I’m starting to get that feeling that the Mets are going to throw their fans a bone.  That isn’t necessarily a good thing, but I’m getting the sense that Alderson would like to sign a player like Bourn (an impact player) as a sign of good faith, that the team will not forget the fans and the massive amounts of money we pay to watch the team play.  As long as the first pick is protected, I support the Bourn signing with all my heart and think that he would become a stellar part of the lineup.

Supposing that doesn’t happen, I’m already reading posts from people who expect the Mets to be players for Jacoby Ellsbury or Carlos Gomez.  The Mets will get a season to see if Ellsbury can bounce back from his 2012 woes and a season to see if Gomez can maintain his competence with the bat.  Both players make sense.  Both players could become leadoff hitters or fall to 2nd or 3rd in the lineup should their power remain real.  I simply can’t see the future to know if either player will still make sense.

So now… that we’ve talked about reality… speculative reality.  Let us talk about fantasy for a second. Let us say that the Mets DO sign Michael Bourn this offseason.  Let us then say that in the next offseason we have money to spend and turn around and sign both of the others.  Can you imagine that outfield?  Three outfielders who are all capable of playing dynamite centerfield patrolling the vast and difficult expanses of Citi-Field.  The fact that they could well hit 1,2,3 ahead of David Wright, Ike Davis, Travis D’Arnaud, Daniel Murphy and Ruben Tejada would be gravy.  Really… I just like imagining the outfield defense with enough speed to cover a large park.

I’m just being silly, right?

Maybe, but can you say that off a base of around $35 Mil the Mets could not afford to add those three players to the fold?  Especially when our young pitching should be coming up for practically peanuts the Mets could spend heavily to secure one of their two spottiest areas.  It makes additional sense if you think of Bourn signing a three year deal and Brandon Nimmo being about 3 years away.  Beyond that there is always the point to be made that Lucas Duda is a DH/1B and not an outfielder, Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Mike Baxter are best as 4th or 5th OFs and that the odds are against Matt Den Dekker’s K-Happy ways becoming any less K-Happy in the near future.  So… how farfetched is signing 100% of our future outfield through free agency?  Could those three players be had for a total falling around $50 Mil annually?  I know it’s silly… but a guy can dream.

14 comments on “Something Silly: Michael Bourn, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Gomez and the 2014 Met Outfield

  • Pete

    I think 50 million is WAY TOO MUCH. If the Mets can sign Bourn for 17 million for 3-4 years.I don’t see Gomez anywhere near Pagan numbers of 10 million for 4 years. So how much would you be signing Ellsbury for?

    • Name

      I agree. 50 million is wayy too much for those players.
      Best case i see for Bourn now is a Bay type deal. So something around 14-17 million.
      Gomez’s has had one good season last year, but it remains to be seen if he can replicate it. I would think at worst he gets Gomes type money(5 mil) and best case would be a Pagan contract in both length and money(10 mil). I guess we could split the difference and say he’s most likely to get Ludwick type money(7.5 mil).

      Ellsbury is a player i would stay away no matter what. He is Boras client and he’s had only ONE good season(granted it was an MVP caliber season) but other than that year, he’s yet to post a season above 8 HR’s. It screams fluke to me. He’s got all the hype because he’s in a big market, but other than that one year, he’s not even been average with 2.7 being his highest WAR, which was his rookie season. His market will be hard to predict this far out because a lot hinges on what he does this season. I think that Boras will probably start out demanding a Carl Crawford contract… and who knows how far he will fall from there. 15 mil would probably be my guess right now.

      So that’s around 15+7.5+15= 37.5 mil for all 3 players. Not that i would sign any of them though.

