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Yesterday, in a report for ESPN.com, Jayson Stark stuck in the following bit of buzz…
“Once the Santana trade is done, expect the Mets to swoop into the free-agent market to add an outfielder…One name they’ve kicked around: Kenny Lofton.”
In 136 games for the Rangers and Indians last 
season, the 40-year-old Lofton hit .295 with 26 extra base hits and 23 stolen bases.
…i keep hearing other fans talk about how the Mets need a power-bat off the bench, who can play outfield, and who can hit lefties so to spot Ryan Church from time to time, because, apparently, people believe church is unable to hit left-handed pitching…
…yes, church struggles against lefties last season…but he hit lefties about the same as righties the year before, and in 2005, he hit .367 against lefties in just 28 games played…so, it’s not like he’s incapable of hitting lefties, i think he just struggled against them last season…though, time will tell…
…nevertheless, i think the Mets are pretty excited and committed to church as an every day player…as they should be…regardless of who is on the mound against him…
…that said, my sense is that they’re looking for a guy more like lofton, then a guy like, say, Kevin Mench…i think they prefer on base percentage, speed and defense…which is probably why lofton’s name is being ‘kicked around,’ like stark says…
Since 1995, Lofton has been in the post-season every year except 2005 – when he had the misfortune of being on the Phillies.
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He’s a winner and I would have no problem with him on this team.
Agreed, he has playoff experience, he’s a gritty player, he fits.
Jesus Christ. You just mentioned the things that matter least in baseball.
What the hell does “gritty” mean?
Anyway, I’d like him on the team, but not because of this crap that you mentioned. I want Lofton because he’s still fact and has the ability to get on base. He put up numbers. That’s why I want him.
Yes he’s been on playoff teams but if you believe in karma or the cosmic baseball gods…this guy is a World Series jinx. Maybe it’s being a tad superstitious, but we’ve got a lot of good vibes going now. Do the Mets really need Lofton?
yes they do, but his name is Endy Chavez…
They dont need both of them.
This would most certainly end Gotay’s tenure with the Mets, as they would already have 3 other lefty bats on the bench, and Easley would be the IF supersub.
with the guys gone in the Santana trade, the Mets have 4 or 5 openings on the 40 man roster. And with guys like Register, and Stokes, Vargas, Gotay, etc without options its likely they will have more 40 man roster spots open.
I would hope they could trade a few spare parts for some guys who dont need to be on the 25 man roster. They certainly dont have many minor leaguers deserving of those roster spots which have to be filled by opening day. It’ll be interesting to see how they handle that.
On the 40 man points….I was reading yesterday that Jesus Flores (the catcher we did not protect on our 40 man that got snagged and went to have a decent limited season in Washington) was officially going to start the year and plan to play the entire year in AAA. They signed LoDuca and they signed Estrada. Not sure who starts and who backs up but the point is….we were not wrong on Jesus FLores…he was too young to play and too young to snag last year but the the Nats took him cause they knew they were going to struggle to get 70 wins. They bit the bullet…got the youthful player kept him on the roster all year and then appropriately sent him down to get better since he is really not ready. Today is not the day to retort on this point but I brought it up because the above 40 man comments made me think of it.
I’d always assumed that’s what Angel Pagan was brought in for, although I guess that could be more to replace one of Milledge/Green and given what happened last year the team wants to give themselves zero chance of being short out outfielders.
The team knows they’re just a tad lefty-heavy now though. Its not a huge concern with three good, balanced, switch hitters. But unless Delgado bounces back, 6,7,8 in the order could all wind up being lefties. It seems like a right handed bat with some punch that can spell Delgado and perhaps play the outfield is in order. Damian Easley can probably handle the outfield, maybe first, and obviously Castro will be in there to provide some pop against tough lefties. Still, I really feel it would be wise to have a contingency plan to break those three up with a righty anytime a lefty takes the hill against this lineup.
