11
2012
What Was The Plan That Convinced Wright To Stay With Mets?
An article by 
I can point you toward a dozen or more different quotes by David Wright who said that “winning” would be more important than “money” when he decided whether or not he would sign an extension to remain with the Mets.
During his press conference in Nashville at the Winter Meetings, Wright was asked about that and he responded by saying he saw “the plan” and that he’s “excited about the direction of the team.”
What could he have possibly seen?
This morning, during an interview on WFAN, David Wright said that after meeting with Sandy Alderson and Jeff Wilpon early in the off-season, and after seeing their plan for the future, he was excited to sign a new deal to remain with the team. In fact, Wright said he only signed the extension because he believes in what Alderson is doing, he believes in the farm system and he was convinced the team will soon have the financial flexibility to help improve the team.
“I didn’t sign back here to finish in fourth place again. I wanted to make sure, if I’m gonna go all in, I want the organization to go all in as well.”
I wonder what Wright was thinking when he stood there today and listened to Sandy Alderson tell reporters that the 2013 Mets will look much like the team that ended the 2012 season?
I mean, that had to be a punch in the gut, right?
After all, Wright even kicked back $8 million of his 2013 salary to help the Mets bring in some quality players, so he’s gotta be feeling like he just got conned in a game of Three-Card Monte. No worries David, it happens to the best of us…
Raise your hand if you’re excited about the plan?
Sticking to the subject of David Wright, besides myself is there anyone among you who believe that signing Wright essentially transformed the Mets into a Win-Now team?
With only 3-4 prime years left before Wright sinks into a decline, wouldn’t you agree the Mets have a 3-4 year window to win now?
According to my own calculations, the Mets have at least $20 million dollars and as much as $25 million dollars to spend right now. Shouldn’t that be enough to bring in at least two significant players, including an offensive minded center fielder or right fielder?
Am I being unreasonable here?
If starting pitching is our forte` shouldn’t we build with that rather than dismantling it?
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought pitching was how the Giants won their last two World Series…
What is the end game for this front office? Do you see one?
When do we stop trading our best commodities for prospects?
When does the winning start?
It seems to me that we are in a vicious cycle and every offseason is like Groundhog Day.
Seriously… What was the plan that convinced David Wright to stay?
Or maybe it was really about “money” and not “winning”?
I guess only Sandy and David know the real answer to that question….
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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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 26 | 18 | .591 | - |
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| Phillies | 21 | 24 | .467 | 5.5 |
| Mets | 17 | 25 | .405 | 8.0 |
| Marlins | 13 | 32 | .289 | 13.5 |
Last updated: 05/21/2013
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ahem… The core may be right… Just give me another month, but they may damn well be right.
Wright never said that plan would include going all in this year. Also, remember that Dickey said the same thing. Clearly, even if we don’t like to admit it, there is a CHANCE there actually is a plan of building for the future that we are unaware of.
I need to take my own advice here before I blow a gasket. I’m still willing to wait to see the actual result of the off-season. I can’t assume none of this was GM speak. It happens all the time with teams trying to act like they aren’t doing something when they are.
Not saying that is the case here – but I can’t flip out on December 11th about an off-season.
It seems odd that on the same day the Mets say this, there is a story in the post about the Mets eyeing Cody Ross. Again, not saying the post is some authority here but it’s an odd conflicting message.
“What Was The Plan That Convinced Wright To Stay With Mets?”
$138.5Million reasons convinced him thats what!
Funny how RA Dickey was adamant that the Mets must to re-sign Wright and pay him to convince him to sign an extension….And how Wright contract is signed sealed and delivered and DW is Mums the word when RA is mentioned…Matter of fact he sounds like Sandy Alderson when anyone mentions RA Dickey…
here was the plan that Sandy SOLD to Wright…
Hey David, We want to spend but Bay and Santana are stopping us…
If you however give us a discount early and late we can then spend the money we are saving on Talent.
No specifics and once he got his savings on Wright went right back into Turtle mode on spending….
And what is Wright going to do now? Demand a trade?
‘I mean, that had to be a punch in the gut, right?’
I don’t think you’re giving Wright enough credit here.
In his quotes last week, he said the plan was laid out not just for next year, but throughout the minors and up to several years down the road.
I’m willing to bet his signing that extension didn’t just hinge on the 2013 season.
He gave the $8 million to the Mets to spend this offseason not in 2014 or 2015. It was reported he made that concession to help the team this offseason. If they dont spend the $20-25 million, he gave the Mets an interest free loan for no benefit to him or the team in 2013.
Yes, I understand about that deferred money.
