We’ve got about two months to the trading deadline. Will the Mets be a factor? Will they make a deal?
MLB Rumors just published their 2014 Free Agent Top Ten Rankings. Is there anyone on this list that might be available at the end of July? If so, could any of them conceivably interest Sandy Alderson? The New York Daily News quoted Alderson as saying, “It’s a possibility. It depends on what is available. I have been involved in deals in the past whose first consideration was not the current season but the following season…”.
The Free Agent Rankings Are:
1. Robinson Cano – Yankees (2nd Base – 30 years old)
2. Shin-Soo Choo – Reds (Outfield – 30 years old
3. Jacoby Ellsbury – Red Sox (Outfield – 29 years old)
4. Chase Utley – Phillies (2nd Base – 34 years old)
5. Hunter Pence – Giants (Outfield – 30 years old)
6. Brian McCann – Braves (Catcher – 29 years old)
7. Tim Lincecum – Giants (Pitcher – 28 years old)
8. Matt Garza – Cubs (Pitcher – 20 years old)
9. Mark Reynolds – Indians (1st Base and 3rd Base – 29 years old)
10. A.J. Burnett – Pirates (Pitcher – 36 years old)
Followed by:
Josh Johnson – Blue Jays (Pitcher – 29 years old)
Nelson Cruz – Texas (Outfield – 32 years old)
Nate McLouth – Orioles (Outfield – 31 years old)
Mike Napoli – Red Sox (1st Base and Catcher – 31 years old)
Curtis Granderson – Yankees (Outfield – 32 years old)
James Loney – Rays (1st Base – 29 years old)
Paul Maholm – Braves (Pitcher – 31 years old)
Ervin Santana – Royals (Pitcher – 30 years old)
Hiroki Kuroda – Yankees (Pitcher – 38 years old)
If the Mets look to be buyers at the trading line, could one of these players be acquired? What is the team’s greatest need? Many observers of the team would say that the team’s greatest need continues to be offensively dependable outfielders.
Unfortunately, the outfielders listed above are playing for teams who are competing for the post-season: Shin-Soo Choo for the Reds, Jacoby Ellsbury for the Red Sox, Hunter Pence for the Giants, Nelson Cruz for the Rangers, Nate McLouth for the Orioles, and Curtis Granderson for the Yankees.
So what does this mean? It means that there are no readily apparent trading partners for the Mets heading into the middle of the season. It means that if the Mets are going to acquire an outfielder, its not going to be someone who is likely to be heading into free-agency. This, of course, also means that the cost of acquiring an outfielder is going to be higher.
So, I hate to say it…but the Mets are better off resigning themselves to what they’ve already got and waiting for the free agent market to develop after the season ends.
That list looks really really bad. \
Lincecum at #7? You kidding me? He’s been the worst regular SP in the majors over the last 2 years.
Utley at #4? He can’t stay on the field. What value could he possibly have?
Ellsbury at #3? He’s done nothing to disprove that 11 season was a huge fluke. I shudder at the team that stupidly pays him Carl Crawford money.
The defensively challenged Mark Reyonlds ahead of guys like Cruz, Granderson, and Napoli? He’s been worth less than 1 WAR per season the last 3 years.
Back to your point, i don’t really see any of these guys available for trade. Maybe Utley, but he’s a huge injury risk and he might have 10-5 rights. I’m sure the Giants would love to dump Lincecum on someone but that’s about it.
I’ve been voicing my opinion with Brian on this same issue for several months now. Cano is either going to re-sign with the Yanks or the Dodgers(25 million for 6 years). Ellsbury is a Scot Boras client so forget him. Utley is 34 and starting to break down. What you fail to note is that many teams have reduced their payrolls in preparation for the new MLB television contracts that begins in 2014. With each team receiving about 50 million as opposed to 25 from the old contracts and a limited free agent market for quality outfielders. Do you really think Sandy is going to go out and sign a high profile free agent? Not his M.O. The Mets will not be a factor this year or IN next years free agent market and will continue to develop their youngsters from within and cut payroll.
One last note. What free agent in their right mind is going to want to come here and play for this cheap organization?
Ellsbury and Pence, Cruz: They should all be targets for FA….Not for trade.
The point that some guys are represented by Boras?……. MARKET PRICE cannot consistently be called “OVER PRICED”. Either you’re playing, or not—– as the 2nd team in the largest market you shopuld be playing.
I wouldn’t touch anyone associated with the Miami clinic scandal so forget Cruz. Boras will use the Dodgers as leverage to get the maximum deal for his clients. Pence is 30 so if you offer a 4-5 year deal you may wind up eating the last two years of that contract. I like Ellsbury but other than that one break out year you have to wonder if the Mets are going to invest 100 million dollars on a center fielder.
To Eric. The Mets are still not out of their financial mess until they refinance their 2014 and 2015 loans that are due. It doesn’t matter where you place the Mets if they don’t have the resources to sign free agents. Look at this season and see how much their payroll was cut from the previous year.
I assume you’re looking at free-agents to be because any deal would be contingent upon signing an extension that would keep them with the Mets for longer than the 2013 season. Really need to specify that, otherwise the idea of trading for a FA to be makes absolutely no sense. This club isn’t trading for a 2013 playoff push so any player that’s a FA in 4 months. Any trade Sandy might make over the next 60 days is MUCH more likely to focus on guys who are controlled beyond 2013 – that’s a list of players that’s worth an article.
If Sandy can find a fair trade for a “controlled” young player (instead of a future FA) that fills any of the Met holes he should make that trade this summer or at anytime. The Mets have $40M of salary coming off the books and some of that money will go to the cost of the salary of this player. The Mets have too many holes to fill to spend the remainder on a first tier free agent. Spread the money around and sign a combination of secondary free agents “like” McClouth, Cruz, Granderson to 2-3 year contracts and start filling the holes. We all saw what good pitching can do last week so a balanced approach to the offense should go very far.
The FA market looks like a bust. With pitching in surplus, I’d say we start looking for trades amongst advanced prospects.
“Surplus of Pitching”??????????????? You can NEVER have a surplus, but that’s just a platitude.
More Specifically: The next new young Pitcher will not replicate the Matt Harvry Experience…That’s not project=able. Wheeler is NEXT…..and the step to MLB starter is a huge jump. Montero…AA is a Mile away from MLB…. the jump is huge. Syndergaaard is at A+. Top prospect or not, A+ Level is PROSPECT….
There are other nixe arms mixed among these guys and below….. those guys aren’t On The Moon, but they are very far off and they need lots of luck (health and poerformance) to advance. Are they “Matt Harvey”???…are they “Brad Holt”???
I like the idea of Alex Rios if the White Sox want to dump him.