Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 12-4-13
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com
- The New York Mets have had some intense talks with free agent Center Fielder Curtis Granderson and hopefully they pull the trigger and make a deal happen sooner than later. Rumor has it they offered a three, possibly four-year deal to bring him to the Mets. I have no idea how much money was put on the table but if the Mets expect to be taken seriously in 2014, they absolutely NEED to make some noise and offer a good amount of money to acquire Granderson. I predict they will indeed sign him and it'll be announced by Friday!
- The Mets recently released their non-tendered cuts list a few days ago. On it was Justin Turner, Jeremy Hefner, Scott Atchinson, Jordany Valdespin, and Omar Quintanilla. I'll definitely miss Turner since while he was a good utility player, he just didn't really meet the pro cut in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, he filled in when needed and was a fun guy to be around from what I can imagine in the clubhouse but the Mets need to start getting some serious on-the-field players, not just ones that players like. Hefner was decent but again, just didn't seem to cut it. Atchinson was pretty bad so that makes sense. I absolutely am happy that the Mets finally cut Valdespin after not only his poor performance, his Biogenesis suspension, but for his absolute horrible morale, ethics, and personality. He lashed out at Terry Collins in front of his players because he was demoted so I'm glad he's gone and never coming back. I have zero tolerance for players who cheat in one of the sports I love so I hope he ends up working at a supermarket. Quintanilla was a short term kind of player for the most part so we need to fill our Shortstop issues in free agency.
- Speaking of free agency, the Mets absolutely need to make a HUGE splash before 2013 is over. They can do so by easily signing Granderson which will show their backing up their words about spending some money in the offseason. I'd like to also see them sign one more. Everyone is loving the Boston Red Sox model of bringing in quality players who play for the team and not for the money. Teams are trying to learn from what worked in their miracle season by following the formula to a degree, even if it means taking some of their players away. From what I have gathered, Stephen Drew would be a solid fit for the Mets and a major upgrade for them at Shortstop. He's looking for a multi-year deal and if they can get Granderson for four-years and then offer Drew something similar, it'll prove the Mets want to contend next year not just to other teams but for their fanbase. Patience wears thin when you are in New York. Even David Wright is anxious to see the moves his team makes.
If its true that there offering Granderson 17mil a yr why not sign beltran for 3yrs for the same 17mil for the first 2yrs and the third yr for 12mil. Id rather sign Beltran then Grand.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the Mets wants Beltran back since they already got Young in free agency. His asking price is too high!
ReplyDeleteAnything more than two years is too much and too expensive. Clearly, during the 2014 season, Lagares, den Dekker and Puello will be ready to contribute. Lawley and Taijeron may be ready by 2015. And who knows about A platton of Nieuwenhuis and Brown can produce 25 HR and 75 RBI for a lot less scratch. Granderson is a decent player, but the Mets need a Carlos Gonzales if they are going to pay out $55 million or so for three years. The real question is what happens to EY if the OF is Granderson, C. Young and Lagares with den Dekker and Brown? My guess is they intend to move EY to 2B and Murphy to 1B. That produces a much improved lineup, but they still need a SS (and a backup SS).
ReplyDeleteYeah, I heard they might move EYJ to 2B since they might trade Murphy since he has trade value after a solid season.
ReplyDeleteLuis, I have to disagree with you on Drew. He's going to be very expensive and we would then lose our 3rd round pick in addition to the 2nd rounder we lose for Grandy. (he said, with his fingers and toes crossed) There are several trade opportunities for a SS out there who would give us as much as Drew at the plate and in the field. We should be seeking Lowrie, Escobar, Cabrera, etc. etc.
ReplyDeleteMets won't go after Beltran becaause his fielding has degraded. If Aldersn doesn't pony up and sign Granderson for 4 years @ $17 million per, I'm jumping out of my windoow. (Don't worry, my window is on the ground floor.) I am assuming that's what it would take to get him.
I agree that the $17M AAV is rather high for Granderson, however, when you take into account the market for players this season and what Nelson Cruz is asking for it makes sense.
ReplyDeletePlus I think the $17M is based on a 3 year deal. If I'm not mistaken the club is willing to offer the 4th year if it reduces that AAV.
I wouldn't be surprised that the chances of Granderson becoming a Met goes away today.
ReplyDeleteThese kind of things have 'windows' and this needed to be closed yesterday.
It became evident at around 2:30pm that Grandy and/or his agent was, as a beat reporter said it, 'hustling' around to find another club to give him a 4-year contract.
It became quite obvious that they have been using the Mets to bump up a deal that someone else can match.
I can't prove any of this but it's just I felt following along yesterday during all this drama
Luis-Nice post, you raise some good points but I'm in agreement with Herb about Drew. He hit far better at Fenway than on the road last season. The same held true when he was D'back. Plus he's somewhat injury-prone. SS can be acquired by trade. I still like Furcal, he's going to produce for someone this year.
ReplyDeleteDeMetsMan-Puello will slide into Young's spot in 2015. don Dekker is a 4th OF. Granderson strikes out a ton but an OF of Young, Lagares, Granderson will be one best defensively. I seriously doubt Kirk/Brown could combine for 25 HR/75 RBI. Brown's flaws would be exposed with more playing time and Kirk is AAAA. Lawley will be a nice power bat off the bench in 2015. Taijeron needs to have a strong full season at AA before you can trust he's going to develop.
Luis -
ReplyDeleteLet's assume that Grandy is a deal in the 17-17.5mil range...
adding this to what Michael Baron estimates is the current Mets payroll, you would now have committed around $82-82.5mil
there simply isn't enough money left this year for Drew
Mack-
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how Michael Baron calculates payroll. Maybe he includes the salaries of players who won't be on the 25 man roster, like Lutz, Nieuwenhuis, Centeno, Puello, etc. According to my calculations, the payroll for our 2015 25 man roster stands at $60.4 million, including contracts, arb projections and 15 pre arbs. Adding $17.5 for Grandy still only brings us to $78, leaving room for a SS, a starter and some utility or pen.
@Herb
ReplyDeleteNot in this free agent market. Only way you pull it off is if you trade Murphy and Davis.
Herb:
ReplyDeleteThat's why I quoted Baron as the source
Christopher-
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. In all of my previous posts and comments relating to payroll, I've assumed that Murphy, and Davis and/or Duda, and possibly Tejada, would be traded, freeing up an additional $8 - $10 million or so. If the eventual payroll is a minimum of $87 million, and more likely to me, about $92 million, it means that after Granderson, we would still have an additional $17 to $24 million to spend. That's why I believe we could fill out the roster pretty well.
If they acquire Granderson, I definitely see them trading Murphy/Duda/Davis and freeing up a lot of money to make the cap workable for years to come.
ReplyDeleteI'm hearing he was offered four-years/$60 million!