13
2012
From Left Field: Why All The Hype About Mike Olt?
An article by 
Mike Olt
Just in case you haven’t noticed, the Mets signed David Wright to an eight-year contract extension.
Also a friendly reminder, David Wright is a third baseman.
The Mets also have a guy named Ike Davis, who despite a slow start in 2012 managed to club 32 home runs.
Davis plays first base and is just 25 years old just so you know.
Of course, as Mets fan, you know all this information through and through. But the real question is why the Mets would even remotely consider trading R.A. Dickey to the Rangers for a package centered around prospect Mike Olt.
Olt is a power hitting third base prospect who is also a solid defender at the hot corner. He’s played 212 games at third since being drafted by the Rangers in the first round in 2010, and he’s only made 32 errors – not bad at all.
Though he’s said to strikeout a lot, he’s displayed a good power bat from the right side, which the Mets desperately need.
Sounds like a good prospect to get back for Dickey, right?
Wrong, in so many ways.
Why on earth would the Mets want a young third baseman after signing Wright for eight more years? And after a strong second half showing by Davis, Olt, who has only played 13 career minor league games at first base, would not make sense at first either.
Olt played three games in right field in the minor leagues last year and two games after being called up to the Rangers.
What’s with Sandy Alderson thinking he can turn infielders into full-time outfielders, since that’s the only position Olt would play on the Mets as of now?
There were rumors that the Mets were interested in Mark Reynolds, a corner infielder, as an outfielder before he signed with the Indians.
Of course, the Mets could trade Davis for an outfielder and insert Olt at first, but what’s the point of having an unproven commodity trying to replace 32 dingers?
If the Mets were to make a deal with the Royals based around Wil Myers – an actual outfielder – a Dickey deal would have made sense, but the Royals flipped Myers to the Rays in the James Shields trade.
A Dickey trade still does make sense, but the Mets need to get back pieces in which they don’t have – either a catcher or an outfielder.
Olt may turn into a great Major Leaguer, but unless the Mets involve a third team to take Olt, a trade with the Rangers just doesn’t make sense for the Amazin’s.
About the Author: Jim Mancari
Jim Mancari hails from Massapequa, N.Y. He recently earned a Master's degree in Journalism at Hofstra University. He is a devout Mets fan and takes pride in his team, despite their lack of success over the last few years. Like all Mets fans, Jim has plenty of hope. He also writes as the sports reporter for the Brooklyn Tablet newspaper and the senior editor of metroBASEBALL Magazine. Click my name to view my personal website.
30 Comments + Add Comment
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 |
Last updated: 06/19/2013
Recent Comments
- ReturnoftheKing: on Mets Acquire Eric Young Jr. For Collin McHugh, DFA Cowgill and Promote Brown: Alex, putting aside our differences, one should...
- SaltyGary: on Wheeler Deals, Mets Sweep Braves In Nightcap, 6-1: Murph's a better value at second. With...
- Eraff: on Mets Acquire Eric Young Jr. For Collin McHugh, DFA Cowgill and Promote Brown: You take Mine...I'll Take Yours.... ...
- ReturnoftheKing: on Mets Acquire Eric Young Jr. For Collin McHugh, DFA Cowgill and Promote Brown: Are you people trashing this deal serious?...
- letsgetreal: on Mets Acquire Eric Young Jr. For Collin McHugh, DFA Cowgill and Promote Brown: 211 hitters are all the rave in...
Latest From Mets Minors
Check Out These Great MLB Links!
Photographs From Gordon Donovan
Fans Follow Us On Twitter!
1333 Fans Like Us On Facebook!
2341 Fans Read Our Feed!
1702 Fans Subscribe via Daily Email!
I gotta believe (or at least I would hope ) that Sandy would have already found a few potential suitors for Olt should he not be able to transition to the OF. The nice thing is with Olt being so young that he can wait till the trade deadline to decide if the OF makes sense for Olt. And if not Sandy can still get good value for him at the deadline. That said, to me it should take alot more than Olt to get the Cy Young Award winning Dickey.
“Olt may turn into a great Major Leaguer, but unless the Mets involve a third team to take Olt, a trade with the Rangers just doesn’t make sense for the Amazin’s.”
Agreed.
Right on, Jim.
Where would Olt fit in and would trading an Ike Davis to make room for him be taking two steps backward for one step forward?
The same question has to also be asked as to why Sandy settled on Wheeler when young pitching arms both already on the team and in the minors seemed to be our strongest point. Why not an outfielder or two who were not ranked as high as number 55 in the country but had the potential? Wouldn’t that had been an attempt to shore up some of our actual weak spots?
I am sure with all the teams bidding for Beltran’s services, there weren’t some good hitting outfield prospects that Sandy could have acquired instead. All prospects are risk takers, however, if one is going to take a risk, shouldn’t it be in the area that needs the help the most?
