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Michael Emdeyar, in a post to his blog for Rise of the Rays, says that the Mets are closely monitoring the contract situation of Carl Crawford with the Rays.
…i think Crawford is a perfect fit for the Mets…he has as much range as Carlos Beltran and certainly rivals Jose Reyes and his speed…he just fits the mold of a player that i feel the Mets should be interested in, given the stadium they play in…
…if the Mets were to end up with him over Matt Holliday or Jason Bay, i wouldn’t be upset, although they would have to find the power they lack in the outfield from somewhere else…
Crawford has expressed interest in remaining with the Rays, and the team holds a $10 million option for 2010 with a $1.25 million buyout, and Emdeyar doesn’t think the option is too high of a price to pay.
…Crawford really had gone unnoticed in baseball until the Rays were in the World Series last year, but he has quietly been one of the best players in baseball throughout his career…he has stolen 50 or more bases four times in his career, has had more than 180 hits six times, and can be depended upon to be out there on an every day basis…
…as i said, the biggest concern with obtaining Crawford would be that they need to find a power source from somewhere, but if they could sign him and pay the price for Adrian Gonzalez in prospects, and then sign a starting pitcher, they probably won’t be in bad shape…
I would absolutely love if they could get Crawford and Lackey. I wouldnt care if they didnt get a ton of power, pitching speed and defense should be are goals for this off season. Lackey and Crawford should be our top priorities and if you can find a power bat on the trade market then you go for it. I expect better power numbers from practically everyone in the lineup so I am not overly concerned about the power outage from last year. I believe every single position will get more HRs next year then last year.
Yeah! Someone else who thinks like me!
crawford will be great but I agree with matt, the mets will have to find a power hitting 1B like gonzalez. then our lineup is balance and set. we need power!!, dont give me the crap about bulding a team based on defense and pitching only. POWER also wins a bunch of games, just look at the philis and yanks.
but would we be able to trade for both crawford and gonzo?
“Crawford has expressed interest in remaining with the Rays, and the team holds a $10 million option for 2010 with a $1.25 million buyout, and Emdeyar doesn’t think the option is too high of a price to pay.”
So he could be a free agent, but I dont believe that Crawford would cost that much at all because the Rays just want to free up money and room for their great OF prospects.
Getting Molina for a two year deal may be the power that we would need, along with someone to platoon with Murphy, maybe a Cuddyer? Most lilkely a guy like Nady though
Reyes
Crawford
Wright
Beltran
Molina
Francoeur
Murphy/Cuddyer or Nady
Castillo
Thats enough power to win in my opinion, the only problem with that would be the lack of OBP from Molina and Francoeur back to back
I dont think the rays will lose him for nothing.
I think you flip things a little and lengthen the lineup:
Crawford
Castillo
Reyes
Wright
Beltran
Franceour
Molina/Santos/Thole
Murphy
It may not work, but perhaps if we take the training wheels off Josey and tell him we believe in him and feel he can do great things, he’ll explode in the 3 hole.
I’m thinking though, that Molina’s going to cost too much for the return on investment.
For the last time, Jose Reyes will never be a 3-hitter on the Mets, and he will NEVER hit 20 homeruns.
Blah, blah, blah . . . Jose hit #3 in spring training and did fairly well.
As for the HR totals . . .
2005 – 17
2006 – 17
2008 – 19
20 is easily attainable moved down in the order and with protection from Wright and Beltran.
:-)
Peter – I hate to tell you, but you keep posting Reyes’ TRIPLES number!
Career HOME RUN numbers:
2005: 7
2006: 19
2007: 12
2008: 16
Blah, Blah, Blah is fine, but get the numbers right, Peter. Thanks for giving us all a good laugh though!
P.S…….. NEVER! : )
Well, isn’t that embarrassing!!
Nevertheless, for someone who says “he’ll never hit 20 HR’s” . . . doesn’t the fact he hit 19 and 16 from the leadoff spot intrigue you?
Doesn’t his success in the #3 hole in spring training mean that it can be at least considered?
Looking at what has happened to the Mets the last few years by doing things the “usual way” what’s to say changing things up a bit wouldn’t be beneficial for all involved?
OK, I’ll give a little here, because I see what you are saying. Reyes in the 3 hole would definitely lead him to more home runs, but I’m not sure this is the year that the Mets make such a move with him coming off an injury and with him losing a lot of confidence. I think Reyes is their leadoff man another year before any such move is made. But, honestly, after all the years of the Mets not having a true leadoff hitter, I LOVE having the best leadoff hitter in the game on my team.
I hear ya . . . the ONLY man I’d consider moving Jose for is Crawford, because they are so similar. I also think Jose is the better player, which is why I think he can hit, and excel, in the 3 spot.
