According to Ben Shpigel of the New York Times, Johan Santana helped the Mets recruit C Henry Blanco, who the team signed yesterday to a one-year deal.
Yesterday, MetsBlog reader Michael D sent me an e-mail:
“I think this might be we’re free and clear with not having to be stuck with Bengie Molina and Jeff Francoeur whiffing back to back. Omar Minaya has signed too may backup catchers and bit players to be thinking about committing to a guy like Molina, who’d likely play regularly. If Molina was here, especially at some of the prices mentioned, he’d get the starts, the backup would be mostly unimportant and wouldn’t likely be getting figures like 1.5million.”
…i disagree, unfortunately…
…the plan, i think, is to have a Molina-Blanco Combination in the big leagues, to totally switch up the catching situation from last season, and with Chris Coste, Josh Thole and Omir Santos at Triple A, where thole will get the bulk of the playing time, coste will play some first base, and with santos getting the shaft…
…Brian Schneider is getting $1.37 million from the Phillies to be a back up… Ramon Castro made $2.75 million last season… so, blanco, who is one of the best defensive catchers in the game, getting $1.5 million, is not as crazy as it seems…
…i believe the Mets want molina on a one-year deal, probably around $6 million, with an option for 2011, though he probably wants a two– or three-year deal…
Last night, on SNY’s Mets Hot Stove, MLB Insider Jon Heyman said Minaya offered Molina a three-year, $18 million deal in late 2005, before trading to get C Paul LoDuca from the Marlins.
Ya I can see the Mets going with Blanco and Molina with Blanco being Santanas personal catcher and defensive replacement when we run for Molina in late innings.
Hey, that’s me!
I don’t mind what they’re paying Blanco.
What struck me when I started to think maybe Bengie was no longer being considered was that they(I can refer to the Mets GM as a plural right?) just seem to be spending so much effort on what would be a very small part should they sign Molina. Sorta contradicts how they just signed an acceptable MI backup in Cora, rather than putting a lot of time and effort into feeling out a different option.
I don’t have a huge problem with Molina, as he’d still be an upgrade over last year, but if they sign him I feel they have to move Francoeur. We can’t have two players like that in the lineup, I think it hurts the flow of the lineup. Do we really need Murphy hitting a leadoff triple only to have Francoeur and Molina whiff back to back before the pitcher?
Maybe Fernando Martinez tears it up and replaces Jeff by June? Maybe they sign Holliday and still trade for Crawford or something? *crosses fingers*
I just wonder what Francoeurs trade value is? I think the Mets would be fine if they put a guy like Murphy in between Jeff and Bengie.
it’s not a horrible 6/7/8 bunch there. (assuming Holliday/LF of some sort)
The other scary thing is that Manuel liked to decrease Castillo’s OBP value b y batting him 8th. This would be even worse if he batted behind Molina, trying to drive in someone so slow with his softer hits. If Molina gets a single, you know he’s not getting to third on anything Castillo does, and it’d be too tempting for Jerry to bunt Castillo and bunt the pitcher to get Molina to third.
with Molina two things need to happen to make the offense click.
1) Castillo or some other 2B has to be a strong #2 hitter because they cannot hit 8th now
2) Murphy will have to be a better OBP hitter and split up Francouer and Molina.
Sounds like a lot of relying on hope and promise to me…
uh..Castillo had one of the best OBP in the league and has excellent bat control. He’s an ideal 2 hitter.
Murphy will likely improve. Maybe not enough, but with a better lineup, and another year of maturity under his belt, it’d be silly not to expect a little improvement. He did improve after regularly playing time late in the year last year, so he shows the ability to learn and adjust, so I dont’ think he’ll just get figured out and flat out suck. I think it’s realistic.
While we can think its realistic the Mets cannot bank on it happening like they usually do.
I’m not thrilled by the prospect of Francouer and Molina back to back, but in fairness to “Frenchy,” his whiff totals have been steadily decreasing each year in the bigs. 92 whiffs in over 600 plate appearances is not a high amount.
He puts a ton of balls into play, which is why his RBI totals are a little higher than you would expect from his statline.
