MMO Fair or Foul: The Hair Of The Dog That Bit The Mets

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• srt January 17, 2013 at 10:30 am

  I’d be real curious as to what the Yankee offer is. If it’s considerably more than the Mets, I’m not sure what Hairston is holding out for. I guess playing time is more the motivating factor with him, more so than the money and he’s probably thinking he’ll get more of that with the Mets.

  If the two offers were comparable, he would have already signed with the Mets. I think Bitter Bill hit the nail on the head with this:

  1. The Mets don’t really want Hairston back, and if he does comes back it will be on their terms.
• Reese Kaplan January 17, 2013 at 10:34 am

  Actually, the Mets may have found their answer to Hairston in former Rockie Andrew Brown who is on a minor league deal and will cost them only $500K with no future commitment whatsoever. He’s slugged more HRs than Hairston ever did but his came in the minors (and most recently in the hitter friendly PCL to boot).

  If this was a REAL franchise intent on winning, then neither would be in the conversation. It would instead include names like Upton, Bourn and Stanton. However, we’re talking about the Mets, so try to see it from their warped perspective. Do you pay $3.5 million or more per season for someone who is supposed to be the right handed half of a platoon (getting into less than half your games), or do you spend ML minimum on someone to fill that role and keep your limited funds to bolster the bullpen (or stock up on Cristal for the Wilpon family jet)?
  • Joe D January 17, 2013 at 10:41 am

    Thanks for commenting Reese. I agree with you. Unfortunately though I doubt they are saving the cash to bolster anything but Fred’s wallet as has been the case from day one since Sandy arrived. That’s the “real” plan.
    • ifthevansrockin January 17, 2013 at 10:48 am

      Joe, serious question, since you see the “fred’s wallets” comment a lot. And since you own the place, might as well direct to you.

      Do you honestly think that the Mets are generating lots of extra profit, and that Fred is simply skimming it off the top and stashing it away in his own pocket (an owner taking the profit out of a business)? As opposed to, money being trimmed being used to keep the team/organization afloat (paying operating expenses, making debt service, etc.?)
      • srt January 17, 2013 at 10:58 am

        I know you directed this question at Joe but here’s my two cents – from someone who has no love lost for the Wilpons as Mets owners:

        I don’t think they’re skimming profits or lining their pockets. I believe they’re just barely keeping their nose above water trying to hold onto the team. Debt, expenses, etc. are the driving force on what we’re seeing here these past 2 years.
      • Joe D January 17, 2013 at 11:14 am

        Every penny is going towards decreasing debt. The old adage applies, a penny saved is a penny earned… There is no profit here and there won’t be until the product on the field improves or is worth the price of admission. That’s just my own opinion.
        • ifthevansrockin January 17, 2013 at 11:28 am

          Thanks. That is what I thought.

          and IMO “lining fred’s pocket” is not a fair representation of what is going on.
        • Hotstreak January 17, 2013 at 12:02 pm

          If you over leverage and can’t pay your debts you go bankrupt, Selig put Alderson at the poker table to kept the Wilpons seat as owners and even gave him chips. However he let Tom Hicks former owner of Rangers belly up. Again it is the Wilpons and Selig who set this team back.
          • tlagee January 17, 2013 at 4:53 pm

            Hotstreak – yup, that’s sounds about right.

            I’m of the theory that besides trying to pay down the debt, the Madoff scandal, along with the two suicides and tons of bad press has Fred traumatized. I think Jeff has tried to fill the vacuum left by Fred and we all know how anything Jeff touches turns out.