Not sure ‘his’ 8 MIL saved money though was all for this off season acquisitions, as opposed to including say drafts or mid season changes.
After hearing Wright’s interview, I still believe his decision was somewhat based on the road ahead that includes a few years down the road, not just this off season moves.
I also still believe that if SA had his druthers, Wright would have been traded.
But wont Wright be in decline a few years down the road?
Examine the performances of the last ten 34 year old players the Mets have relied upon. It’s not a pretty sight, lol.
The Mets have to trade now, spend now, win now, or otherwise this Wright deal will be a colossal failure if we dont go to the post season in three of the next four years while he’s still in his prime.
Maybe….
I don’t think Wright thinks he’s going to be in decline in 2014. He probably believes if he takes care of himself and keeps in shape, he can be like Chipper who was productive into his 40th year. We’re about to find out.
And like I said…I believe from everything I’ve read, if SA had his way, Wright would have been traded. We can thank the Wilpons for that contract. Or mainly/probably Jeff.
No ballplayer thinks he goes into decline at 34, but that’s exactly what they all do. Bonds, Clemens, McGwire and Sosa are exceptions to the rule and we know why. Even one of the greatest and cleanest ballplayers in our generation, Albert Pujols, is already in decline and he’s 32. Imagine him at 34 at this rate of decline?
I don’t think that’s necessarily true across the board.
There are always a small number of exceptions: Nolan, Jamie Moyer, Chipper, etc.
I know the statistics say a player’s prime years are usually 27/28 thru 32. Those are pretty much accurate, as history tells us.
Hey Joe D……..why don’t you just ask Wright what the plan was that he saw yourself instead of just reading the tea leaves. You have access…..do it. We’d all like to know.
LOL
im totally leaving this one alone…
David either signed for the money (who would not!!!!) is full of you know what or is a little on the gullible side or a combination of all three.On the other hand, there can be no doubt that the Wilponzis are a disgrace and Alderson is the worst GM in MLB
This was the plan:
http://dicomo.mlblogs.com/
Alex,
Well its safe to say Wright will NEVER see these bonuses…..
-$150,000 for Division Series MVP; $150,000 for League Championship Series MVP; $250,000 for World Series MVP
LMAO……..
Come on…LOL….
It’s a safe bet to assume that not one Met fan had Dickey leading the league in Ks and winning the CY coming into 2012. Heck, Dickey himself said as much in the opening sentence of the Prologue in his book.
Not likely for sure, but that’s half the fun of being a baseball fan. Watching the season with the hope – especially in the first half – your team will somehow beat the odds.
LMMFAO @ Leroy!! THIS & THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey guys, here is how it all went down.
Wright: Now that we figured out my base salary, I want to discuss something near and dear to my heart.
Wilpon: What’s that David?
Wright: Post season bonuses.
Alderson: Well David, we completely understand your position. What numbers did you have in mind?
Wright: Lets say $150,000 for Division Series MVP, $150,000 for League Championship Series MVP and $250,000 for World Series MVP.
Wilpon: Hmm…
Alderson: I don’t see a problem with that David. In fact how about we throw in a Ferrari if you win the World Series MVP just to show you how committed we are to you?
Wright: Golly gee, really? I don’t know what to say.
Wilpon: We just need you to sign right here on the dotted line.
Alderson: Congratulations David. You are now a Mets for life.
Wilpon: If you’ll just walk into my office, I have a a gross of baseballs on my desk that I need you to start autographing as your first order of business.
Only one reason why David wanted to stay in NY:
http://vimeo.com/48046867
I think David was sold the same line of shit that they have been selling for years. You can replay Met statements every October and it reads the same, we will be major players, wholesale changes, etc, etc. This is to drive ticket prices and give us fans something to look forward to. They know that this ia a loyal fan base that is happy with the little things or small victories and they take advantage of that. Normally they make these empty promises and do absolutely nothing. This year they signed Wright so were ahead of the game should expect nothing else. Another offseason of bullshit. I still have my tix and will be there for opening day but Im not surprised by the BS.
Well if you bought tickets enjoy the CRAP they put on the field…and dont complain because you are being a enabler when you purchase tickets to watch that crap….
You were better off buying cyclone tickets they are cheaper more entertaining and you still get to see minor leaguers like you would at Citi Field…not to mention Coney Island is right there
Follow the money. It’s not like Wright gave the Mets a hometown discount. He got paid more than Miggy, Longoria and Zimmerman. He got paid more than any other player in franchise history. Do the Math.
