20
2012
Wright Decision: Where Should Mets Draw The Line On Years And Dollars
An article by 
I like David Wright and want the Mets to sign him to an extension.
However, the question is: For how long?
The other day I wrote the Mets should get going and sign him and R.A. Dickey. What I should have said is they should put their best offer on the table, and if nothing else, be creative. My thoughts were the longer this drags on – especially after saying they wanted to get something done quickly – the more their price rises, as does the chances of losing them.
Contracts over five years are in vogue for superstars, Derek Jeter, Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder and Alex Rodriguez all received them based on past and future performance. However, most of these teams have, or will, regret the decision. The Yankees certainly do with Rodriguez. Pujols likely gave his best to the Cardinals.These deals are precarious, as evidenced by the contract Johan Santana signed with the Mets. Then again, the Mets regretted four with Jason Bay. Injuries are always a risk, but seldom do players produce as they did in the seasons leading up to the payday.
The Mets didn’t want to give a long-term deal to Jose Reyes because they feared him breaking down physically. The Mets had plenty of signs about Reyes’ durability, and are now getting the same indicators with Wright.
From 2005-2008, when the Mets played in Shea Stadium – and for the most part he was surrounded in the line-up with sluggers Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado – Wright was an offensive force, never hitting below .300 and never having an on-base percentage less than .388. He never hit fewer than 26 homers, drive in less than 100 runs, or have a .912 OPS.
Those numbers would have been worthy of a $100-million plus deal.
Wright was a blossoming All-Star and the hope was him having a Chipper Jones-like career and eventually go into the Hall of Fame as a single-team player. Jones did it with the Braves and is waiting on the Hall, as is Jeter with the Yankees. Pujols should be a Hall of Famer, but not as a single-team player. With Rodriguez, PED’s might keep him out.
I’m not so sure about Wright, on either count, these days.
The Mets signed Wright to a six year deal in 2006 (with a 2013 option they picked up ) and for the most part received their money’s worth. The speculated numbers are now over $100 million for at least six years (more than double his current contract).
However, his production over the past four years isn’t worthy of such a deal. If he gets one, it will be for past performance and marketability in addition to what the Mets hope he’ll give them during his prime. Wright isn’t just another player to the Mets in that he brings a lot to the table off the field, which also has a value.
Last year, Wright had a terrible second half and settled for .306, 21 homers, 93 RBI, a .391 on-base percentage and .883 OPS. It was a good, but not great season. It was not a season up to his standards or goals. The Mets, their fan base, and Wright himself, all expect more.
Owner Fred Wilpon let it slip Wright wasn’t a superstar, and wasn’t wrong.
But, alarmingly so, 2012 was also the best he’s done the past four seasons. Whether it be succumbing to the pressure of trying to carry the Mets; injuries (the Matt Cain beaning had to have taken something out of him); the difficulty of getting acclimated to Citi Field; or simply underperforming or perhaps hitting his career peak, Wright has not produced like a superstar.
He has not produced like a player expecting a $100-million package. Wright’s season highs the past four years are 91 runs (2012), 178 hits (2012), 29 homers and 103 RBI (2010), a .307 average (2009), a .391 on-base percentage (2012), an .883 OPS (2012, making it four straight years under .900.
As much as I like Wright, the question the Mets must answer is whether he hit his ceiling as a player. It is not a pleasant question, but it is pertinent. The Mets must decide if his trade value is at a high or if they have the ability to surround him with other parts. They must also crunch some numbers to determine whether to front load or back load the contract.
How many years should Wright get? I’m thinking five as the base with a string of option years. If they have seven as a base, they could find themselves under more financial stress down the road.
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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6 Years guaranteed 110 max. Options negotiable
6 years, 120 million.
Draw the line by trading him NOW that his value its at its highest, Let him go and acquire as much as you can for him. Move on from those choke jobs that have hunted this franchise for the past 6 years…
Well at least you are taking a stand and think now that Reyes and Beltran along with Wright all had to go. I can understand that thinking.
see now this is simply just baiting alex because you know he’ll blow his top and then you’ll be calling him out on it. That’s why you’re such a jerk because of this needling you do, then claim innocence, than have the last word on every post.
Considering you guys just posted about 105 post about some perceived double standard, how my post any different?
Do you think he feels that those two also were responsible for the huge choke jobs and had to go?
You are right, I shouldn’t have posted it. I will refrain.
