According to ESPN's Adam Rubin, talks between the Mets and Curtis Granderson are beginning to intensify and a while a deal is not imminent, one could within the next week. The team is said to be willing to offer 3 years to Granderson with a 4th year possible if they are willing to take a cut in the net AAV.
Granderson is a perfect fit for this team for a few reasons.
A) Correlation between Draft Pick Compensation and Playing Time
- Signing Granderson is going to cost the Mets their second round pick. However in order to significantly improve the club the team brass HAS to sign some sort of QO free agent. If your going to give up your draft pick, you might as well give it up for someone who is going to contribute to your team for 150 games rather than 30.
B) Power and Line-up Protection
- While Granderson does not hit for much of an average with a career mark of .261, he does bring significant power to a line-up averaging 30 HRs a season. Those stats are prototypical of a National League clean-up hitter, one the Mets have not had since Carlos Delgado left the club. Slotting him in at the #4 spot not only gives the team a power threat but it also puts him in front of the best offensive 3B in the game. Pitchers will have to pick their poison now between giving David Wright more fastballs or facing Granderson with runner(s) on base.
C) Best Defensive Outfield in Baseball?
- 3 Centerfielders, all known for good defense, in the same OF may seem like a scary idea when you think back to the Mike Cameron/Carlos Beltran incident, However, if they can get it right we may be looking at the best defensive OF in all of baseball. In a partial season, Juan Lagares posted a + 24.4 UZR only falling behind Arizona's Gerardo Parra as the best defensive OF in all of baseball. Lets say a full season gets him to +27.5 UZR; if you combine that with Chris Young's career average UZR of +19.3 and Granderson's career average UZR of +8.9 you end up with +55.7 UZR or roughly 65 runs saved via defense. This is a few runs better than the top OF in baseball which was Kansas City
18 comments:
It's a chicken and egg thing...obviously the meeting with Granderson took place prior to Tumultuous Tuesday, but I find it a bit disingenuous to read that talks are intensifying only after so much activity took place around MLB. If Granderson was the target all along, then he could have been signed already. I think the team is going into overpay mode much like they did when they chased some previous talent under Minaya because they FINALLY are realizing that the media is crucifying them for their inertia.
I wouldn't mind the Granderson signing, in fact I think if we get him and a SS (sing Drew, trade for someone) that it would be a pretty good offseason. But, I have different reasons/analysis. I don't really agree with point A because the SP makes a huge impact in those 30 games compared to a smaller impact in the 150 games. However, I do agree that if we sign a FA with a QO it shouldn't be a SP, but that is based off the strength of our SP.
Also you can't use UZR like that. First we are acting like their (Young and Grandy) UZR numbers in CF won't change when they move to the corners (they should increase). 2nd you use their career UZR numbers. Those numbers were put up in a lot more than a seasons worth of playing time. That is like saying someone has 300 HR over 10 years and then penciling him in for 300 HR the next season. You have to use UZR/150, and even that won't be a great comparison tool due to the different positions.
But, I do agree with you that we should strive to put 3 CF side to side. I think it will really help our young pitching to know they have a great defense behind them.
I hope the Mets FO dont make the mistake (around the ASB) when they are close (or even better leading the division) they are trading away the farm for a push for October.
@Daniel
THe Career UZR numbers I used it their Career Season Average Not the Total Career UZR.
Sorry I should have clarified that.
UZR/150?
Is that like Ron Burgandy's emm - pee - gees ???
I don't think it is. Here is granderson's career fielding stats
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=4747&position=OF#fieldingadvanced
The 8.9 is in the Total row UZR column. Meaning it is his total UZR, accumulated in almost 10000 innings. If you want Career Season Average you have to use UZR/150 (assuming 150 games played per year), which would be 1.2. Like I said though I don't disagree with your fundamental point. Plus, his UZR would certainly go up from shifting to a corner.
More SABR talk Mack lol.
Case in point....Granderson, Young, and Lagares would be one ridiculous defensive OF both supported by the eye test and defensive metrics
@daniel
Jeez....ouch....thanks for the enlightenment I did use an incorrect assessment.
I will tell you two things, one of which scouts have taught me:
1. (taught by scouts) - teams that are built around superior rotation pitchers need to have a very good bullpen... and be excellent defensively in the field.
2. I have watched the Mets lose too many games in the field in the last 5 years.
Granderson is also I high character guy. His clubhouse presence should have a strong effect on this very young team. Veterans like Wright and Granderson who lead by example on the field can help this team for years to come.
Kevin -
What happened to the time when a team WANTED to tie up their stars into a long term contract?
Give Grandy 4 years... and cheap-sign Murphy and Gee through 2017. You can always trade them in the future, but you put 3 more guys (with Wright and Niese) on the shelf for the future.
Agree 100% Mack. Murphy is not the problem. Gee is not the problem. Lock them up and look to improve elsewhere.
On the other hand, both of their values are at their peak. Wouldn't be a bad time to move them while their value is the highest, before they are signed for $10M/year
Either one is a good idea, but neither of these guys can be packaged to a team that are looking for team controlled players. Gee is going to cost 'someone' a lot of money in 2014, his first ARB year.
That being said, a package of Gee, Murphy, and a few more guys could get you closer to someone like David Price.
(I said closer)
Grandy 3 years 45 mil. He lures his buddy cano over here... Booyah
Mack,
Off topic but I saw that Tommy Hanson was non-tendered. What the hell happened to him? I hated seeing him mow down the Mets while with the Braves.
Just goes to show you that anything can happen with young pitching. Braves thought they were set with Hanson & Jurrjens a few years back and now look.
D'arnaud
Ike
Cano
Escobar
Wright
Grandy
Young
Beltran
Kevin -
who would have thunk it with both Hanson and Jurrjens.
His world went to hell right after a slight tear in his rotator cuff in 2011 and he's never been the same pitcher again...
you get one shot at this game...
Mets reportedly close to a deal with Granderson.
He is currently going around to see if anyone will top the Mets offer otherwise he will sign soon.
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