Starting next year, he’ll make $20 million per season for 5 straight years… Sad part about that is, he’s worth probably half of that at best…
Alex, if you were a player like Wright would you have turned it down?I doubt it.He is not the problem,The owners are.If the Wilponzis career stats were near Wright’s stats we would have a much better team.David has had 100 plus rbi seasons, .300 batting average seasons and won golden gloves.Besides being clueless and jacking up ticket prices and parking prices what have the Wilponzis accomplished.Stop blaming one of the few good ballplayers we have.
‘He is not the problem,The owners are.’
Ding, ding ding.
Lol, how did i know you were gonna THIS that comment about the owner.. Again, they should be banned from baseball for the crime they’re commiting. However, you cannot tell me how bad of a GM sandy alderson has been. great for the owners, horrendous to us fans. the man is a flat ass liar, a horrendous GM and not only that, it’s amazing how people STILL are here willing to give this man yet ANOTHER offseason for god knows what exactly… I am very sad to see this as a long time mets fan. Very discouraging
Let’s credit gary s. with the comment. I just happen to agree. You do not. I think everyone here gets that by now.
And just for clarification – no where was the FO mentioned in gary’s comment. Only ownership and Wright. YOU somehow turned it into a comment about the FO.
Here’s my take on the FO:
FAWK SANDY ALDERSON & THE SABERGOONERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry SRT, I have to disagree. SA is, if not THE problem, he’s definitely a BIG PART of the problem. Anyone that brings in garbage like he has (aside from Wheeler) is a “problem”. Add in the lying and his general “I’m the smartest person in the world” attitude…I don’t see how you can consider this ALL the Wilpons.
To each his own opinion.
I don’t see the I’m-smarter-than-everyone-else attitude some of you do.
Given the job he was brought in to do – which was save the team for the Wilpons – he’s done quite well. As I’ve said before, I believe he won’t be here long enough to see a championship caliber team. I think he was brought in to:
– save the team for ownership
– rebuild/restructure the farm system from the ground up
– field a ML team – however mediocre – with what little money he was handed – or even worse, while slashing payroll $50 MIL.
Mission accomplished.
I have yet to be convinced by anyone that ownership is giving him money to spend and he’s saying ‘no thanks, no need’.
I def see a stank attitude from Sandy towards the fanbase
That time
Asked whether the outfield was his top priority this winter, the Mets GM replied:
“Outfield? What outfield? We’re probably gonna have to bring the fences in another 150 feet”
“Even Duda is a bit of a question mark after the Mets announced a day earlier that he had somehow broken his wrist while moving furniture in his house.
“We like Duda, although he does come with a lot of furniture,” Alderson said, grinning. He kind of stopped there while silently acknowledging his own gag.
At the time, Bourn, Upton and Hamilton were available…and the 16 mil that went to Wright was not spent as of yet…
For Alderson to crack jokes about the Met outfield while doing nothing to improve it is a slap in our face. Not even going to get into what the reaction would’ve been like if Omar said this, lets just say Sandy gets a pass from folks that Omar couldnt get if he saved your family from a burning house
based on the open market speaking, he is worth a hell of a lot more than 1/2 of his 2013 salary.
Victorino just signed for more than that, and he is not in the same stratsphere as Wright as a player.
I think part of David’s decision to stay was simply that he wanted to stay a Met and the money was representative of market value. Late last summer he talked about only seeing a baby step in the right direction and I truly don’t understand what David could have seen since to convince hm otherwise now.
He did say in his interview with Adam Rubin that it was not what Jeff Wilpon said but how he said it regarding the Mets commitment to winning. With Sandy, they reviewed the minor league prospects and the type of players Sandy would be seeking for the immediate future.
I think David is happy with the life he has had since playing in New York and often being comfortable is why many prefer staying where they are. Of course, that the Wilpons came up with the money has a little bit to do with it as well.
I think your absolutely right about Wright’s comfort level staying with the Mets. Along with that, I’ll also add that Wright doesn’t exactly come off as a savvy, shrewd individual. It actually appears that he can be very naive at times and an easy subject for a con job. None of us were privy to the conversation between the FO, the owners and Wright as they related to the organization’s plan, but I will say this…..Wright took the hook, line and sinker!
In the immortal words of Mike Francessa regarding the Mets………
.
.
.
.
.
“THEY STINK!!!!!’
1. I hate that by complaining we are automatically not Mets fans enough.
2. I hate that our MLB team is regressing.
3. I hate that we have sacrificed two season and possibly a third, before we can even hope to be a .500 club.
4. I hate that our owners are billionaires and they cry poor.
5. I hate when people tell me it’s not just about spending money.
a. Most sane people know it’s about spending money wisely.
b. Most sane people realize that if you don’t bring in talent, you don’t win.