I get excited thinking about that lineup ringing doubles and triples in Citi, with guys flying around the bases, putting pressure on the pitcher, and opposing defense in true NL form.
As for Jose, I think nothing could make him MORE confident that the team saying we trust YOU to make things happen. Your bat, your legs, your defense, the whole package. These guys in front of you won’t get in your way, they’re there to give you options. bunt a basehit on a hit and run, smack a bases clearing double or triple in the gap. Knock one out if the pitcher makes a mistake.
YOU are the most dynamic player in baseball. Go show everyone.
Should read -
I hear ya . . . the ONLY man I’d consider moving Jose out of the lead off spot for for is Crawford, because they are so similar.
well Heyman has said a couple times that he feels Mets will be in heavily on Holliday, and that also he expects them to be more “in” on Halladay then they are Lackey. He said he feels they have enough to get Halladay, its just a matter of do they want to give the prospects up. I mean if u can sign Holliday and add Halladay to be the 1A to Johan for the next 5+ years….wow
Crawford is a great fit at a reasonable price (if you believe $10mil is reasonable…) that along with Reyes would really set the table for Wright, Beltran and company. But the Mets would have to add a power bat and a legit starter.
Tough call.
if you read my later posts (and response to you) you will notice I generally agree with you. Crawford + Reyes at 1 / 2 in the lineup with a legitimate power 1B would win a lot of games.
Yes Crawford and a Legitmate Middle of the order Power bat at first would be nice.
But I don’t know where the mets are getting the prospects to do both, while maintaining anything that resembles a farm system. Even if you agree with the Omar method (which he has seemed to shy away from) of adding internationally to supplement the missed picks through FA or in this case traded away, they are 4-5 years away from the MLB, and by that time Gonzo, reyes, Wright will be 33-34 Beltran will be close to retirement as will many of the other mets.
Swinging deals for Crawford and say Adrian Gonzales (or Fielder) will cost the mets easily 9 out of the top 10 prospects, and honestly probably more. This will leave the mets with nothing in the minors. Less then they had this year which had guys make steady progress through AA and 2 guys in AAA (F-Mart pre injury and Neise). Trading for those 2 would mean waiving BYE BYE to most likely F-Mart, Neise, Davis, Mejia, Holt, Tejada and probably Flores and Familia. That would be probably close.
Davis Tejada and Familia would go to the Rays for Crawford, as they have a Outfielder ready to be called up, and would like a 1st baseman to replace Pena at 1st, and they have needed a SS/2nd baseman for 3 years. That might not even be enough.
San Diego has said they want young pitching, well Neise, Davis, Mejia and F-mart would be what they ask for. If you think otherwise they asked SF for Matt Cain, and Boston for 4 pitchers.
So while I would love to be able to swing 2 deals for Crawford and Gonzalez, one i don’t think it’s feasible, and two i don’t think it’s worth taking dynamite and dismantling the little prospects the mets have in the farm system.
Mets are a big market team, and before arbitration raises to the few players they have, have a payroll around 91 million. meaning they have close to 35-40 million to be at last year’s payroll. To me it’s easier to SIGN 2 or 3 good free agents, lose the Type A’s (2nd and 3rd rounders) keep your prospects and keep what you have going.
sorry SD trade was Holt not davis to correct myself. Can’t trade the same player 2 times, though that would be nice.
I dont see the mets trading that much for 1 year of a nice but not superstar OF (especailly one that wont crank a ton of HRs) when they have to pay him 10mill too, and will be a FA at year end.
I agree with you stick..
Not that Holliday will belt 40+ HR’s but he will hit 20-30 maybe 30-35. He will also hit 40 doubles will drive in 100 RBi and score close to 100 Runs as well. He’ll have close to a 400 OBP and a 900+ OPS.
He can steal over 20 bases which is nice. He will play mostly solid uneventful defense.
The Mets have had a gaping hole in LF for as long as i can remember (outside the few healthy Alou games, and the one healthy Floyd season). Matt Holliday will solidify the LF spot for the New York Mets if signed for the next 5-6 Years.
If you add that in with what Franceour CAN do over a full season you could have a very productive outfield.
You could potentially have 4 hitters who have 100 RBI potential with Wright, Beltran, Holliday, Franceour.
Agreed on that one for sure!
I’d land Crawford now if I could, and worry about a power bat later. A starter’s more important to the Mets right now than a power guy.
Offer Pagan, FMart and Niese. That may not get it done, since two of the pieces are coming off injuries, but it’s worth a shot. Cory Sullivan could serve as 4th OF.
I was thinking that if pagan plays a full season, he may put up numbers close to crawford’s minus the stolen bases of course.
I wrote something like that here last week and was ridiculed without mercy.
