As most teams whittle down their rosters in preparation for opening day, the Texas Rangers were dealt a last-minute curveball. Rangers’ starting second baseman Jurickson Profar will miss 10-12 weeks after suffering a slight muscle tear in his right shoulder...
...general manager Jon Daniels could do what he’s done so many times before: make a “win-now” trade. And New York Mets’ second baseman Daniel Murphy would be a perfect fit....
Murphy enjoyed a productive season for the Mets in 2013. The 28-year-old posted a .286 batting average, park-adjusted 108 OPS+, 13 home runs and 23 stolen bases over 697 plate appearances. While the right-handed hitter only walked at a 4.5 percent clip and gloved a minus-13 DRS, Murphy’s season was still worth 1.8 bWAR....
The Rangers also match-up well with the Mets in terms of its organization needs: young outfielders and infielders. Odor, who is the Rangers’ top prospect, would obviously be off the table—but perhaps outfielder Michael Choice could be for the taking. Choice, 24, was acquired from the Oakland Athletics this offseason in exchange for Craig Gentry and Josh Lindblom. The right-handed batter hit to the tune of a .302 batting average, 11.5 percent walk rate, .835 OPS and 14 home runs at Triple-A in 2013...
If the Rangers prefer keeping Choice, the Mets could also ask Daniels aboutNick Williams and Luis Sardinas, a pair of 20-year-old outfield and middle-infield prospects, respectively....
Nick Williams spent 2013 at Single-A, posting a .293 batting average, .879 OPS, 17 home runs and eight stolen bases over 404 plate appearances. SB Nation’s John Sickels tabbed Williams’ skills as “marvelous,” but also “overaggressive.” Regardless, if the Mets added the Texas native to their organization, he would instantly become the team’s most exciting, power-hitting outfield prospect.
Mets’ general manager Sandy Alderson could also inquire about shortstop Luis Sardinas. Sardinas currently lacks the power to be a stud major league hitter, but the defense-first infielder also owns a career minor league .292 batting average, 6.5 percent walk rate and 74 stolen bases over 1159 plate appearances.
Even if the youngster’s power never arrives, FanGraphs’ Mike Newman still considers Sardinas the “best shortstop you’ve never heard of.”
Mack - I extracted the highlights of this post but you can read the whole things at...
http://thebeanball.com/2014/03/25/could-the-texas-rangers-be-a-fit-for-daniel-murphy/
Comments and thoughts?
If Daniel Murphy could get me Michael Choice AND Luis Sardinas I might bite.
ReplyDeleteFlores can slot in at 2B, Sardinas at SS. Choice in LF.
It's good to see others are writing about our players
ReplyDelete(BTW - black is fine with the demotion... feel it was well earned)
Why do I think if this kind of trade happened it would make Terry orgasmic at the prospect of penciling in Eric Young at 2B every day?
ReplyDeleteReese -
ReplyDeleteYou would absolutely fall in love with Michael Choice, though TC could keep him in Vegas for 4-5 yrs :)
I agree about Choice. Actually any combination 2 out of 3 of Sardinas, Choice or Williams and I would do this deal for Murph.
ReplyDeleteChoice will be Terry's choice once he turns 30 or 35 and is properly seasoned
ReplyDeleteThe infatuation with non-productive, washed-up veterans began when they announced they had hired Terry Collins over Wally Backman. Then they compounded the mistake by picking up his option and then after doing nothing to show he could manage or motivate players, they extended his contract. The fish stinks from the head on down, Mr. Alderson. I guess, like Art Howe, he "lit up the room". I can't see any other explanation except Sandy needing a yes-man.
ReplyDelete