True
Complaining has always been common for Mets fans who have seen just two titles in 51 years. That said, complaining under Alderson brings out the venom from the saber people and moneyballers who think this GM is more important than the team or the players.
Haha. Oh man. So sad but so true. The day I like any GM more than my team is the day I’m the GM.
Exactly.. That’s the reason there has been so many insults, arguments, banning etc during his era.. Sabergooners wanted us believe in this false god from day one, to the point that we were put through a ridiculous post about brad eamus and how that first move was a signed of things to come for the franchise, and how they’re phylosophy was gonna work. Most of us were not sold on the idea, and hell broke lose. It became a Sabers vs Non sabers, Omar vs Sandy, Wonder bread vs Pan de agua, i mean, it got to the point where we had the biggest snake in this blog to be a moderator, go figure. Well, fast forward to today, we were 100% for not buging on their beliefs but what was important to the team, and even though we were insulted, baited, instigated, we are still standing here and screaming FUUUUUUUUUUUU***KKKKK you sandy alderson, Moneyball and/or Sabermetric. And to those who wanted to shove their stupid ideas and articles down our throats, THE CORE ACCEPT YOUR APOLOGY…
LOL pan de agua
This is really simple for us fans. IF they don’t spend some money and/or make trades to make this a better-than-80-win team, we (at least some of us) continue to boycott. And we send the continuing message that we don’t accept this crap from a NYC team….
Moral of the story is whenever you hear about the Mets potentially acquiring a player that can improve the team…..”DONT BELIEVE IT”
All mets acquisitions go under the radar because they are usually trashy under the radar players that no one knows, wants or even care about.
~Anthony Recker anyone
Hey guys,
All you are doing is repeating the same, unsubstantiated statements over and over again about how bad a general manager Sandy Alderson has been. Do you really want to subject yourselves to the same thing that was recently said to me?
“You really need new material to post about. between thousands of repetitive posts and made up stories you continue to bore the crap out of everybody.”
Of course you don’t.
KC sign Taveras, Sherrill and Wheeler to minor league deals…These are deals that piss me off..Nobody is asking for Hamilton or Wheeler…maybe Ludwick or Ross, but these are minor league deals for players we could use. We have 4 GMs and we sign bums that hit under 200 that nobody has heard of..I like to think Im a knowledgeable baseball fan but nobody I know has ever heard of Anthony Recker…
What, Brandon Hicks doesn’t get your juices flowing? Greg Burke? Brian Bixler?
How about dropping Justin Hampson from the 40-man roster to protect…whom? Reese Havens? Just because he was a lefty with a 2.33 ERA in AAA this past year and a 1.80 in the majors, but no…we have PLENTY of relief pitchers to go around!
Still no outfielders. AAA type playes on roster.
Why don’t Alderson see what it would take to get Tabata, PIT
or Heisey, CIN ? Don’t think it would cost the moon.
Either David was lied to…and looking at the state of things, is really gullible.
Or…it was about the money.
Either way, there’s no positive to take from this situation.
David must have heard something reasonable unless it was lies….
It was about the money. Wright was being guaranteed $138M. Could he have gotten more after next year on the open market? Perhaps. But he also could have gotten hurt or had an horrendous year.
That is why is name was signed….not other reason.
Winner.
I wonder what the approval rating of Sandy Alderson is looking like these days?
Anyway I can do a poll on this site ?
Hi Just,
Lower than Congress, for sure!
The plan is pretty obvious and simple:
# 1 Regain control of the major league payroll by letting non-performing contracts run out (and at the same time, help the cash-strapped ownership group keep the team which is unfortunate & unpopular but certainly part of the plan).
# 2 Rebuild the farm system & young talent base from averagish (when inherited) to above average & deep. While the Mets currently only have Wheeler as a consensus top 25 overall prospect, the depth of the system in terms of legitimate major league prospects is better than it has been in a long, long time, basically since the mid 1980s. And that´s due to both a good job during the late Omar Minaya era and the current front office. Usually, the most underrated systems in Baseball are those with the deepest group of pitching prospects. Sure, the attrition rate will be high. But if you have 20 tickets in the lottery where 1 in 4 usually wins, you have a much better shot at finding two strong SP and three good relievers instead of only having seven or eight “tickets” (like in the past, sometimes not even that many).
# 3 Once the payroll picture is clear and it makes sense again to invest into the major league payroll again (because a promising, inexpensive core is in place), you invest heavily into the present by either signing top tier free agents or trading in some of the prospect depth for players in their arbitration years approaching free agency, or even taking on a large contract or two. However, before that happens, you need a foundation.
