In a report full of news, notes and rumors from around MLB, Jon Heyman of SI.com says rival General Managers are saying Omar Minaya is looking to upgrade his team’s offense, ‘now.’
Heyman believes the Mets are most interested in finding a player who can play both first base and outfield, so he can shift to left field when Carlos Delgado returns from the disabled list.
Heyman suggests Rockies OF Brad Hawpe, Nationals OF Adam Dunn, O’s 1B Aubrey Huff and Indians infielder Mark DeRosa.
According to Buster Olney, in a post to his blog for ESPN.com, the Mets can add roughly $5 million to their payroll.
…the answer is dunn…
…i tried to deny it, but, it’s starting to become pretty clear…
…he solves their biggest problem, which is power and instant offense… and the thing is, he’s guaranteed to do so… i mean, that’s what he does… he hits monster home runs… a guy like derosa or huff, who knows how they’ll translate in Citi Field… maybe they’ll just have warning track power, like every one else… dunn, however, will ‘take it to the bridge,’ like James Brown used to say…
In fact, as SNY.TV’s Ted Berg pointed out to me in an e-mail, according to Hit Tracker Online, Dunn led the league last season in No 
Doubt Home Runs, which is a home run that cleared the fence by at least 20 vertical feet AND landed at least 50 feet past the fence.
Dunn was second in No Doubt Home Runs during 2007, and again led the league in 2006.
…bingo, ted… dunn solves the problem…
… sure he k’s, but the team as whole moves the line enough that they can live with it… plus, when he isn’t striking out or hitting a 500–foot home run, he’s walking…
…his defense is a liability… he makes Daniel Murphy look like a Gold Glove winner… in left and at first… but, you take the good with the bad, i guess, and it’s hard to deny what he’d bring to the lineup in terms of pop and weight and added stability…
However, yesterday, also on ESPN.com, Jayson Stark said the Nationals are asking for an ‘astronomical price,’ for Dunn.
…frankly, i get zero sense the Nationals even plan to trade dunn, which is probably why the price is so high… i mean, he gives them some credibility, he’s entertaining because of his mammoth home runs, and he’ll earn $10 million next season… and so, i’ve been hearing the Nationals will even pick up part of the tab on dunn, but in return they’d want a guy like Bobby Parnell, plus a position prospect… to me, this seems like a lot to give up…
For more, check out Ben Shpigel in the New York Times, where he points out just how weak the Mets have been at first base since Delgado’s surgery.
It’s simple…you’ve got to give something to get something in this case.
Parnell would be difficult to see go, but him and a b-level position prospect for 1.5 years of Dunn sounds about right.
Reyes, Wright, Delgado, Beltran, Dunn…
do it…
So the answer is the guy we could of signed this off season at the cost of a draft pick, which we gave up anyway… sigh…
I don’t mean to swing this thread in the wrong direction, but seriously, how is Omar even defenisble anymore?
I don’t get why fans get on Omar for not signing every player. Hello, the man works within the budget his boss give him.
The Wilpons did not want to exceed that budget, which prevented Omar from signing Dunn. It’s not Omar’s fault.
Then this will turn into a – “The Wilpons are cheap” debate, which is also the biggest B.S. excuse Mets fans always toss around. The Wilpons spend money. The Mets payroll is the highest in the NL and always in the top 5 since pretty much every year.
“But the Yankees spend $200M.” So what? That’s the Yankees. The Mets spend $145M – tops in the NL.
Now, if you want to question who they spend that money on, then I’m with you.
Well there you go….spending money on certain guys IS the GM’s job.
The signing of Corey Sullivan, Redding, Perez…..ridiculous money that could have wen for a guy like Dunn for 1 year
But now we can have Dunn and Perez, who will be back soon and win some big games.
It’s even worse than that. Dunn wasn’t offered arbitration, so there was no draft-pick compensation. As those commercials on the radio say, it was “the biggest no-brainer in the history of Earth.”
