At David Wright’s charity fund raiser Friday night, attended by both Chief Operating Officer Jeff Wilpon and General Manager Sandy Alderson, Wilpon stated that “Sandy and his staff have done a good job. And there probably will be a couple more things that might happen between now and the end of the offseason." When asked whether shortstop Stephen Drew was still on his radar, Alderson said “All remaining free agents are on our radar.” When more specificity was requested, however, Alderson indicated he would not talk about individual players.
At that same fundraiser, Wright gave Alderson a strong vote of approval, stating "With the additions that we've made, there is no question that on Opening Day this year, we will be a better team than we were on Opening Day last year." Wright went on to say “What Sandy is building is not a shortsighted, one-and-done type of year, where you go all in for one year. It's going to be better than that. It's going to be an extended period of time when we're a playoff-caliber team, and this is the first step in that direction."
Those are encouraging words to a fan base that is hungry for a playoff-caliber team. There has been much talk by fans who lament the fact that the Mets may be at their spending limit because their payroll currently stands at about $87 million, a target that they believe Sandy had set earlier in the off season. Actually, Alderson had stated that he expected the payroll to be at least $87 million at the start of the season, allowing room for additional spending if Alderson concluded it was warranted. That these Friday night statements were made after the Mets had inked Daisuke Matsuzaka to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training, leave us to speculate who the Mets might add and how much more they might spend before opening day.
While it seems that the Mets have met their objectives regarding the outfield and the starting rotation, they have not fulfilled their goals, stated at the start of the off season, to upgrade at shortstop and to strengthen the bull pen. Although we have been barraged week after week with Stepen Drew rumors, ad nauseum, more recently we have heard statements from Flushing that the Mets were comfortable with Ruben Tejada as the starting shortstop for 2014. Additionally, it was reported within the last few days that the Mets had made a substantial multi year offer to Grant Balfour prior to him signing with the Rays, and that they were now linked to Fernando Rodney.
Are all these words a smokescreen, merely to placate a disgruntled fan base, or is the front office serious about additional spending to further improve the team? What do you think the Mets will do in the coming weeks? Does Sandy have a rabbit to pull out of his hat, as David Wright said about a month ago? Is there still the possibility for a trade, and who would go for who? Will they address shortstop or will Ruben get the job by default? Will they add a veteran reliever to the pen, or will they stand pat in the end? And finally, where do you think the final payroll number will actually wind up?
20 comments:
What I would like to believe is that Alderson would upgrade shortstop. This would make Tejada a strong in-field back up and give him another year to see what he really has to offer.
I would like to see Alderson acquire a better upgrade for the outfield. (I absolutely hate depending on both Chris & Eric Young as starters)
What I Expect to see though is more of the same. Talk, Talk, Talk. Speculation, Speculation, Speculation. End result will be nothing to give a second thought about.
What I never seem to understand is the length of the contract issue.
Don't you think you would want a good shortstop under contract for 3 years rather than having to keep going through this crap year after year?
Not all of next year's FA shortstop crop will get qualifying offers. For example, could you foresee Oakland extending a $13 million plus offer to Jed Lowrie? If not, then there's the option to pick up a player without even sacrificing a third rounder as you would do if you inked Drew now.
You're right.
God, I hate this qualifying offer crap.
Reese
I like Lowrie alot and think he would be a great addtion to the Mets.
But, even if Drew was picked up now for 2 years, he can always be moved later this summer or during the winter. Some team is always looking for infield help for thier play off push.
or, Murphy gets moved and Drew moves to second.
or... any number of things can happen. Getting Drew or someone else does not necessarily mean the Mets can't improve at shortstop again later.
and depending on free agency next year for Lowrie or another shortstop could result in nothing. Lets face it, the market could be "more than expected" by Alderson once again.
2015 Shortstop market:
Who would you want to be targeted as an upgrade from Drew?
