Maria Guardado | NJ Advance Media- With a bevy of suitors, Ben Zobrist's price tag on the free agent market continues to soar. Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reported Tuesday that Zobrist's asking price is currently hovering around four years, $60 million and may continue to climb. Zobrist is reportedly the Mets' "No. 1" free agent target this winter, but at least 10 other clubs have also been linked to the super utility man, including the Washington Nationals, Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals.
(Chris Soto: This is turning out to be an all out bidding war for versatile 35 year old. In my opinion though, 4 years is just too much. Zobrist was already in decline as his OPS and defensive production from 2012 to 2014 was in steady decline before a strong bounce back season in a contract year. The Mets certainly don't want to be on the wrong side of a player's career as they did with OF Michael Cuddyer last season.)
Brian Devine | Metsmerized Online- Reports [indicate] that shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, is expected to make a decision within the next week or so. According to Venezuelan reporter Efrain Zavarce, the Mets are among five teams that are interested in free agent shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera. Zavarce says that the Yankees, White Sox, Royals and Angels have also expressed interest.
(Chris Soto: Cabrera is an interesting case...He's been on either the trade market or Free Agency market for a couple of years now which has led to a reduction of perceived value for him. Last season Cabrera was only able to secure a 1 year deal for $7.5M from the lowest payroll team in baseball. His 2015 wasn't "great", but he did provide a solid .265 AVG with a .744 OPS on 15 HR, 58 RBI for the Rays making him the 5th best offensive SS in baseball last season. Defensively though, he is only slightly better than Wilmer Flores as he has averaged -7 Defensive Runs Saved at SS over the past 2 years. Still better than Flores' -10 runs from 2015.....but not by much.)
HOT STOVE REPORT (courtesy of mlbtraderumor.com)
(Chris Soto: This is turning out to be an all out bidding war for versatile 35 year old. In my opinion though, 4 years is just too much. Zobrist was already in decline as his OPS and defensive production from 2012 to 2014 was in steady decline before a strong bounce back season in a contract year. The Mets certainly don't want to be on the wrong side of a player's career as they did with OF Michael Cuddyer last season.)
Brian Devine | Metsmerized Online- Reports [indicate] that shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, is expected to make a decision within the next week or so. According to Venezuelan reporter Efrain Zavarce, the Mets are among five teams that are interested in free agent shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera. Zavarce says that the Yankees, White Sox, Royals and Angels have also expressed interest.
(Chris Soto: Cabrera is an interesting case...He's been on either the trade market or Free Agency market for a couple of years now which has led to a reduction of perceived value for him. Last season Cabrera was only able to secure a 1 year deal for $7.5M from the lowest payroll team in baseball. His 2015 wasn't "great", but he did provide a solid .265 AVG with a .744 OPS on 15 HR, 58 RBI for the Rays making him the 5th best offensive SS in baseball last season. Defensively though, he is only slightly better than Wilmer Flores as he has averaged -7 Defensive Runs Saved at SS over the past 2 years. Still better than Flores' -10 runs from 2015.....but not by much.)
HOT STOVE REPORT (courtesy of mlbtraderumor.com)
- The deadline to tender arbitration eligible players a contract is today. Per Marc Carig of Newsday, the Mets plan to tender contracts to all of their eligible players. This means SS Ruben Tejada, RP Jhenrry Mejia, RP Josh Edgin, RP Addison Reed, RP Juerys Familia, RP Carlos Torres, 1B Lucas Duda, and SP Matt Harvey will all go to arbitration hearings unless a new contract is mutually agreed upon before hearings begin in February.
- The Miami Marlins have a preliminary agreement to sign former MLB OF Barry Bonds to become their MLB co-hitting coach.
- Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves are shopping SP Shelby Miller to teams looking to acquire higher upside rotation talent without having to shell out $20M per season to acquire it via free agency.
15 comments:
Say No to Zo. I don't trust the age decline projection. Murphy would be fine. Put him at 1B, trade Duda.
I think Flores equals or betters Cabrera's #s. Flores has his full adjustment year under his belt. He will do better in 2016.
Lots of arbitration, no doubt.
The Braves are pretty hysterical at this point. Are they expecting ALL of their minor league prospects to be stud players in 2017 when they open their new stadium? Someone should probably tell them that 25 A ball and AA ball guys won't ALL show up all stars in 2017 for them ;)
No thank you on Zobrist. .....
I love his name , but any thoughts of ZO must Go!!! Lol
Zobrist for 4 is pushing it. Offer Cespedes the Zimmerman contract and see where that goes. Go get Phillips from the Reds. Sign Sipp.
Like the Mets Dreams ideas.
Agreed on Zobrist, nice player and fit but not at 4 yrs $60 million. There are other options that will work and allow more flexibility going forward.
Ill say it again...and again....and again...
the Met's lineup needs to be looking for 3rd and 4th place hitters that have favorable averages, low strikeout rates and less injury/age risks as the priority.
Bob-
I agree, and on my list are Cespedes (RF) & Murphy (1B/3B) with selling high on Grandy and getting a decent return for Duda (Mattusz from Balt?)
Cabrera? As a MInf back-up to Flores-Herrera? Eh. Little more pop but not much much else Off or Def from a cheaper Tejada -- or much cheaper TJR :-).
Not quite understanding the trade Duda and sign Murphy to play 1st base sentiment here.
Duda is:
1: much better offensively
2: more than likely much better defensively
3: younger
4: cheaper
Murphy only offers a little bit of versatility, albeit poorly with his defense. Its a step backwards
S. Finch, I could be wrong about Duda. I am just tired of the poor at bats, and being just lousy on 2 strikes, not to mention the "throw" and lack of charisma.
I am assuming a strong trade, resulting in a relatively big return for him from another team. Say, a stud bullpen arm. If not, it would not make sense to do that.
Take a moment and just look at what the lineup could be if the 3rd and 4th spots are filled.
Leadoff: Granderson (or replacement RF Leadoff type)
2nd place: Conforto
3rd place: Votto (or similar 3rd/ 4th place hitting 1st baseman)
Cleanup: Cespedes
5th place: D'Arnaud
6th place: Wright
7th/8th place: 2nd baseman & Shortstop
How can this not be the focus of the Mets leadership to create a sustainable quality team moving forward?
FINCH---
The offensive difference is debateable---- the idea that Duda is a good/superior defensive player is off base.
Murphy, and others would provide bettrer position flexibility, better defense, better speed...... I like that
Eraff
A: offensively, it is not debatable. In every offensive category, Duda is superior. (WRC+, wOBA, slugging. Even traditional statistics say Duda superior (w the exception of avg and II would hope that's not how you are basing your comment.
B: defensively, at first base, Duda is more than likely better. Duda is a a quality first baseman and just because Murphy can sort of hack it at second base, does not necessarily mean he must be good at first. Certainly did not work for him in the corner outfield.
If you think Murphy's flexibility (if you can call it that, let's be honest he is no zobrist) is worth a downgrade overall at first than OK. Also, Murphy does not have speed, stop it.
Thomas,
I suppose if the return on duda is high enough it may make it worthwhile, but it would have to be something bigger than a bullpen piece. Unless we are talking about a lights out closer type.
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