Ian DesmondThere were reports of the Mets almost acquiring the Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond, but at a hefty cost. He only has one year left on his contract before he hits free agency, which was probably one of the biggest factors in Alderson not going through with the trade. Desmond would be an upgrade over Wilmer Flores, but not one worth the cost of Noah Syndergaard and another top prospect, like Kevin Plawecki or Dilson Herrera. Desmond has won the National League Silver Slugger award each of the last three years. He has not really had that much competition over the last three years. Looking at qualified shortstops over the past three years there are only five shortstops that have a positive offensive WAR. Jimmy Rollins and Everth Cabrera both posted positive numbers, but they were rather low. Desmond, Troy Tulowitzki, and Hanley Ramirez were the top three in the group and the only ones with a wRC+ above 100. Ramirez and Tulowitzki both missed significant time over the last three years. Desmond is still a really good offensive player and is pretty good on defense as well, but he is not perfect.

He has posted home runs totals over twenty the last thee seasons, but has seen a drop in his average. He hit for .292/.335/.511 in 2012 and 2013 he hit .280/.331/.453. Both pretty good seasons and then last year he dipped down to .255/.313/.430, still decent number, but not where they were. If Desmond could raise his on base percentage then he would have been a perfect fit for the Mets. The Mets do not really have a pure leadoff hitter going into this season, with Juan Lagares and Curtis Granderson the only possible candidates. Desmond has hit leadoff before with some success, but he has the power and speed that would be useful out of the leadoff spot. Out of qualified Mets players last year he would have ranked seventh in on base percentage only ahead of Travis d’Arnaud, who surged once he came from Vegas. Even Ruben Tejada without all of his intentional walks would have had a higher on base percentage. The place he does make up for that in is slugging percentage, where he was only bested by Lucas Duda. Part of the Alderson way of playing baseball is to get on base, which Desmond does not really fit into right now. Some may disagree, but the Mets have the power bats they need going into this season, they need more people to be able to get on base.

The Mets have Duda who hit thirty home runs, Granderson who hit twenty and now the wall got moved in. Also they have Michael Cuddyer, who on the road in 2013 hit nine home runs and hit for an average of .311. He was not as productive compared to his home stats, but he played at Coors Field. David Wright is hoped to be back to his old ways and being able to hit around 20-25 home runs this season and d’Arnaud if he continues his numbers from the end of last season also gives them at least another 15-20. Those five players put the Mets close to their entire total of home runs last year and Desmond would definitely help and boost that number, but they need the people to get on base for those guys to drive in.

Syndergaard is poised to be a star heading forward and should only be a part of a trade for a great star player. Desmond is good, but he is still not a Troy Tulowitzki player and with no guarantee he would return after 2015 that is a huge risk. Flores still has not been given a proper opportunity to take on the mantle of the Mets shortstop position and should be given time as the starter. If he does not work out this season then the Mets can go out and get Desmond once he hits free agency next offseason. The Mets will be better than they were last year, but might are not a guarantee playoff team and do not need to back the definitive move to compete this season. Matt Harvey still needs to prove that he is what he was before Tommy John surgery and the other pitchers could use a little more development to prove themselves.

14 comments on “How would Ian Desmond have fit with the 2015 Mets?

  • Mike Koehler

    I’ve heard some varying reports on what it would have cost to acquire Desmond. Some say two of three players, one of which was Syndergaard. Also heard Gee’s name in the mix.

    That said, if it cost Thor to make this happen, it’s better Desmond isn’t a Met. His offensive numbers have dropped substantially in the past two seasons, he still commits too many errors despite his defensive prowess and reportedly has been a pain for Washington to sign long-term. IMHO, not worth trading a blue chip pitching prospect for a one-year question mark.

    • goingyard

      You do realize that Desmond would have been 2nd in HR’s and 1st in RBI’s for this club right. How many more wins does Desmond give us over Tejada.

      It’s stupid today a prospect is to much for a proven player who I top 3 at his position.

  • Chris F

    How would he have fit? Umm, outstanding.

    The questions is whether the blood and treasure would have been suitable? To me the answer is no, not for a 1 year rental.

