23
2012
Morning Grind: A Rocky Rock Bottom It Is
An article by 
It has come to this, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Arizona Diamondbacks have outbid the Mets.
The now pitching-deficient and long-time outfield void Mets had their sights on left-hander Francisco Liriano and outfielder Cody Ross, but lost them to the Pirates and Diamondbacks, respectively, who offered multi-year deals they wouldn’t have dreamt of giving.
The Pirates, who were a feel-good story for much of the season before fading late because of their pitching, gave Liriano a two-year, $14-million deal.
Ross, who hit 22 homers with 81 RBI last year for Boston, was given a three-year, $26-million contract.
The Mets are interested in retaining outfielder Scott Hairston, but are reluctant to go longer than two years or more than $2 million, so there’s no chance they could have signed Ross.
As far as Liriano, they could have easily signed him with the money they saved by not bringing back R.A. Dickey and the generous offerings by David Wright and Jason Bay.
But, neither happened, and signing Hairston probably won’t happen, either.
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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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 42 | 28 | .600 | - |
| Nationals | 34 | 35 | .493 | 7.5 |
| Phillies | 34 | 37 | .479 | 8.5 |
| Mets | 25 | 40 | .385 | 14.5 |
| Marlins | 22 | 47 | .319 | 19.5 |
Last updated: 06/18/2013
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Liriano maybe deserved the money, but not Cody Ross.
Make smart, non over priced moves for players that will contribute immediately and long term.
Neither really fit that description in my opinion. They are band-aids at best.
“It has come to this, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Arizona Diamondbacks have outbid the Mets”
stop it already here . The mets decided that Ross and Liriano were not worth that money , and thats A GOOD MOVE . If the players were of better caliber , the mets would have spent , but not for this average at best guys for that price . if all things go wrong, you sign hairston who can come up with ross stats for much less money , dont act like the mets were outbid, they made the right move for this franchise RIGHT NOW for not spending this money on this two players . God forbid we say the FO do something right
They were outbid. When two teams go after the same player and one team loses it means they were outbid. The other two teams wanted them more and in this case they were two of the worst teams in the league, or at least they were until the Mets made a 77 win team significantly worse.
false , 2 teams are interested , they bid , and then one teams “line” is just lower cause otherwise it would not fit with the plan the FO have , thats not an outbid . Lets say YOU as a person want something , another person wants the same , at some point you have to decide if the need is worth the money , and if it would fit in your short or longterm finances . So you decide to not bid any higher for the item you want, regardless of having more money in your pocket . So you would never call yourself outbided then, no, you would say “i made the right move for me ” .
I think you’re home planet is calling you. The Mets are drawing the line on Cowgill, Baxter and Duda. They have yet to sign one free agent all offseason, the only team to claim that mantle. It’s your prerogative to defend the indefensible, but spare us the cotton candy. This front office wants 2013 production at 1950′s prices, it shows how clueless he is in the free agent market and why he’s the only GM with his nose pressed up against the department store window watching the other GMs shop and improve their team for the fans while he freezes his ass off outside hoping for handouts.
yes and 20+ of these shopping GMs will fail in 2013
For what i see the last weeks ( sure an outfield player and some RP help would be nice ) the mets FO are sticking to their plan and making smart decisions , i believe in it
Angelo people forget the concept of opportunity cost. What you commit to is a cost in the future that may stop you from spending on it later. Yes there are needs have to be filled. SA will fill them. Is he punting 2013 ?, you bet he is. Did any fan here believe otherwise. SA’s plan is we all know is 2014 and later years. It is not so painful watching stud pitchers and a stud catcher develop. Also do not to forget about Ike and Niese.
right,actually the 2013 mets have a good chance to do things you normally cant do. Give your young players a real chance, not 80ABs and then we decide if he is the real deal . Everybody agrees that only a small amount (maybe 20% ) of all prospects turn out to be above average mlb players , yet you often cant give the kids the time at the majors you would love them to give . Make it in 2013 , at the VERY WORST CASE the mts will end up 4th with about 70 wins , so what , we all know that 2013 would not be our year , not even close . so make the best out of it . LETS GO METS
The Pittsburg Pirates are now out bidding,The New York Mets,how much more can i take,Why was i born to be a Mets fan , i must love banging my head against the wall.while i dont think they are worth the money , we really need a major league outfield,I cant handle watching another triple aaa season,I could if some of these kids had some potential but come on already,lucas duda you have to catch the ball, something has to be done,pay up for a decent outfielder or work a trade for one . winning starts with good pitching and defense our outfield is in shambles.FIX IT SANDY
swisher is an indian now, cant wait for the article were sandy missed getting him
Would you settle for the article where it states Sandy missed getting EvErY OnE?
are you prepared for the day the mets will play october ball and you have to desperatly look for some insane explains for that?
