On the surface, he's just one of many names that have been thrown around regarding who will someday be the future Mets second baseman, as well as shortstop.
Players like Josh Satin, Justin Turner, Ruben Tejada, Jordany Valdespin, Wilmer Flores, and Wilfredo Tovar have all been written about this year as possibly being the future savior at one of these two positions.
The good news is the level of talent depth here. Frankly, it's something I 'm seeing not only at second and short, but also in the outfield. Prospect depth by position has been rare the past five years, but, I gotta tell ya, there's a lot going on down on the farm right now.
The bad news is the fact that all the names listed above are very talented minor league prospects trying to fit into a system.
Havens is the opposite. He is a special talent that a system would adjust itself to.
Defensively, Tovar and Tejada are da bomb. Offensively, Satin is a pure hitter. But Havens is the one guy that has the potential to be the first consistent 30+ home run hitting second baseman for the Mets... ever.
Havens looks to be going down the same road now, and, if surgery does happen, the organization is going to have to move on without him. 2011 will be lost and who earned these two jobs in Queens for the 2012 season must be solved before Reese rehabs a season.
Sad.
My guess... this changes everything regarding what the Mets plans are regarding the resigning of Jose Reyes. Havens was thought of the person that would take second base away from Tejada, and become the full time Met in 2012. That won't happen now.
Frankly, the first decision the Mets have to make is regarding Valdespin, who would have to be given a 40-man roster position to prevent him from being scooped up in this year's Rule V. Trust me... I sit with the scouts. "Spin" will be taken by a new team, regardless what a pain in the ass they think he is.
Right now, Tejada can relax a little. Without the Havens threat, he will become the new Mets second baseman.
But, if Satin keeps pounding ball like he has the past two years, this might not be a bad time to consider trade baiting Jose... playing 2011 with Arias and Tejada... and replacing Arias in 2012 with Satin.
On the surface, the Mets will survive the loss of Havens, but the future of this team in this decade would have been much more solid with Reese on the field. Let's pray this whole posting is moot.
4 comments:
Why does everyone want to trade Jose Reyes? This is preposterous! The Mets have NO ONE capable of replacing him! None of the prospects listed, ESPECIALLY Havens & Tejeda, are anywehere NEAR the talent of Reyes. Has the Mets' tendency to OVER INFLATE the quality of their prospects infected non-Mets employees as well? It seems as though it has. Will someon PLEASE stop this insanity!
While I floated the idea of including Reyes in a package for Hallady a year ago, I would not trade him now. Pick up his option and decide on whether to make him a lifetime Met next year—Havens’ status would be in that equation.
There is plenty of room on the 40-man: Hessman, Tatis, Nickeas, Pridie, etc. I’d hang onto Valdespin over Hernandez, Main will be non-tendered IMO, Escobar? Kunz?
Anon:
I will be commenting on this in a seperate post.
Hobie:
I have to think that Pridie, Tatis, Kunz, and Escobar are toast.
So will be a host of marginal players that are tagged as one of "Omar's boys"... if, of ocurce, Omar goes as well.
Nickeas is a keeper. He may not make it in Queens, but he's the current Mike DeFelice in the system. Every pitcher loves him catching for them.
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