    If we could get 3-4 years of Desmond, I would have shopped Wheeler and Montero, Wheeler and Nimmo, Montero and Nimmo etc quite rapidly. But 2 top prospects for 1 year? nope.

    • Name

      Justin Upton was traded for 4 prospects, 3 of whom are only at the A-level, and 1 who is major league ready. The top prospect they gave up, Max Fried, ranged as high as #1 for some but as low as near #10 for others. BA rated him in the 50s range in their top 100 the last 2 years

      2 top prospects makes sense (or 1 good one and 2 lesser ones) because it’s highly certain Desmond is going to get a QO, which means you’d get a prospect make a year later,.

      Looking at what the Padres gave up, i can’t fault Sandy for not taking the deal. I would have gone the Padres-route and given up more quantity than quality, and i can imagine that must have been what Sandy what was pushing for in negotiations. Something like Montero, Molina or Matz, Cecchini, (insert A pitcher here) is what i would have offered.

  • James Newman

    I like Desmond, but for a rental player, the asking price is too high. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Nationals dealing Desmond to another ball club, but I’m glad Alderson didn’t part ways with Syndergaard.

  • Patrick Albanesius

    I don’t imagine the up-the-middle defense would have been much better. DRS sees as mostly a negative fielder, and UZR is kind of all over the place. He’d probably be better than Flores, but not much.

    • Tyler Slape

      I agree and with Flores having a ceiling of Desmond’s numbers, it would be a mistake for Alderson to trade top prospects for one year of that guy. Also the Mets probably would have needed to pay all or most of Desmond’s $11 million dollar contract this season and hope to get him during the offseason. Desmond just based on basic fielding metrics was not that good, he committed the most error of any qualified shortstop in the majors and only beat Hanley Ramirez in terms of fielding percentage.

  • Metsense

    Desmond as a one year rental would be great in 2015 but then what?
    If you trade Syndergaard or Wheeler then they have to get a shortstop that is locked up for a few years. The only two worth going for was Castro (before his problems) and Tulo. The Mets are talking to the Rockies about Gee so maybe some dialogue will open, The other avenue is to go back to Seattle and see about Miller.
    Nice points Tyler on the true ineptitude of offensive shortstops. If Gee is going to be traded (salary dumped) then why not go for a defensive shortstop to compete/share with Flores. I would rather have a defensive shortstop, like Eduardo Escobar with a 102 OPS+ in 2014 over a Boone Logan.

    • Name

      “but then what?”

      Be a GM and do your job? You can’t expect to get a “long-term” solution at every position and then sit back and kick your feet and go on vacation and not bother with the team for a few years.

      • Chris F

        Of course it’s back to business. However in Metstown given the constraints of money any decision like that would have to be founded on a genuine positioning to take the division. Of course no games have been played yet, but the Mets won’t be challenging the Nats this year. So why give up 2 blue chippers for a guy that may contribute for a single season when that season is not likely going to end in the playoffs as a virtual lock? Then it’s back to the drawing board for SS with fewer talented chips that may be available.

        • Name

          My point was that we shouldn’t dismiss players simply because they only have 1 year left on their contract.

          I totally agree that it wasn’t worth trading for Desmond, not because he’s a rental, but because he wasn’t worth that price.

          It seems odd that for fans who are desperately begging for the Mets to be a big market franchise that most are reluctant to trade any prospect and worried about losing someone like Murphy for nothing.

          • Chris F

            Agreed. I look at the rental exactly in the way the giants traded for Beltran. It was a smart move even if it didn’t work…and it was the move that could have taken them to a World Series. If this was next year perhaps, then I can see how a trade for a Desmond rental would be great. For me it was the wrong time and too much cost.

  • Patrick Albanesius

    Name, I think it’s a sign of maturity by Mets fans. We all want to win this season, and that’s no secret. We could be like the cross-town fans and yell at our owners to throw money at the problem, but Mets fans know that won’t get us anywhere. You think it wasn’t worth the price because of the player Desmond is, others say it was because he is a rental. To me, his being a rental player is part of the overall equation, not a separate or greater factor.

    • Name

      The rental part does play into the equation, because of course you’d give up less for less years of control. However, i’ve seen too many times where someone dismisses someone at the start simply because they’re a rental player

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