It’s already started. The 2014 season ended only a week ago, with the stirring victory by the San Francisco Giants over the Kansas City Royals. Before the smoke cleared from the victory riots by the Bay, before the Giants’ love-in parade ended – seriously, Hunter Pence is still on the podium – before Royals fans could salve their wounds, the wave of options declined and free agency declared began, even involving those two League flag bearers. Billy Butler was cut loose by KC and Pablo Sandoval turned down a qualifying offer from the Champs. Such is the fleeting nature of MLB glory these days, that no team is immune from the offseason shakeout.
Which brings us to the Mets. Already, the team has been linked to impending free agent outfielders and shortstops – nothing gets by the good ol’ MSM, who have generously pointed out two areas of weakness that were patently obvious to fans of the team by mid-May – who would supposedly be an improvement over what’s already here, thereby delivering us to the playoff promised land. We’ve heard the Mets tied to names like Nick Markakis, Nelson Cruz, Michael Cuddyer, Asdrubal Cabrera and Jed Lowrie. They’re all terrific players, they’d all look wonderful in orange and blue mufti and they’d all seemingly fare better than their predecessors.
Two things to give a fan pause, though: 1 – each has at least one major flaw in his game that might make the Mets gun shy, and 2- rumors are flying that each would end up staying with his current club.
— Cruz is said to be looking for at least a 4-year deal in the mega-bucks neighborhood he failed to move into at this time last year. His current team, Baltimore, just off a solid AL East winning campaign, is in no hurry to push him out the door, so they just might accommodate his wishes this time around. The Mets cannot afford to overpay an older DH-type – can you imagine Cruz lumbering around the Citi Field expanse? – who may or may not repeat last year’s performance.
— Same goes for Markakis: rumors are that the Orioles will reward his fine play with a long-term deal. He’s also not known for his outfield glove.
— As for Cuddyer, the Rockies – for some unfathomable reason – actually extended him a qualifying offer, a one-year $15.3 million commitment. He might just be the first player to accept such an offer, but that question is moot to the Mets, because the offer attaches the loss of a 2015 draft pick. So the Mets are out, which might be just as well, seeing as Cuddyer only played in 49 games last year and, while he raked in most of them, he did that raking in the flimsy air of Denver. At best, he’d look like Moises Alou, part two.
— Switching to the shortstops, anytime anyone brings up these two names, it is immediately followed up by “Yeah, but the Mets have Wilmer Flores, who would give you the same kind of production as Cabrera/Lowrie, the same kind of defense and cost half as much.”
Sandy Alderson has never been one to simply throw money at a problem; he chooses to leave that approach to his counterpart in the Bronx. Besides, as has been lamented in story and song, his bosses don’t really have any money to toss around. No. Alderson will have to get creative in the trade market to get any real improvements made – and yes, standing pat at shortstop just might represent a “real” improvement. That’s what’s going to make the rest of this particular offseason so juicy.
And thanks to these other teams and agents, it should be just that.
Follow me on Twitter @CharlieHangley.
I could see the Mets picking up Gomes- for a pure platoon with DenDekker, or Michael Morse, an everyday player who can Play OF and 1B. My preference would be Morse- He can also spell Duda and he provides an even and somewhat powerful bat against lefties and righties. Problems: 1) Both are weak defensively in the OF- 2) $$$ I think Morse is going to get some substantioal offers- multiple years above $9MM.. Gomes will be cheaper… All said- the reality of the situation is that if Lagares and D’arnaud play to their end-of-season numbers, and Grandy and Wright approach their career “baseball-card-numbers, the Mets would be a pennant contender with a solid return of Harvey and continued production and development on the pitching staff… See also Thor and Montero, Mazz, etc.
Over the last five years, among OFers who’ve played at least 1,000 innings in the span, Lucas Duda is the worst one in the majors, as ranked by UZR/150. Michael Morse is the third-worst.
It’s not enough to say Morse is bad defensively. He’s worse than Bobby Abreu. He’s so bad he should not be allowed to play the OF.
Morse, Murphy, Duda, d’Arnaud, Flores— That is a frightening array
And on that same list, Matt Kemp: #5. Yet some fans actually want him and part of his $21 million a year…
Brian, that is so well put. He’s a DL…fit for the American League. I hope he’s never wearing orange and blue.
Brian- A couple days ago you trotted out the suggestion, in a separate post, that the Mets “kick the tires” on Jonny Gomes, I just got giddy with the thought of other potential Trick or Treat outfielder acquisitions. 😉
By spring training 2016, Jonny Gomes will not be playing baseball at all. I doubt anyone will pick him up for 2015 certainly not for more than 1yr/$3MM.
2013, v LH SP 697 OPS (221 PA)
2014, v LH SP 689 OPS (207 PA)
He’s 34. He can’t field very well. And insofar as the Mets are concerned, he’s never played 1B.
Gomes: Unsafe at any speed.
markakis not known for his outfield glove? He was just awarded the 2014 gold glove. I realize the voting is sometimes flawed, but to say it is a weakness of his….
Derek Jeter has multiple Gold Gloves
Rafael Palmeiro received a Gold Glove in a year where the vast majority of his games played were at DH
Prior to 2014, Markakis finished with a negative UZR in five consecutive years. This past year he had a 6.2 UZR, which is good but hardly great. Markakis benefited from a down year from AL right fielders. The two best guys (Nava and Kiermaier) played less than half a season. Markakis’ win was just about by default. Having said that, the award could have easily gone to Kole Calhoun, who was hurt by not playing as many games as Markakis.
Finally, it would surprise no one if Markakis was again in negative numbers in UZR next year.
I think the GG is evolving. With 25% now defensive metrics, and managers actually looking at defense, the award is more than a buddy system or based on what people hear. Palmeiro could never win a GG today by making a handful of starts at 1B and then hitting like the doper he was.
I watch Markakis 50 times a year because i live in Baltimore… there may be better RF’ers but he is not a liablitilty, he’s above average.
Of rightfielders to ever play the game, he is ranked 50th in range factor and first in fielding pct. according to baseball reference.
Editor’s Note – Please do not capitalize words in your post, as it is a violation of our Comment Policy.
Even though those are outdated ways to measure who makes a good fielder – I’d still be interested in seeing the list. Please provide a link.
http://m.bbref.com/m?p=XXleadersXXrange_factor_per_game_rf_career.shtml
http://m.bbref.com/m?p=XXleadersXXfielding_perc_rf_career.shtml
Links per your request.
Thank you for providing the links. Of all the times I’ve been on B-R, I’ve never seen this page before.
I think it’s important to note that these lists are since 1954, so it’s not really all-time. Also, if you go down to Total Zone you see he drops off to a tie for 111th.
We have UZR numbers since 2002. Since that time, among RF with at least 3,000 innings played, Markakis ranks 29th out of 51 in UZR/150 and is in negative numbers overall.
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=rf&stats=fld&lg=all&qual=3000&type=1&season=2014&month=0&season1=2002&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=24,d
Thank you Colorado Rockies.