Mack's Morning Report - 11/27 - ‘Player Evaluation By Position’ – 3B

This is a relatively short report, both at the major league and minor affiliate level.

Thankfully, the Mets broke policy and signed David Wright to a long term contract. Only an injury would force a contingency plan here, which currently would probably include some combination of Wilmer Flores, Daniel Murphy, and Zach Lutz.

I’m not sure if Lutz is going to survive this camp. It may all be determined on whether or not Flores or Murphy is traded. Frankly, I have him returning to Las Vegas and holding down the fort there. There’s not much of a future being a third baseman in the Mets chain before 2020. There just isn’t.

Minors wise, I have no utility players listed here. Their names have already been discussed either in the 2B or SS portion of this series. No, I have five names for the five top affiliates, with no one currently on the roster for either Kingsport of the GL Mets. They will have to come via the draft or the international system.

In Vegas, I have Lutz. He does a credible job at the AAA level (AAA: .293, MLB: .300) and also can back up as a first baseman.

In Binghamton, Robbie Shields (St. Lucie: 337-AB, .231) should graduate to the AA level. Shields has had disappointing numbers since hitting .290 in 2010 at Savannah, but the ex-3rd rounder can also play both SS and 2B.

Jeff Reynolds (Savannah: 330-AB, .242) will move up to St. Lucie, Pedro Perez (Kingsport: .264) will play Savannah, and Jhoan Urena (GCL: .299) will wind up in Brooklyn. Both Perez and Urena are ex-international bonus babies and, in fact, Urena played GCL last year as an 18-yr. old. He could wind up in Kingsport if the Mets go college at this position early in the draft and place that player with the Cyclones.

No one stood out at the DSL level.

Summation – It’s imperative for Wright to keep healthy. He’s not going anywhere until the day he retires which will be in the beginning of the next decade.

Grade: A