From MLB Trade Rumors:
Offseason Outlook: New York Mets
By Tim Dierkes [September 17 at 11:00pm CST]
Next up in our Offseason Outlook series, the Mets. Their commitments for 2010:
C - Omir Santos - $400K
C - Josh Thole - $400K
1B - Daniel Murphy - $401K
2B - Luis Castillo - $6MM
SS - Jose Reyes - $9MM
3B - David Wright - $10MM
IF - Anderson Hernandez - $400K
LF - Angel Pagan - $575K+
CF - Carlos Beltran - $18.5MM
RF - Jeff Francoeur - $3.375MM+
OF - Cory Sullivan - $600K+
OF - Jeremy Reed - $925K+
1B/LF - Nick Evans - $403K or OF - Fernando Martinez - $400K
SP - Johan Santana - $21MM
SP - John Maine - $2.6MM+
SP - Mike Pelfrey - $1.3125MM
SP - Oliver Perez - $12MM
SP - Jon Niese - $400K
Other candidates: Fernando Nieve - $414K, Tim Redding - $2.25MM+
RP - Francisco Rodriguez - $11.5MM
RP - Pedro Feliciano - $1.6125MM+
RP - Sean Green - $471K+
RP - Pat Misch - $402K
RP - Bobby Parnell - $400K
RP - Brian Stokes - $410K
RP - Carlos Muniz - $402K
Other commitments: J.J. Putz - $1MM buyout
Non-tender candidates: Redding, Maine, Nelson Figueroa
That puts the Mets at about $105MM, plus arbitration raises to Pagan, Francoeur, Sullivan, Reed, Maine, Feliciano, Green, and Redding (some of whom will likely be non-tendered). The Mets are in the $110MM ballpark after entering the '09 season with a $149.4MM payroll. Omar Minaya should have $35-40MM to patch his team's many holes.
The Mets have a strong core of superstars, and their collective health almost has to improve in 2010. I don't see the logic behind trading Reyes, Wright, Beltran, or Santana.
The Mets need a catcher, first baseman, and corner outfielder. They may be competing with the Braves for certain first base and left field candidates. But the Mets also need at least one solid starting pitcher as well as bullpen help.
The catching market is weak, but pairing someone like Gregg Zaun with Thole makes sense. First base presents more options. Who's a bigger health risk - Carlos Delgado at 38 or Nick Johnson at 31? Johnson's .428 OBP is hard to ignore.
The market is flush with left fielders. With so many needs, I have a hard time seeing Minaya take a run at Manny Ramirez, Matt Holliday, or Jason Bay. Johnny Damon, Bobby Abreu, and Jermaine Dye are more reasonable targets. With Castillo, Johnson, Wright, Beltran, and Abreu, the Mets would potentially have five .400 OBP players. Zaun (assuming the Rays let him go), Johnson, and Abreu could be signed for less than $25MM in 2010 salaries.
With the remaining money I'd attempt to lure Randy Wolf from the West Coast while also pursuing Erik Bedard, Brad Penny, Randy Johnson, Carl Pavano, or Ben Sheets for a one-year deal. Admittedly there wouldn't be much left to spend on relievers, but decent arms can be found for a million or two.
Certainly the Mets could use top free agents like Holliday and John Lackey. However, the available money would be better used to acquire four or five sensible free agents. Let's hear your recommendations in the comments.
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8 comments:
D.C., understand that I mean no disrespect, b/c your analysis and commentary is spot on. That said,
*yawn*
wake me when Gangsta & Jefe are gone...
Well, my favorite part of the baseball season is still a ways off:
HOT STOVE LEAGUE RULES!!!
Ah, the time of year when opes are high and dreams are intact...
Anyways, shame on you and SHK for not being on here praising the Jetties and predicting a SB victory like everyone in the NY media. I mean it's been a full week since their (upset?) victory over the Texans and no posts yet?
Ah-boo...
I was just waiting to decide whether to post on OccObs or this blog. So be it: F the Pats, and I can't wait for the Jets to beat them tomorrow.
Defense looks great. My review of Sanchez: two great positives and one negative. The two positives are his arm strength/accuracy, and his quick feet and ability to take a few steps in the pocket to avoid a sack and buy some time. The only real negative is that as with any rookie (or brett favre) he wants to make a play *every* time, and so often forced throws he shouldn't have. He'll have a lot of INTs this year, but that will improve with experience. overall I'm very excited about this team.
And of course I think the jets made a great move trading up to get sanchez. He looks excellent.
Can't wait for the Pats to beat the Jets tomorrow just to see SHK's typical reaction calling for the firing of anyone in power and the gutting of the team because they suck and won't win another game all season.
Thus begins the winter cycle of negativity...
The thing is, I'm completely right with respect to the Mets. Only one WS appearance in 23 years given their payroll is totally ludicrous. Wilpon has never been a good owner, and it flows down from there. No way around the facts.
Hey DC:
J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!
As for the mets, I really hope the Wilpons have to sell the team. I think that is the only way this team makes a meaningful, lasting change.
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