Me either. I was thinking about him aearlier in the week, for exactly this reason. Think about it . . . Reyes, Castillo, Beltran, and Lofton in the field, and maybe Endy too, when Moises Alou needs a spell . . . ! Rockets are in New York again, but not in the Bronx, and not with ‘roids, either!
I would never be against acquiring a Kenny Lofton.
I like this idea. He’s definately got playoff experience.
Why don’t my messages post?
There’s a little message at the very bottom of the column which reads, “Comment moderation is enabled. It may take some time to appear.” I’m not a betting man, but if I was, I’d lay some serious money that that’s the reason.
darn little messages any way! What am I supposed to do, read it?
Lofton would be a nice, multi-effective, cheap guy with winning experience to have on any team. I don’t know why he’s always one of the last guys signed every year, but he is, and then he goes out and has another nice, multi-effective season on a playoff team for a cheap price.
That said. Why do the Mets need him to replace Carlos Gomez? Gomez was slotted for a year at AAA (which he desperately needs) had he remained on the Mets.
Church is being looked at being a full time right fielder right now, so Gomez would of probably split time between Alou and any time Beltran would miss. The Mets are well secure as the outfield is concerned.
I’ve seen Mench play when he was struggling, so I can’t give my take on the guy, just the numbers that are being thrown around hitting against lefties. If Kevin Mench was willing to accept a minor league deal, I’d say go for it. I mean the Mets have a surplus of backup infielders/outfielders already.
Anderson, Chavez, Valentin, Pagen, Gotay. Church is not a total hack at hitting lefties either.
Maybe Lofton keeps FMart at N’awlins for the full year . . .
FM will likely start in AA and may stay there all year.
I would bet that Pagan, Chavez, Valentin, and the slew of never will be’s at AAA would keep the Mets from being forced to call up FM anyway.
I think we need to look at a Lofton move at face value, the Mets arent 100% satisfied with the bench lefty OF situation of Chavez and Marlon Anderson. I dont know why they wouldnt be, but that must be the case.
I was thinking that the Mets need a back up for Delgado if he gets hurt and is out for a couple of months. Who would that be? I know Anderson and Easly can handle first once in a while to give Delgado a breather but i wouldn’t think they could handle it for a prolonged time. We need a back up first baseman/fielder with a righty bat. Can Menche be that guy. Lofton is not obviously.
piazza haha
I would hope Gotay leaves ST capable of playing 6 positions, so he would be an option for such duties. But it seems more likely that he is on his way out of the organization, so I guess it would be an Easley/Anderson/Valentin first baseman du jour type situation.
If it was a real long term injury I would think Carp or Evans would get a shot, then they would look for a trade same as if a big injury happened to CF, 3B, or SS.
They brought back Michel Abreu…the 30 yr old cuban defector who was in our system in 2006 but lost his Visa rights to stay in the US in 2007 and did not play ball for us. He is back and will be at AAA as insurance for an injury.
I think he hits RH also by the way and he mashes the damn ball
Tony Clark is still available, isn’t he?
Seems the way the Mets 25 man roster is already stacked, I don’t see how the Mets could fit him though. A guy who can only play 1B/PH is a luxury the Mets can’t afford.
You guys don’t know what you’re talking about. Lofton will never be on a championship team. Never!
When he was with the Indians he had a bad rep. A “Me” type of guy and though that might have changed some in his old age, I don’t think it’s totally gone. And with Willie “put the Veterans out there even if they suck” Randolph, giving him Lofton is a sure fire way of making sure Gotay gets no AB’s at all. And that’s coming from a Willie apologist.
I say NO. 150 free agents out there, we don’t need him.
I was a huge Lofton / Indians fan years ago. But I have to agree somewhat with SamInNorthCakalakey here.
If Lofton can serve as mentor to Reyes, great. If he’s a another look-at-me Rickey Henderson type, then we could do without. I was an even bigger fan of Rickey when I was a kid, but that kind of ego doesn’t mesh with the Mets.
