2/25/13

Mack Ade on Alfonzo Soriano


I want to throw something out there that I’m sure some of you will be all over (hi Charles!).
The 2012 Mets outfield was from hunger. This year’s version is worse. I’m a big fan of letting the kids that have come up through the system (Lucas Duda, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, eventually Matt den Dekker) get their shot, but, until someone comes through the clubhouse door that can carry their weight, this is going to be a major problem.

I want to remind everyone that neither you or I pay any of these ballplayers a cent. Yes, the lobster roll at the game is almost $20, but that would happen anyway.

If Fred Wilpon is correct…

And no one in his family has any debt…

And the team is now financially in good shape…

And payroll can return to past levels…

And the new TV money kicks in next year…

And Johan Santana, John Buck, Shawn Marcum, and Frank Francisco’s money will go away next year…

Would it really be a sin to split the difference with the Chicago Cubs and pay a LFer $9.5mil a year for 2-years (2013 and 2014) who hit 32-HRs last year, knocked in 108 runs, had a stat line of .262/.322/.499/.821 and was 2nd in the league in OPS+ (113) to Nelson Cruz (117)?

Yeah, he’s 37-years old and supposedly a pain in the ass, but what’s wrong with solidifying one of these three positions with a perennial all-star who can bring some needed experience and leadership (sic) to the Mets outfield.

You leave Duda in RF, and you let everyone else battle it out in ST for the 2-man platoon that will get you through 2013.

Next year, you either promote Matt den Dekker or go get yourself one of those OF prospects I broke out in that other post.

Finally, in 2015, you wish Mr. Soriano a nice retirement while he sails off to play in the Mexican League for the next ten years, and you trade for another prospect (for 2 of your young pitchers) to fill his team controlled shoes.

37-HRs… 108-RBIs… 113-OPS+

Baxter, Tejada, Wright, Davis, Soriano, d’Arnaud, Duda, Murphy…

I’m just saying… 

4 comments:

Reese Kaplan said...

With A-Rod and Granderson both down and out for the Yankees, I can foresee a Bronx reunion for the golden years of Soriano's career.

Anonymous said...

I can't. Yanks look like they are about ready to go through a re-tool phase. They are trying to get under the luxury cap and weren't active during the off-season. Granderson will only be out for the first four weeks of the season. That's no reason for them to hit the panic button and take on (assuming Cubs pick up half of his salary) about $9MM of salary.

Mack Ade said...

plus Sori is too young for the Yanks

Charles said...

I don't know about him... He had a good year in a great place to hit. I heard they'll even pay 26 mill out of the 36 he's owed, but then the package has to be sweet. I'd want more of a sure thing, if I'm giving up good prospects.

To me, he'd be cheap enough, that it would all depend on the prospects.

I'd do Verret and Dykstra for him, plus pay 5 million a year.