In July, the Daily News wrote, “Growing up in South Carolina, Orlando Hudson dreamed of playing for the Mets. Even though he grew up in Braves country, Hudson loved Darryl Strawberry and was a proud Mets fan.”
…i will not lie, things like that influence me… Nelson Figueroa has a similar story, about growing up a Mets fan idolizing doc, darryl and others… i don’t know, i just like the idea of people on my favorite team understanding my experience as a fan, specifically a Mets fan growing up in the 80s… that said, you also have to it, run and catch the ball…
In September, Jon Heyman of SI.com said the Mets might try to trade Castillo this winter, ‘and take a look at Hudson,’ who was just named the Glove Glove winner at second base for the National League.
…as i wrote last night, the buzz from LA continues to suggest the Dodgers will not look to bring hudson back… i mean, they barely used him in the post season, and he essentially lost his starting job to Ronnie Belliard… but, from what i can gather, he was pretty exhausted, needed a day off, Joe Torre kept pushing him out there, and he fizzled a bit… of course, hudson didn’t say a word, which i think speaks to his professionalism…
…like i said, i just don’t want to see the Mets trade Luis Castillo, but then turn around and make the same mistake with hudson, giving him a long-term deal that they eventually might regret… i am all for hudson at second base for the Mets, but let’s take it one year at a time… i still think i would prefer to acquire Reds 2B Brandon Phillips, but that might mean taking on a Bronson Arroyo or Aaron Harang, as well… whereas, hudson would be a free agent… for more on phillips being available in trade, click here…
Hudson hit .283 with a .357 OBP, 35 doubles, nine HR and 62 RBI in 149 games for the Dodgers in 2009.
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{ 34 comments }
“take on” harang? i think harang would be an absolute steal pitching in citi field.
i can’t see giving o-dawg more than three years, and that’s even pushing it. he’s a lot better than castillo but i still feel he’s overrated.
Totally agree.
Harang would be a steal for the Mets. Would love to see a Phillips/Harang combo over Hudson and some other pitcher.
If the Mets pull that off I would be ecstatic.
As for Hudson, I wouldn’t go above 2 years. If he’s such a Met fan, he shouldn’t have a problem with that. Right?
eDaPS,
If Hudson is a Mets fan, he should know the Mets are notorious for handing out bad contracts. He should hold out for, and likely get, a 3 or 4 year deal. Kidding, of course… well… sort of….
I was thinking the same thing, Harang is not that bad of a pitcher. Take him out of the hitter’s park and he might excel in Citi Field and be a steal as a throw in. Remember how Mike Lowell was the throw in with the Beckett deal the Red Sox took and that worked out just fine.
With O’dawg it depends on how much money per year he wants. I’d have no problem giving him a 3-4 yr deal for a total of $4 mill a year. If he wants more dollars per year then the length of his contract goes down. I voted for 2 years but I’d like to have a 1 year deal with a club option.
At $14M I don;t think he is a “throw in”; more of a salary dump. Also, he may have arm issues stemming from the Dusty Baker Era.
like we dont need pitching……whats ‘may’ have arm issues……
I don’t get the media and fans infatuation with Orlando Hudson. He’s good, but not great. In fact, Castillo’s stats were better than Hudson’s.
If you trade Castillo for a useable piece or even financial flexibility, then you should use that money to sign a player like Lackey or Holliday not to sign Hudson.
I wouldn’t signed Hudson if it would take more than a 2-year deal at a rate less per year than Castillo AND I didn’t have to give up a draft pick for him.
Orlando Hudson can actually get on base without an infield single. Luis Castillo, not so much.
Luis had a better average and obp…thats it. Hudson’s numbers are far better than Castillo’s all the way through. While the obp was lower, his ops was higher, so the obp stat means nothing. Why? because he can actually hit the ball unlike Luis. Thats why the slugging percentage is much different.
Orlando Hudson is better than Luis Castillo. That is fact. But the real question is, I don’t think he’s worth all the trouble to get if we make a poor play getting rid of Castillo. If its easy to do, then its a obvious upgrade. Not so much if it takes a lot of work. In which case, we’re better of making the effort for an even better player in Brandon Phillips.
HE WEARS A DOUBLE-EARFLAP HELMET!
THAT IS GRIT!
You guys beat me to it. I´d be thrilled to have either Harang or Arroyo as a number 2 for the Mets. Both of them are better than anyone we have not named Johan. Arroyo has pitched more than 200 innings (at least 33 starts) for 5 straight years, to a decent ERA for a hitters park. Plus, he´s played in a big market (Boston). Omar, trade for Phillips AND Harang or Arroyo!
Arroyo may be a safer bet than Harang. Agree otherwise
Hey Cerrone!
Their is a great article at FanGraphs at why the Mets should be considering trading for David DeJesus in LF… I would have laughed yesterday… but now that I have read the article, and thought about the numbers…
I hope Omar reads FanGraphs!
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/dejesus-and-daytons-destiny
Sadly, not only does Omar not read FanGraphs, I’d be shocked if he knew it existed.
That’s false hustle as far as he’s concerned
BTW, Phillips was a gold glove winner too.
i mean, they barely used him in the post season, and he essentially lost his starting job to Ronnie Belliard… but, from what i can gather, he was pretty exhausted, needed a day off,
+ he batted 7th or 8th for the last half of the season.
What part of the above does not raise eyebrows?
If you argue he “grew up a Mets fan” remember that Redding also grew up a Mets fan.