I know that Lofton is a winner, etc., but with Endy Chavez as a fourth OF I would have thought that the Mets would want a different kind of player to add to the OF mix — RH, with a little power. I don’t consider Lofton to be that great a defender, mostly because he can’t throw. I still think Bobby Kielty would make some sense.
I thought I read somewhere Kielty wanted a chance to play full time? I guess that would be a moot point if no team was to give him a full time spot.
Lofton would be great. I realize thath I’m in the minority on this one, but I would take Lofton over Endy. But, do we even have space for Lofton on the 25-man roster?
12 pitchers (including Santana…I still can’t believe we got him…it keeps me up at night)
13 batters:
1. Reyes
2. Castillo
3. Wright
4. Beltran
5. Alou
6. Delgado
7. Church
8. Schneider
9. Castro
10. Easley
11. Chavez
12. Gotay
13. I guess we do have a spot for him…Get’er done
You forgot Marlon Anderson on that list. He’s a definite. Gotay is not, however. Still has options. Will probably start in the Minors.
Will not start in the minors as he is the backup shortstop. He’s on the team unless they acquire another backup.
As if Easley couldn’t handle Shortstop for a few games if need be. He’s played over a thousand innings at short in his career. It’s not like Gotay is an asset defensively anyways, he can barely handle second.
Gotay can barely handle defense at 2nd, HE IS NOT THE BACKUP SHORTSTOP.
yes… yes he is…
Who else can take over for Reyes mid game?
Thank you EWM. The only one who played shortstop last year besides Reyes WAS Gotay. Before Castillo, the secondbaseman was Gotay. He took the job away from Easley. Easley has played short 91 times since 1999. He’s a secondbaseman by trade. He’s also 38 with very little range thus Gotay taking the 2nd base job from him. Valentin is the one who use to play short, but he’s only played it once since 2005, and he’s coming off a major knee injury. Gotay is the backup shortstop, 2nd baseman, and 3rd baseman. He plays good enough defense to be a backup and to be able to play for a while in case of injury. As I said, you can get rid of him but you’d need to replace that spot with someone who can play short, so that spot on the bench is taken, be it by Gotay or another backup shortstop
Easley is a servicable backup SS.
But I dont think Gotay has any options. When they sent him to the minors to start 2007 it counted, i believe. Even though he was DFA it still counts against them. And his others were used in ‘05 and ‘06 as noted on the transaction pages of mlb.com.
so I think its a full 25 with Gotay and 12 pitchers.
MARLON ANDERSON
You left out Marlon Anderson, who is presumeably the imcumbent for that final bench spot.
Obviously, we’d all like to believe that Alou will stay healthy all year, or that Endy will be able to generate significant value on offense, or that Angel Pagan will catch fire like Gotay did last year…but Lofton is a proven dude. Picking him up would be hard to complain about.
MORGAN ENSBERG!
He won’t make the Yankee’s team. He’s due for a bounce back year. He’s hit lefts (.270) over the last 3 seasons.
lofton’s offensive capabilities make him more valuable than endy, so this would be fine.
I’m going to say this for the last FOUR times…
We need a RH bat.
We need a RH bat.
We need a RH bat.
We need a RH bat.
I don’t understand the need for another LH bat in the outfield. What if Church stinks against LH pitching? What righty bat do we have to platoon in right with him? And when Alou goes down (and we know he will) what righty plays LF? We need a power right handed OF bat, IMO.
And that bat is Easley’s. He’s what they’re considering the RH power bat in the OF. His infield days are done except for 1st base. Alou gets hurt, Chavez and Easley will platoon out there.
They should try to get Lastings Milledge.
i guess the DHL commercial was right all along.
