As another disappointing season unfolds, I find myself thinking about the 2011’s. I am no expert in contracts and I am writing this on a bus without the ability to look up numbers, but let’s look at the team from the perspective of a fan in the uppers.
Is the 2011 lineup already playing every day? Why would it work next year?
1B: Ike Davis. I guess you could include him in a package. You can find someone else to play first. The question is, “Why would you?” He has shown pop and he will be inexpensive for years.
2B: Castillo. Who would want him? What would you get back?
3B: see June 15, 1977
LF: Bay has a big contract and had a bad year. Stuck. N
CF: Beltran. Will make $19 million, and still hasn’t shown himself to be the old Carlos. I don’t know who could afford him or if you would get “full value” back.
RF: Francoeur won’t be back. Pagan is nice but his numbers aren’t that good. This is one position where they could upgrade.
SP: I’m not ready to give up on Pelfrey, and Niese is young and lefty. Keep them. Santana would bring back a good return if you want to rebuild.
RP: I think the entire bullpen is moveable. You can find a closer. Parnell might get you something back.
C: anything excite you here? Could wheel and deal from this position
And I skipped SS. This morning I read that the Mets are planning to extend Reyes’ contract. They have a team option for $11 million for 2011, but plan to extend beyond that.
I think of all the “shake it up” moves you could make, moving Reyes would be the one. You would get real players back for him. Yes it is aggressive. The Red Sox once were a team that hadn’t won in 80 years and they had a SS named Nomar that was talked about as being arguably the best in the game (with A-Rod and Jeter). The Sox made the crazy move and have won more championships this century than anyone.
There’s nothing wrong with keeping Reyes here for another ten years. I get attacked any time I float this Interestingly I have seen others, including mainstream media, talk about this for the first time. All I’m saying is that of all the aggressive plays the franchise could make, that’s the one.
Otherwise, opening day 2011 is Santana, Ike, Castillo, Reyes, Wright, Bay, Beltran, the new RF and some C, and nothing these past few years suggests that that combo will work.
One improvement would be playing a scarecrow at second base. Think of the possibilities. The scarecrow would have about as much range as the current second baseman with the benefit of not being able to bounce throws. The current second baseman doesn’t turn double plays any more, so no real harm there either. When it’s the scarecrows turn to bat, let him stand there until the count is 3-2 and then maybe pinch hit if you want. You could paint a nice happy smile on his face instead of the unhappy scowl we’re used to. Of course we’ll miss the “my feet hurt” body language, but we’ll get it over it.
Jimmy i used to joke a Scarecrow with lots of stickum could play QB for the Simms era Giants. Snap to Scarecrow, the ball sticks to him, Anderson grabs it and runs for 4 yards.
Reyes is the one player on this team that I would never trade. Even if this UZR disagrees this year, he is good defensively, is a dynamic leadoff hitter, and has been the heart and soul of this team since he came up. Everyone looks for David Wright to lead, but everyone knows this team is as good as Reyes.
That and you’re not getting anything close to value for him.
“[Reyes] has been the heart and soul of this team since he came up.”
And to this point, that’s gotten us what, exactly?
This team has coasted to 1 title while the rest of the division was down and has done nothing of note except fail in grand fashion in what is now approaching the half-decade since. It’s time to accept the reality that the current core–whether it be due to a lack of edge, bad chemistry, physical fragility, mental fragility, or some ancient Voodoo curse–is not and never will be a contender and move on. I don’t know how much more evidence some of you need than the fact that this season was going infinitely better when the lineup was overrun with subs and fill-ins.
The Mets can either cut the dead weight, trade one or two of the few parts that will yield a decent return (EVERYONE should be on the table, BTW), and rebuild this thing already, or they can stay in denial, hoping for the current incarnation to magically transform itself again into something it honestly only ever was for a few months in 2006 to begin with.
pagan is cheap and has serious value…upgrading that position would not be the most efficient use of money and/or talent
Not sure pagan as everyday RF is best use of that position
Re: Pagan
His numbers aren’t that good? What do you object to, the top 10 in BA? Second in triples? 3rd in steals? The way above average glove and range in CF?
Or should I take it that it’s his power numbers that you don’t like? Regardless, he’s been arguably the best player on this team this year, with the possible exception of Wright.
Yep power. Dan Murphy was the best player on the 2009 Mets.
Murphy was not among the league leaders in any category, EXCEPT errors. The only thing he did well in 2009 was not get hurt.
Building a team around power in Citifield is a fool’s game, just ask Jason Bay. Speed and defense is where it’s at. And he comes cheap.
Pagan, for at least another season, seems like the best thing that could’ve happened to the Mets.
Your hate for Reyes continues to be pathetic.