3 reasons…A) Zach Wheeler is no ordinary pitching prospect and was the best prospect available! B) We are loosing Santana after 2013 and C) You an never ever have too much pitching particularly young controllable starting pitching!
Hi Ben,
1) Even though Wheeler is no ordinary pitching prospect, does that address the weak issues facing us?
2) Even though we are losing Santana (and possibly R.A.) we still have Gee, Neise, Harvey with the potential of Mejia and Familia
3) Even though one never has enough pitching, considering what we do have, what good is it without an outfield that can hit?
Wheeler simply being the best prospect available dosn’t mean he was the best prospect available in terms of would be best for the team down the road. Was there, for examp[le, not an outfield prospect from this pre-season 2012 list that might be able to help us more with what our bigger needs are? Even though we have no idea if the Giants would have parted with him, how about number 43 ranked Gary Brown. Or perhaps two players not appearing in that prestigious top 120 list but still good looking on their own merits?
http://www.minorleagueball.com/2012/2/24/2821479/minor-league-ball-baseball-top-120-prospects-for-2012
Hi Joey, At the time the trade was made Mejia was recovering from major arm surgery and had not yet even pitched half a season at the ML level. Surely he was no lock for the future, not too mention the Mets still at that point hadn’t made up there mind as to what role Mejia would play starter vs reliever ( I still think they don’t know) And as for Familia, it looking more and more that the Mets really view him as a RP so he’s not really part of the starting rotation equation. Frankly, if they didn’t really really need outfield help or a catcher R.A. Dickey wouldn’t even be on the block! Contrary to what many think the Mets really aren’t as strong in SP’s as they’d like to be! Could we have picked up an outfield prospect? Absoluely, but the Zack Wheelers and Matt Harvey’s of the word don’t come available often so when you get the chance at acquiring a pitcher like that you take it! Granted our current situation in the OF sucks, but the fact remains it is far easier to find an outfield bat that it is to get ahold of a Zack Wheeler type! And last but not least PITCHING WINS!
Domonic Brown was an outfielder offered by Philly for Beltran. Wheeler was a no brainer vs Brown.
Hi Fonzie,
That is true, Brown was a no-brainer refusal. Do you know of what other prospects that were being tossed around for Carlos at the time as far as outfielders goes?
No others were mentioned. Mike Minor a pitcher for Atl was another offer. Clevelend was supposedly set to offer 3 B level prospects but Beltran wouldn’t waive his no trade to go there and Sandy wanted a top prospect not 3 B’s.
Thank you Fonzie. I haven’t been able to come up with anything specific myself, other than Sandy saying he had been in talks with quite a number of clubs involving other prospects and/or players and felt it best to go with a single pitcher with the potential of Wheeler as opposed to other offers that included two prospects, etc. probably of lesser ranking.
Due to the strong sentiments on both sides of the issue, I’m hoping Zack can somehow separate himself from that presssure that is bound to be there when called up. Even those with high expectations won’t be carrying the burden he’s going to have to contend with, that being his success or failure being used as a referendum on Sandy Alderson. Especially with it being with the fans and media in New York.
Nobody should be placed in the middle like that. I wonder if Rameriz and Torres felt such added pressure due those circumstances as well.
Olt not an OF being said, i still say, including him in a package for Dickey would help the Mets: Olt, Sardinis,Garcia, Brinson for Dickey.
Can Wright play the OF?
They Mets are a bad baseball team with or without Dickey. If we can save the $20 million it will take to resign Dickey and pick up a highly ranked prospect who will be under team control for many years, the Mets have to make the deal. We should give Olt a try in the OF and if it doesn’t work out, he would still be a valuable commodity in trade. Even guys like Jeff Keppinger are being signed to crazy deals because third basemen are so scarce.
Jim – my thought is that Sandy is just reading the reports given to him that Olt can play the OF. He was a SS in college, and a 3B in the minors
Here’s some info:
“After two days of working with Pettis since being called up, Olt will play right field against the Yankees. The two spent about 15-20 minutes working on outfield setups on Monday and Tuesday. The duo did not get to work Wednesday because of rain.
“Being a corner infield guy, he’s got instincts and you have to have instincts,” Pettis said. “It’s always just going to be a matter of reading the ball off the bat. I just want him to make the routine play and hit the cutoff man. He will grow into it as he plays.”
Or when he played the OF in Frisco
“Steve Buechele (Frisco manager) said he looked like he’s played there his whole life,” Rangers senior director of player development Tim Purpura said. “The theory is to make him as versatile as we possibly can in case there is a need here. He’s an athlete, he can do a lot of things on a baseball field. He’ll play there maybe one day a week or one day every other week. Should we have a number of injuries [at the Major League level] and have a need, we want to make him as versatile as we can.”