HA! good catch there
kenny lofton would be a great addition to the team
Alou, Beltran are both injury prone and Endy is of more value off the bench.
we have no idea what we’re gonna get from Church so having Kenny Lofton on the bench is a great idea however would he agree to take much less playing time i doubt it
Easley and Anderson would play the infield and could play outfield and Lofton and Endy in the outfield with Castro behind the plate is a very good bench.
but remember Jose Valentin will be given every oppurtunity to make this team
Lofton sounds like a great fit. Righty bat with speed………I’d say ..go for it!
Kenny Lofton is a left handed hitter.
Well if Ensberg doesnt make the yankees then we should try him out…or Mench. We Need POWER…our biggest bat off the bench is our backup catcher.
.229 in 118 at bats.. can’t imagine why some of us doubt that Church is an everyday player..
Either way teams are gonna make him prove he CAN hit lefties in the 6th or 7th innings, by going to the pen if hes up with men on base you can believe that…
So the Mets would be wise to have some protection…
Johan is glorious.. the Milledge trade is still a stinker….
the mets bench has zero versatility. they dont need another lefty outfielder with speed, they already have that. they need a right handed bat, and a person who can play more than 1 position.
they have no viable backup 1b or 3b, and the backup corner outfielders in easley and anderson are new to the position.
oops………….bats lefty……………sorry!
What do you guys think about Reggie Sanders? He seems the type that could be signed to a Minor League contract, and he and Valentin could hang out down there in AAA land. And if Alou gets hurt, or we need to call up that Right Handed bat, he certainly fits that mold perfectly doesn’t he?
I think Sanders would hang it up before he toiled away in AAA for league minimum. He’s a grizzled old veteran now and he’s played for every team in the NL. There’s nothing left for him to prove that is worth him riding a bus in the minors for any length of time.
i want them to get shannon stewart
The Mets might be the only team Lofton hasn’t played for yet.
…yes, church struggles against lefties last season…but he hit lefties about the same as righties the year before, and in 2005, he hit .367 against lefties in just 28 games played…so, it’s not like he’s incapable of hitting lefties, i think he just struggled against them last season…though, time will tell…
————–
That’s what I have been saying all along when I call into talk radio shows. But instead I get laughed at!
Well 28 at bats is a terrible sample size.. and the fact that he’s batting worse as he gets older and pitchers see him more.. that’s not a good thing..
I still think Teams are gonna make him prove he CAN hit lefties late in the game with runners on, by bringing in lefties from the pen..
So.. the Mets would be wise to offer him so protection…
You seriously think the fact that Church was 11-for-30 against lefties in 2005 is more relevant than the fact that his OPS over the last three years is 114 points higher against righties than against lefties? Those last three years include 2005, you know.
Three year averages for Church:
Lefties – avg .259 obp .336
Righties – avg .282 obp .359
Not a HUGE difference. Look at his splits over the last three years. Other than homeruns, his other numbers average out the same between lefties and righties. His lack of production against lefties has been overblow.
I would perfer a righty. I guess this also means no Gotay.
If youre on facebook, join the Metsblog group!!
Has anybody bothered to look?
Kenny Lofton is a LEFTY.
Kenny Lofton’s record against lefties is worse than Ryan Church
Lofton 2007: BA .223 SLG .255 vs lefties
Church 2007: BA .229 SLG .336 vs lefties
Lofton record over the past three years is not too much better.
BA: .246 SLG: .290 vs lefties 2005 to 2007
Neither one is anything to wright home about against lefties, but you would not want Lofton to platoon with Church or spell Delgato against a tough lefty. Another factor is that Lofton made $6 million last year. This is more than one would want to spend for a guy off the bench.
I think the Mets are looking for a righty bat and possibly another starting pitcher
Stark doesn’t have a clue about the Mets. Repeat after me:
RIGHTY…RIGHTY…RIGHTY
Is the only thing that makes sense for this team that already has too many LH hitters on the bench.
Isn’t it be nice that it seems the biggest issue on the Mets right now is who should be our 5th outfielder? But the Mets do need a right handed Outfielder/ First Baseman for the bench.