This is a team that gave up a first-round pick for a 40-year-old Moises Alou, but wouldn’t sign Dunn for just the discount price it would take.
To everyone suggesting Dunn, it is not happening.
Minaya had his chance in the offseason to a sign a proven player who Citifields dimensions would be no issue for, who was a defensive liability (the same guy who wanted never played a game LF in my life D-Rex and hit like a pop gun). Dunn was an absolute bargain and would have fit in LF or 1B and is easily better than any 2010 1B FA. I am very glad this is absolutely coming back to bite Minaya in the rear end. Ollie was grossly overpaid and that money could have signed Redding and Dunn which would have been an improvement on the team.
Additionally, I like Parnell and I hope he succeeds but seriously? Parnell was never highly rated as a prospect because he lacked a true outpitch and lives exclusively off of his fastball. If that sounds familiar, hes John Maine plus 5 mph without the slider. The Mets should have sold high on Maine when they could as his secondary pitches lack an outpitch to keep hitters honest against sitting dead red on his fastball. There is a reason both pitchers see a ton of foul balls. If Parnell and Murphy or Evans or Niese, Gee, Owen etc get me Adam Dunn, give me a call and I’ll drive to Nationals Park to pick him up myself.
I’m riding shotgun on the way to DC Stache.
And great call on Parnell. Like all Mets fans, I love the in-house guys and want them to succeed, but we might be getting carried away with this guy. He’s not the next Papelbon. He’s given up more hits than innings pitched and it seems like teams are starting to figure him out. I wouldn’t let him be the reason we don’t get Adam Dunn.
Thattaboy, I think we should leave the entire backseat for Dunn though. You want to stop at a Sonic on the way there?
That was true about Parnell the starter, which is what he was exclusively until last year. Some people’s stuff translate better in short spurts, and I think a guy like Parnell (and Joba) fall in that category.
I think the Mets should try to hold on to F-Mart, Parnell, Holt, Wilmer and Mejia, then utilize the rest of their farm to plug the holes.
I just don’t see Dunn on this team. Omar doesn’t seem to be a big fan.
I would offer Jon Niese, Dillon Gee and Ike Davis and see if they bite. Would I do tha deal is I were the Nats? No, but you never know. :)
I’d much rather see the team upgrade the offense in the corner outfield position. I have not given up on Murphy as a potential long-term answer at 1B, and getting offensive talent via FA is much easier (in the event the hired gun we get is only under contract for the remainder of the year). And whatever we get, I’d hate to lose either Murphy or Parnell, who is becoming less dispensible in my opinion given the bullpen issues of the last two weeks.
Not only could they have signed him….they could have had him for less then what the Nationals paid for him…..no one else was on him this off season.
I wonder if a Murphy/Niese package would get it done?
Adam Rubin of the Daily News just reported that the Mets have promoted Nick Evans from AA to the Mets. Not sure who was sent down, but it could be Martinez.
Wow, didn’t see this one coming with Evans struggles this year.
Evans was hitting well lately – not sure if it was enough to warrant a promotion all the way up to the MLB, but whatever.
At this point, every win is a pleasant surprise from this team.
This is a smart move. Evans has actually been hitting better lately and most of his early-season struggles were probably due to his bitterness at not making the big club.
But he’s still just a marginal prospect, so if you’re going to have someone sit on the bench for a week, better that it’s Evans than a potential star like FMart.
Perhaps this means Mr Murphy is on the move?
I can’t wait to see Nick Evans. You remember he was the guy who looked overmatched by a ML fastball. I’d rather see F-Mart in AAA anyway.
PS Omar, how did you like how F-Mart turned out. I hope you now realize your folly in assuming a 20-22 year old is capable of being relied upon to provide meaningful corner OF play without any MiLB experience demonstrating this.
Abreu is laughing, but Adam Dunn is 250 lb 6foot 6 gorilla in the room.
