“Fernando Martinez is a prospect who has been rated as one of the top in the GAME. ”

then why is a long term LF solution that necessary? You cannot have it both ways. If he were that good then why bother with Holliday, or anything more than a 1 year stop-gap? Well? This isn’t softball, you don’t have 4 outfielders.

Murphy is not a major league 1B. Try talking to a Cards or a Twins or a Cubs fan or a … and see what they think of Murphy. Try seeing what cohort group he is in and then tell me that you are willing to bet teh ranch with him as the 1B.

And for Niese: While you are technically “correct” that he doesn’t need “speed” to perform. But, pitching, especially power pitching, comes from the lower body which includes THE LEGS. Since his push off leg is injured I cannot see anyone willing to include him as a major component.

Why don’t you open your eyes.

Think back to when David Wright was almost traded. No one was willing to trade a major leaguer for a single A prospect. Its an absurd concept.

Jon Niese is a lefty who throws 92mph and has one of the best curve balls in our system. He’s had very limited exposure to the MLB during which time he has shown flashes of brilliance and flashes of being a rookie. And yes, he tore his hamstring, but we are not talking about a position predicated on speed. Hamstrings recover incredibly well, and while he might lose a fraction of a second on his 40 time, he’s a pitcher so you get my point…

Fernando Martinez is a prospect who has been rated as one of the top in the GAME. He was rated a few seasons ago as the 17th best prospect in all of baseball. That was before he posted an .877 OPS in AAA at the age of 20. Your only knock on Fernando is his health, not his talent…and you need to differentiate.

Also, to answer your question as to why the Mets are looking for a LF, its simple. They need offensive production, major offensive production, and one of the few places where you can get it in sacrifice of defense in LF. And there just happens to be an offensive machine and great hitter who also happens to be a LFer available this year. Not to mention, I think the Mets see their window of opportunity closing and so they may not be comfortable allowing a rookie to learn next year. They may prefer to give him another year in the minors.

Finally, Daniel Murphy is a cheap young player who you are treating like a seasoned veteran. You act as though his current production is his ceiling. This kid had an .870 OPS in the majors as a rookie practically out of AA ball. Then in his next season he went out and played 155 games in a totally new position (in which he excelled defensively), oh and he also had 50 extra base hits while doing it!

I mean seriously, give me a break! Why dont people open their eyes??