Movement!
We Met fans are seeing some movement for really the first time since the last out against the Brewers on September 29. No, Chris Young doesn’t count. It looks like some of the “money-coming-off-the-books” we’ve heard so much about will at long last be freed up. Word is swirling that the Mets are this
close to signing Curtis Granderson – late of the New York Yankees, of course – and it could even be a done deal by close of business today.
Is this an ideal signing? Not by a long shot. The old reliable reasons that people will hate this deal are bubbling to the surface: he’s on the wrong side of 30, he’s been injured often lately, the deal will be regrettable in three years, his power won’t translate from Yankee Stadium to Citi Field, he’s the next Jason Bay. No, not ideal, but definitely necessary on several levels. Let’s swat at theses “con” arguments, like so many August fruit flies.
*He’s on the wrong side of 30: Yep. Can’t argue with that fact.
*He’s been injured so often lately: Yes, but these injuries were more of the “freak” variety than anything chronic. He was hit by a pitch and suffered a broken arm in spring training, which put him
on the shelf for the first six weeks of the year, then he immediately went back to the DL with a
fractured pinkie. It’s not like he’s pulling hamstring muscles every ten minutes – looking at you,
Jose Reyes – or his value is as dependent on his legs as, say, Jacoby Ellsbury. The bet here is
that he stays on the field for 145 – 155 games.
*The deal will be regrettable in three years: In three years, maybe, but not so much for right now.
Scuttlebutt is that this will be a four-year contract for an AAV of $17 million per, more than
likely back-loaded. It would appear to be palatable to both sides – the sticking point as far as
can be seen is whether it will be three or four years. If Sandy Alderson can live with it, who are
we to argue?
*His power won’t translate from Yankee Stadium to Citi Field: Well, there are spray charts
available that show Citi Field would have taken away nine of his 2011 total and ten of his 2012.
Given that the totals those years were 41 and 43 respectively, most Met fans will probably take that
tradeoff. At the very least, the presence of Granderson in the lineup will offer a measure of lineup
protection David Wright hasn’t enjoyed since late-2008.
*He’s the next Jason Bay: Maybe. Any post-30 free agent signing is a gamble, of course. At this
point the Mets have to be gamblers a little bit. The status quo is unacceptable.
The signing of Granderson needs to happen now, if for no other reason as a show of good faith to a grumbling, dwindling fan base. The fact that he could be an actual, bona fide quality player is a bonus. And who knows? He might turn into this generation’s George Foster, Keith Hernandez, Mike Piazza or Pedro Martinez. He could be a signal that the Mets – yes, the Mets – are a viable option to be signing your paychecks.
Meanwhile, let’s see if he’s signed yet…
Follow me on Twitter @CharlieHangley
***************************************************************************************************************
Got something to say about the Mets? Go to the Mets360 Forums to talk about whatever you like in regards to the Amazins!
***************************************************************************************************************
Looks like you’re on point. Rumor has it the Mets and Granderson could agree on a deal at any point.
If anyone has watched this guy in the last few years, he has a terrible approach at the plate. Only looking to hit HR’s. Yes, he can give you 30+ Hr’s, but he also is a candidate to strike out 200+ and hit sub .200
The only positive thing I can say about him is that he’s better than Cruz and the pricetag isn’t as outrageous. But i’d rather spend the extra bucks on Choo and not spend anywhere else.
If this is a three year deal at less than $50MM … its not the worst thing in the world.
But Granderson’s put up roughly 3 wins every year while his value was drained by playing a sub-par CF. I think a lot of that negativity gets handled the same way we add value to Duda by moving him to 1B.
Put Lagares on his flank, allow for the fact that AL players transfer increase productivity when moving to the NL offsetting a little bit of the Yankee Stadium advantage, and stick him in cleanup.
He might even be a value signing.
Honestly, I’m pegging his offensive production at something like what a guy did last year who we are all desperately trying to run out of town. Around a .220-.230 average, walk rate about the same as Ike at 10-12% but a slightly higher strikeout rate. I don’t even want to try to guess what his defensive value will be- they’re so unpredictable and have wild variations for everyone year to year.
“allow for the fact that AL players transfer increase productivity when moving to the NL”
-Is there any study on this or is it just your personal opinion?
there is, Name – I can’t recall where I read it. Fangraphs, maybe? The effect is about 5% to the upside.
You are well aware that people are pushing Ike because his slugging percentage isn’t in the ball park of 460, not because his OBP fell to 330.
“Singles hitters drive Fords. Homer hitters drive Cadillacs”. Ralph Kiner.
For the record though … three years, or no deal.
Talk about hitting a home run! Choo in the long run solves 2 problems and will pay dividends in the long run. Good patient hitter, good on base percentage and defensively not a liability. Spend the extra dollars and you’ll get a positive return on your investment even if its for 5-6 years.
Are you folks kidding?
Stop being so negative . . . this is a great opportunity, fits the bill of what we are looking for! Let’s get this over with and move to the next one before someone steals him away!!!!!!!!!
Agreed. The WAR fanatics are scattering their spreadsheets. The guy is a productive player coming off a bad year. If he was a .300 hitter he wouldn’t be a free agent obviously. Sign him!!!
I have a feeling Granderson is going to be a bust.Hope it is proven wrong if they sign him.
Sounds like A Dave Kingman.
No Granderson can field but doesn’t have the pop Kingman did. Still this wouldn’t be a bad deal.
Charlie I stated in an earlier blog that while he loses some home runs at Citifield he has the opportunities to regain some of those lost home runs in Wrigley and Citizen’s Bank ballpark in Philly. I know its only 12 games or so but I’ii take 30-35 home runs behind Wright any time.
The real question is, if not Granderson then who? Choo is the better fit but would he take a Pence deal with a McCann option? Would Sandy offer it? I think Choo is looking more towards Ellsbury $.Is Choo at $22M a year a significant upgrade over a $17M a year Granderson? Could that $5M difference be better spent elsewhere? After Choo and Granderson there is a significant drop off. Trades cost players and the Mets have very few trade chips unless they include a young stud pitcher. All signings are a risk but the Granderson signing would add power to the lineup and improve the defense as it would put three centerfielders patrolling Citi Field. Rumor has it Sandy wants 3/45 and Curtis wants 4/64. 3/51 would be a nice compromise to me because the market has inflated this winter.
STOP THE CLOCK! 4 years, $60 million.
Amazing! Something positive to write about. Now the next question. Having spent 22 million on 2 players how is SA going to proceed filling in the team’s weaknesses in left, ss and first base? I can see packaged deals coming in the Winter Meetings next week.