You can’t help looking at the numbers regarding Hunter Pence during this last series with the Giants this year. Pence represents a mid-range free agent that could immediately be slotted into right field in 2014. He’s only 29-year old, and he’s had two extremely productive years in 2012 (24-HR, 104-RBI) and, so far, in 2013 (25-HR, 93-RBI). Terry Collins tells you every night that the Mets need someone next to David Wright in the lineup that will consistently produce these kind of numbers and Pence may be as productive as signing Elllsbury or Choo while, at the same time, not having to spend the big money. For what it’s worth, Pence’s 2014 salary was $13.8mil and my guess is he will be looking for around a 5-year deal here. Is he worth $85mil over 5? You tell me.
Ruben Tejada’s diagnosis of a broken tibula after his collision with Andrew Brown Tuesday night is just a complete ending to a fucked season for the young man. I can’t even imagine what will come next for this kid. A straight up trade for Jose Reyes? A 50-game suspension for showing up on time instead of a day early for rehab? Unbelievable.
Terry Collins is pretty succinct about 2014 and who will be his shortstop: "My message is real simple: this job is his," Collins said of next year's starting shortstop gig. "But he's got to show everybody that he wants it desperately."
Terry Collins also reminds us every night that he’s looking for some of these ‘kids’ to step up and show us all that they deserve to stay on the 25-man roster in the future. I’m not exactly sure what the future of first base is on this team. Ike Davis may never wear a Mets uniform again and Lucas Duda can be best described as a disappointment as best, but we do have to give props to Josh Satin this year. He has consistently hit just below the .300 line and proven the least he should be next season is one of the two key utility infielder (he plays first, second and third) on the 2014 team.
Michael Lecolant, over at Rising Sun put it like this: “Like I said, he’s is a good kid, but one who may unfortunately be showcasing himself for playing somewhere else next season. He seems like a Sandy Alderson guy, displaying a consistently high on-base percentage, but his lack of power is something I’m afraid the Mets can not overlook. He probably still fits in the second tier of Mets prospects along with Josh Edgin, Jeremy Hefner, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Reese Havens and a few others. Or maybe that is undervaluing him? The off-season may tell. As a receiving club, I would certainly consider him an intriguing piece of a greater trade package, but certainly not a hook player.Josh Satin has been a refreshing player to watch this season, however, he is in a pickle. I hope he continues to make the best of his remaining opportunity.”
Frankly, the combo of Duda and him could easily create a projection of 35-85 in my book, hitting a combined .275+. That alone might be reason to concentrate my freed up money on other positions during this off-season.
I mentioned this in a comment earlier today, but I want to make sure everyone reads this. Dr. James Andrews is a very simple man. If he thought Matt Harvey needed immediate surgery, Harvey would be scheduling it today or you would hear Andrews distancing himself from this player and team. Instead, you are reading about a conservative non-surgical approach to this problem which Andrews has obviously either agreed to or recommended. Andrews doesn’t fuck around. This is real good news both for the Mets and Harvey. Get used to this. Harvey will be on the mound on opening day, 2014.
I talked yesterday with RP Chasen Bradford, who has been assigned to the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League. This is a big deal in Met-town and is usually reserved for players that the team feels have a long planned future together. I asked Chase if there was anything he specifically was going to target when he gets there: “I think the biggest thing will be getting more consistency with my secondary pitches but still being able to pitch affectively with my fastball.” Jack Leathersich, Jeff Walters and Adam Kolarek have got all of the press regarding who will be the next minor leaguer that will graduate to the Mets pen, but don’t count out Bradford. I don’t have any of them for opening day next April, but all four should split the lion share of innings for Las Vegas through June.
11 comments:
Mack, I agree with you about Pence. At I would also not expect his home run numbers to go down if he moved to Citi, as opposed to Choo and Cargo.