Hanley Ramirez? definitely, but the price will be sky-high and the Dodgers are already working to re-sign him
Jed Lowrie? in my opinion, yes. Keep in mind though, he will be 31 yrs old looking for a long term contract as possibly his only big-money contract in his career.
JJ Hardy? I just can't seem to get a solid opinion one way or the other here. He will be similar to Lowrie at 32 yrs of age and the same contract expectations.
Who else is there that you would want to wait for?
Bob -
Other than the Dodger, I don't see any 2015 FA shortstop jumping off the page and being a better fit than Drew.
I don't know... I just feel David Wright would have a smile from ear to ear if Drew was playing next to him.
Mack
I agree...
the only worth-while alternative is to spend prospects and trade for one of the Top Shortstop prospects.
As I mentioned earlier though, this is where the Mets dont have to feel "stuck" with Drew and a trade can occur later in the season.
I would also like to point out.
No Drew, means that if Tejada gets hurt, Quintanilla becomes the starter and back-up becomes a struggle.
With Drew. Tejada can always step in if Drew is hurt and Quintanilla stays a back-up
The system is very weak for shortstops in the next three years... and even then, neither Cecchini or Rosario is a lock.
You want a possible all-star shortstop on opening day 2015?
Fine... draft NC State's Trea Turner with the #10 pick (if he's still around)
Bob - I do believe the outfield is done, so put that thought to bed. C. Young and The Grandyman are definite, with the 3rd spot TBD, either Lagares in CF or E. Young in LF. I believe that decision is highly dependent on your initial comment - upgrading SS. If they eventually sign Drew (which is looking more and more unlikely) or if they trade for a speedy young SS, (a move that is even more unlikely) he leads off and Lagares plays CF. Otherwise, you could very well see EYJ in the starting lineup, because they need someone to bat first.
Regarding the 2015 FA SS market, it is certainly broader than this year's. I've said before that I think it is a lock that Hanley will not see free agency and Lowrie is 50-50. The A's could easily decide to extend him before next year. But Yunel Escobar, Asdrubal Cabrera, and JJ Hardy are all decent options in the event that Tejada bombs out this year. None of those three, nor Lowrie if he's available, would likely get a QA, and I can't imagine the Rays picking up Escobar's option with their gilt edge prospect ready for prime time. And, of course, there is still the opportunity to swing a trade; at mid season if the Mets are anywhere near contending, or next winter. There will still be teams with logjams in the middle and good young shortstops available.
Mack -
I share yoour feelings. I hate this whole "qualifying offer" shit. Teams should make their best offer to their potential free agents while they still have the sole right to negotiate, and it should not be tied to some penalty that another team pays for signing him. There is no sense to that at all. If the powers that be really believe that teams who lose elite players to free agency, let them set a threshhold, and grant the team with the departing team a pick in the supplemental round. The second "elite" player they lose gets them an extra pick in the supplemental round after the second round. But the signing team should not be penalized, no way. Can you imagine telling a prestigeous law firm that since they hired some partner who was with another firm, they could not recruit anyone from the Ivy League next year, they had to only recruit from second tier schools. Hahahaha!
I also fail to comprehend the length of contract issue. I can see not wanting to give a long term deal to an aging player. But why not give 3 years to a guy who is going to be 31 at the start of 2014? The only reason I can see is if you have serious doubts about the player's ability to live up to the contract. Like if Chris Young doesn't pan out this year, you're not burdened with trying to unload him in the off season. I don't think there is reason for that type of concern with Drew.
Herb -
There is an outside chance that a certain outfielder that played in the State of Texas last year is NOT going to be signed by any team before opening day because of this stupid shit rule.
Then what happens?
Last thought. If you want a possible all-star shortstop on opening day 2015, there is more than 1 way to skin that cat. Use your wealth of pitching talent to acquire a stellar young shortstop. I understand the importance of having an abundance of young power arms in waiting, but the Mets seem to have an over-abundance, yet Sandy seems reluctant to deal aanyone. In order to get an Andrus, or Castro, or Owings, or Miller, or you name him, it will be necessary to give up guys like Ynoa, Fulmer, Cessa, Gsellman, etc. Maybe even Montero, although I might draw the line there. But Sandy should at least be exploring those options.