That’s true. Maybe a little bit of unfairness to Francoeur. He is still ‘young’ and could still continue to improve. Coming to the Mets may actually have helped and not been a fluke like many of us suspect. If he doesn’t revert and the Mets do sign Holliday, their lineup could actually be pretty damn scary.
Maybe the Mets coaches actually did something right in helping Francoeur get better.
Don’t forget the prospect that Molina had next to no protection in the Giants lineup and still managed to hit 20 Hrs playing half his games in that monsterous ball park. That wouldn’t the case with F-core hitting behind him or even Murphy, With F-core behind him, granted there still be a fair share of K’s but they would likely see better pitches. Now if the Mets sign Holiday and brought back Delgado on an incentive laden deal that thats a hole other ballgame right there,……YIKES,..I LIKE IT!
Its the OBP that makes Frenchy so questionable. Hes had seasons of .282, .293 and .294 including just .309 last season.
Thats just terrible.
But there is also so much promise. In 2007 which in my opinion was his best season, he had a .293 AVG, .338 OBP, 40 2Bs, 19 HRs, 105 RBI. He had 129 strikeouts that year, but I could live with that number if he has that type of production.
The season before that he had 29 HRs and 103 RBI but a .260 AVG and .293 OBP which is not what you want to see.
During him time with the Mets he was essentially on pace for his 2007 numbers, with the exception of RBI, but to be fair he wasn’t in the same spot in the order so that cant be held against him. He did that with no bats around him, so I would like to think that with Holliday, Wright, Beltran, Reyes and an improving Murphy that Francoeur could see some better pitches and make a real impact.
So Omir Santos is going to split time with Thole in AAA? Doesn’t Thole need to play as much as possible? Doesn’t Omir merit playing time? I think Omir gets traded.
I completely agree, his value as a backup would never be higher. Hmmmmm, ya know Houston could use a good back up and needs to shed some salary……………hmmmmm…lol
Santos for Berkman fills all of those needs…
;)
Do you think Blanco can potentially help guys like Pelfrey, Maine, and Ollie because of his great skills behind the plate?
I think Blanco’s effect on those three will be minimal…
Pelfrey & Perez are all mental. And having a good catcher won’t help them overcome their mental lapses. Only they can learn how to treat every batter like it’s the end of the world, and step-up and get a big out when they need it like Johan. Johan can throw to any catcher.
Maine will be fine if he’s healthy, i think maybe a catcher would help him the most. He seems to constantly harp on one pitch and it starts to get him in trouble. he’ll get ahead 0-2 then throw 3 high fastball trying to K the guy instead of getting an easy ground out or pop out. That’s where i think a catcher he builds trust with would help.
thanks for the insight.
in 2005 a 3 year 18 million dollar offer to a then 33 year old defensive Stud with ok offensive stats like Molina isn’t a bad offer.
What has he done in 3 years to quantify a 2 million dollar raise when the average baseball contract has lowered. His defense has regressed with his age. His offense had stayed flat with previous production until last year when his BA and hence his OBP (since he doesn’t know how to take a walk) plummeted.
So to tell the fans the following statements is what makes them and me mad.
Alex Cora needed the same contract after getting hurt, and being relatively unproductive…. Oh and then throwing in an option year is ridiculous.
Signing Henry Blacno to double what he was making last year… Ridiculous.
Giving Bengie Molina a $2 million dollar raise at 36 when he had his worst offensive season in a decade is another Joke.
I don’t mind Cora and Blanco outside the contracts. i like both moves, just think they aren’t being smart with money.
Well, as Matt pointed out, Blanco is making around what Schneider is making, and is better.
Actually, given that Cora played hurt, and played more than he should’ve needed to (hence exposing him a bit as well) says a lot. Can you honestly piss a guy off and give him a paycut after he does that for you? Is it worth it to cut him over a million bucks?
I don’t know if they’re being smart with money. if they spend all they need to to improve, I don’t care what the pieces are making. Whatever the budget is, these guys presumably fit into it. It’d be nice to know the overall numbers and plan, but they shouldn’t tip their hand either.
I agree Molina shouldn’t get a raise off that, but then again, he hasn’t. This is all rumor and speculation. And it’s also based on demand. If that’s what it takes to get Bengie if they’ve decided that’s the best option, then you need to do what it takes.
