There’s Lucas Duda, Ike Davis, Josh Satin, Daniel Murphy, Eric Young Jr. and Ruben Tejada. Three positions need to be decided between the six of those players. And then there is Wilmer Flores, a man without a home.
His natural position is third, but David Wright has that locked down for the foreseeable future. He isn’t trusted with shortstop, as his range there seems to hurt him. So for Flores to have a home here with the Mets he needs to play second or first. Murphy seems to have second locked up (unless he gets traded, which looks unlikely). So first is his best bet. Add Flores’ name to a long list of guys that will be competing for that.
So what does the future hold for Flores? It looks like he’ll spend another year in Las Vegas, being ready at any moment for a phone call. But this organizational depth gives the Mets options throughout the season. It allows them to use Flores as trade bait in order to make upgrades in other areas.
But, consideration should be given to Flores at spring training. The Mets are looking to field the best team possible in 2014, as the roster has made massive upgrades. If Flores is able to outplay some of the guys listed above, he should get playing time.
While Davis, Duda and Satin are decent players who have the ability to make strides this season, the best player out of camp should be playing first base on opening day. That guy could be Flores, it could be someone else. The Mets need to be flexible and open to shuffling players around to see what works.
The year 2014 is a turning point for this franchise and going forward the Mets need stability in positions in order to be able to upgrade in other areas. Having organization depth allows for both.
Flores is a curious case, as he seems to have the ability to hit well and hit for some pop. But he doesn’t have a home in Flushing where he is able to showcase it every day. It doesn’t help him or the Mets to sit on the bench and not play every day. It might be the best interest of the Mets to let him play where he will have the most playing time, either somewhere in Flushing or in Las Vegas.
The Mets have an interesting decision on their hands, as Flores is a good player and a player that can help them at the big league level. Do they have a place for him? That seems to be the biggest question. The soon the resolution the better, as any lingering or wavering over the decision can harm everyone involved, and that helps nobody.
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The Mets as usual are clueless because Flores should be the 1B with either Duda or Davis being traded and the other become a bench player or trade both. Here is some of the logic some fans come up with.
Use Murphy at 1B. But in reality, at 1B, Flores has more power for the position and more upside.
Keep Ike Davis at 1B. Why? haven’t we seen enough?
Duda at 1B with his low average and lousy average with man on base.
Flores at 1B. Potential 300 hitter, 20 hrs and 80 or better rbi’s. Will get stronger as he ages a little bit. Has better hands than Duda. What is not to like?
The mets will regret trading or not giving Flores a chance to play first base because he will be an rbi machine who will hit over 300 every year and most likely will compete for a batting
title someday! They seem locked in on giving Duda a shot or Ike by default if they can’t trade him but you never hear about Flores getting a chance? If you hear platoon its Satin against left handers not Flores who has more pop and has a much better chance to hit HR’s and
drive in RBI’s than Satin but when it comes to Flores all you hear is trade or being sent down
to AAA! The mets keep looking for offense but its right there under there nose and if they don’t wake up soon he will be gone! The mets should just let them all compete for first base
in spring training and let the best man win!!
Now don’t kill me, but, if Turner played some SS, could not Flores? Alternating him and Tejada and using Flores for about six innings would be a huge boost for the short term. Thoughts?
Flores was actually drafted as a SS but, I assume, as he matured and filled out (i.e. lost some mobility) it was determined 3B was a better fit. Who knows, maybe the nutrition camp he went to with Duda and Tejada this winter will add some quickness to his step and he will be considered for SS. Would certainly solve a big problem for the Mets.
correction: he was signed by the Mets (not drafted). I know there are some nitpickers on this site so wanted to correct myself before they killed me.
Chris I have an easy question for you. If the Mets were going to play Flores at first, wouldn’t it be a good idea if they had him play the position in winter ball? It would make more sense don’t you think as opposed to competing with players like Davis, Duda who are natural first base man? Personally I think they should move him to first if the team decides not to trade Murphy. It would send a loud and clear message to Ike.
I dont see why flores cant be a jhonny peralta. The fo seems to be missing the boat on this. They were willing to give peralta 10 mil or so in free agency but look right past flores mindbogling to me
We are assuming an awful lot, especially regarding Flores’ ability to handle the position, and whether he can hit for enough power to justify that move. I personally don’t care if he hits 10 homers as long as he drives runs in. Davis and/or Duda would be gone already if we could get something in return, but we can’t. Even if Flores wins the job in spring, we would still have two first basemen who have no value or playing time. If Davis or Duda win the job, add value, maybe they’ll be traded by July. Then, if Flores gets some time at first in Triple A, he can be brought up to compete with the loser of the first competition. Worst case scenario, we get something in return for our best 1B asset, and we are back in the competition phase. On the other subject, Flores at short would be rough with a capital R, but if he hits and can handle the balls he gets to, fine by me.
Patrick, your response to Flores is exactly what I was thinking. He is supposed to have good hands but not much range. I figured if Turner played there, can Flores not handle six innings and get out? Sure, he may be a stiff, but until a resolution is found, why not?
Truth be told, Flores is really a third baseman trying to find a home on the Mets, not really a first baseman, per se.
Flores should be the every day player at short stop, He can’t do better then Tajada at the plate batting first. With Flores at short the Mets should finish second or maybe make the play off. Please leave Davis at first he is the best first baseman they have. believe me first base will be Tested with duda and murphy at first.
Tajada can’t hit; he hasn’t develop to much for the amount of years he has with the team … I would take my chances with Flores and move on. The Mets need hitting from the git go.