            Scary, scary times for our Mets.
• Mitch Petanick January 17, 2013 at 11:08 am

  Well the Mets are trying to pay him like a platoon player and then probably make him a starter and Hairston is like F that if I’m going to be a starter you better pay me like a starter. It would be like being a part-time employee and then getting made into a full-time employee but still get paid as a part-time employee. That dog just ain’t gonna hunt.
  • Joe D January 17, 2013 at 11:16 am

    I agree. They want their cake and to eat it too.
  • ifthevansrockin January 17, 2013 at 11:34 am

    it sounds though like the FT playing is more iportant, since if the Mets are trying to pay PT but use him FT, the Yankees are more likely the opposite (FT pay to sit ont he bench)!
    • TRS86 January 17, 2013 at 11:36 am

      That’s exactly what I said below. Seems pretty clear to me.
  • Hotstreak January 17, 2013 at 12:09 pm

    Sandy could at least sweeten the offer with a box of chocolates and two tickets to a Broadway show? Oh Ma Ma Mia that is an offer he can refuse..
• ray sadecki January 17, 2013 at 11:11 am

  The yankees have signed matt diaz to be thier RH platoon guy. I dont think there is anybody else out there needing Hairstons services at the prices he is asking. Why bid against yourself? even the skanks arent doing that this year.
  • Joe D January 17, 2013 at 11:15 am

    The Yankees increased their attempts to sign Hairston after they signed Diaz and made it clear that signing Diaz had no effect on their interest in Hairston.
    • ifthevansrockin January 17, 2013 at 11:35 am

      isn’t what Hairston is asking for relative chump change for the Yankees though? Something else has to be going on, and quite possibly it is how SH is being valued by the guys that count, GMs.
      • TRS86 January 17, 2013 at 11:37 am

        Based on the Yankees moves, I don’t think they are going to offer him a 2 year deal either.
      • srt January 17, 2013 at 11:58 am

        IDK..I think the idea of chump change for the Yankees has passed. Looks to me like they’re very serious about getting their payroll under 189 MIL.

        ,
    • ray sadecki January 17, 2013 at 12:12 pm

      Joe,

      Then why is hairston still a free agent?
• TRS86 January 17, 2013 at 11:34 am

  Honestly, I think the Mets angle is you can go play for the Yanks and get about 1/3 the AB’s and make more money or you can come here for another year for less and try one more time to convince teams you are worth a multiyear deal. Otherwise I can’t really see the hold up.
• Alex68 January 17, 2013 at 11:50 am

  Since SA took over this type of negotiations have been going on, the mets are only acquiring oft injured or rejects who wanna revived their careers and are willing to take a minimun salary to do so. it’s downright embarassing what has been goign on here… That piece by bitter bill was awesome… It’s time people take notice at the garbage the mets have been doing the past 3 years.. It’s sad
  • Met Maniac January 17, 2013 at 11:55 am

    You’re right. Rejects, misfits, end of the road, injury rehab type players. In other words according to Cerrone, I like this move for the Mets. He’d be a nice fit – type players. LMAO!
  • TRS86 January 17, 2013 at 12:00 pm

    What do you mean since SA took over. They did this with Omar here too. Take a look at 2010. Jason Bay and the scrubs.
    Signed Mike Cervenak as a free agent.
    Signed Alex Cora as a free agent.
    Signed Chris Coste as a free agent.
    Signed Alejandro Machado as a free agent.
    Signed Jesus Feliciano as a free agent.
    Signed Russ Adams as a free agent.
    Signed Mike Hessman as a free agent.
    Signed Henry Blanco as a free agent.
    Signed Elmer Dessens as a free agent.
    Drafted Carlos Monasterios from the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2009 rule 5 draft.
    Sold Carlos Monasterios to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
    Signed Ryota Igarashi as a free agent.
    Signed Andy Green as a free agent.
    Signed R.A. Dickey as a free agent.
    Signed Luke Montz as a free agent.
    Signed Kelvim Escobar as a free agent.
    Selected Jay Marshall off waivers from the Oakland Athletics.
    Signed Adam Pettyjohn as a free agent.
    Signed Jolbert Cabrera as a free agent.
    Traded Brian Stokes to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Received Gary Matthews and cash.
    Signed Val Pascucci as a free agent.
    Signed Fernando Tatis as a free agent.
    Signed Travis Blackley as a free agent.
    Signed Frank Catalanotto as a free agent.
    Signed Josh Fogg as a free agent.
    Signed Neal Musser as a free agent.
    Signed Luis Hernandez as a free agent.
    Signed Bobby Livingston as a free agent.
    Signed Jolbert Cabrera as a free agent.
    Signed Carlos Muniz as a free agent.
    Signed Mike Jacobs as a free agent.

