John Harper on Troy Tulowitzki
On the other hand, Tulowitzki is one of the true stars in baseball, a power-and-average-hitting shortstop whom scouts still consider one of the best in the game defensively, and he’s a month away from turning 29. The Rockies aren’t desperate to get rid of the contract, but baseball people familiar with their thinking say Colorado believes getting a package for Tulowitzki while reinvesting some of the money it would save could speed up a necessary rebuilding process. OK, so how about this: Travis d’Arnaud, Dillon Gee, and Rafael Montero for Tulowitzki. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/harper-tulowitzki-pricey-worth-trade-mets-article-1.1462087#ixzz2fSBFTi9Y
Mack – we’ve spent far too much time speculating on a possible trade for this superstar,, but let’s remember, this primarily would be a salary dump by Colorado. They might welcome three decent players under team control, while, at the same time, stop writing the checks that is killing their bottom line. Folks, team sign stars to make fan happy, but, in the long run, this will always be a business first.
D’Arnaud, Gee, and Montero offer Colorodo three team controlled team and possible could pull the trick if Alderson can sell one of his magic days. Oh yeah, throw in Valdespin for good measure.
Mack Ade on Dice-K –
I did think this was a pretty stupid move when it was first announced and the only good thing early was that I could take care of my aging bladder system often and never miss a pitch, but I have to tell you that this guy is winning me over for a spring invite to possibly win an SP5 role until things heal up around here. It would cost pennies compared to what’s out there and I really would have no plans for him if Montero is a go, Mejia gets clearance, and Syndergaard is promoted, but it can’t hurt to have him and Harang come to camp and tryout for a minor league contral. But that’s just me.
The Difference a David Wright makes –
One game. Look, this is pretty simple. The Mets have one all-star bat. They also play much better when their second best bat, Daniel Murphy, is hot. And, they played their best this year when Marlon Byrd was their third bat. Byrd is gone and the closest third bat is now Josh Satin, but past that, you are not going to win playing this game with a bunch of kids hitting .140-.230. The Mets need at least two more bats or don’t waste your time here.
Mack Ade on Wilfredo Tovar –
Nice Kid. Kind of a defensive whiz, but, like many Latin infielders,, makes stupid errors on routine plays. Never known as a hitter though he has turned out some decent numbers. I would just enjoy what you are watching in September here. Tovar is a AAAA infielder in the making.
I would love to see Tulo in a Mets uniform for a package like that. I also think what other team could view him as the final piece to out the over the top. Think about the Pirates. If they could add Tulo, Cano or even Abreu, they could be 1 starting pitcher away from possibly being the best team in the NL.
ReplyDeleteTeams really don't like taking on big contracts like this and this could be an advantage for the Mets in the off-season. Look, this guy is a real all-star and he's only 29... he's worth every penny and the Mets can easily afford him, plus sign a decent outfielder in addition during this off-season. Try to imagine Tulo and Pence in the Mets lineup. Everything changes.
ReplyDeleteI would be hard pressed to trade d'Arnaud. He needs to make adjustments at the plate - he's got timing issues, obviously - but he has a nice swing and a ton of talent. He's not the guy the Mets should trade, especially to take on an enormous contract. If we're talking Lindor or Profar then I reconsider, but not in this deal. The Mets only have so many bullets with which to improve the roster - in terms of money and prospects - I wouldn't blow them both to add one player, as great as he is. I'd happily take on Tulo's contract, but then I want to reserve the prospects for another piece.
ReplyDeleteWillis:
ReplyDeleteI agree. I don't want to trade d'Arnaud and yes, the team does have only so many bullets, but the team in general (and d'Arnaud in particular, are shooting blanks right now)
You have to trade good players for an all-star. Other GMs aren't stupid. Trading d'Arnaud would leave a gaping whole in 2014 at the catcher level, but Tulo is one of those special players
You can't look at Tulo in a vacuum. He has a huge price tag which commits his team through his 36th birthday. d'Arnaud, in my opinion, is too valuable for the Mets to trade unless its for another young player that won't cost a ton. The Mets have precious few offensive assets.
ReplyDeleteAnd if I'm the Rockies then Gee and Montero aren't the types of pitchers I'd want. Gee relies too much on pin point control and every mistake in Colorado would be a homer. Montero has been a fly ball pitcher. It just doesn't feel like a good fit for a trade.
I'm a fan of D'Arnaud, but we could just sign Buck back and hopefully Plawecki turns into a big time prospect, while having Tulo at SS for the next decade or so. We clearly need bats and while d'Arnaud turns out to be an above average catcher, I don't expect him to be a middle of the order hitter.
ReplyDeleteI see his ceiling as a Carlos Ruiz type, which isn't a bad thing at all, but better suited as a 6-7 hitter vs a 3-4-5 hitter like Tulo or even Cargo for that matter. I'd probably prefer to move Flores, Puello as the young bat just because of the premium defensive position he plays and good catching is hard to find. Not to mention, the Rockies could use an upgrade at 2B & 1B for that matter with Helton retiring., which could increas the trade value of Murphy, Ike or Duda as part of the deal.
