Mack’s Morning Report – 1-3 – David Wright, Masahiro Tanaka, Carlos Ramirez, Mets Pen, Nelson Cruz

 

Buster Olney ‏@Buster_ESPN   

There are FIVE major unsigned free agents tied to draft-pick compensation: Jimenez, Santana, Cruz, Morales,Drew. Not a good spot on Jan. 2.

 

Bryan Grosnick -

New York Mets: David Wright - Debut Date: July 21, 2004 - David Wright is defying the expected aging curve for a player in his position, and followed up his tremendous 2012 season (7.4 fWAR) with his best offensive numbers to date in 2013 (155 wRC+). Like Yadier Molina, Wright is the glue that holds his team together as he enters his age-31 season. Unlike Yadier Molina, Wright's team is not particularly good. Although Wright probably shouldn't be counted on for 700 plate appearances, given his injury history, he's still an integral part of the team and continues to rack up records for a New York player. His current contract takes him through 2020. There is no truth to the rumor that David Wright and Mr. Met are the same person. That would just be ludicrous. http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2014/1/1/5233684/longest-tenured-players-in-the-national-league-january-2014

Mack – I’ve written this before. I worry that 2014 will bring the beginning of decreased production from the Captain. The poor guy has been holding this team together waiting for both management and ownership to put some players on the field with him. So far, Young and Granderson cancel out the loss of Byrd and Buck so, for Wright’s sake, the team is back to square one. One hopes I’m wrong here.  

•Mets assistant GM J.P. Ricciardi recently claimed that his team was happy with Ruben Tejada as a starting shortstop and that the free agent shortstop market wasn't to the Mets' liking, but Gammons hears otherwise from an NL general manager.  The GM believes the Mets are concerned about their inexperience up the middle (Tejada at short, Juan Lagares in center and Travis d'Arnaud behind the plate) and are only seeming disinterested in Stephen Drew as part of negotiations with agent Scott Boras. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/01/gammons-on-gardner-denorfia-drew.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Mack – I have talked about this a number of times with you readers. Every General Manager and scout will tell you that, if you want to draft talented people, concentrate on the ‘middle of the field’ players. Catcher, pitcher, shortstop, second base, and centerfield. These are the positions (at any level) where managers and coaches place their more talented players.

Frankly, this is one of the reasons why Daniel Murphy becomes safer each day. Yes, he needs all the work he can get in the field, but he’s one of the better bats in the league and his defensive has reached a passable level.

Stephen Drew would be an excellent upgrade. The Mets seem to be the only team with any interest right now and my guess is a lack of deal is due to Sandy Alderson’s continued attempt to get Ike Davis moved and free up the money needed to bring in Drew under budget.

 
Jeff Passan -

Let's be honest for a moment: If Masahiro Tanaka were American, there would've long ago been riots within the baseball world about the manifold abuses on his right arm. Managers would've been under fire, biomechanical experts would've screamed limbicide and the prevailing story about his free agency wouldn't be the massive bidding war it is currently inspiring…

…over the last five years, he has averaged more pitches per start, 113.3, than any pitcher in the major leagues. The closest is Justin Verlander at 112.9 and Felix Hernandez ranks second at 106.5…

…Tanaka has thrown 130 or more pitches in 15 of his 123 starts.

There were the 742 pitches Tanaka threw over six starts in a two-week span as a 17-year-old at the national high school baseball tournament. And the back-to-back 137- and 142-pitch starts at 20 years old. The coup de grace came during the Japan Series this season, in which Tanaka went 160 pitches during a Game 6 loss, then came back the next day and threw another 15 in relief to close out Rakuten's championship victory. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/pitch-counts-are-a-real-concern-when-it-comes-to-sensation-masahiro-tanaka-055941978.html

Mack – One needs to ask themselves if you really want to spend $20mil for the privilege of then paying Tanaka at least another $100mil when there is a good chance that his arm will turn to string cheese before the contract runs out.


Los Angeles Angels‘ minor league catcher Carlos Ramirez has been suspended 100 games for his third positive test for a drug of abuse. The Tuscon, Arizona native earned his first suspension of 50 games in April of 2013 for his second positive test.

Ramirez, 25, was considered the Angels’ 30th best prospect going into 2013 by Angels blogger Garrett Wilson at Monkey with a Halo but his prospect status is probably starting to wear off thanks to the multiple suspensions.
Drafted in the eighth round of the 2009 draft, Ramirez managed to play in 48 games for Double-A Arkansas in 2013, hitting only .206/.301/.400. He’s shown some good power and a good throwing arm, catching 37% and 43% of base stealers in 2012 and 2013, respectively, both at the Double-A level.

               Mack - One year for three times??? Unbelievable


I watched the SNY Mets Hot Stove  last night and I found the whole bullpen part of the show pure hype. I happen to think that the  Mets have a decent pen, but listening to these guys and you would think they were talking about St. Louis. I also found it interesting that they said that Bobby Parnell was 'healthy'. I didn't think he had reached that point yet.
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Jeff Sullivan -

It’s almost impossible to see Cruz getting his money. There’s simply no need for that sort of desperation. It’s also almost impossible to see Cruz signing as a significant upgrade to a team. The fact of the matter is that, right-handed power be damned, Cruz isn’t particularly valuable, and every team has guys projected to be worth at least about a win or so. So when Cruz does sign, it’ll either be for very little money, or it’ll be a questionable move for a modest upgrade or a non-upgrade. There’s not a single team in baseball right now that ought to see Nelson Cruz as a difference-maker. Because, quite simply, Nelson Cruz isn’t a difference-maker. He’s a half-decent aging outfielder who’s going to cost millions and a draft pick. You won’t find many bigger gaps between name value and real value. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/where-could-nelson-cruz-even-fit/

Mack – This guy may have screwed the pooch. As the article points out, he is 33 years old, is coming off a PED suspension, in the last three years, he’s been worth the same WAR as Sean Rodriguez and John Buck. And he’s a free agent seeking four or five years and about $15 million per season. This whole ‘lose the draft pick’ scenario is going to catch up quickly to guys like this. What happens if he only signs for something like $5mil? Does the team still lose a draft pick?