3
2012
Mets Underwhelmed By Trade Offers For Dickey
An article by 
According to Andy Martino of the Daily News, the Mets continue to feel underwhelmed by trade offers for R.A. Dickey at the Winter Meetings. He adds that the Mets remain undecided about whether to sign or trade him, according to ‘people involved.’
This is no big surprise. As I stated a couple of days ago, all these “pie in the sky” expectations that the Mets would be able to nab top prospects such as Wil Myers of the Kansas City Royals is just wishful thinking from a fan base who sees Dickey’s value as being more than what other GM’s see.
A 38 year old pitcher is a risk. Period. While Dickey’s elbow has no ligaments to worry about, the rest of his body is still 38-years old and prone to breakdown like everyone else. The fact of the matter is that with any player his age playing sports at a pro level, it’s only a matter of time before something can go wrong.
Dickey’s greatest value is to the Mets. No team is going to parlay their future on him. If Dickey was a free agent and teams did not have to give up prized prospects to get him, at least a dozen teams would be on the chase. But that’s not the case for now.
So let me repeat what I said previously in the past, and that is if the Mets want to trade Dickey, the most they should expect is a backup catcher and an outfielder with a .270-.285 bat and 15-20 home run power perhaps.
So the bottom line is to sign him to a three year, $30 million dollar deal that replaces the option, let him play out his option year and take the draft picks, or trade him for a couple of useful pieces. Those are your only options.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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Well, if they were overwhelmed, he’d be traded already.
‘Dickey’s greatest value is to the Mets’
I agree with this. No harm though in kicking the tires to see just what some teams might give up for Dickey. You never know….
Yes, I totally agree. I was mostly pointing out that the fan expectations on a return were too high and needed to be tempered a bit. On another note, I want to personally apologize to you that you still keep getting taunted by Alex and Bayonne. I have no idea what their problem is with you and I’ve asked them to leave you alone countless times. Bans don’t work anymore and they get around them easily if they want to. I appreciate that you still comment on this site and value and regard your participation in our community very highly.
Joe: I sincerely appreciate the apology but no need from you. Accountability starts and ends with those two. I just can’t believe how little respect they’ve got for you and this site. Anyways…just makes me chuckle.
Agree also about expectations being a little high on a Dickey trade. Although you know, there’s always that one GM who does a deal you least expect.
Me? I’m hoping they re-sign him and he’s on the mound come opening day.
You are a very decent person and I hope your medical problems are behind you now. I cant say I’ve ever seen a blogger take time to apologize to one of their readers for something someone else has done. It says a lot about you.
Agreed.
“I was mostly pointing out that the fan expectations on a return were too high and needed to be tempered a bit”
But thats the real rub isn’t it?
They are worried about the fan backlash and asking for the moon in hopes they get so much the fans won’t riot.
I understand asking for too much in this case as opposed to the hairston reports. No one would really have much to bitch about if hairston was traded but Dickey is the one guy they actualy want to go see.
They can keep taking calls I have no problem listening but they are never going to get enough to make up what they are losing and certainly not enough to make fans say I lOVE this deal.
No GM is dumb enough to give us way more than Dickey would give us.
Brian Sabean disagrees.
No way I give up a Dickey for a backup catcher and a .280 15-20HR hitting Outfielder….
With that being said,”You still have to dangle Dickey’s services to other teams”
As free agent pitchers start to sign deals and the market becomes filled with lesser talent Dickeys price in a trade will go up. And if it is still underwhelming sign him.
And, I dont care how hurt Dickeys feelings might be if he is offered a fair deal after all of that dangling he’d take it. He doesnt want to go into next season without a contract….too much to lose
Also no team is gonna come out and overwhelm you in a trade…its still called negotiating whether it be with money or players
Catching has such a higher value on mediocrity it would be crazy to trade him for that. The talent pool for the position is regressing. Plus seeing we need 3 outfields as opposed to one catcher, the outfield should be where the primary focus is.