I’m not pissed off over it. I just don’t know how they can justify the little things in there.
How do you give Cora an option year? Ok resigning at 2 million again is 1 thing. Then giving him an option year when he was over-exposed as you said just boggles my mind.
Same with Blanco. he was making 750k. Yes he is right around where Schneider was making. And it’s only a 1 year deal which is awesome. But what did he do last season that he hadn’t done in his previous FA years to get a 100% raise.
Again I like both the moves, though Cora if he left I wouldn’t have cried myself to sleep over the loss. He’s a very above average MI backup. Blanco is a very good backup C.
But again how do they get raises in what is a down market?
I didn’t mean you were pissed off, I meant Cora. The guy played his heart out with no thumbs with everyone falling down around him in an expanded role he wasn’t expected to fill, and all the while leading the team with comments like “We have to go out there and win the games, with or without the stars” while Manuel was selling them all short and saying they can’t win.
When he does all that, I think he’d be upset if the Mets said “we don’t care about all that, we want you to take a paycut” If anything, giving him 2mill and not being stingy about trying to find a similar replacement guy (I’ve have preferred a guy with more power, though i like Cora) suggest that the Mets aren’t going to let money stop them from getting better.
OH i hope your right about the spending. I just hope it’s not the 10 million they are going to spend in nothing pickups like last year that will cost then signing an Impact bat in the OF, and 1-2 SP’s to help.
And your right on with Cora. He’s a guy Mets fans have cried for. A warrior who plays hurt. Who shouldn’t have been out there and forced his way onto the field every day. Same with Franceour late in the year with his injury, and Beltran battling back just to show fans he cares. These are intangibles every Met fan wants and screams about…..
NO way OMar doesn’t sign an impact bat for LF, he not going to make the same mistake twice in a row with his job on the line, even Omar isn’t that naive.
mark, Blanco didn’t have to play in one game to get that raise, when the Phillies were dumb and gave a lesser catcher in Schneider his contract they set the going Market price right there. There isn’t anything Omar or anybody else can do about that. At that point all you can do at that point is try to sign the best backup they can, which I believe they did. As far as Cora’ s option goes I agree it’s complete garbage, but that said if it keeps Boras happy, and gives the Mets a better shot at Holiday then why not, I mean really as I posted before if Alex Cora gets 80 starts we got alot bigger problems than if that ridiculous option vests!
Mets5
Your right on all points. It just boggles my mind i guess.
I wish i could do the same thing this year as last year and get a 100% increase in my pay. Just because another company made a stupid hire to do the same thing.
Yep, that’s what I said yesterday! Frankly, I’m ready to drag out my old catchers gear! lol
They haven’t been smart with their money, but I will be smart with mine. I am not renewing my 30 season tickets that are due today and when they call me to ask me why, I will tell them until they show real signs of improvement I will not throw my money away
I don’t know how anyone can renew a season package based on Faith. They didn’t even tell you what games you were getting. I know your sure to get the 7-8 games you like (ATL, NYY, PHI) but how many games against the Natinals mid-week would be you getting.
It just makes no sense to me.
These are all full season packages, I get every game and the schedule is out and you do know the games in the plans as well but 12/4 is way too early, even the yanks that have no worries about renewals give a 1/15 deadline as I have Yanks seaosns as well. I own a business and use tickets for clients and personal use so I have to have Yanks tickets as much as I hate them. It is beyone belief how much better the yanks treat their seaosn ticket holders with benefits than the Mets and it is the Mets that need to give benefits ot sell tickets, not the yankeees. I mean do the mets have a marketing department? If they do they sure don’t understand that.
I am 34 and have been a huge Mets saince since 1983 when I was 7 years old even though my dad was a Yankees fan from the days of Dimaggio and Mantle and my sisters too, but I have never been more dissapointed in the direction of the Mets as I am right now. i just feel like they have no clue how to move forward and we have a few core players and they will end up being wasted as we wont have the right complimnetray players to get it done and we will end up having no World Serties visits with our nucleus of Wright, Reyes, Santana, Beltran, and will miss our window./ That si my main concern and maybe I am being too pessimistic but I just dont see any reason for optomism right now. Please guys tell me why I shoudl be optomistic that we can be a contender in 2010-2012? I hope I am dead wrong.
