The Reds non-tendered Jonny Gomes, meaning he is now a free agent.
Gomes will be eligible for arbitration the next two seasons, after which he can be a free agent.
Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post believes the Mets might look to Gomes, other non-tendered free agents and players available in trade, in the event Jason Bay signs elsewhere.
…it’s a logical assumption… gomes will be 29 years old all of next season, he has consistently hit one home run every five or so games throughout his career… but, he’s never played a full season as a starting outfielder, either because he’s been hurt, or because he’s never been given the opportunity, usually left to platoon, because he struggles against right-handed pitching… however, last season, he played more or less every day for the Reds beginning in June, and ended up hitting .267 with 20 HR and 51 RBI in 98 games… he’s a strong kid, very, very similar to Jeff Francoeur at the plate, for better or worse… he’s also not the best fielder in the world, and could struggle in Citi Field…
…also, he’d be a character in New York… according to friends who root for the Rays, he’s a bit of a tough guy, lots of attitude, and Mets fans would love him if he gets the job done, because he plays hard and he’s intense… however, if he struggles, it could easily work against him…
The 2010 Bill James Handbook projects Gomes will hit .245 with 16 HR, 50 RBI and 17 doubles in 278 at bats next season.
…gomes will likely end up signing a one-year deal, at no more than $1 million, while bay is going to be paid more than $15 million per season, and will require at least four, maybe five years…
[poll id="326"]
I would take Gomes for one year, if you could tell me we make a MONSTER push for Carl Crawford either at trade deadline or next off season
my thoughts exactly. Don’t lock up LF just because you feel you have to make a splash. If you leave it open, Crawford would be perfect for this park to go after hard next year. Also, Gomes for a mill would free up more money this year to sign a Marquis type pitcher and take a chance on Sheets. Maybe also bring in Cust for a 1 yr low money deal to compete with Gomes and Pagan for playing time for LF. Can Gomes play 1B to platoon with Murphy?
Option 3: Holliday For Six!!!
Maybe I’m in the minority, but if Bay and Holliday keep dragging us through the mud and are going to cost an arm and a leg, I’d give this guy a shot. Worst case scenario if he bombs we alwasy have Pagan.
If I look at it in a vacuum, I would not want Gomes as a fallback for Bay. However, if Omar is going to compliment Gomes by adding a bat somewhere else, then I may be ok. Off the top of my head, the only player I can really think of is Delgado, who if healthy, can certainly put up the same batting line (with perhaps better run production) than Bay.
I agree. Gomes plus Delgado might work out well.
And in July when both are hurt, where do we go?
Thats why it isn’t a plan A.
Maybe FMart will be ready to go by then?
Or you trade FMart and some other pieces for Crawford and then sign him to an extension.
Oh great, another career .240 hitter who has never played more than 117 games and strikes out 157 times per 162 games…
NO THANKS. Go for quality…sign Bay or Holliday.
He could Platoon with Pagan in LF. But Mets fans will revolt if that happens and Murphy is playing First. Although I think its the right call.
I agree with Justin. Lets not over commit this year on a good, but not great player (i.e. Bay/Holliday). I would rather not tie the Mets hands for the next half a decade, unless its for an exceptional player (and I do not view Bay or Holliday that way).
If we can find a one year solution, not too much money and someone who is obviously better than what we have (i.e. Angel Pagan), then lets get him.
It gives us the chance to let FMART have a year in AAA, which he needs to blossom correctly. And if he does blossom, he will not be blocked. If he does not blossom, the Mets have the financial ability to attract from a better class of free agents.
Also, this year needs to be a healing year. Let the Mets show their fans and the league that the team is not as bad as last year’s results. Having a healthy Reyes, Beltran and Wright for an entire year should make a big difference. Also, Johan will be fully recovered. Don’t forget that so will Ollie. And the return of Reyes and his defense and Beltran and his defense should make the starting rotation feel better. I hope that Pelfrey and Perez will rebound.
So, yes, I know my opinion is not the popular one. But I think the Mets would do better to work to NOT encumber themselves with more Castillo-type contracts. Keep themselves financially flexible should be the key so they can be more active in years to come when (i) available FA will be better, and (ii) the 2009 season will be further in the past replaced with more respectable showing in 2010.
It may not be popular but I agree with everything you said
Personally, I’d rather have Pagan instead of Gomes. This is such a silly argument…
Why wasn’t one of the choices neither. I don’t want Bay for any more than 4 years and I don’t want Gomes at all. There has to be other alternatives out there. Has to be!
I agree. This poll is very misleading (a very common theme here). The real poll should have been:
Jonny Gomes, $1MM per season
Jason Bay, $15MM per season
Matt Holliday, $16MM per season
Other
How about Jermaine Dye for 1 season and then re-evaluate next year. Carl Crawford should be the goal.