Exactly you dont trade Dickey just to fill a need…unless that player coming in is a significant piece…one that can be here for the future if not….Then just re-sign Dickey and move on….
dickey has been quoted as certainly understanding how the business side works. he knows his deal is on hold while they shop him, and accepts it (just business, not personal!).
And i agree that he really does seem to want to lock up a couple more years at good money, and is highly unlikely to choose to play out the year to FA (unless he gets offered a real lowball).
BBLB what about a .289, 25 hr guy as the main centerpiece. This is a trick question.
Lol…..As long as the backup catcher can hit above .100Avg lol
You don’t have to dangle him anymore the league knows we will listen at this point.
They should stop going ACTIVE on a trade and merely listen when they call.
Best thing they could do is extend Dickey so anyone who trades for him knows the price and will have to give back accordingly as opposed to lowballing because he is a one year rental.
Lets face facts here they can’t be more than 5 Mil per year or one year apart on any deal they have discussed.
Get the deal done and start working on the other areas that need help. While you do that you can mention that Dickey could be part of that proccess but the price would be high due to his being a buy not a rental.
I dont remember anyone being signed to an extension then be traded in that same off-season unless it was agreed to as in a sign & trade.
With that said we all know this front office cant juggle more than one thing at a time they are buffoons. They react they arent proactive thats why the Mets will once again be left holding the bag in free agency…A bag fool of trash then fans will say wtf I thought you said whole sale changes lol….then he will proceed to make a dumb move just for the sake of it….a la Frank Francisco, Rauch, Torres,Ramirez….
Same ole BS….this team will not improve changes will be minimal and terrible at that…nothing to look forward to next year but David Wright playing under a new contract or maybe even Dickey….if not Dickey being traded for something underwhelming same ole Mets over the last 3 offseasons….
Just like Scott Boras said “THRIFT STORE METS”
I am fairly certain I said from day 1 that I thought Dickey’s value was not that high. He comes with a lot of risk. Age, repertoire being two of them.
I do however pump the brakes on a report like this because it seems convenient that it’d come out at the same time the Mets are negotiating with him.
“hey look, nobody else really wants ya so you can either sign this 2 year deal or risk getting less on the open market”
The truth is probably somewhere between this article (silly as it is, considering the timing) and the fans’ expectations (to the extent this can even be figured – there are alot of fans and almost as many opinions). Anyway, lets see how the market unfolds. It’s early days.
Well if thy think the “nobody wants you” thing is going to work they are dumber than a doorknob because his agent probably knows full well who would be interested in him even though he is not supposed to be talking to other teams about Dickey.
Unless Dickey is his only client and they would have no reason to call him OTHER than Dickey himself.
I’d wait and write the postmortem on the situation three days from now.
No team is coming out with their best offer on Sunday night/ Monday morning.
Well duh! When you have Shields and Greinke taken off the board, watch the offers come in. When it comes down to Dickey, I’d like to believe in consistency over age, especially with Dickey. Yes, Dickey is 38, but that’s the thing: where many pitchers break down and tail off past their prime, Dickey’s prime has only begun. How many guys do you know that can play at a high level, not on drugs, and has only gotten better at Dickey’s age? Only Nolan Ryan springs to mind.
I will show my age to some extent. See below: I as a Broolyn Dodger fan and NY basball Giant hater is a clue. Guess Who?
Give up?
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/maglisa01.shtml
I agree. Dickey for three years seems like a good risk. To me this is the single most important decision the Mets will make this offseason.
Dickey isn’t going anywhere. All this is posturing to get him signed to as little as possible. If the Pettitte deal didn’t happen, Dickey would already be a done deal.
You may be right, but I think the Mets sincerely want to trade him for some bats. I think Plan B will be to trade Niese for those bats.
If the Mets want a huge package, they should keep Dickey and trade Niese. If you put Niese out there after Greinke signs, watch the monster offers roll in. Dickey isn’t that valuable. He just isn’t. Maybe if this was the trade deadline you’d find a desperate team, but it’s not like that in the offseason.