You mean the same guy that was so “overmatched ” that he kept hitting homeruns in ST?
You face alot of crappy pitching in AAA. Additionally, even good pitchers are not yet dialing up their fastballs since their arms are still building strength. What were you saying?
.257 .303 .404 .706 with 2 HR in over a100 AB. His only saving grace is that he hits lefties, but is godawful against right handers.
vs RHP as RH 135 .150 .189
vs LHP as RH .380 .514 .894
He never hit more than 15 HR in any minor league season. He reminds me alot of Kevin Mench, who is now playing in Japan.
crappy AAA pitching in ST.*
315 380 594. my bad
I am not trading Parnell for Dunn, come on now, pretty much every package I have heard for him is imo too much, i’d offer the nationals cash, neise, and perhaps a lower level prospect for Dunn. He is a defensive liability and he strikes out a lot, i do like how he hits for power and i’d like him in this lineup but with putz out i’m keeping parnell. In fact even if Putz wasn’t out I’d keep Parnell.
as for Nick Evans, I’m surprised, where are they going to play him? I assume left while Sheff needs a break and send down F-mart, makes more sense then letting F-mart rot on the bench but Nick Evans has never impressed me
Dunn has hit EXACTLY 40 HR for each of the last 5(or 6 i could have misremembered) seasons. Why would a dumpster with Niese sitting on top of it land that type of player. Not to mention he is only 30 years old, and signed to a reasonable contract. Frankly, without the monetary consideration, I think the Nats would be stupid to trade Dunn for Parnell and a Murphy or Niese type.
He’s a career .248 hitter and i’d say average at best in left field, he hits for power yes but what else does he bring?
Dunn has bad range, but he doesn’t look as awkward as Murphy IMO. Additionally, LF is the one position you can hide a defensive liability, esp with Beltran and Church, two superior defensive OF.
He hits for power, but what else does he bring? a .400 OBP, 40 HR, 80-100 R, 100 RBI on teams with terrible ineups and no protection around him.
No wonder no one wants him. I mean he does strike out alot, which of course avoids double plays. I mean its inconceivable that a player who sees alot of pitches, punishes mistakes, and draws alot of walks with excellent plate discipline strikes out alot (i mean who has ever heard of umps making questionable calls).
Sigh. There really is no hope for any of us sometimes.
I actually was really just wondering why he was never on a good team and I didn’t say I didn’t want him I just think when you look at Dunn/Parnell I wouldn’t trade Parnell for Dunn. I’d want Dunn just not at that price, I wouldn’t trade Murphy either. I would trade Neise and cash maybe a lower level prospect. i think in the long run Parnell is worth holding on to.
also no need to tell me there is no hope for me, i just feel young pitching is worth holding on to over a power bat that may or may not make a difference. I admire his power but I don’t want to trade away a bunch of young guys for him.
also this isn’t supposed be a knock on him but why did he end up with the nationals this year instead of some team in contention, why has he never been on a contending team – at least not in my recollection.
The reason he’s never been on a good team?
Bronson Arroyo, Aaron Harang, Eric Milton, Elizardo Ramirez and Brandon Claussen. That’s the Reds’ 2006 starting rotation. With the immortal David Weathers closing games.
In 2003, it was Danny Graves, Paul Wilson (good lord), Ryan Dempster and Jimmy Haynes.
Murderers ROWtation right there.
Bulldog Weathers!
i wouldnt trade parnell for him. no way. way too much upside. plus the nats are going to pay him 10 mil next year when no one is going to be at their games because they stink? i dont think so. they’ll look to unload him. i’d like dunn first, huff second. i wouldnt get rid of parnell though. too much upside.
Dunn gives you 40+ HR, 110 Runs, 100+ Walks and 100+ Rbis every year. It’s kind of shocking that he is perceived as a middle-range player. And, he’s been putting up these stats on bogus teams. Imagine if he has a lineup behind him? I’d take him in a second. Even though he strikes out a lot, he still has a .360 or .370 OBP…that’s all that really matters anyway.
