- The team does not have an elite (or even a good) base stealer (David Wright? Maybe…) without him. Jordany Valdespin is a threat to swipe a bag and actually seems to have improved his instincts a little so he’s not 100% ability when running.
- Fielding is a thing you might want. Let us pretend that Lucas Duda was hitting (Is this late 2011?) now… are the runs he’d bat in worth the runs that will score because he can’t get to shots in the outfield? Valdespin hasn’t played OF for long… but neither has Duda.
- The Benefits of Collin Cowgill and Marlon Byrd are that they can play multiple positions in the outfield but they are going to be best used if they do not have to hit against righties that often. Sadly… Mike Baxter isn’t earning much of a role.
- Valdespin can play the infield. Not for nothing, the kid can play 2B and SS in a pinch. Mike Baxter, Lucas Duda, Kirk Nieuwenhuis etc… not so much.
- Upside is not something we really see with Byrd, Cowgill, Baxter or Nieuwenhuis. If Valdespin actually put everything together, he’d be a force.
Reason Why Not:
An apparent lack of maturity.
Here’s the idea: Give him his shot and if he fails… it’s a great year to throw darts blindly at the board and hope one sticks.
I’m with you. Sixth reason – look at the rest of this roster!
Not only should he make the roster but he should be starting everyday, and batting ahead of Wright.
Valdespin deserved to make the roster on his 2012 stats as the platoon partner at second base with Turner in 2013. If the Mets had some foresight they would have traded Murphy for an OF. It isn’t that I don’t like Murphy. In fact, I admire his work ethic, leadership and hitting ability. It is because, except for Ike and Wright, no other positional player had any trade value. Second base was the area that would have had the least impact on the offense.
NL Avg Second Baseman: 13 HR, 66 RBI, .713 OPS
Murphy: 6 HR, 65 RBI, .735 OPS -9.0 UZR
Turner: 2 HR, 19 RBI, .711 OPS 0.0 UZR
Valdespin: 8 HR, 26 RBI, .710 OPS 0.2 UZR
Both Turner and Valdespin are average second baseman. But lets look at Valdesin in the OF.
NL Avg Left Fielder: 21 HR, 83 RBI, .762 OPS
NL Avg Center Fielder: 15 HR, 64 RBI, .740 OPS
NL Avg Right Fielder: 23 HR, 78 RBI, .768 OPS
Valdespin would be below average as a starter in the OF. The trade didn’t happen and Valdespin is having a good Spring and shows improvement which is a good sign. JV should make the squad as an OF as his speed and power are nice attributes.
I just don’t see Murphy bringing back an impact player in a trade. Mediocre defense, average speed and not much power isn’t the most attractive trade bait.
Not to beat my own drum but I think you could trade Murphy for a player like Zolio Almonte. He plays 1B, 2B and 3B and hits the ball. That isn’t a bad thing. A team with say…
An injury to their starting 3B
AND an injury to their starting 1B
AND an injury prone backup 1B/3B
AND a potential PED scandal for their 2B
Maybe Murphy would be a fit for them?
FWIW, Byrd doesn’t have much of a platoon split. I don’t think they’ll need to hide him against RHP.
Absolutely give this kid a shot….they aren’t going to win the World Series this year – let’s see if this kid can help the team…Plus he’d bring excitement to Citi Field.
[…] base (not to mention David Wright at third base), Valdespin could be used all over the field. As pointed out by David Groveman a little over a week ago, Valdespin has enough reasons going for him as to why he […]