems ownership had with Beltran are more slim than you buying a clue on half the debates you force down my throat.
Yep he sure did!
Got proof to the contrary lets see it!
As for the rest of your blather….
See Cliff Lee!
RU Nuts? Spin can’t play second even at AAA – that’s why they are moving him to the outfield. He let way too many balls get past him, to the point that his even paying attention was in question. Ever watch him play second? I did, on milb.tv. He was even worse at short. That’s why they moved him to second. He looks much better in the outfield.
And, you want to blame Wright for all these years of losing? The only years (3) that his OPS was under .900, it was in the mid to high 800′s or .771 – last year when he was out for 3 months with a broken back! As far as the .800 years, one of those years was his rookie year, and one was the year Matt Cain almost took off his head. He has earned the right to stay, if he decides he wants to. This team would be much worse off without him, and the Tampons (I really like that nickname!) don’t deserve a player of his quality. If only we could trade or release them!
Actually they very well CAN be worse without him. And with that it might take even longer to get back to being a good team. Infield of Ike-Valdespin-Tejada-Murph?? Pass me the barf bag
I think he might be one of few that wants to stay with same team, but does the organization want to pay him to stay?
He needs to be signed and he needs to be part of the leadership that takes the Mets to the next level. He may just fool everyone and work his contract to defer payments and allow the FO to get other pieces. It would be admirable but make no business sense. Let him lead the way to something new and let us relish this talent until his number is retired and on the wall at CITI!
He has done everything asked from the start and more. How many people have played with a broken back?
The Wilpon/Alderson plan is to cut payroll and David is making $16MIL per season???
16Mil off the books……….
Sandy Alderson:(Hannibal from A-Team voice) I love it when a plan comes together!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqZVRoIoMfQ
Am I the only one who thinks that Wright saying that winning is more important than money means it’s more likely he’ll leave than stay? He might leave for LESS money than the Mets offer.
Good point
They will pay David his market value, but nobody else will get a big contract including Dickey. This is unfair to DW and he will leave for a chance for a championship. Unfortunately Jason Bay and Santana made the Wilpons hesitate to give big bucks to FA. Their philosopy is to build within. Their goal is to be like the Rays. Unfortunately many more mediocre seasons before competitive.
Agree…it’s like they’re afraid of getting burned in free agency again.
I don’t think they’re worried about DW burning them. He’s always produced on and off the field – no matter how badly he was hurt. I could see a scenario like Hoegy laid out happening – if our fearless leaders have any sense at all. DW will do exactly what he says he will do – the man has a great deal of integrity.
No they aren’t afraid of Dwright burning them…just signing free agents in general
Hi Mitch,
Sandy has made it a point to talk about how many teams got burned by long-term contracts.
But if it doesn’t work out, most teams will try trading the player with a year or so left in that contract and eat up most of the salary to boot. They will simply absorb the loss as a write-off and nothing more.
But not the Mets. The Wilpons don’t have the cash to make such commitments and they have working for them one who is quite hesitant to do so even under better financial circumstances.
You folks had better HOPE Wright is more about the money and we pay it if you want to keep him because if he is not about the Money then he will be about the RING which not even Sandy’s Biggest supporter thinks is coming anytime soon!
“You folks”?
As in “You mets fans”?
No I mean all you guys who Wear Sandy Alderson gear every day!
It all seems like a setup to trade Wright at next years trade deadline. I do not see this leadership paying market value for D.W., and I don’t see a 6yr deal in the mix. Where ever Wright goes I wish him all the best, and as long as he does not go across town, down 95 to PA, down to GA, or to St. Louis I will continue to root for him.