Thats what alarms me. How is it that this guy is so good that he couldn’t even make the postseason roster? Why is this? Exhaustion is a poor excuse. O-Dog had solid numbers last year, there has to be a reason why Ronnie Belliard took over the job. From what I can gather, o-dog was slumping and they gave Ronnie some starts and he just took off and never gave the job back.
Brandon Phillips is better and younger…lets make that happen.
I would take Harang in a heart beat. Harang Phillips and Holliday would be a ridiculous offseason. Then fine tune the bench and bullpen and lets go. If you can pick up another pitcher cheap to compete for the back end fine.
reyes santana
phillips harang
beltran pelf
holliday ollie
wright maine/nieve/niese
murphy
franceour
catcher
I think with less pressure on him in the “#3″ spot Pelfrey may get back to be the guy everyone knows he has the talent to be.
wow that didnt come out the way i wanted but hopefully you get the idea.
I like Nieve in the BP better. He was throwing 97+ from the pen.
Arroyo appears less of a risk than Harang. From what I can tell there were dead arm issues / rumors surrounding him in Cincinnati.
Nieve in the pen would be nice as long as he throws strikes he could definitely be effective with that fastball.
I think that the acquisition of either Harang or Arroyo would be better than anything (other than Johan) that we threw out there last year.
I would prefer Harang to Arroyo…but either one would be an upgrade.
I don’t think anyone questions that Phillips is better than Hudson, but Hudson is just money, Phillips would require players/prospects in addition to possible salary dump.
Isn’t Hudson a Type A still? That to me would be the biggest obstacle. If Dodgers dont offer arbitration, and you can get him for a 2 yr reasonable deal, i’d be fine with it.
While we have the Reds on the phone, lets see if we can snag Micah Owing to compete for the 5th spot <>
you’re right, Owing would fit well in the 5th spot of our lineup… ;)
Can we just trade Castillo for Bradley right now and worry about 2b later?
PeterDragon — the Mets finished in the bottom half and thus would not lose any 1st round picks in signing a Type A. They lose their second rounder, and since I think they will be signing other Type A’s, this would probably wind up being a 3rd or 4th rounder. All the more reason to do so.
So they keep their first pick; but lose the next three. How is that going to restock the farm? isn’t that what got them into trouble in the first place?
If we have to take on a salary dump then we shouldnt have to give up much in terms of prospects. and it may be worth it bc phillips is much better than hudson and younger. also despite playing in a total band box his HRs splits are pretty solid. With phillips and hopefully holliday in LF we can live with murphy’s below avg power at 1B.
Good point on the trade value. Still would like an upgrade at 1B; although it wouldn’t have to be AGon-esque with Phillips at 2B
the same people who voted that they would give him 3 years will be the same people who will complain Omar gave him 3 years.
He gets a 2 year contract max and I am not even sure its that big an upgrade to bother with.
Yes!, finally someone mentioned Harang and Arroyo as fits for the Mets. Phillips obviously, he is a fit for any team. But instead of going out and dialing up 100 million for Lackey or overpaying Piniero, Marquis, Garland or one of those types in money and yearss, they could look to the Reds. The Reds have clearly stated they want to get their payroll down next season and have two starting pitchers who make 10 million plus for one year with an option.
Harang is owed 12.5M in ‘09 with an option for 12.5 in 2010 (2M buyout)
Arroyo is owed 11M in ‘09 with an option for 11M which could be bumped to 13M in 2010 (2M buyout.. I believe?)
Harang in Citifield with his flyball rates could return to his 2006-07 form which equals a solid #2 starter. Arroyo has a rubber arm who will give 200+ innings, competitive, and inked for 1 year. If the Mets ate the entire contract for either picther, they would come relatively cheap in terms of any major prospects. They would save the farm and their future by avoiding a 3-5 year contract that turns into a disastor next season.
If the Mets decide to go with a Harden/Sheets type or even a true #2 like Lackey, then Arroyo would be perfect for atleast 1 year and 200+ innings as a #3-5 starter.
Talk about not mortgaging the future but giving a chance to win in 2010… how about this team?
Johan
Harden (1yr incentives w/option)
Arroyo (1yr w/option – maybe Reds pay some)
Pelfrey
Ollie/Niece
Maine (bullpen – set up?)
Reyes
Castillo
Wright
Beltran
Delgado (1yr incentives)
Willingham (trade – arbitration eligible)
Francouer/Nady (1yr incentives)
Santos/Barajas (1 yr) or Shoppach or Doumit (trade)
Pitcher
I know it looks cheap and no major impact, but that team should compete and does not risk the future by losing tons of prospects or huge commitments financially. They would probably have the money for a big time LF (Holliday) instead of Willingham or Lackey in place of Harden/Arroyo in that plan. One or the other substituted… any thoughts?
not sure why anyone would think that Phillips / Arroyo would be bad for the METS … it sheds Castillo, immediately improves the lineup – and gives at worst a reliable #3 starter … and only adds about 15M to the lineup ….
it provides much flexibility to go Holliday and Molina without breaking the bank …. and if you really want to close the deal – go the extra mile and bring in Lackey.
Santana, Lackey and Arroyo would be a nice 1, 2, 3 with Pelfrey and Perez ….
you can include Maine in the trade to the Reds …. Stokes is fine as a long reliever.
That lineup can cover up Fancouer and Murphy …
we get rid of luis….we get probably the best 2nd base option out there…we get a decent pitcher and because we are taking on some salary will hopefully not lost much prospectwise…what is not to like about this….
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