Breaking Down – Mets Needs –Tampa Bay Rays

Players Under Contract past 2012:

RF Ben Zobrist, 3B Evan Longoria, RHSP Wade Davis

Free Agents After 2012: -

RHSP James Shields, RHP Kyle Farnsworth, C Jose Molina

ARB Eligible Players Excelling at Tampa Bay:

LHSP David Price, DH Matt Joyce, LF Desmond Jennings, RHSP Jeremy Hellickson, RHSP Jeff Niemann,  RHSP Alex Cobb

ETA: 2012:

Matt Moore LHP -  Born: 6/18/1989 -  Highest Level Reached: MLB Tampa Bay Rays -  2011 Combined Stats: MINORS: 12-3, 1.92ERA, 155IP, 46BB, 210K, .184BAA -  MAJORS: 1-0, 2.89ERA, 9.1IP, 3BB, 15K, .243BAA

Chris Archer RHP -  Born: 9/26/1988 -  Highest Level Reached: Triple-A Durham Bulls -  2011 Combined Stats: 9-7, 4.09ERA, 147.1IP, 86BB, 130K, .263BAA

Tim Beckham SS -  Born: 1/27/1990 -  Highest Level Reached: Triple-A Durham Bulls -  2011 Combined Stats: .271, 28(2B), 4(3B), 12HR, 70RBI, 17SB

Alex Torres LHP -  Born: 12/8/1987 -  Highest Level Reached: MLB Tampa Bay Rays -  2011 Combined Stats: MINORS: 9-7, 3.08ERA, 146.1IP, 83BB, 156K, .249BAA -  MAJORS: 1-1, 3.38ERA, 8IP, 7BB, 9K, .258BAA

Brandon Guyer OF -  Born: 1/28/1986 -  Highest Level Reached: MLB Tampa Bay Rays -  2011 Combined Stats: MINORS: .312, 29(2B), 5(3B), 14HR, 61RBI, 16SB  MAJORS: .195 (8 hits in 41 at-bats), 1(2B), 2HR, 3RBI

ETA: 2013:

Hak-Ju Lee SS -  Born: 11-4-1990 -  Highest Level Reached: Double-A Montgomery Biscuits -  2011 Combined Stats: .292, 17(2B), 15(3B), 5HR, 30RBI, 33SB

Alex Colome RHP -  Born: 12/31/1988 -  Highest Level Reached: Double-A Montgomery Biscuits -  2011 Combined Stats: 12-9, 3.82ERA, 157.2IP, 72BB, 123K, .216BAA

ETA: 2014+

Taylor Guerreri RHP -  Born: 12/1/1992 -  Highest Level Reached: 1st Round Pick 2011 MLB Draft -  2011 Combined Stats: Did Not Play In 2011

Enny Romero LHP -  Born: 1/24/1991 -  Highest Level Reached: Low-A Bowling Green Hot Rods -  2011 Combined Stats: 5-5, 4.26ERA, 114IP, 68BB, 140K, .245BAA

Drew Vettleson OF -  Born: 7/19/1991 -  Highest Level Reached: Rookie League Princeton Rays -  2011 Combined Stats: .282, 13(2B), 4(3B), 7HR, 40RBI, 20SB

Mikie Mahtook OF -  Born: 10/30/1989 -  Highest Level Reached: 1st Round Pick 2011 MLB Draft -  2011 Combined Stats: Did Not Play In 2011

Josh Sale OF -  Born: 7/5/1991 -  Highest Level Reached: Rookie League Princeton Rays -  2011 Combined Stats: .210, 11(2B), 3(3B), 4HR, 15RBI

Derek Dietrich SS -  Born: 7/18/1989 -  Highest Level Reached: .277, 34(2B), 4(3B), 22HR, 81RBI -  2011 Combined Stats:

Felipe Rivero LHP -  Born: 7/5/1991 -  Highest Level Reached: Rookie League Princeton Rays -  2011 Combined Stats: 3-3, 4.62ERA, 60.1IP, 13BB, 57K, .264BAA

Kes Carter OF -  Born: 3/3/1990 -  Highest Level Reached: Rookie League GCL Rays -  2011 Combined Stats: .231 (3 hits in 13 at-bats), 1RBI (Supplemental 1st Round Pick 2011 MLB Draft)

Research:

http://topprospectalert.com/2011/12/07/2012-tampa-bay-rays-top-15-prospect-rankings

https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tgIp3wMqRUbYKz17SoXACQg&output=html

Needs:

1B, 2B, SS, CF, C

Thoughts:

1. Beckham (SS) and Carter (OF) should fill two of their holes out of spring training.

2. The Rays are very SS heavy in the system with Beckham (ERA 2012), Lee (2013) and Dietrich (2015) all projected as starters in the majors.

3. The Rays already have one of the top rotations in baseball. They also have potentially four more starters graduating sometime during the next two seasons.

Summary Suggestion:

1. The Mets also are looking for a C, CF, and 2B, plus are busy breaking in a new SS.

2. The only position the Mets could help the Rays with is 1B, either by trading Ike Davis or Lucas Duda.

3. I can’t see Davis being traded and there doesn’t seem to be anybody position wise that is worth dealing for. Both teams are prospect heavy with rotational pitchers. Sure, lefthander Torres or RHP Cobb would be a nice addition, but is it worth it?

4. My first instinct: pass on deal

5. If I had to:  Duda for Torres and Lee.