Dilson Herrara is injured and might not play again. Wilmer Flores was immediately shifted to second base. At the same time the words “Wilmer Flores everyday shortstop” have started surfacing around the team. If that is even a remote possibility, why was he moved this week? These games are meaningless, and Tejada knows how to play second. I see three potential motives, and all are nasty.
1. The team is pulling out all the stops to stagger into second and try to sell it as “progress.”
2. The best way to sell Wilmer Flores to the fans as a viable major league shortstop is to get him away from the position.
3. Murphy is a surefire goner, and with Herrara and Wright down, let’s look at next years DP combo.
Source: 2 Guys Talking Mets Baseball
It probably doesn’t mean anything but it’s interesting to note Flores’ hitting splits by defensive position this year.
As 2B — .914 OPS
As SS — .597 OPS
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Reason 4, the Mets want to show case him for a trade. His best position is 2nd but he can play ss if needed. Herrara is not ml ready yet and another year in the minors will be needed… Why trade your best hitter (Murphy) who is still young?
Alderson is as predictable as the budget. Your 2015 NY Mets: d’arnaud c, Duda 1b, Murphy 2nd, Flores/Tejada ss, Wright 3rd, Lagaras cf, Grandy rf, lf will be a signing/trade (rh hitter, that will platoon with Den Dekker and can play some first.
SP-Harvey, DeGroom, Wheeler, Colon, Neise .
BP- Familia, Parnell ,Montero, Majia, Matz, Black, Edgin
Bench-Newinghaus, Tegada, Recker, Den Dekker, Veteran bat.
Syndiguard- Comes in in late May or June to replace Colon (let go or traded)
Matz may replace Neise if traded and Buddy gets the job.
Plawicki is very interesting but may need one more year.
Reynolds is another who could sneak into the fold if Flores is traded
I agree….. the best thing about playing Flores is to identify his value, on this roster and in trade, If he hits, he has value.
He’s shown himself to be serviceable, at least marginally, at Shortstop. If he can play 2b and spot at 3rd (and 1st) he can provide 350 ab’s next year. Again..it makes him valuable
jc. You trade Murphy because he brings back the most with or without being in a packaged deal. He’ll be making close to 8 million next season. Can the Mets truly afford him? You can’t just let go of Colon. He’ll be making 11 million dollars in 2015. You’re asking the Mets to release him and still be obligated to pick up about 8 million dollars remaining in his contract. The Wilpons will never go for that. You forgot about Gee and his 5 million. If you just add up the salaries of the players you have listed the Mets will be at 90 ,million for 2015 and no flexibility to add any upgrade that would improve their chances of a wildcard. Colon pitched to a 4 ERA. I’d rather see the Mets continue with the youth movement and trade Colon during the off season and apply that salary to a LF who can hit 30 HRS and drive in 100 RBI’S. Harvey comes back but the Mets will limit his innings the same way the Nat’s did with Strasburg. Syndergaard only pitched 133 innings in Las Vegas this year so I would not be looking for him to pitch 200 innings in 2015 even if its to replace Colon.
If the Mets were convinced that Flores was their 2015 everyday shortstop he would be playing shortstop now, Murphy would be at second and Campbell or Satin would be at third. Flores at second base indicates to me that the Mets are going out of the organization for a shortstop this winter and intend to move Murphy and his salary so that they can afford that shortstop. Eventually Herrera should become the second baseman and Flores should become the backup infielder for second, short and third base and Tejada (and his salary) would no longer be needed. If Flores blossoms and hits at a 750 OPS pace then Hererra is delayed more. Those type of problems are nice to have.
I mostly agree with this. I believe the only reason Murphy is playing 3B now is because after he asked him to move once, TC didn’t want to move him again.
Metsense. Who is out there in the FA market that the Mets will sign over the Yankees and the deep pocket Dodgers?. Hardy may re-up The Dodgers sign the best SS available Ramirez or Hardy. The other goes to the Yankees. Maybe SA waits and signs (cough-cough) Drew to a low ball contract?
Outside the organization can also mean trade. The bottom line is that they need a shortstop that is better than Tejada. They don’t appear able to take on salary. They will get what they can afford and it should be better than Tejada and more established than Flores. It is going to take more than one creative move to improve the offense this winter.
I would rather see the Mets primary focus on a left fielder who can be a 30 /100 and let Flores play SS Can’t see how this management team has a game plan in place. If they wanted Flores to play SS why didn’t they have him playing the position last off season? Let him play SS this in Wunter ball and have him start the season at SS and Play him consistently there.
All I see is more shuffling deck chairs on the titanic coming for next year.
Brian,
You nailed it.
Why does management believe Mets fans are imbeciles?
Boy! that sounds sad but true, about Murphy and his salary, has to go to pay for a “new” S/S
I disagree w/the author of this article….Murphy must stay period!!!!
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Dave while I as a Met fans enjoy your spirit and energy. I would hate not to be able to read what you write since Capping a word is prohibited
Couldn’t agree with you more Chris. It’s like Bill Murray in Ground Hog Day. Somehow the Wilpons will never get it right. And the new commissioner is not going to do a damn thing to help us
We are not going to get a LF who hits 30 home runs and 100 next year, not in Citi Field, and especially not for the pittance $11 million that Colon’s contract might free up. That position will be held in waiting for Conforto or Nimmo. A serviceable LF will be all we get as SS is probably the major focus this off-season.