I think the Mets intend for Church to be the every day right fielder, in large part because of his defense. But he isn’t going to play 162 games. Given that even if he does improve against lefties you will still want to rest him against the tough ones. Right now it seems Easley is the only right handed backup for the outfield or first base, in fact the only right handed bat off the bench. I love Castro’s bat, but unless the Mets get someone that can catch in an emergency (or at least whom they are willing to risk catching), Willy is not going make a habit of pinch hitting Castro. Nothing against Lofton, but he doesn’t help here.
I don’t see Ruben Gotay making the team out of Spring Training, which is a shame because I love his bat. What I would like to know is does he have any outfield experience? If I were the Mets, given his decent bat and reportedly mediocre defense, is to see if he could be a true utility man. Get him some time in the outfield and even some catching experience. If he could catch in an emergency and play the outfield he could really strengthen the bench. But while Gotay is a switch hitter, he doesn’t hit lefties as well. They will still need a right handed bat.
SNY has learned that Johan Santana has passed his physical according to their scroll.
I cant find that
Aaron Heilman, Anderson Hernandez,
and Mike Carp to the Nationals for
Dimitri Young (right handed bat off the bench, backs up first base, and out field spots, good pinch hitter) and Chad Cordero (duh)
opinions?
I doubt they would do that for just Cordero…nevermind Young too.
The best we could get from Milledge was a 4th OF and a backup catcher.. Bowden owns Omar.. that deal will never get done and Heilman/Cordero is a wash anyway.. no thanks.
I think people who call Church a “4th OF” are going to be pleasantly surprised by his production outside of the terrible hitting environment of RFK Stadium.
If Church played his home games in Citizen’s Bank Park, he’d be as overrated as Jimmy Rollins, but instead he gets no respect at all.
FYI: I’m not a big fan of Lofton. I don’t see what he adds to this team that we don’t get from Chavez or Pagan.
I would much rather look into Bobby Kielty. In his 3 year splits he’s hit .313/.372/.494 against Lefties and has played both of the Corner Outfield spots, and has some (very) limited experiance playing First Base as well.
I don’t think he would get much more then a Minor League Deal. Maybe Vet minimum. But he’s a switch hitter with pop that mashes lefties that can play 1B/LF/RF. Just what this team needs.
“Since 1995, Lofton has been in the post-season every year except 2005 – when he had the misfortune of being on the Phillies.”
Could have been worse – he could have been on the 2005 Mets, who finished 4 games BEHIND the Phillies.
Hopefully he will have the misfortune of being on the playoff missing 2008 Mets.
BTW, please add some more 40 year old players. I know you guys are still looking for a winning formula, but age does not equal heart – Love, Jimmy “2007 MVP” Rollins.
So sad to see the Phils fans trolling to start trouble. go back to beerleaguer or philliesnation. You can be with other like minded losers.
What, is Phillies-Fans-R-Trash.org down for the weekend?
Matt – that might be the best line you’ve ever posted
“misfortune of being on the phillies.”
Not too awesome.
bobby kielty
in 87 games batted .218 with 1 HR and 12 RBI
not what this team is looking for sorry
I can’t believe Omar’s misplaced Julio Franco’s phone #, and neither can Julio.
Sign him and then trade him to the Indians at the deadline.
Just what we need – a fragile, powerless senior citizen whose best days are way behind him. He’s had a great career no doubt, but he’s not a fit on this team. He is not a chemistry guy, isnt a defensive replacement and is a former speed guy a la our $25.0m 2bman. Nady would be great if we could get him without overpaying. Maybe Mench is the next best thing.
You need another outfielder because Church CAN’T hit lefties.
We are supposed to disregard the 118 ABs in 2007 when he hit .229 and think the 49 ABs in 2006 and 28 ABs in 2005 are a much better indicator of what to expect?????