It’s a little too early not to be so pessimistic.
The mets as you have stated have a core of 4 guys who most every team would kill for. They also have guys who have talent and are missing a few pieces to put together a contender.
Wait until after the offseason shakes out. A big bat in LF (Holliday) and a SP or 2 with a few more moderate pieces like Cora, Blanco and you might be signing a different tune.
It’s just way to early to tell.
you’re short sighted, especially if these are tickets for clients.
The Mets will be competitive, even if they do nothing but stay healthy, to the point that people will go to the games, and want to go to the games. And they will improve, there is a whole offseason to get a big bat and a pitcher.
We’ve got Niese, and Meija, and Ike, and Fernando Martinez coming the next couple of years, and some of them may even stick. Add that to Beltran and Wright and Reyes and Santana and this team is going to be a perennial team that will draw fans.
I agree they need to treat season ticket holders/plan holders better, discounts on the whole package, better perks and such. To cancel because of a down 2009 is just silly, it’s your right, but if I could ever afford tickets, I’d never give them up. I know i’ll always be a Mets fan and always want to go to games.
I think the pessimism is a little overblown. Yes, there are questions, and yes, we need some power. And a #2 pitcher who can log innings. But Beltran, Reyes, Maine, and Ollie were out for a significant chunk of the year, and basically everyone else had off years. If we get someone who can provide some power/protection in the lineup, and Beltran and Reyes come back strong, the Mets have a good lineup. If Pelfrey has a year more like 2008, and Maine is over his injuries that affected 2008 & 2009, those guys aren´t bad as 3-4 pitchers. Who knows with Ollie, but if he gets his head screwed back on he can be dominant. (Yes, a lot of ifs, but I´m choosing to be more optimistic–it´s healthier!) With a little luck the Mets will surprise some people next year.
What has Santos done to desrve the demotion. He hit for some power and average, had a few clutch hits and I think one of the few bright spots and fan favorites in 2009. And now we are relagating him to Thole’s back up in AAA? Minaya should recognize what he has in Santos – a cheap young backup. If he doesn’t fit in to your plans, trade him while he has some value.
I have no doubt that’s what will happen eventually, they’ll move Santos and why not if u don’t need him his value will never be higher.
I don’t see any longterm solutions here at catcher. Thole could be good, but who knows. Keeping both 1B and C positions warm for both Thole and Davis doesn’t seem like a good plan. Remember, Omar pretty much kept the outfield reserved for Milledge and F-Mart (and/or possibly Carlos Gomez) and that didn’t work out. I’m gonna take the chance on being sacreiigious here and throw out there a question. Could we possibly be better off solidifying our catching position (since there are so few good ones in the ML) with Joe Mauer by trading Wright for him and signing him to probably a 7 year 150 million dollar contract and then getting Figgins to play 3B or Pedro Feliz? I wonder if the Twins would be willing to accept Wright for Mauer. He’s a bit pricey, but for a star and hitter of his caliber, the years and salary might be a better solution for them than trying to get Mauer to sign at a hometown discount (I don’t think he’d sign for the 4 years and 51 million guaranteed to Wright) or once again, taking a chance on prospects of the draft picks. I know this is all might be silly, but I’m just thinking a bit outside the box and tossing this around. Because, it’s quite possible that neither Mauer nor Victor Martinez will become available on the open market and if they did, the competion for them will be nuts. Of course, to have both Wright and Mauer would be unreal. It’s just that once both Martinez and Mauer get locked up longterm to other teams, the Mets are pretty much taking away any chance of having a catching star, barring another phenom showing up on the scene. Of course, Russell Martin is another catcher that I like and if we are gonna try and pry him from the Dodgers somehow or wait out his free agency, that’s another story. Both Martinez and Mauer are eligible for FA after 2010, so a multi-year deal for Molina kinda messes up the timing on that.
Question, what’s the point of trading an allstar 3rd basemen (and a very large part of your offense) who plays close 160 games every season for a guy who is very good, but a) will play in 120-125 games max and b) you already have a guy in the minors that is pretty close and noone to replace WRight with? That doesn’t make sense, besides Minnesota isn’t going to take on Wright now, he is sign for less now, but in a couple of years he’s going to get real expensive real fast!
