9
2012
Melky or Upton Will Not Be On The Mets Radar This Winter
An article by 
There’s plenty of intriguing possibilities, only if the Mets were willing to take a financial gamble, which Sandy Alderson said they are not inclined to do.
As I posted yesterday, the Mets have $79.5 million of their earmarked $100 million to spend on six players: Johan Santana, RA Dickey, David Wright, Jason Bay, Jon Niese and Frank Francisco.
B.J. Upton would be terrific in Citi Field, supplying defense to aid the pitching staff and offense. At 28, he’s just the kind of player you could sign to a multi-year deal and build around. Trouble is he comes with some attitude baggage and the Mets would be wary of surrounding their young talent around him. That’s one of the reasons they were willing to eat the contracts of Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo.
Upton would be much better on a veteran laden team – like the Yankees – that has the leadership to keep him in line. When the Mets sputtered in the second half and Terry Collins suggested they were quitting, that’s the scenario where Upton might pack it in.
The guy I am especially intrigued about is Melky Cabrera, who would cost less than Upton because of his own baggage.
On the plus side, Cabrera could cover left field and adds a lot offensively. This year, and last season with Kansas City, he proved he can hit. But, he was making $6 million this year and even with a pay cut that’s too rich for the Mets’ blood.
Cabrera was suspended for 50 games for using a performance enhancing drug. His team, the Giants, wouldn’t let him go on a rehab assignment in the minor leagues as he is allowed and kept him off the postseason roster. What does that tell you about there desire to bring him back?
On top of the suspension, he and his idiot agent cooked up a crazy cover story that included the design of a website. That might have been worse than the drug use itself.
Cabrera, who led the National League in hitting this year and it a damage control move asked that he not be awarded the title, would likely get a short term deal because he’s a risk. Who wants to sink time and money for a player that could get nailed again? You don’t have to pay during a suspension, but you do have to fill the spot if he’s suspended.
Excluding the drug use there’s another question about him and that’s the number of teams he’s played for at a young age. In a seven-year span Cabrera has played for the Giants, Royals, Yankees and Braves, or just under two years a team.
There’s something wrong with that picture.
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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This is exactly why I posted that with our budget Michael Bourn should be the guy we target. I think we can get him for 8-10 million a year. I wouldn’t pay a penny more anf give him a three year contract.
Thanks for the entertainment metfanlou. Yeah, you go and offer Bourn 24-30 and tel him to take t or leave it!!!!!! Why waste his time. Just like Alderson, you’re living in another decade.
I don’t want our team taking anyone who took steroids, etc. at this point in time – knowing all of the flack, anger and unfairness it is to other players. One who is already contract – well, that’s a burden we would have to deal with – but let’s not add to it.
But any speculation about Upton or any high priced player is a waste of time until the Wilpons are able to lower down their debt – and by that I do not mean extending payments over time – we have nothing to hope for other than our kids put it all together themselves before the ones we build around become free agents.
No offense here JD it’s not really directed as much at you but we need to stop pipedreaming here about these Upton/Willingham/Cabrera/Insertnamehere deals they are NEVER going to happen!
Sandy is barely wanting to give Wright a decent contract right now and lets face facts here unless we get Wright to extend you not going to get all we think we are going to get for him because why should they when they know full well they can just wait us out and sign him next year when he goes FA or wait till the deadline where Sandy will have to run a discount just to get SOMETHING the way he did with Beltran and got only one KID!
Beltran is twice the player Wright is even those who LOVE wright have to admit that fact.
Sandy is NOT going to take on outside salary.
And even if these players we keep hearing about are available there is NO WAY Sandy will get them due to the price involved both in Contract value and Kids which he seems to be the basket all his eggs are in.
We may extend Wright but not because Sandy wants to but Wilpon does. Too much PR hit and too soon after the Reyes fiasco to let happen again.
So we will build and fill from within and the best you can expect for next year is we trade some kids for other kids that play the positions we need as opposed to trying every IF we have a glut of in the OF.
I am not really interested in seeing either of those players coming to the Mets, both of them have baggage, Upton with attitude and Cabrera with steroid concerns. The last thing the Mets need are more problems, this will be an interesting winter, Alderson will need to be very creative with trades.
I know I’ve said this before, but I’d rather gamble with BJ Upton. Maybe the stories about his attitude will drive his price down.
Plus, Justin is a terrible hitter away from Arizona, a total hitter’s park.
And there is no way I’d sign Cabrera to a major league deal. Maybe to a minor league to let him prove himself, but I am not guaranteeing him anything.
u know thats a picture of justin upton right?
Justin Upton’s career OPS is 200 points lower on the road than it is at home (Chase Field in AZ). That screams “buyer beware” if you play in a pitcher friendly park like the Mets do.
BJ on the other hand, has more consistent numbers both at and away from Tropicana Field. I too would take a gamble on the elder Upon brother.
I would target guys like Bourjos, Frazier (Cinci), Revere, Bonofacio, Dysson, Cain.
Give Cody Ross a one year deal with a team option and pout him in RF and play Kirk in CF, platoon Bay/Duda in LF.
Are you actually trying to justify and rationalize why the mets should sign a known Cheater? Ugh
I think the Mets should work a deal with the Texas Rangers. If the Mets could get CF Gentry and C Soto from the Rangers for Duda It would be a great fit for both sides. The Rangers look like there are going to let DH Bell leave and might loose Hamilton’s bat to FA. Duda would be a good DH/1B fit for them the Mets get Gentry a very good CF and leadoff hitter, high on base can steal 30 and low salary, the get Soto a once promising catcher who is still young enough to turn it around . Soto is still an upgrade from Thole and Gentry is way better the Torres and younger and cheaper.. The trade does’t brake the bank for the Mets who can then try to find a power bat through trade or FA and it fills two holes Center and Catcher.