Rumor that Boston just signed Mike Napoli. Very very interesting. i still see Mets dealing Niese to KC for Myers + +, but this could mean Mets go to Boston for Salty or a 3-way with Mets / KC /Boston.
No way the Royals do that. Not a chance. They want a frontline pitcher if they trade Myers; Niese is not that.
Who’s to say he won’t be one down the road?
It’s still pretty early…I won’t be surprised if they sign him or get the package they’re looking for.
Sandy should offer a sign and trade to a team and present it to Dickey. If Dickey was wrapped up for 3 years, his value would be so much higher and if he was a part of the negotiation, the fallout would be that bad. Love Dickey and what he brings but this team needs so much and the rotation is where the current strength is. I would also avoid trading Niese. HE will be no better than a 3rd guy but having a young lefty tie up on a great contract is exactly what this team needs.
I think in baseball you would have to do it as a negotiation window.
Yea that’s right. Dickey is a straight shooter (I know) so I think he would be down with something like this where he feels he can end up in a good environment and gets the money he wants.
True, while it appears if you offer that window you would get more, it could also pigeon hole you into very few teams. Basically it gives Dickey a no-trade clause.
I think part of the problem with a Dickey deal is that teams realize the reason the Mets want to trade him is for the exact same reasons they are hesitant.
I think the reason the Mets want to trade him is he is but one cork and there are way too many holes in the boat.
I don’t think that is necessarily true. Sure he is older and doesn’t have years worth of these results, but the Mets are also interested in the move from a building perspective.
Well, every pitcher with any miles on him is an injury risk. Look at Pelfrey. Prototypical pitcher body, only 26-27, clean mechanics, and visiting Dr. Andrews.
And there is always posturing that goes on when trolling players. So of course they indicate they are underwhelmed, a nice message to interested teams to up the offer, or he may get pulled off the table.
Just MHO, but I think Joe is underestimating the value to a guy that just put up an ace-like Cy Young season, and has a very affordable deal in place for 2013 (and is on record as being willing to take a relatively short extension to guarantee future earnings).
I can certainly see why the Royals would not be interested in a 38 year old pitcher. They stink and will still stink for a while. But I am not so sure about contenders who are short on starters. Remember Beltran. Yes he was putting up some numbers but the whole league knew he had a real knee problem. Still, the mets got a potential no. 1 for him. A team loaded with offense, that thinks they are this close, might part with something very good for a couple of years of Dickey, who would thrive on a team that could score.
Dickey is about to be traded:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/12/mets-get-serious-about-trading-ra-dickey.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Even the 2 guys linked in that piece don’t agree. As is typical this time of year.
Getting serious still does not mean he is being trade. Just that they likely want to resolve it, so creating a sense of urgency among his suitors.
In honor of Cerrone, it is a 50% guarantee that he gets traded. Unless he doesn’t. Which he might. or might not.
ESPN said the Texans are most interested. They have known him forever. I seriously hope they do not overpay for him because I want him to stay. but they know what a great character he has and what he brings to the table beyond his strikeout rate and ERA.
I apoligize in advance for yanking your chain, but dang, moving to the NFL at his age? RA really is amazing!
The Mets will get back more if they traded Jon Neise.
Yep but also give away more at the same time….
I realize my biases make me think this but since they did say they couldn’t get enough for Hairston, either, was this again a case of Sandy’s reach exceeding his grasp?
Or is it that the Mets are just putting out those rumors to say they couldn’t get what they wanted fo R.A. and thus the reason for re-signing him when they actually could of. This way they please both sides of the aisle.
Of course, the fact that one even has to have this type of conversation shows that even a current Cy Young Award winner who is willing to sign for just a two year extension at a reasonable amount because he is both loyal and wants to stay with the organization isn’t safe.
If the Mets can’t make a trade to get the package to fit there needs at least they are trying to improve the team, I believe that the only reason why RA is not signed is the Mets are waiting for the winter meetings to end, if nonthing happens Dickey will be signed shortly there just testing the waters.