    Need I go on?

    It was clear then that money was going to be a huge issue for the Mets. They just threw the fans a bone with the Jason Bay signing and spent their entire wad.
    • ifthevansrockin January 17, 2013 at 12:08 pm

      One of these names, is not like the others…
      • TRS86 January 17, 2013 at 12:11 pm

        Yeah, RA is playing a little peekaboo in there isn’t he? That’s the thing though, in 2009 didn’t his performance speak exactly to this:
        “the mets are only acquiring oft injured or rejects who wanna revived their careers and are willing to take a minimun salary to do so”
        Or this
        “Rejects, misfits, end of the road, injury rehab type players.’

        No not all will be RA, infact 99.9% won’t be. Just saying that this isn’t some new strategy for the Mets to sign tons of scrubs and hope they work out.

        You could tell that year with the way they only signed one big name and then crapped out and then didn’t add anything to the team later that money was already becoming a huge issue for the Mets.
    • ray sadecki January 17, 2013 at 12:11 pm

      yes a blast from the past. What a lucky shot to find Dickey with all the scrubs listed here. One in a million shot
  • Mr North Jersey January 17, 2013 at 12:06 pm

    Alex, have you been following the LIDOM Round Robin?
    • Alex68 January 17, 2013 at 12:09 pm

      Yes…. Escogido and Aguilas in the finals right?
      • Mr North Jersey January 17, 2013 at 12:11 pm

        Yes, Los Leones with a big 8th inning rally last night to take the lead and win the game.
      • Alex68 January 17, 2013 at 12:12 pm

        Yeah i was watching it last night, forgot the guy who hit the HR. They celebrated as if they won the championship..
        • Mr North Jersey January 17, 2013 at 12:17 pm

          Yea I can’t recall his name just that he is their 1B. Their SP last night the Leones lefty Kris Johnson pitched real well after he got out of the 1st inning. Spin I believe if I heard the announcers right has the record for the most hits in the Round Robin. He misplayed a ball last night in the 1st but his bat has been on a tear during this Round Robin. I am curious to see if they will play him tonight to see if he can get a hit in every Round Robin game of the series.
• James Preller January 17, 2013 at 12:52 pm

  Good satire by Bill Price. But as a rule, I’ve learned not to react to the negotiating process. Let’s see where this winds up.

  But, yeah, sure, no harm in loading bullets into that typewriter. Might need ‘em.
• JJ January 17, 2013 at 2:16 pm

  Buffoooooon. Hairston sucks. Bring up some more kids. Lets see what they got.
• Donal January 17, 2013 at 4:11 pm

  Not sure how that cliche fits here.

  And seriously, if Hairston was worth $4 million a year, he’d get it. There are bench players making more than that.
• vinnie papandrea January 18, 2013 at 9:34 am

  Just like with Dickey they are low balling Hairston hoping a BETTER option (I’m sure Hairston is an MVP candidate) comes along. Maybe we should bid against ourselves because every Met fan seems to love that approach
  • Trs86 January 18, 2013 at 11:39 am

    That’s what I said. If we had only signed Omar Quinetenwhatever to a MLB deal instead of a MILB deal everyone would be happy.
• alan January 18, 2013 at 11:38 am

  What are they thinking about when it comes to resigning Scott Hairston? Even with Scott in there is it is still obviously a very unsettled outfield situation. I accept the fact that the team is giving Kirk the CF job as of now and I am okay with that. If we had Scott in there at least we can have good defense too in either of the corner spots. Maybe 4 million a season for 2 years is a bit high….this would still be a good idea….We must have another RH bat with some pop!

  C’mon Sandy…..I have supported most of what you have done under the circumstances that the Wilpon’s created by their mistakes but we need some action here so that our outfield situation is not a total joke!

  …….
• alan January 18, 2013 at 11:42 am

  Hey guys….with all of these FA’s still on the open market there has got to be a bit of collusion here to keep the salaries down.

  We have seen this before and the longer the GM’s wait the better leverage they have!