I’d still rather have Crawford, who just seems to do everything right on the field, and who has postseason experience.
ditto. I’d rather have Pagan as my starting LF than Murphy as my starting 1B for 2010.
Pagan is not and should not be considered a starter on this team. Ever.
He’s a fourth outfielder with good speed…that’s all. He has terrible baseball instincts and is an overall overhyped player. He is not a diamond in the rust. He is what he is…
I’d RATHER he start = relative term.
I’d LIKE him to start = absolute term.
There is a difference.
I never said he was a diamond in the rough; just that his production will be greater than Murphy’s. In other words he is likely to do less damage offensively. If you see my post later on he would be my 4th OF.
Murphy had a horrible year and, in general, 24yo rookies that do not produce (his OPS was in the lower tier of 2B) typically never do. There are copunterexamples, but TYPICALLY ( all the time) they will not advance much. The only HOFer that was a 24yo rookie that had a bad OPS was Puckett. And he didn’t become an offensive threat until Mr. Juice showed up. BUT INGENERAL (again all the time) 24yo rookies either produce or fade away.
Would I like him to be one of the few – sure; but you cannot count on it. Most people railed against the idea of him in LF last year. But, after showing he is inadequate most now seem to want to keep him at 1B. You will not win with him; you may win in spite of him. Look at one of the above lineups. He’s batting 8th. Name the last team where the starting 1B batted 8th and won something.
And if you argue 2009 should have been his AAA season then he is a 25yo rookie this year and the cards are stacked higher against him (again all the time).
the (all the time) should read (not all the time; I used the less than and greater than for not equal to and it didn’t show up.
”
Tough call about Murphy. I don’t think he had a terrible year. He was thrown unexpectedly into a starter role, failed at one new position and then developed adequately at another new position.
He held his own for six weeks as a patient hitter who owned the outside of the plate, slumped badly when the league adjusted to him, then re-emerged as a freeswinging pull-hitter.
That’s a hell of a one-season journey for a 24-year-old. The change in approach is encouraging — it shows that he’s figuring things out. If he ever combines the April Murphy with the September Murphy, he’s going to surprise a lot of people.
Agreed and 24 Yo is different then a 24 YO rookie. i know he wasn’t eligible for rookie status by like 3 AB’s or something like that.
If you take his AB’s last season and put them together with this season he had a pretty decent first 640 AB’s in the majors. He has a .275 average, .331 OBP, .768 OPS. 14 hR 47 doubles, 80 RBI… And still didn’t K 100 times. Sorry that’s pretty good. For a rookie.
I am not saying that Murphy will be a HOFer, maybe won’t make an all-star game. But to go off a rookie year, by a player who never played in AAA, was placed in a position he never played in his life LF all while taking grounders in the off-season at second, and rarely even play 1st in his life.
He went through a lot. he didn’t play every day. he was learning position on the fly. He hit early, didn’t adjust (mainly because of not playing regularly) he worked hard and put up a final 60 games that was really good.
If we could probably get Gonzales for Ike Davis and another prospect I’d do it. A sure thing at first, yound and powerful, along with Crawford and Lackey (or someone close) is absolutely what is needed. That’d get my attention and being me back into the fold. Right now, after getting burned for so much investment in tix this past season, I’m on the sidelines waiting and watching and wondering if I’ll bother next year. I know many others are thinking likewise. Gonzales is great now and aa sure a first baseman for now and the immediate future as there is out there right now. Davis might be great, and might not be. I’m all for developing prospects, but our core needs help NOW!
Interesting trade; Given Davis’ 2009 year his stock is way up. We would need to sign a blood oath not to ridicule the Mets for trading Davis in a few years.
Get a vet for backup catcher, start Santos, and let Thole play at AAA until ready. No need to get a 38yo Molina for two years.
AGon + Crawford still leaves some money for mid-tier FA SP.
Crawford
Reyes
AGon
Wright
Beltran
Thole / Francouer
Francouer / Santos
Pitcher
Castiillo
???
???
Pagan
???
With decent pitching that should win a lot of games.
Santana
Wolf / ??
Pelfrey
Perez
Niese / ??
Sign Sheets / Hardin to incentive contracts and put at #2 if healthy; then move everyone down.
Feliciano
LOOGY
ROOGY (O’Day type)
Long / Spot: Figuora / Stoner / Stokes / ???
Nieve (threw 97out of the pen)
Maine
FRod
I would love to have Crawford, speed and defense are the way to go, hopefully we get more HRs from Wright this year and Beltran will be back, we can probably expect some from Fcore and Murphy and if we pick up Molina he has some pop, it still is a little weak on the power but it’s a good lineup
if we do that we are going to need to get a big time pitcher, lackey or halladay and possibly another pitcher.
