10
2012
MMO Mailbag: Should The Mets Trade For Allen Craig?
Terence Farley asks…
I think the perfect player for the Mets to get in a deal for either Dickey or Niese is Allen Craig. I’m surprised that no one has mentioned this idea.
Sean replies…
That is one of the more original offers and proposals that would help both sides. First, lets take a look at Allen Craig
Craig received his first major bump in at-bats this season with 469, playing most of his games at first base but spending 26 in the outfield. Offensively, Craig has shown he can hit, showing a .307 batting average, to go along with 22 home runs and 92 RBI. While Craig doesn’t walk much, for a guy with some promising power as well as ability to hit doubles (I say hit because he doesn’t have the speed to turn singles into doubles) he doesn’t strike out much, with a modest 17.3% K rate.
Now, defensively in 742 career innings in the OF, Craig has put up an 0.9 ARM rating, meaning he doesn’t have a cannon, but he shouldn’t be a liability at either corner. UZR has him at 0.3 over his career, with UZR/150 pegging him at 0.2. To put that in perspective, Duda has 1403.2 career OF innings, and has an ARM rating of -9.2, UZR of -35.8 and UZR of -35.1. This may be the only time ever Mr. Craig hears he is a better defensive option than another OF.
Now for the downside – Craig will turn 28 this season, and trading the cost-controlled upside of a guy like Niese who is just hitting his stride as a pitcher is more difficult. For a guy like Dickey, I think the Mets could possibly get more for R.A., but that is in a perfect world. This is the world of capitalizing on the desperation of other GM’s.


About the Author: Sean Kenny
Sean Kenny is a student/writer currently attending school at the City College of New York. For more Mets news, notes and thoughts follow him on twitter @TheSeanKenny
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 42 | 30 | .583 | - |
| Phillies | 35 | 37 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Nationals | 34 | 36 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Mets | 27 | 40 | .403 | 12.5 |
| Marlins | 22 | 48 | .314 | 19.0 |
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I doubt St Louis would be looking to trade Craig. Beltran has only 1 year left on his contract and his knees are becoming a problem again. Unless they sign another bat I can’t see them moving Craig. He’s a cost controlled middle of the order bat that plays multiple positions.
Craig will be 28 this season, not 30.
woops, thanks. Math isn’t my strong suit it seems.
Why is turning 28 a downside when we are swapping a 38 year old? Also Craig is under team control through 2016.
If you are trading Dickey, you need 3+ years of control and youth. He has the control part, but not the age.
Fonzie:
A few things. Taveras replaces Beltran in the OF. Adams is ready at 1B. They have Matt Carpenter who plays all corners and hits lefties. Craig is essentially trade bait. I live in St Louis. He plays a good RF
So, what are the trade pieces?
Pitching wise the Cards have Wainwright. Carp, Westbrook, Garcia if healthy, plus one of Miller, Lynn, Kelley, and Rosenthal. Martinez is a half year out. Looking at 2014 their rotation is Miller, one of Rosenthal and Martinez, one of Lynn and Kelley, Wainwright. They could use a pitcher but don’t need one. Niese would be their first choice to replace Garcia. But that’s not happenning. Thus, RA enters the picture. Given his desire to win and the ballpark and brutal (and I mean brutal) heat and humidity here this is the perfect place for him.
So RA and Craig are involved. Westbrook, Beltran, and Carp are gone next year do there aren’t any huge salary issues. But I’m sure the Mets would like to get a pitcher back. So I’m guessing Westbrook, who give you innings. You may get Kelley, a rich man’s Gee, instead if you somehow sweeten the pot. SS is a major issue for them but Tejada isn’t going anywhere. That leaves a 2Bman short term until Wong is ready and/or a loogy. Murphy really isn’t their type, but Edgin is.
Of course Thole needs to be included so a swap of back ups would make sense. Cruz is much better than Thole, has a gun, and is adequate at the plate with some power.
RA, Thole and Edgin for
Craig (RF), Cruz, and Kelley
You may have to swap Boggs for Parnell to make the money more equal. The Cards have a strict budget.
If you want to go hog wild then include Davis for Matt Adsms, Wacha or upgrade Kelly to Lynn.
you are trading away good to great starting pitching for way too little. I’d trade Gee for him, but guys like Dickey and Niese are at a premium to MLB. If you did that trade, St.Louis would immediately turn around and trade Dickey or Niese away for the package we should have recieved, laughing the entire time at how dumb the original trade was.
The mat Latos trade last year is a good barometer for a Niese trade. Dickey is a little different because at the moment its just a one year rental for him unless he signs a extension.
The mets should get at least one very good outfielder, not a guy who sometimes plays the outfield, and at least one other good prospect in any trade od Dickey…possibly more.
I would trade Dickey for Ben Revere for center field, Trevor Plouffe to play the right field and then one of their outfield prospects.
He seems to be an interesting idea, but we should be able to get more for Niese or dickey