The point is that there has never in the history of baseball been a catcher that has been as good offensively as Mauer AND he is a gold glover, too! If you check his bio, you will see that in his amateur days, he was the top player in the country in pretty much EVERY SPORT! Also, while he was hurt for a month, he didn’t sit on his butt – he figured out how to hit nearly 30 HR’s after his return, when he was not a power hitter previously. He’s probably the best player in the game at a position where there are only really 2 guys that are stars. Thole is a kid who we hope someday will be decent or better at this point. Next year, Wright gets 10 mil and then he ends up making 15 to 16 million at the end, which for a team like Minnesota, is a lot, but it’s definitely less than they’d have to pay Mauer. For the next 3 seasons, I think Figgins (or Feliz) and Mauer are gonna be better than Wright and whoever it’s gonna be (maybe Molina). And after that, we’d still have Mauer locked up for another 4 years and certainly, there are a lot of good 3B out there. I’m just trying to answer your question, but that said, it would be a huge understatement to say that David Wright is a player that we would rather not trade.
I’m not disagreeing that mauer is the man, he truly is a special player but that said you still have to take him out atleast once a week and thats if he is healthy. That alot of offense to yank out of your lineup for 35 to 40 games. DO you not remember the times when Piazza was our major offensive threat? What happened in the games Piazza didn’t play? Well as you can imagine we had a shell of a lineup without Piazza in it and teams treated it as such. I don’t for a minute believe that the fact that offensive catchers are a dying breed is an accident. Teams are looking for more offense from the Outfield and 1B. Why? because you don’t have to yank those guys out of the lineup 30 to 40 games a season. The days of a catcher being the fastest path to the big leagues are dwindling as fast as the offensive catchers are themselves. And please Wright and Figgins aren’t even on the same planet as far as skill level! I’m all for getting Mauer, but moving Wright to get him makes little sense. While it’s true that there are alot of 3rd basemen out there few are of the caliber of Wright and those that are are more expensive than Wright.
You make some good points, but I’m not comparing Figgins with Wright, I’m comparing Figgins and Mauer together (even with Mauer missing 30 or so games) compared to let’s say, Wright and Molina (which is our best offensive option apparently at least shortterm). As I wrote, maybe if we’re patient, we can get Mauer and Wright on our team or even Wright and Victor Martinez, but that would need a lot of ducks to line up in a row for that. I’m just throwing it out there, but of course, nearly every proposal except the most ridiculous are gonna have their pros and cons. The other thing is that not only are there more talent at 3B in the majors, but also in the minors and 3B is a position that sometimes players can make a transition to from another infield position. Whether good offensive catchers are a dying breed or not and while obviously there have been lots of fine teams without one, I think the Mets should try to have one. Otherwise, the 1-7 slots all have to be occupied by players who won’t miss a beat. I’m so sick of having 7-8-9 as nearly automatic outs. Even though I have denounced Lo Duca for being a roider, it’s no coincidence that our offense has suffered when we made the transition to Schneider. I do like Omir though and hope he doesn’t get hidden away. No star, but deserves better than that.
A better offensive catcher? absoluely, but leave Wright alone! lol I agree, the difference between Lo duca and Schneider was stark!
People need to check their stats. Francoeur struck out 92 times last year at 25 years old. Why do people act like he strikes out 160 times like dw? So what if hes a free swinger. I love that. You go up the looking for a hit, which is the way the game is meant to be played.
When will people realize weve got a very young rf capable of hitting .290-.300 with 20-25 hr? I hope we keep frenchy for a long time. An outfield of holliday, beltran, and frenchy sound good.
I couldn’t agree more with everything you said!
yup, not to mention his hard play on the field and his leadership in the clubhouse.
While he is capable of hitting .290 with no walks, it is more likely he will hit something less, still with no walks, as he track records suggests.
I think he can be a useful 6th hitter and solid defensive OF.
.280/.300/.450 with 90 RBI is helpful, for a year or two, but far from ideal. It is a position they should look to upgrade should the opportunity come up.
I’d take a Blanco/Santos platoon if it meant we get Holliday, Nady and two starters.