I didnt quite comprehend what you were trying to say but….I’d be ecstatic if they played October ball…but unfortunately the past 2 yrs the Mets season has ended right after the All-star game.in July…
Does anybody here actually want those guys for those years and dollars? Or do you just want the Mets to spend money, regardless of whether it’s actually spent intelligently? And if/when those contracts didn’t work out, would you immediately then criticize Alderson for handing them out?
nail on the head right here
Angelo, to me Delcos in my opinion really needed to ask the more relevant question. Is outbidding the Pirates & Dbacks and say then Ross signs with the Mets at 3 years $29M and Liriano signs at 2 years $16M a good move?
If the consensus is that yes it is a good move then being outbid was bad. If the consensus is the opposite then is of no significance.
i hear you mate
Oh please just stop it with this assumption we are spending smart….
2 Years @ 6 Mil for Francisco is spending smart?
Not sure you guys realize it but spending 1 Mil on a guy who is useless is not smarter than spending 7 mil on a Guy who can win a few games for you
yes, our closer is overpaid , and he was injured . So what , 2 times wrong equals right???
‘Does anybody here actually want those guys for those years and dollars?’
Not me. The FA market seems to be insane this year. Too much money, too many years – for some of them. And it’s not like they’re a difference maker for this team going into 2013.
Heck, RA Dickey winning 20 games wasn’t a difference maker.
Right, You have to make a bid to be outbid. There is another thread running about Valdespin having a great winter league season. He is 24 years old. Its time to give him a chance and not block him with Ross who getting old and will not get better. Lariano hasnt had a good year in a long time. He is not young and is an injury risk. They won’t come out and say it, but 2013 is going to be a year to evaluate the kids and you cant do that by signing mediocre veterans to multi year contracts.
Amen
Why is everybody so hung up on money? Do you think players are going to come play for the Mets for free? Reading some of these comments I get the feeling I’m on a Pittsburgh Pirates site instead of a New York Mets site.
Can only imagine the chaos on a pirates fanblog , 20 years without playoffs and counting , jeez
i dont mean to be rude here , but evaluate the kids, okayl Lucas Duda .average at best cant play outfield to save his life some power trade to american league dh or 1st base but outfield forget it. centerfield newinhaus or whatever his name is ,good fielder but strikes out a ton 4th outfielder at best some ability but lets not get crazy. Jason oops forgot hes not here anymore Cowgill and Baxter does anybody think this is a pro outfield is out of thier minds.we need to either pay up for a decent outfielder or have to package Parnell and some of our kids in a trade for a proven mlb outfielder.
This team has a lot of players who need further evaluation:
1. D’arnaud
2. Harvey – 10 games is not enough.
3. Wheeler
4. Parnell – jury still out if he can be depended on in late game situations.
5. Murphy- will he continue to improve at second base?
6. Davis- Can he be consistent over a full year?
7. All of the outfielders are young and have potential – especially Valdespin who has all of the tools.
8. A lot of minor league pitchers will get chances in the bullpen.
Sandys just waiting out the market. At some point he’ll pick up a free agent veteran outfielder thats left over and coming off a down year with the hope that he can be revitalized and turn back to his old form, like he did when he signed Hairston. Whats the consensus/opinions out there on Grady Sizemore, can he still cover the outfield? As for the pitching, where was Liriano going to fit in? We dont need a starter, we have 5.
LOL The only thing left in the market is that shopping cart by the register area that has all the dinged up cans, crushed packages, and day old bakery items that has a sign on it that reads “Half Price”. Waiting out the market, lol. That excuse wore out around Thanksgiving Day.
BTW I wish you a Happy New Year in 2013 next week.
LMAO!!!
Reduced price by 75% on those busted almost expired can goods
Nah, theres still some promising dinged cans out there. Sizemore, Rick Ankiel, Delmon Young, Fokudome, Alfredo Amezaga……
Sizemore is a wet dream wrapped in an enigma….And he wont even be ready til mid season and thats if his legs even work anymore….He’s been cut more times than cold cuts at a deli
We could even re-convert Ankiel to a relief pitcher if he starts slumping at the plate…lol
Cody Ross certainly shouldnt be a measuring stick to the bottom of our opportunities, he’s a horrible “guess” hitter anyway who looks horrible when he guesses wrong and flails wildly at breaking pitches
“The now pitching-deficient”
Huh? I didn’t realize we became the Rockies after 1 trade.
“It has come to this, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Arizona Diamondbacks have outbid the Mets.”
Did they also outbid the Yankees, Cubs and Red Sox?
If you would have outbid those teams for those guys then you must of loved signing Jason Bay , Luis Castillo and Ollie Perez,