It’s all quiet on the home front here in New York as we witness autumn fading into winter. The Mets have done little thus far in the player’s market, but are not alone in that position. On Wednesday, the first big move was made when the Tigers shipped Prince Fielder to Texas in exchange for Ian Kinsler, a move that may have some rippling effects in regards to the Mets offseason plans.
The media, bloggers, fans, etc. all have their own theories and “gameplans” for the Mets’ front office this offseason. Much of the speculations revolve around budget, needs, and availability of prospective acquisitions. Next season ‘s starting shortstop remains an unknown due to the teams seemingly unfavorable assessment of Ruben Tejada’s future, and Texas was a team with a surplus of quality middle infielders the Mets could have been a match with via a trade. The ensuing trade of Kinsler has now made a deal less likely. While the need for a “big bat” has become a high priority, the shortstop position should be addressed sooner than later because the options in the free agent market are immensely thin, as little as two players thin; unless fans consider Clint Barmes a viable option. The two significant players are Stephen Drew and Jhonny Peralta, two options Mets fans have no doubt heard attached to their team in the past two months. Last week at the Orlando GM/Owners meetings, the Mets brass indeed met with Peralta face to face thus sparking rumors of a possible contract. Peralta, the superior offensive player to Drew’s superior defensive prowess, has been said to be in the favors of Sandy Alderson albeit not at the early market value of three years/$45 million he was reportedly seeking. If the Mets are serious about signing him, they may have to act quickly if not only because of the limited outside options available; a leverage insuring fact Peralta’s agents are well aware of.
As for that “big bat,” Robinson Cano aside, Curtis Granderson could be a realistic option. Despite his injury plagued and down season in 2013, he’s only a year removed from back-to-back 40 plus HR seasons. He has a propensity to strike out at a high rate, and has only hit over .250 once the past five years. Like most players, Granderson does have his flaws, but they are not outweighed by his assets. The upside is a .828 career OPS and his history of consistency and durability as a run producer throughout his career; the best years, of course, playing crosstown in the Bronx. It’s going to come down to what the Met’s value in Granderson. He’s a high character and generous person whose personality has drawn raves from teammates and media. It’s unclear what the market will be for Granderson, probably due to last year’s down year. He will be 33 next year, and should still have productive seasons left in his tank. Also, the signing of Chris Young earlier this morning means a Granderson acquisition is even less likely, but not out of the question.
So would these two acquisitions satisfy hungry Mets fans? There are no clear cut budget parameters cemented at least not to fans knowledge. We’ve all heard $25 or $30 million, and Alderson has said he will not hand out any $100 million contracts. Peralta and Granderson will most likely take at least $25 to $30 million to land, so with some creative accounting, they could be within the Mets’ range. Additionally, a few other moves would still have to be made following those signings, namely a veteran starter and bullpen help. If no other moves are made besides Peralta and Granderson this is what the lineup would presumably look like.
| LF | Chris Young |
| RF | Curtis Granderson |
| 3B | David Wright |
| 2B | Daniel Murphy |
| SS | Jhonny Peralta |
| 1B | Lucas Duda /Ike Davis |
| C | Travis d’Arnaud |
| CF | Juan Lagares/Matt den Dekker |
If you pull back and look at the lineup as a whole, it’s clear to see much of the team’s success would depend on whether or not the younger players continue to develop, a concept Mets fans I’m sure have heard. The distinguishing difference is obviously having a depth of reliable offense. If nothing else, Granderson and Peralta have proved to be durable and consistent attributes to an offense, something the Mets have lacked for the past five years. If Wright and Murphy have comparable seasons like last year, the Mets can be relevant next year providing the pitching holds up its end. The answers from this lineup are easier to predict, and these two signings just could fulfill what Mets fans have been clamoring about for some time now: a consistent offense.
*************************************************************************************************
Have an opinion you want to share? Head on over to the Mets 360 Forums and sound off on anything you like!
*************************************************************************************************
Sean I don’t know where you get your information on Granderson. As YOU stated he’s only 1 year removed from 40-40 so if the Yankees felt he was worth tendering a 14 million dollar contract for 1 year why would you expect him to sign for less? If Peralta is looking for 3-45 then Granderson will probably be in the 4-68. I don’t think the Mets are going to invest that much on CG. Too expensive for their taste.
Yes agreed, but the key word there is “looking”…Peralta isn’t gonna get 15 per.