Most Mets teams since the early 90s lacked a true and sustainable foundation and usually had to perform in a very brief window of 3-4 years before a collapse was inevitable. However, there´s no reason why a large market team like the Mets (once revenue is up to large market caliber again) shouldn´t be able to sustain success for at least 6 to 8 years at a time minium. That has to be the goal here.
And considering that between 1991 and 2010, i.e. 20 seasons, the Mets finished above .500 exactly 9 times, in spite of sporting generally one of the highest payrolls in Baseball, something had to change.
Who knows how this will end. Alderson & Co have a mixed record in their 24+ months on the job. Some good, some bad. However, the general direction and goal is pretty clear. And not bidding on Shane Victorino or Ryan Ludwick this winter for example in spite of gapping structural holes in the outfield does not contradict this plan at all.
And likewise, if you want to build this team around strong pitching, trading Jon Niese & Zach Wheeler for Wil Myers & other prospects would not have been a good idea either.
HI DrDooby,
Sincere words on your part but just hollow words on their’s.
When one hires a Sandy Alderson type, they are looking for solutions to problems that are not related to baseball. That some of the highest paid players might not be producing is a matter that needs to be addressed talent wise,not financial wise, since not even a portion of the approximate $35 million that Sandy cut from the payroll was re-invested back into improving it.
And that money saved is a drop in the bucket compared to the close to one billion dollar debt the Mets are facing along with steadily decreasing revenues.
Oh, how I wish the fiscal problem had only been a financially too-high payroll based on the return of player production for that could have been resolved rather easily.
Under the circumstances, all Sandy’s plan was to dismantle, start from scratch and hope for the best while he saves the Wilpons from having to relinquish ownership. That is not a plan for the future as it is a plan for the Wilpon’s survival either as owners of the Mets or to get the Mets back to a point that they do not have to sell it below market value due to all the debt holdings.
If Sandy was concentrating on both, he would be making moves – even Kansas City has and the Royals are also losing money, just like the Mets. Not only were they able to afford just a $61,391,300 payroll this past season but their financial resources, as indicated by David Glass, are more limited than many had first thought. Yet, they still took on the contracts of Shields and Wade Davis.
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/12/06/3951887/royals-payroll-pinch-is-tighter.html
Why? After how many consecutive losing seasons, it’s what GM Dayton Moore had to say: “‘We have to start winning games at the major league level, and the way you develop a winning culture is by winning major league games. ‘It’s time for us to start winning at the major league level.”
Sounds like they indeed had a plan going – not a hope. Sandy’s plan was not something innovative – teams like the Astros, Pirates and Padres have been doing that for years…, and years…, and years. Only Oakland and Tampa Bay hit paydirt going that route.
I agree with your comment. Even if the big signings weren’t happening, you’d hope or think progress was being made…somewhere?
The question I ask myself is if the product being put on the field year after year after year is a competitive one. If not, is it at least working towards being competitive. If not (again) then why.
I feel that ownership doesn’t consider that they have a responsibility to their fan based community. I feel it is a clandestine-ly run organization, resulting in a despondent attitude towards the team we grew up with.
We may not agree with strategy but would be nice to hear from Wilpon, Alderson, or DePodesto on what they’re trying to do.
Hi Arti,
I have no doubt that the Wilpons would love to field a winning team. We know that money was no object beforehand, no matter what the results were. We knew there was the effort, no matter what the strategy was. Even I won’t take that away from them, despite my agreement with you that they don’t understand that it is simply in their own best financial interests to feel a responsibility to the fan based community.
I think that indifference is what has really made most fans fed up with the organization amd Sandy Alderson is simply a reflection of it’s mindset. I myself didn’t feel that way at all until Citi Field opened and I saw a shift away from the working blue collar fan in the form of exclusion rather than inclusion (ticket prices, restricted entrances, lines of sight and prompting the fans to get out of their seats during the game and enjoy the ammenties of the park (i.e., spend money). They were now catering to the more afluent fan and the atmosphere that we enjoyed at Shea – despite all it’s setbacks – had for many changed from a sense of having fun to a sense of being entertained.
That’s what happens when one designs a smaller capacity park – the lost revenue from a decrease of 10,000 could actually be replaced by even more in profit based on the “dynamic” pricing theory that fans would pay anything for the more limited tickets available. Less people paying more, much more.
And now that Sterling Equties is behind the financial eight-ball, we can see that even the product itself, starting at the bottom with the acquisition of raw talent, takes a back seat. Everything has changed from what the Mets once were.
[...] Joe D at Metsmerized wonders, “What was the plan that convinced Wright to stay with the [...]