It always seems like drama arises during spring training. The Ruben Tejada/Stephen Drew saga ramped back up once Tejada appeared at spring training earlier this week. And now, since there weren’t any big time rumors floating around, Ike Davis’ name has been brought back up.
The Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates are back in the Ike Davis market. It was reported yesterday and early today that both teams are keeping an eye on Davis, as they both look to shore up their respective first base positions.
During the winter meetings, it seemed to be all but a formality that Ike Davis would be wearing a new uniform come opening day. But now, with Davis reporting to spring training still in a Mets cap, a trade seems very unlikely.
Now with these rumors back in circulation, the questions will rise to Sandy Alderson, Ike Davis and both Fred and Jeff Wilpon as to Davis’ future in Flushing.
Terry Collins has spoken at length about the open competition between Lucas Duda and Ike Davis for first base this spring, with only one remaining in New York to start the season. If Davis is the guy that draws the short end of the stick, then these trade rumors may become more than rumors. The Mets don’t want a guy making $3.5 million in AAA. But if he is able to make improvements and show he has returned back to his old form, then there will be no reason for Alderson to answer the phone.
All winter we’ve heard about the interest Baltimore and Pittsburgh has in Ike Davis. But, they weren’t willing to fork over what Sandy Alderson wants. Will they have a change of heart as the spring goes on? That doesn’t seem likely. They are probably just keeping the phone line open in hopes that Davis loses the starting job and the Mets are forced to move him.
Until that time comes, it’s all talk and rumors. If Ike Davis was going to get traded, it was going to occur at the winter meetings. If I was a betting man, I’d put money on Davis wearing a Mets cap on opening day, playing first base. Then again this is baseball and things can change within a matter of hours.
Seems like most of the drama is occurring on blog sites
“Sherman also reports that at one point this offseason, the Mets and Rays were discussing players that could be added to a Davis-for-Matt Joyce swap before Tampa finally proposed a straight one-for-one trade. The Mets rejected that deal, and Tampa closed the door on talks by signing James Loney to a three-year, $21MM contract.” MLBTR today
That is the same Matt Joyce that had a career 340/455/795. Then Chris Young would not need to be signed and the money goes toward a shortstop. Two holes plugged with one trade. Tejada becomes a backup middle infielder and Duda/Satin play first base. This looks like a better team than what is in spring training now without the controversy. The loser of the Duda/Davis competion will have no trade value and the real loser in the competion is really the Mets.
That’s an ideal scenario, but who would the Mets have signed at SS? Peralta was still going to be out of our price range, and if SA doesn’t want to spend money on Drew with the price dropping, he certainly wouldn’t have singed him to the 3-4 year deal Drew wanted earlier in the winter.
I acknowedge your perspective that Alderson would not have signed Drew earlier but the going rate prior to the offseason for a good shortstop was 10 m annually before this inflationary off season.If Sandy didn’t want to spend 3/36 on Drew then that is his perogative but I don’t agree with him. Joyce for Davis would have given the Mets a serviceable outfielder and alleviated the problem that the Duda/Davis loser will have no trade value. Now I am hoping for a Franklin or Miller Seatle trade.
If Drew is struggling to get 1 year/14 let alone a multi-year deal, why in hindsight would you still be willing to be pay 3/36? The max you should pay is the lower of value or market price and so even if you think he’s worth 3/36 million it doesn’t mean you should pay that much when he’s available at a cheaper price. No reason to overpay or bid against yourself.
What you say is correct. But sometimes in order to fill a hole you have to overpay. I don’t think Drew is the answer to a pennant but having him is better than not having him. A contending team does not enter the season with zero depth at shortstop and the most games Tejada has played in a season is 114. Sandy can still pull a rabbit out of his hat with a Franklin/Miller trade. Sandy painted himself into this corner and also the other corner, first base, by not addressing Duda/Davis.
To clarify, the Mets are not a contending team and they are run as if they are not a contending team. This does not give me confidence as a fan. As for Drew at 3/36 or 2/22 that contract although not a value contract is one the Mets should be able to handle if the team were truly solvent.
Looking forward to the game chats!
Realistically – The only way Ike can lose the job is to continue to stink throughout spring training, both in his results and in how he approaches his at bats… If he does indeed look miserable- who is going to want to surrender anything in trade for the privilege of paying Ike $3.5 mil?