Herb
As I made clear, I don't see the Mets doing anything of any significance.
My wish is that they would.
There are not strong words to describe how poor a decision it is to have either Young as outfield starters.
And Cabrera & Escobar are not better choices than Drew.
No reason to wait for them.
There is a need THIS year.
Quintanilla filling in for extended time is terrible.
With all of the other poor hitting on the team, this young pitching staff are subject to injure themselves trying to do too much.
Herb
I agree whole-heartedly when it comes to acquiring a young shortstop by trading prospects or other resources
I would think Sandy is exploring the SS trade market. With the signings of Lannan and Dice K there is the possibility of SP depth, so maybe a deal is possible. If not, I think they pony up 3 years and get a deal done with Drew.
we are still 60+ days away from opening day...
so much can still happen
Mack -
It's funny that you mention the Texas Stranger. I sent Sandy an email after the first of the year, pressing the argument that we could have one of the strongest lineups in the NL with:
Drew, Murphy, Wright, Granderson, Cruz, Davis, C. Young, d'Arnaud.
I'm sure it fell on deaf ears, but I said that a lineup like that would be worth lifting the payroll to $105 million.
Bob -
Would you call signing someone like Gregg or Boggs or (heaven forbid) Rodney something of significance?
I wasn't suggesting that Escobar or Cabrera were better choices than Drew. I was saying that, in the event that Tejada winds up with the starting job this year, and he bombs out, "Yunel Escobar, Asdrubal Cabrera, and JJ Hardy are all decent options" as is Lowrie. It looks to me that Alderson wants to reward Ruben for showing the initiative to go through the strength and conditioning rigors that he did this winter, so he might be our regular SS in 2014. Actually, Cabrera, Hardy and Lowrie match up pretty well against Drew.
And as far as this year goes, many of us think Seratelli could wind up being the back-up rather than Quintanilla.
"You want a possible all-star shortstop on opening day 2015?
Fine... draft NC State's Trea Turner with the #10 pick (if he's still around)"
Dream come true Mack. If you remember, my draft crush last year was Dominic Smith and I was pleasantly surprised we actually drafted him. If we would have just lost one more game last year, we could have drafted #7 and had a better shot at Trae Turner than at #10.If Turner is around still at #10, he would likely be the BPA, so there's no doubt he would be an easy choice to make.
As we see, shortstop is a hard position to fill through the free agency market in terms of landing a top flight player at SS, drafting another SS, just 2 years after drafting Cecchini isn't the worst idea.
Here are the current free agents for next year at SS.
Shortstops
Mike Aviles (34) - $3.5MM club option with a $250k buyout
Asdrubal Cabrera (29)
Yunel Escobar (32) - $5MM club option
Rafael Furcal (37)
J.J. Hardy (32)
Derek Jeter (41)
Jed Lowrie (31)
John McDonald (40)
Hiroyuki Nakajima (32) - $5.5MM club option with a $500K buyout
Nick Punto (37) - club/vesting option
Hanley Ramirez (31)
Jimmy Rollins (36) - vesting/club/player option
Considering the money and years that it would cost to sign Hanley Ramirez, I doubt the Mets even make a play, assuming he even makes it to free agency. The guy I would target is Asrubel Cabrera. He had a down 2013, but I have always liked this guy and he's only going to be 29 next offseason, so long term contract isn't a bad of a proposition as say Jimmy Rollins (36), Jed Lowrie (31), Yunel Escobar (32) or JJ Hardy (32). He's a above average defensive SS, switch hitter with easily .270-.280, 10-15 HRs, 65-75 RBI, 30+ 2B's potential and hit at the top of the batting order.
Depending upon the price tag, he would be my target out of the SS's listed. Thoughts?
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