Considering Montero and Flores were just awarded with the Mets Organizational Player/Pitchers of the Year, this improves their trade value, who will be tossed around in every trade scenario this offseason.
It looks much better to another teams fromt office and fan base that they are getting our organizational pitcher and player of the year. Wouldn't you feel better if situations were reversed?
We have plenty of guys that can be moved this offseason in a trade, which we really need to make since this s a make or break offseason for the foreseeable Mets future. Guys like Montero, Gee, Flores, Puello, Murphy, Ike, Duda, Ynoa, Verrett, etc. will all be in play for a trade.
Throw in a contract for Choo to play RF and them flirting with Abreu to be our power hitting 1B we've been hoping for when we called up Strike Davis e years ago and we have ourselves a formidable lineup that can compete for a wild card next year.
Add a few pieces around them mid year and maybe we can make a serious run, but it all starts the day after the World Series since this offseason will dictate the next 3-5 seasons depending upon which direction we go i or not go in considering how "active" we've been in November/December the last few offseasons.
Aldersons big free agency season doesnt usually start until late January, early February when all the big free agents have already signed. Hopefully he cancels that 2 month vacation he seems to have planned from the day after the World Series ends until the new year this year and spends that time on the phone bringing in 5-6 new players to play big roles in Flushing next season and for seasons to come.
Regarding Mack's comments on Tulo: making fans happy is good business.
ReplyDeleteIt's not either/or.
JP
My first comment here, first want to comment on what a great site I think this is. I think if Colorado would accept that deal, then it's a no brainer, altough it could cause issue with Harvey in limbo and who would catch? Both very solvable issues though and worth the risk to sure up SS. Accomplish this and a decent pickup for RF and we might have something here.
ReplyDeleteDice K has surprised me also, and I think he has earned an invite, couldn't hurt and we will need the depth. Same deal for Harang. I was surprised when Seattle let him go and thought he was a nice pickup given the injury situation. With so many question marks for the rotation next year, we need all the depth we can get.
The Rox don't need d'Arnaud, they have Rosario.
ReplyDeletedid you actually say that an injury prone rookie who is hitting below his weight is 'too valuable' to trade for a perennial all-star?
ReplyDeleteHeh. Yeah, I did. I agree that Tulo is easily worth those three guys, and more. I'd be happy to give the equivalent in value in order to get Tulo (and his contract) but I don't think the Rockies would want these particular pitchers and I don't think the Mets have enough offense in the system to afford to trade one of the few guys that can become a plus offensive player at a premium position.
ReplyDeleteI think the Mets would be better off signing a free agent (say, Pence) and adding a lesser shortstop in trade.
I wonder what the market will be for Tulo, if in fact the Rockies try to trade him.
Well, what is important is I didn't write this proposed trade :)
ReplyDeleteMy job is to post this shit and then we all discuss it.
We have 9 more games, than playoff baseball, then my season takes over (Hot Stove)
There's simply no way I'd trade DarNo in that deal. I certainly wouldn't hand over my future catcher who may very well become a star, my number three starter, and my second best pitching prospect for a salary dump.
ReplyDeleteGranted, the salary dump is a great power hitting SS. Tulo us hurt a lot. He's a risk. Sorry, it's true. His contract is massive. In a year, it jumps to 20 million annually. I just think for that money you could sign Pence and a upgrade at short over Tejada.
This is NY. These last three years have programmed fans to worry about buying players via free agency. I'm included in that, and as much as I've become addicted to Sandy's excellent trades, it's time the Mets get back into the business of spending again.
They'll have a payroll 40 million south of 100 million to start with. Think about what this team could be if they go into the year with a 115 million dollar payroll? 115 million is nothing to a big market team that owns its own sports network and gets 75 million a year extra in naming rights and MLB television revenue. I read that SNY pays the mets 70 million annually to broadcast their games. WFAN paid them about 12 million and I'm sure their new deal will at least be 10. Add it up....155 million in just those avenues and the fans had yet to buy a ticket or a 8 dollar bear.
Let Fred Wilpon put his money where his mouth is. Signing Pence, Choo, Peralta, and a decent pitcher shouldn't be a big problem and it wouldn't cost a single prospect from their system.
Yeah, I was going to say the same thing. The kid's hitting .291-21-79 w/ 4SB's, they have no need for TDA. That's a huge oversight by Harper in his article and makes his trade proposition pointless. I think the writer needs to pay a little more attention to his subject matter, as he doesn't even mention Rosario in the piece.
ReplyDeleteCharley-
ReplyDeleteLets go one step further and go to the WS. Sign some FA's AND trade for a bar.
*bat
ReplyDelete