Yankee’s tender offer is irrelevant to a player looking for a multi-year deal.
Granderson will not get 17 per for 4 years either.
If Young, Byrd and Vargas can get $8MM per year, the average annual salary for Granderson and Peralta combined most certainly is NOT going to be $22.5MM.
In your world, somehow or another Grandy and Jhonny sign for $10.75MM per year.
My original article didn’t account for C. Young’s signing, that was updated by another.
But I agree, Granderson and Peralta signings would now have to eclipse the 30 million parameter, with the signing of C. Young. However, I stand by my statement that Peralta will not get 15 million per year, at least not if he’s lookin for a multi-year deal. Can’t blame the guy for tryin though
Most contracts are backloaded (and usually the 1st year is much lower than the rest of the years), so it’s not unconceivable that the Mets could sign players whose AAV exceed 30 million.
Of the top 9 Free agent signings in terms of dollars, 7 of them had significant reductions in salaries in the 1st year:
Greinke: AAV-24.5, 1st year-19
Hamilton: AAV-24.6, 1st year-17
Sanchez: AAV-16, 1st year-8.8
BJ upton: AAV-15, 1st year-12.5
Swisher: AAV-14, 1st year-11
Jackson: AAV-13, 1st year-13
Bourn: AAV-12, 1st year-7
Pagan: AAV-10, 1st year-8.25
Victorino: AAV-13, 1st year-13
If I sum the totals: AAV-142.1, 1st year 109.5
That’s an average reduction of 1st year salaries of around 25%.
I don’t know if Sandy likes to operate this way, or even if the Wilpons will let him, but there *may* be more money in play than we think. If use the 25% reduction, then the prosposed 25-30 mil goes up to 33-40 mil.
Yeah, fair point. That’s the million dollar question (No pun intended)! How much are they allowed or able to spend?
Yes it would from my perspective because it would finally signify the end of the Dark Ages with hope for the Enlightenment.
The Mets can’t function offensively with Lagares, EY and Tejada in the same lineup.
SS is now the next step and I would be satisfied with Peralta, Drew, Aybar, Ramirez, Degregorious or Owings.
OF follows and Granderson would be a nice fit. I would also be satisfied with the rumored Joyce trade. They need another 20+ HR bat in the OF that can also be average defensively. That would eliminate Beltran, Cruz, Hart and Morse. A trade could also be possible. If anything has been learned in the early stages of this offseason it is that pitching is a premium, even average pitching, so I would be reluctant to trade any of the almost or near almost young arms as they appear to be coming more valuable with age. Free agency is the way to go and Peralta/Drew and Granderson would satisfy me.
I just don’t think Met management is going to invest 45-60 million dollars with Granderson even if he is a good fit.
Granderson in the 2-hole and Murphy batting clean-up??? Why would any manager do that? Granderson has hit 40 HRs multiple times before. What’s Murphy’s career high, 15?
A lot of baseball people advocate putting your best hitter in the two spot. Would Granderson be the Mets best hitter? Well he’d certainly be the one with the most pop. (Even at Citi.) I would like to see Granderson and Peralta in the Mets lineup. But if the Mets keep spending like a small market club it won’t happen.
Please provide some examples. I have never seen or heard of that. Maybe I am old school but I have always seen best hitter in 3-hole and hitter w/most power batting clean-up as long as I’ve watched baseball.
Certainly it’s the way 99.9 of managers play it – doesn’t mean it’s right.
“The Books says the #2 hitter comes to bat in situations about as important as the #3 hitter, but more often. That means the #2 hitter should be better than the #3 guy, and one of the best three hitters overall. And since he bats with the bases empty more often than the hitters behind him, he should be a high-OBP player.”
http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2009/3/17/795946/optimizing-your-lineup-by
Yeah, I can definitely see skepticism with the 2 and 4 spots, but TC likes to break up the lefties and Granderson walks more than Murphy. Plus, I think Granderson needs protection of Wright, more than Murphy. Murphy is gonna hit regardless of where he bats.
And who protects Wright?
the Mutts are a joke.
No money Dave. What will the fan base do when after everything is said and done no major acquisitions or free agents are signed. Don’t you get it. It’s a smoke screen and everyone is being blinded by the smoke coming from the a** es of the owners. God help us! When are the fans going to put an end to this nonsense and boycott Citifield? If enough fans stop showing up and give their hard earned dollars to the Wilpons then MLB will be forced to do something.