Trading for Crawford and not getting a Holliday would leave the mets with a very similar lineup to what the San Francisco Giants were. 1-2 hitters with decent pop (Wright, Beltran to Kung Fu Panda and Molina) The speed would be similar but better SB’s with crawford and reyes. That was a team which scored 657 runs or 14 less runs then the make shift mets.
Putting reyes 3rd Beltran 4th and Wrght 5th is a terrible idea. It will totally limit the over number of plate appearances that Wright and Beltran make. It’s the sole reason why LaRussa hits Pujols 3rd and not 4th.
Crawford is a very good player. All around very good. He has terrific range decent pop and great SB potential. But unless the mets are somehow able to swing a deal for power hitter elsewhere (Molina won’t be enough)
A lineup with Reyes, Holliday, Wright and Beltran is better then one with Reyes, Crawford, Wright and Beltran. Crawford and Reyes are almost identical players, except one plays a premium defensive position while the other plays a more offensive position and he doesn’t fit it offensively.
The difference in money is going to be so slight most likely Crawford is at 10 mil and Holliday will be at probably 16-17…. But after this year crawford will be right around 16-17 mil himself. Plus as Crawford gets older his MAIN asset his speed will diminish faster then Holliday’s bat.
Matt Holliday had better offensive number in 2009 ACROSS THE BOARD, except speed categories Triples and Steals. He had more doubles, HR’s RBI’s, a better Batting average, OBP, Slugging. He scored 2 less runs, and had 3 less singles. He’s the exact player that the mets would need.
For me in order LF should be solved by:
1. Matt Holliday
2. Matt Holliday
3. Matt Holliday
4. Carl Crawford
5. Jason Bay (defense is that bad)
One thing that needs to be cleared up. If you trade for Gonzalez, you still sign Holliday. One doesn’t cancel out the other. Gonzalez is due 4.75 million and 5.5 million over the next two years. All of the talk about trading for Crawford is silly to me when you can use the same prospects to get a 1B instead of a LF.
Excellent point.
If the sign a 1st baseman i’d still rather have Holliday. He’s a LFer. Crawford is a CF who is playing LF. Crawford in CF is above average offensively… In LF he’s average offensively.
If they trade for a 1st baseman that is.
How cany anyone like this?
Crawford is not the answer. We need a power bat and another ace. Case closed
Why would you want to risk the next few years on Reyes and Crawford at the top of your lineup. Not saying it wouldnt be solid but you are risking a lot.
Reyes and Crawford rely on 1 thing….their LEGS. They are an injury away from being non existent.
If Im the Mets there is no way I take a chance on Crawford. Plus hes not that great anyway. I dont trust him.
Go get a slugger and ace. Via trade and Free Agent. Pick up JJ’s option and away we go.
the mets aren’t paying 8.5mill for a set up man coming off major arm surgery.
I could see them trying to work out a much cheaper make-good deal however. But that option won’t be picked up.
Crawford no, Holliday yes
if i were Omar my list…
1.Sign Lackey
2.Sign Holliday/Crawford
3.Sign Marquis/Sheets/Harden
4.Take a shot at trading Castillo and go after Hudson
5. trade for Gonz
6.resign Cora to bench
7.Sign Molina
8.few other moves i don’t feel like typing..but you get it
End.
now for the Lineup
Reyes
Hudson
Wright
Holliday/ Crawford
Gonz
Beltran
Frenchy
Molina / Santos / Thole
Pitcher
Rotation
Santana
Lackey
Marquis/ Sheets/ Harden
Niese
Perez
Big Pelf
now i understand this probably won’t happen but this what it takes to build a CHAMPION team from top to bottom..
just look at the Yankees! their lineup is all SOLID..
thoughts?
Crawford is not a great ballplayer. Guys who make their living with their legs a) need to get on base — and Crawford’s got a rather low career OBA, and b) become less valuable with age quicker because the lose that step.
Barone,
The last line of your post almost made me shoot the milk from my cereal out my nose.
“if the Mets can sign him (Crawford), and trade the picks for Gonzalez, and sign a pitcher… they probably won’t be in bad shape.”
This lineup would undoubtably be the best offense in the NL. And hopefully by adding a pitcher they would have a solid rotation to go along with their alread solid bullpen.
All of that being said, Barone, this is the plan I would also like to see the Mets pursue… try and get Crawford, Gonzalez, and some midlevel pitching help (ie. Pineiro, Marquis, Wolf).
This is the way to go… Crawford in LF 2010. Crawford can bring another dimension to this team and the lineups proposed above can be very interesting. I remember hearing something earlier this season regarding Carl Crawford and his position in the TB lineup. I can not recall if he likes leadoff better or preferred #3. Either case, to lengthen the lineup, putting Crawford, Castillo, Reyes to start the lineup allows for tons of speed and OBP in front of Beltran and Wright hitting #4 and #5 in any order.