I’m not giving up any of these guys Parnell, Holt, Murph, Martinez for a bat that might not even make much of a difference. The reason this team has used guys like Emil Brown, Ramon Martinez as fill ins for injured players is because their aren’t young players to bring up in those spots. Its one thing if they were one player away, but they aren’t.
Too many injuries. You don’t overcompensate for so many injuries by depleting your farm system. If the price goes down significantly that’s one thing but giving up important young prospects for a quick fix, is not the answer. They have to hang in there and hope the injured players return. Its not the answer anyone wants to hear but you can’t sacrifice your future for flawed players like Adam Dunn. Can he play short too and second and pitch as the third and fourth starter and pitch the 8th inning? If he can do all that at the same time go for it
On the contrary, Dunn solves the Mets 2010 1B problem, who they have no clear successor too and the FA market looks like absolute…rubbish. He solves LF and 1B for this season as well and is signed to a reasonable contract. Dunn is only 30 years old and has been an absolute horse (ox is more like it) every season. He has played in more than 150 games in every ML season. Who wants durability, youth, power, and a legitimate middle of the order presence when we have Daniel PopGun shoelaces untied Murphy and Nick at max lyle overbay Evans.
He solves LF and 1B in that he will go out there at those positions but he can’t play a lick at either place. He makes Murphy look like Roberto Clemente. Yes he hits HR’s and walks but he’s also got a bad rap as not a winning player as well. Remember he’s been bashed by several former teammates and coaches for his lack of caring. I’m sure the fans will love another player that doesn’t run out balls and can’t catch a cold in the field.
But its fine if he didn’t cost an arm and a leg, but you ignore what they are going to give up for him. You wanna give up Parnell, Holt, Flores and another prospect for him? Because if you do all we will hear about when one or two of those players are stars in a few years about how the Mets gave up future good young players for a player who gave us some power but didn’t make enough of a difference because they were still missing their leadoff hitter, a couple of starters and power at the corner outfield positions
Its been clear for a while that what the Mets need most is some power in their lineup. Dunn, Hawpe, Huff, DeRosa, Halliday, etc Every day we see a new name. The question is what do the Mets really need?
In my opinion, along with the power the player should be a winner. He should be able to fit in with the team long term and he should be hopefully a better than average defensive left fielder. They need somebody who has the character and impact of guys like keith hernandez, or gary carter or ray knight. Somebody who can really add up and be a force.
Just look at the impact Sheff has made. The problem is he’s 40+ and clearly is not an everyday player. He has done more than his share, and will continue to do so, off the bench, if the Mets make a run.
If they can’t land that type of player, then they should try to get who ever they can, but without giving away anybody of value.
Your last sentence says it all……….HERES THE PROBLEM: a) no such player currently available exist! b) AT this point in the season there is no way that the Mets can aqyuire anyone worth anything in the position they are in without giving up atleast some prospects it just isn’t going to happen.
The only player currently that can supply the power the Mets need is ADAM DUNN. Who knows if those other guys can even hit it out of Citi! ANd if you aren’t trading for power at this juncture, then what’s the point?
oops, that’s supposed to read “currently available” My bad!
If that’s so, then the Mets shouldn’t do it.
The point is, the Mets have a decent, young and competitive team. They should only make a blockbuster trade is it really adds value.
If not, then they should keep on going as they are, competing, scraching out wins here and there, making every player accountable, and hoping this experience will make them a better team.
I believe it will.
Dunn definitely has ridiculous power but Citi field is a tough park to play in defensively. We do not need him giving up runs with lousy defense. If we can get him cheap, fine. Otherwise no way. We might need offense but the Nats need payroll relief. They have to sign their number 1 pick. Let them sweat it out. We are in the running for the wild card and I don’t want Omar shipping more prospects for a marginal player to save his job. Use prospects for pitching.