Now I’m not saying they are the authority and end all. What I am saying is, Alderson isn’t the one trying to convert Olt into an outfielder and he’s not the only one who thinks he can play a corner OF spot.
OT: Giants signed Torres.
Should make Giants fans happy b/c they apparently love him in San Fran.
I for one am glad he’s gone! C-ya Torres,…go clog up San Fran’s DL! lol
When are the Mets ever going to stop converting first basemen into catchers or outfielders? Everything has to be so damned complicated with this team. They are forever trying to squeeze square pegs into a circle.
Because if it works out its a score. The problem is it’s rarely worked out.
I always wondered why they never tried to put Murph behind the plate. He has a strong, accurate arm, and the athletic ability to at least pop from a squat. If Thole can do it Murph could do it.
Would you trade R. A. for A. Garcia from Detroit.
Perhaps… longshot I know… but they have talked to their own scouts and scouts of other teams and think he can actually play the OF. I know, longshot that they actually investigate further.
Just because the Mets tried to move some really bad defenders around the diamond doesn’t mean that it will fail always. There have been plenty of minor league 3B to come up and play the OF predominantly.
Olt´s best position may be 3b – but he seems athletic and well capable of playing an OF corner. Josh Willingham came up as a C and ended up in LF / RF.
BJ Upton was a SS who ended up in CF.
Ryan Braun came up as a 3bman through the minors and then got shifted to LF where he´s been fine.
The big key is the question what type of hitter Olt will be. The Mets desperately need another power bat – and Olt certainly has the potential for 30-35 HR annually if he makes enough contact. That´s the judgement call to make by the Mets. He´s a highly touted prospect, somewhere in the # 15 to # 40 overall in Baseball range right now.
I´d hope & expect Dickey to return more than just Olt who comes with risks beyond the position on the Mets question.
you run into value issues, related to the bat and glove. The same bat at 3B is usually worth more than as a LF. And if a big part of his game is defense, you lose that shifting him.
but it is quite common for guys to move from corner IF to Corner OF, and always has been.
At this point, I´m not so sure that a slugging LF is worth significantly less than a slugging 3bman.
The OF talent pool – even at the corners – has really thinned out over the years in terms of offensive production.
Again, the biggest question is: Can Olt hit major league pitching well and what is his ceiling as a hitter ? He could be a big-time middle of the order bat , he could be a RHH version of Jeromy Burnitz or he could struggle to hit major league pitching consistently enough. That´s going to be the key in his evaluation.
Of course, first of all, the Mets & Rangers need to agree on such a package anyway, so this may well not be our worry.
Dickey plus a lower prospect to Toronto for D”arnaud and Gose. If not, extend him for 2 years.
I’ve pretty much said the same exact thing minus the lower spec from the Mets. So I approve or salute you I guess
If they are trading Dickey, they need to get the best possible talent back. if that is clearly Olt (not saying it is, but assume Texas puts up the best package, and he is a key piece).
If you don’t want to force him into the OF, or move an incumbent, then ship him elsewhere, either in a 3 team deal, or in a follow-up.
Plenty of teams need a good 3B, so it should not be that hard to flip him for a comparable talent at say OF.
you can always keep moving parts as needed.
Finally!! Thank you , we’ll said. Olt is only a propesct and yes he has power but he plays the wrong position . We can’t keep fielding these weak outfield defense in hopes that it doesn’t cost us too many games. Citifield needs Speed-Power ans Defense. This is the only way the Mets will win and need to find outfielders with lots of speed and great defensive abilities or big time Power both in their bats and arms along with good defense.
What’s worse the second prospect the Mets are rightfully holding out for Leonys Martin does not have many games under his minor league belt and although he fits the defensive mold of what we need is just too much of a risk. All prospects are risk buthe has 4 th OF written all over him
I only take Olt if we can flip him + Flores + Nimmo for Giovanni Stanton
Every scout agrees Olt is athletic. And Mets scouts (Rangers’ too) think he has the range + arm to play in RF. I’ve never seen him play, but they have. So I’ll take their word for it. We need the bat. If Olt can be even a league avg defender, his bat would carry a lotta value in our lineup. Sign me up.
Of course all this trade talk hinges on a binding verbal agreement with Dickey. Contract stipulates that the second his playing career is over, he returns to Queens as part of our broadcast team.
The last sentence of this article made the whole rest of it pointless.
As if no other team is looking for a power hitting, good fielding third baseman. Just because we trade for him doesn’t necessarily mean we would have him for the next six years. If he works out in the outfield then great. if he doesn’t he can be flipped for something of use. Then its as if Dickey was traded for that player.