Reese Kaplan -- A Modest Proposal to Do the Wright Thing

Reports have surfaced this week that confirms the big disconnect between Mets management and the players on the team.  First there was the whole Robert Gsellman kerfuffle in which he alleged replied, “I don’t care” when informed that Sandy Alderson must see him pitching better in order to get promoted once again.  Next came the conflicting narrative about David Wright.  Some stories suggest he’s preparing to do at least some pinch hitting during the 2017 season.  Then we heard that Sandy Alderson was going to look for a 3^rd base option in 2018 (which, of course he should have done since 2016 – better late than never!)  Then we heard that perhaps a position switch is the preferred route given the apparently unhealed shoulder impingement that makes the long throws across the diamond from 3^rd base untenable.

The problem with this last hypothetical  position switch to 1^st base where the amount of throwing is minimal has three factors.  First, the recent promotion (marketing-wise, not just minors-to-majors) of Dom Smith would take a serious blow if he had to step aside for the former face of major league baseball.  Second, Wright, even at partial capacity, is still dealing with the spinal stenosis problem which at best requires very extensive preparation in order to play.  Even if you pencil him in exclusively against lefties there’s no guarantee he will be able to take the field.  Third, you already have a lefty masher capable of platooning at 1B if that maneuver is desired in Wilmer Flores who may never achieve David Wright’s Shea Stadium numbers but is a much surer bet to exceed what he has done at Citifield (and since his injuries sidelined him for much of the past several years.) 

Some have suggested that the best thing to do with David Wright now is to name him the new manager.  Obviously he’s respected all around baseball, he bleeds orange and blue as much as anyone who’s ever worn a Mets uniform, and there is good precedent for taking players and thrusting them straight into the managerial seat.  Don Mattingly and Robin Ventura immediately spring to mind.  If you took a poll, I think it’s safe to say the majority would deem Terry Collins long past his expiration date.

There is a major problem with this avenue as well.  Right now the Mets have a contract with David Wright to pay him $20 million in the 2018 season, $15 million in the 2019 season and $12 million in the 2020 season.  In other words there are $47 million reasons why David Wright would want to continue his attempt at a comeback.  Yes, if Wright is unable to play for medical reasons then the insurance company picks up nearly 75% of that salary obligation.  That would require the Mets and Wright both to be complicit in what appears to be the charade that Wright is attempting to resume his playing career.  The Mets only get hit for $11.75 million if the insurance company believes them. 

Many clamor for the Mets and Wright to work out a way to buy him out of his contract.  As we all know, the Mets are not exactly enthusiastic when it comes to spending money.  Consequently, paying him, say, half of that $47 million obligation would rankle them to no end knowing that if he continues trying to come back that the insurance company would cut that obligation in half again.  From David Wright’s perspective, what incentive is there to accept a buyout?  All he has to do is continue the charade of a comeback and he gets his full $47 million.  Thus the two sides are at something of a financial stalemate.

I have a modest proposal for a buyout that doesn’t come with the same cash flow problem writing a $47 million check would entail.  Recently as they were trying to get out from under the Madoff situation the Mets were pretty public about selling minority ownership shares to interested parties which drew takers as diverse as financier Steve Cohen, comedian Bill Maher and recently deposed White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci.  If the reports were accurate, they sold 4% shares to each of these folks (individually or as part of a group) for $20 million.  That actually turned out to be quite a coup for the investors because if you extrapolated the investment it would presume the club was worth $500 million. 

Forbes magazine in April of 2017 did an analysis of the value of the baseball franchises and the New York Mets were number six with an estimated worth of a cool $2 billion.  That means those 4% shares grew substantially in just a few years.  It is that capital gain that provides the foundation for a graceful way to buy out David Wright.

Instead of handing him a check (or a series of checks every year so we can celebrate David Wright Day just as we do Bobby Bonilla Day), I am suggesting that the Mets offer David Wright an ownership interest in the team in exchange for being relieved of the balance of his contract. 

There are several benefits to this arrangement.  Number one is the fact that you don’t write a check.   Consequently there is no negative impact on cash flow.  Number two, all of the money you would have earmarked for Wright’s paycheck is immediately available to your budget once again.  Number three, think of the positive “Met for Life” public relations you could generate by saying he was a Met for his entire career and will forever remain a member of the Mets family.  Number four, you have the money to make it happen based upon the increased value of the team. 

How about it – Wright’s happy, the Mets are happy, and the Mets fans can finally move on without the specter of Wright’s contract handicapping the club from making the necessary moves to improve itself.   Even if Wright were to sell his share of the club, there would be no financial benefit or detriment to the Wilpons – they would still remain the controlling partners. 

It makes so much sense that I’m fully confident it would never happen.