I’m merely stating what other mets fans said when they were let go… as if wright wasn’t part of it. they point the finger right away that reyes and beltran were a big part of those collapses, good riddance to both of them, well, finish the job then and send #5 packing so we can really forget those painful memories.. and if anything, what most mets fans remember most was wright’s famous strikeout with man on 3rd and NO OUTS against the cubs. that was the last chance we had at sniffing the playoffs ever since, why keep that overrated ass choke artist around then?
It really depends on how the deal is structured. What if it’s 6/120 but structured like this
10/25/25/20/20/20? Does that make the deal any different? Again, it’s just so early to tell.
5/$100M. Pay him the $20M a year but limit it to 5 years.
Agreed…..5/$100mil and front load the deal.
I like the the 5-6year front loaded with two option years 100-110. then have different incentives like total yr 3,4 5 for first option yr and the other options like titles and world series titles & MVP’s for the other option before the yr for player option and club option. Lets be creative to keep david. Like his getting the best out of the other players to show his leadership.
Give him the 7 years he’s looking for. 6 years/110-112 million. 7th year option/8-10 million. Then PLEASE get Wright some protection. He rocked it with Beltran and Delgado in the lineup. Ike Davis basically fills the role of Delgado, hopefully they can get a slugger to fill the void of Beltran. Wright, Davis and Slugger would bring back a powerful heart of the order. Table setters like Tejada and Murphy at the top of the order would bring up more RBI chances. Now the problem is getting a FA Slugger (preferably outfielder) to come to NY lol
Not me. The mets cannot keep making deals that have the Wilpon smell all over them. He is not worth it, and definitely will be returning sub par numbers 3 or 4 years in. Trade now, if you have a brain.
6 yrs and over $100 are too much to pay. They have other issues to deal with and he has been on the decline. Trade him.
I am with you. Wright has been with the Mets long enough to show his ability. The Mets will never get a good return on a big contract. Trade hin for some value. The Mets need to reinvent themselves and go with young players.
Ever since i was reminded on this Site about Branch Rickey’s maxim to Ralph Kiner (a great player): “We finished last with you, we can finish last without you.” Y pay ransom $$$$$$’s for a long-term deal to a very good player at the cusp of his peak years or perhaps beyond them, when we need to fill so many holes (and may have his fill-in (Murphy) in place, and his eventual replacement (Flores) being prepped for a 2014 MLB debut?
Get as good and as many prospects, near MLB-ready, as possible. Deal DW and RA.
Numbers don’t lie and the last 4 years haven’t been good for Wright. No matter what has caused the drop in production whether it be the beam to the head, the new stadium or the lack of protection in the line up. I’m sure I won’t be the first to side with Wright but I don’t think Wright has hit his peak I still believe he has a lot to give and offer this team. I can see a situation were Wright gets a new contract and gets protection around him in the line up and we become contenders and Wright is the kind of player that can carry the team a true veteran leader. I’ve read a lot of articles about keeping Wright or trading him or about how much he should be given. I think he should be given a 6 or 7 year deal worth 120 million plus. I feel people are crapping on him cause his numbers dropped over the last 4 years. Sign him, get him protection and let him play.
I can live with 6/$110 guaranteed, option for 7th without killer buyout. DW may be able to get more on the open market, but that is slightly more than Zimmerman and certainly fair. If he balks by Dec 3, Sandy should ring up the Blue Jays and Rockies for starters.
look he’s NOT signing for less than 7/120mil ADDED to the 13 option. We have to trade him and I think thats why this is taking longer. Sandy has to look like he’s “trying” to sign him but we all know he hates 2nd generation contracts and I agree with him. Trade him already and lets move on with this…..we have ALOT to do by opening day.
I brain says trade, my heart says sign, but both say sure as heck don’t give him more than 110 for 6 yrs.
He is NOT a 20 mill a year player.
He said he won’t chase every dollar. Since when does lying about your intentions acceptable?
If he doesn’t sign for any contract offered that’s for over 100 million, he’s insane. He’s on his second huge contract.
Chipper always took less to stay in Atlanta and keep them competitive; why won’t Mr. Wright? Chipper never got a 100 mill contract and David IS NOT Chipper.
He don’t sign, ship him away to the highest bidder. Maybe the Mets can get D’Arnaud from Toronto for him. That’s a better deal to me, then Wright at any length being paid 20 million a year.