I think they'd need, not should, need to sign both Pence and Choo. I think those two would transform the Mets offense while letting the Mets keep their farm system intact. They'd lose their 2nd and 3rd round draft picks, but its a deep draft and it looks like they're getting a top 8 pick anyway.
They could easily afford this and still have enough money to look at bettering other positions. If they go into the season with a 115 million payroll, I'd be happy because chances are they got themselves a few good players.
Only the Mets would pick on Tejada for actually showing up early during spring training. This is yet another example of a stupid organization that hires under qualified managers because they get along with the current GM.
Collins has made so many stupid decisions during this season and yet he is about to be extended. Stupid lineups all of which had the Mighty Ike Davis and his miserable 150 batting average batting 4th. The lineups with Capt. Kirk, Ankiel instead of Lagares who was playing better. The constant saying one thing and doing another. A player goes 4 for 4 and sits for the next week as a reward. No in game logic, no hit and run. Just wait until the 7th inning and if the Mets are ahead, pick the lefty reliever against the lefty batter...blah.. blah. A monkey can do that.
I for one, will not spend my money at Dodger-Field until the Wilpons put up a team with a chance to win.
By the way Mack, could you see Brown at 1B in 2014? He does play 1B and has lots of power.
Should the Mets go after the PED's players in order to get them cheap assuming they become FA.
How about 2 ex PED and Beltran?
Nelson Cruz 18M 2 year contract LF
Jhony Peralta 2 year 10M SS
Beltran 2 years 25M RF
That is less than 30M and it completely changes the Mets lineup. Platoon Lagares and den Dekker.
Lagares/den Dekker
Murphy
Wright
Beltran
Cruz
Duda
Peralta
d'Arnaud / Centeno (would keep him instead of Recker because he is a LH)
Based on Duda's emotional state, I wonder how adding two .270+ and 20+ homer guys, along with stable placement at 1B, would help ease his mind and have him hit better.
Regarding Choo and Pence, if Mets got both, and d'Arnoud lives up to his expectations as an offensive catcher, then my 2 cents are that the Mets should NOT trade away any of their top pitching prospects, and hope Tejada grows up rather then try and get Tulo .
85mm over 5 for Pence? two words: jason bay
Outside of getting a protected pick so we can target a free agent and not worry about a lost drsft pick, i was just looking at some 2014 mlb mock drafts out there (assuming the Mets don't blow it and go on a 8-2 run to end the season in typical Mets fashion and end up outside the top 10 like many of us assume they will) and in the 7-8 range where we are currently sitting, I've seen guys like Tyler Beede, Jacob Gatewood, Alex Jackson & Nick Gordon available.
My guy last year was Dominic Smith and we ended up drafting him and this year my guy is Jacob Gatewood, only because I don't see Trae Turner getting past the White Sox. I've seen people refer to Gatewood as a once in a generation type player and in the mold of Tulo or Machado with more power.
The only problem I see with him is he plays SS, but at 6'5, 190 as a 17 yr old, he'll end up being maybe 6'6- 230 when he makes his debut and 3B could be his ultimate position down the road. That doesnt change anything for me since a move to LF, RF, 1B could work considering the potential of his bat. If Gatewood could stay at SS, I think he could be the #1 overall pick, but I'm not sure that's a possibility.
The PED issue shouldn't prevent the Mets from signing somebody. It actually lowers their asking price and, remember, there are different drugs taken here. There's a big difference between something to bulk you up and something to help you heal faster.
Gatewood is a beast and does project eventually as a 3Bman
I'm with you on Pence but not so much on Choo. I still think we HAVE to finally make some moves that will not only make us better but it's also time to acquire players fans actually will pay to see like Tulo and/or Cargo. I hate to use this old line but it's true: we're in New York not Tampa or Seattle and its time we acted like it Freddy!
Also Mack as far as the draft pick issue I'm getting from you they'll be 5 or 6 top player's available and from pick 7 to 15 their fairly evenly matched is that right?
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