The next probable and tangible moves made by GM Sandy Alderson and the front office will be decisions on Ruben Tejada and Eric Young Jr. The Mets have until Tuesday night at 11:59 pm to tender contracts to the two arbitration eligible players before they retroactively become unrestricted free agents. After Alderson inevitably decides on these players, the fans will have a clearer outlook on the Mets’ Opening Day Roster.
Let’s first visit Tejada’s situation. The 25-year old shortstop’s development has not gone according to plan. After a promising 2012 season, Tejada has slowly fallen out of favor with the organization while struggling to find the offensive groove that made him a promising prospect. With Wilmer Flores in line for some extended playing time next season and the club’s ongoing scan of the shortstop market, it appears that Tejada is a candidate to be non-tendered. On the off-chance he is tendered, a contract in the range of $1.5 to $2.2 million dollars is likely destined for the first year arbitration eligible shortstop. The Mets, already staffed with comparable and cheaper options within the pipeline, could easily cut ties with Tejada thus ending his days in orange and blue.
Young’s fate with the team is still up in the air. The Mets have yet to hint at their plans for the speedy lead-off hitter, but his clear utility as a bench player may ironically be his saving grace. The signing of Michael Cuddyer has solidified the landscape, at least on paper, for the 2015 Mets outfield, a claim they couldn’t boast last season. Last season, even after signing Chris Young, the playing time amongst the outfielders was seen as a four headed monster between Curtis Granderson, Juan Lagares, and the two Youngs. Now with Cuddyer’s presence, Lagares’ resurgence, and perspective on Young Jr.’s down year (.219/.299/.311), there is little doubt what trio will get the bulk of the playing time this season. The outfield will still need at least two reserve players, especially when you consider the injury history of the projected starters. Despite his relegation as a bench player, Terry Collins, who appears to be one of his biggest fans, could tout EY’s utility value as a detainment factor.
Collins has consistently raved about EY’s spark at the top of the lineup which has given the team an energy or spark that was lacking. Last season, Young stole 30 bases and scored 48 runs in limited action while playing exceptional defense (20.1 DZR and 5 DRS). Now in his second year eligible for arbitration, Young appears to be headed for a salary in the $3 to $3.5 million dollar range. Like Tejada, cheaper options in Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Matt den Dekker could nudge Alderson in the direction of non-tendering Young, however, the unique skillset or trade value could propel an offer in the coming days.
The answers to these minor roster questions will be confirmed very soon. Tejada and Young have their place in Mets lore; the only question is whether they have their chance to enhance it.
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What was EY’s OBP in the lead off spot? It’s pretty hard to be a base running threat when you can’t get on base. Especially if you don’t know how to draw a walk. The Mets have to many AAAA players on this roster. Addition by subtraction will give SA some flexibility in payroll if he isn’t able to move Niese or Colon. No need to carry 6 outfielders
Absolutely no reason to cut Tejada, who is expected to get around $1.7 mil.
31 yr old Brendan Ryan with a career 72 OPS+ scored a 2 yr 4 mil deal last year.
35 yr Clint Barmes got 2 mil from the Pirates after a horrendous .211/.249/.308 slash line last year
29 year old Arias 2/2.6 last year
Tejada has a career 83 OPS+, but post 90+ in 3 of his 5 seasons. And while he’s not the defender that Ryan or Barmes is, he’s still slightly above average at the position. And unlike Ryan and Barmes who are on the wrong side of 30, Tejada’s just going to be 25 next year.
No reason to let him go for free, even at that price.
Well said. It would be ridiculous to get rid of Tejada. He’s still cheap, and exactly no one should be surprised if Flores can’t cut it as a starting SS.
From TFA: “The Mets, already staffed with comparable and cheaper options within the pipeline,..”
What a weird thing to write. Of course they aren’t. There are at least a half dozen teams who’d love to have a 1.5 WAR SS like Tejada on the roster. Other than Tejada the Mets have exactly NO ONE who has shown they can play at that level in the majors.
Well, the Mets do not have shortstop options as polished defensively per say, but asking Flores, Reynolds, Herrera, Tovar, etc. to match Tejada’s overall production the past two years wouldn’t be setting the bar too high.
Flores IMO is a much better option to start at SS and played well defensively last season.
I like Tejada, but think his days are over here. Odds are they acquire a SS to take his place, even if it’s as a backup to Flores.
I could care less if Tejada was on the team (although I think he’s a waste of a roster spot), but what good is EY as a utility guy if they are afraid to play him anywhere but LF? And of his 48 runs scored, how many were as a pinch runner meaning someone needs to get on base for him? Even Tony Campana who is faster can’t keep a roster spot and he has better numbers.
I would be highly surprised if the Mets acquired a SS by Dec 2nd therefore it would be foolish to cut ties with the only SS in the organization that has extended major league experience. MLBTR estimates $1.7M in arbitration. If later on, the Mets acquire a SS then releasing or trading Tejada could be considered.
The current roster makeup includes either MDD or Kirk as the LHB bench outfielder that can play CF. The RHB bench OF is EY or Campbell. I would prefer Campbell for his versality and for being a cheaper option. MLBTR estimates $2.3M in arbitration. The Mets seem to need a RHB power bat as a bench outfielder. Kyle Banks was just DFA by Athletics and he would be a better choice than EY, EY seems to be a likely non tender candidate.
I would trade Gee or Montero for Allen Craig. He would be a bounce back candidate and can fill in RH power bat needed.
I like Craig very much.
Craig would have been a good fallback if Cuddyer wasn’t signed but at three years and $26.5M ($5 .5m, 9m, 11m, 1m option) he may be too risky and too expensive for the Mets budget. Kyle Blanks, although a risk, would only cost $1M for 1year which suits the budget better.
EY has the coveted speed, but I fear that Collins would force EY into the lineup repeatedly if he was kept around. One guy with speed, who will hardly ever start isn’t going to dramatically change the makeup of this team, so while I like him, it makes more sense to let EY go. Tejada at least plays serviceable to good defense at SS, and he won’t cost much. Otherwise we have Flores and Reynolds as our only options, two guys that haven’t played a season in the majors yet.
Good riddance to the both of them, I say.