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In a post to Mets Today, Joe Janish writes about the future of Fernando Martinez, while discussing the team’s recent acquisition of minor-league 1B-OF Valentino Pascucci.
Speaking of Pascucci, at SNY, Ted Berg pats himself on the back for having been on Pascucci-bandwagon since late January.
Meanwhile, at Mets Fever, Ed Ryan wonders if it is a time to consider trading Oliver Perez.
Lastly, according to Joe D at Mets Merized Online, “The Mets need Scott Hatteberg like they need a hole in the head.”
Oh no. Strikeouts. Whatever shall we do.
Hatteberg really wouldn’t be a bad acquisition. He’s off to a slow start but his OPS+ was 120 last year and in his career it’s a solid 101. He probably wouldn’t cost much either because the Reds have little room for him.
I am one of those fans that could care less whether Perez stays with the mets. He is very inconsistant. I said a little bit ago, that the mets should not sign this guy to a 5 year 75mil contract. He can’t get past six innings. Almost every fan agreed that one of the mets needs this offseason, was an innings eater. However, the mets could not work out a trade for Blanton and were not going to sign Livian Hernandez unless they did not get Santana. Perez has acted like a 5th starter when the mets need him to be a #3.
Trading Perez, however, would be a tough decision. Who would the mets replace him with? Pelfrey has looked decent, while Figgy is looking good, but is that trend going to continue? Tough questions. Either way, my belief is that Perez will sign elsewhere and the mets will get more draft picks. I’ll take it.
I can see Perez being moved to shore up the lineup, if one of the minor leagues arms starts to be consistant (Vargas, Armas Jr., Bostick, etc.).
I also expect the Mets to pickup that “innings eater” pitcher this offseason and his name will be Jon Garland.
Did someone sign Garcia?
I’m completely on board with the trading of Perez. He can be good, but he can’t be great. I actually was thinking that with the injury to Hughes, he could be traded to the Yankees for a Shelley Duncan. Howie Kendrick could be an option also.
I like the idea of trading with the Yankees, except that their “prospects” tend to be as overrated as ours. Plus, I’m not sure who I’d want from their team/system. The Angels, I think, might be a more interesting option, although I don’t know how much $$ they have left to sign OP to an extension. It seems like they’ve been shelling out big bucks every offseason.
never mind the likelihood that hank would never let cashman make a trade with the mets. especially now that he’s hearing it for not getting johan.
the yankees are never trading with the mets again as long as there is a steinbrenner in charge.
By the time we get to mid-June, they should start considering moving Perez. There are basically three possible circumstances:
Perez is doing well and the Mets are doing well: don’t trade Perez, keep him for the pennant race.
Perez is doing well and the Mets are doing poorly: definitely trade him, since he will be difficult to retain and the Mets will need help elsewhere. SP, C, 1B, and LF are positions I’d be looking for.
Perez is doing poorly (regardless of how the Mets are doing: not much will come back in a trade; see if a team will take a flier on him for a marginal prospect or bench player. His salary, inconsistency, and free agent status make him a poor building block; he only appeals to teams if he is pitching well enough to be perceived as ammo for the pennant race.
By the way, Pascucci is a right-handed bat. I have no idea if he has a strong platoon differential, but if he is successful at AAA in the next month or so, he might be worthwhile as a pinch hitter/1B against LH starters.
the signing of Pascucci gives the Mets a 3rd legitimate AAA OF, which allows them to move Caleb Stewart to AA as he wasnt hitting .221/.268/.377 at AAA.
The timing is a little odd as Alou is not ‘ready’ to be back, and its possible that Angel Pagan will be going to AAA anyway.
*not = now