      • Chris

        As a Brewer Fan, you guys are underestimating Gomez’s value. We have been arguing over whether the Brewers give him a QO this next offseason if he’s not traded away. That’s 14mil for 1yr salary. Gomez for what its worth is a better defender and same upside in batting numbers as BJ Upton who just got paid. That’s where Gomez a Boras player will be compared to when it comes time to pay him as a Free Agent. 19/37 last year. He’s still young not 30 like Bourn.
        Honestly, I don’t feel he will remain the same player he was last season, and I am here mostly because I am looking at trade fodder interest in Gomez. I hope he is traded. For some SP in return.

        • Name

          I don’t think we are underestiming his value. Last year his WAR was only 2.3. Just because you would offer him a qualifying offer doesn’t mean he’s going to get close to that Average annual value for multiple years. Most players would prefer a 4 yr 30 million deal than a 1 yr 14 million deal. Long term security is important.
          Anyways, after the string of recent PED usage surfaces this offseason, i would probably stay far away from this guy. Smells too much like another Melky Cabrera to me.

        • Willis

          I agree with you. If he makes it to free agency he will command a Pagan-type contract. This assumes another year of solid offensive production.

  • David Groveman

    I agree. I think that I need to proof better as it was supposed to be $40 mil

  • Pete

    In this age of P.E.D’S it makes you wonder if players like Ellsbury who had an MVP type year not to long ago a fluke or…I am fascinated with all these obscure injuries that the players today are getting. I don’t believe their is collusion among the GM’s to not sign certain players but rather the inside information that their injuries may be attributed to questionable substances the players are using.As for Gomez with a base of 5-6 million and incentives bonuses on health and performance being capped at 10 million would be more flexible and beneficial to whoever signs him.On a side note. I was curious why the doctor who performed the surgery on A-Rod was so quick to point out that his injured hip was hereditary seeing that he appears to have continued with his usage of well you fill in the blank.

    • Name

      I don’t think it’s collusion from GM’s not to sign someone; it’s an agent who has unrealistic expectations for his client.
      I think that the penalties are too soft for PED’s. 50 games is nothing. A team should have the option to void a player’s contract if PED usage is found. It would set an example that cheating doesn’t pay.

  • Pete

    In response to Name. I couldn’t agree with you more. I’m sure the Miami connection is not the only place where players from all sports are going for their “juice”. In nations like the Dominican Republic these type of drugs are freely available over the counter. So I’m pretty sure each ethnic group has their corresponding connections here in the United States or abroad when they are home.

  • Pete

    It’s the greedy agents who try to squeeze every last drop from a team and overstate their clients value to a potential team. So you’re right on the mark Name. I looked up to see how many free agents still haven’t signed. It’s mostly a group of over-the-hill journeymen(outside of Bourn) who will mostly receive minor league offers.

  • Metsense

    “I just like imagining the outfield defense with enough speed to cover a large park.
    I’m just being silly, right?” No you’re not being silly David, with the Mets future strong pitching a strong defensive OF is a must. In 2014 the Mets indeed may have the financial resources to bring in a quality OF. I don’t see the OF coming from the farm and I don’t see a future in LF for Duda. I’m just not sure that Ellsbury and/or Gomez would bethe correct choices.

  • Marc

    I haven’t heard any serious rumblings that MLB will consider the Mets request to have the 11th pick protected (have they even made one formally?). If not no way the Mets can sign Bourne. Boras has made it clear that he wants five years for his client or an opt out after year one in exchange for a shorter term. No way we can give up the pick for a one year rental.

    Should we get Bourne…ummmm no I do not think we should sign two centerfielders next offseason. Let’s see where we are first after this season and examin it then

  • Pete

    Scott Boras may want 5 years but I wonder how many teams are left? Do you think Seattle or Cleveland will oblige him? It’s just an agent using a tactic to use as a bartering tool. Does Bourn accept a 4 year deal? Or will he settle for a 1 year deal and take a chance that he doesn’t injure himself or his chances at a big paycheck the following season?

  • Marc

    I think he’ll take a 3 year deal but, will want an opt out after year one. This means basically if he does well it’s a one year deal, and if he’s injured or does poorly, it’s a three year deal

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