Comments on: Blog: Dierkes’ Mets Offseason Outlook

By: SovereignRonnie

SovereignRonnie — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:41:54 +0000

NYJ, it’s not a terrible idea but similar to this year, we need to have a contingency plan in case Jones doesn’t work. Having watched him this year, I think he’s out of shape and his bat has slowed considerably. I think you cannot go into next year with Jones as part of the core that you’re relying on game in and game out.

By: SovereignRonnie

SovereignRonnie — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:36:16 +0000

SemperFi, Fuentes, Cruz and Oliver are all Type-A Free Agents. We likely can’t have all three.

By: SovereignRonnie

SovereignRonnie — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:31:26 +0000

The one great thing about the Cubs part is that it took me 3 or 4 times to realize Derrek Lee was involved!

By: uppertank

uppertank — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:13:12 +0000

the mets should change their slogan to ‘SAMO 2009′

By: nyj0126

nyj0126 — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 02:44:12 +0000

Why not Luis Castillo for Andruw Jones? I heard people up there getting all mad about the idea. We’re at the point now where most of us are alright with buying out Castillo for like 15MM.

So are you telling me Andruw Jones wouldn’t be worth a gamble for just 3 million for one year? Jones was paid 9 million last season and gets a 12.2 million bonus. Let’s say the Mets pay 3.2 million of that plus the 15 million he’s due next season. I wouldn’t give anything more, but if these are the circumstances I think it’s worth a shot.

What’s the worst thing? We release him. He can platoon out in the corner OF’s with Church and Murphy when left-hander’s are pitching. Or if Murphy’s ready for 2B and Jones is playing well, he can start in LF. LA has too many OF. Kent’s probably retiring. Furcal and Garciaparra may be gone. Castillo would at least give them some insurance with depth.

By: nyj0126

nyj0126 — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 02:38:20 +0000

I like the idea because they got nothing to lose. The only problem is it’d make the Mets pay it all out this year. This could compromise their ability to land FA’s for next season. But it’d rid themselves of the Castillo burden quicker. Plus they may just get lucky ending up with a productive good fielding right-handed hitting corner OF.

By: nyj0126

nyj0126 — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 02:25:10 +0000

If the Mets revamp the bullpen (signing Fuentes, Weathers, D. Reyes + trading Show/Heilman & not re-signing Ayala) and signa solid 3 starter (Perez, Lowe or Garland) – they’d still be 1 or 2 million below the total payroll last season. Don’t re-sign Easley. Sign Eckstein to a 2yr/10MM deal. Let Murphy/Evans platoon out in LF. It’s really that simple. The payroll only raises by 3 or 4 million in the process. We’d hold our core and have a well rounded roster.

Signing K-Rod, Sabathia or Manny would interrupt this, unless of course we aren’t playing with the Matt Wise ”Coupons.” Wise was no consolation last year and no one of his equivalence would be this year.

By: nyj0126

nyj0126 — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 02:13:11 +0000

What about swapping Luis Castillo for Juan Pierre? Castillo’s owed 18 million over 3 years. Pierre’s owed 28.5 million.

The Dodgers just don’t got room for Pierre. They got Kemp, Eithier and Andruw Jones who’s under contract next season. They may even re-sign Manny or look to replace his power with a FA like Dunn or Ibanez. It’d really be like signing Pierre to a 3 yr/10.5MM deal which isn’t that bad. He’d fill the LF void. He can bat 2nd or complement well at the bottom of the order.

It’d probably take a little more to convince the Dodgers to do it. I’d throw in Aaron Heilman and see what they say. I also like the idea of pursuing Casey Blake as a LF who seems like he wouldn’t be too pricey.

By: nyj0126

nyj0126 — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 02:07:49 +0000

It reminds me too much of the Jets and Brett Favre with K-Rod and the Mets. The Jets needed a QB this season. Everyone knew Pennington or Clemens wasn’t going to cut it. They didn’t even know which one was ahead of the other. Favre wanted out of GB. GB wanted him out of their division and the NFC period.

I always said to myself during the summer, why haven’t the Jets gotten him yet? I heard Tampa Bay mentioned, but I didn’t think it’d happen. It reminds me a lot of Mets rotation void last season too. They needed an ace. Glavine was not an ace and no longer a Met. Omar went out and got us the best pitching in baseball.

It’s at minimum 50/50 K-Rod is a Met on Opening Day. I’d probably say 65%. I’d think of Fuentes was like 20-25%.

By: nyj0126

nyj0126 — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 02:04:54 +0000

I wouldn’t rule out anything with Murphy, but I don’t believe it’s likely he’ll be a 2B. I think a platoon in LF and eventually 1B can work. I like the idea of Hudson, but I know he’ll cost a lot. I know it can compromise the money for pitching.

Oliver Perez or Derek Lowe are going to get around 13MM a year. I think Sabathia will get 20 to 22 Mill. Why not just go after CC instead of Perez or Lowe?

The production CC would give us more wins than Lowe or Perez + who ever the 5 pitcher is put together. Signing Lowe and say Paul Byrd will cost a similar price anyway. He’s proven to me that he’s worth the investment. If he’s content in playing in the NL, the only team that could be ahead of the Mets is the Dodgers.

The Dodgers have to make a tough choice with Manny though. There’s no way they’ll sign both. Probably not even one. Not after they gave Andruw Jones 2yr/36MM, Jason Schmidt 3yr/45MM and Juan Pierre 5yr/44MM – all guys under contract for next season.

I like Fuentes too, but believe K-Rod’s younger age would outweight his value. It’d justify giving him an extra year at 5 million a year. The competition for K-Rod won’t be as high as everyone thinks. The Angels look like they’ve packed it in on him. They’re so loaded with pitching they got lots of other relievers who can just take the role. Of all stars out there, K-Rod looks to be the most likely as a Met.