You can’t destroy an offseason waiting for Carl Crawford. He might not even hit the market..
And you don’t think Crawford will want a 5-6 year deal worth the same amount of money as Holliday or Bay, if not more? Yes, Crawford is the best player of all three of them, but not in terms of what this team is looking for…power in the middle of the order.
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Crawford, and the thought of him and Reyes at the top of the order is tantalizing. However, I just think Bay can be had at four years, which isn’t bad at all.
If you sign somebody like Gomes or Dye in LF, this season will be another bust. Gomes is always hurt and has never played more than 117 games, and Dye is going to be 36 next month. We tried the “patch” solution last season in LF…it’s time to get serious and settle this once and for all. Stop saying “we’ll wait until next year when X is a free agent,” because next year with Crawford is going to be the same story.
The notion we have to go five years on Bay is silly because it has no merit. Until somebody proves there is an offer on the table that is for five years, there is NO need to bid against ourselves. The Mets have the best offer on the table…as of now, Bay will either accept or not play baseball next year.
You can’t go strictly on a per season value. Each wants a different number of years that can affect the contract. You need to consider the total contact value and number of years.
I really want Gomes but as a reserve guy. He is not an every day player and can only hit lefties..
He would be an ok fit for the bench, but as a starting LF he would probably lose out to Pagan anyway. I think a more useful players is out there for that rigthy PH 1B/OF role.
He would end up being a situational PH for Murphy since the Mets have no other lefty bats right now. And Jerry Manuel would end up sending him up there when the other manager is just going to chance pitchers most of the time anyway…
Frankly speaking, anyone who would prefer Gomes over Bay (even at 6 years) is a fool. People do not give Bay anywhere near the credit he deserves, and I do not know what that is. Because his BA is in the .260s? if Bay hit .290 (which he absolutely could since he is a .280 career hitter), he’d be in consideration for an MVP. (And that’s because the Media, and MVP voters overvalue BA, and do not understand the more telling statistics. Incidently, who knew Bay led MLB OF in HR and RBI last year?)
Jason Bay’s average season based on 162 games played:
BA.280, R.102, HR.33, RBI.107, OBP.376, SLG.519
And for all you people counting on Wright to rebound because he will have more protection in the lineup this year, by that logic, consider Bay’s career line again knowing that the vast majority of his games came while playing in the-line-of-dead-men-walking that is the Pittsburgh Pirate’s lineup!!
If we end up with Bay on only a 4-Year Deal, Omar will have outdone himself.
I agree. I still want Holliday because I believe he is the better all-around hitter, but the longer this goes on the more I am realizing that I am somewhat wrong. Bay is a good player, and he would do well in this lineup. With Bay and one of Marquis/Pineiro, the Mets will be in contention again (barring injuries).
Again, the notion that Bay doesn’t want to play in NY is foolish because it has no merit. Until either Bay or his agent come out and say “I don’t want to play in NY,” this staredown must be seen as a way to get more years because there are no better offers on the table.
great post man, everybody is undervaluing Jason Bay for what reason I do not know but this post helps put it in perspective.
Bay clearly wants five years, the Mets clearly don’t want to give it to him, if that’s really the breaking point I say give him the five years so we can sign him, wouldn’t the peace of mind knowing we got the big bat for the middle of the lineup be worth the extra year? Idk, I think Bay is a great player and would fit in perfectly in the middle of our lineup and I think we need to get it done, this is a power starved team and he is a power bat.
where is the option for both? sign gomes first for no more than a million and gain leverage on the market for bay… then sign bay and gomes becomes a solid bench player or trade bait
We have to just give this guy the 5 years and get this done NOW!!! Omar, what are you waiting for? This is not the year to play hardball like this. We need this guy badly and your job is on the line. Furthermore us Met fans are betond antsy. I think we are thoroughly digusted with what’s transpired here the past 3 seasons.
How can we even consider not sealing this deal for Jason Bay. There will be a riot at Citi Field if we somehow mess this up. You think the MET fans are mad now, just wait if we miss this opportunity.
Another thing that gets me is how hot everybody is over Carl Crawford. I mean, he’s a nice player with speed and some pop, but I think he’s a bit overrated because of the flash aspect. Crawford has pop, Bay has POWER. Big difference. Bay is a way better fit for our team than Crawford is. One hits 15 Homers, the other hits 30-35 and knocks in over 100 runs.
It looks like Bay wants no part of Queens and we all know we won’t pay for Holliday so this looks like a good option for one year.
As long as we also sign Delgato.
I would sign Gomes to platoon with Murphy at 1B and be the left handed PH off the bench. Nothing more.
I don’t understand all this craze over Crawford. He doesn’t fit with the club as constructed.. He would be a good fit IF we get a monster bat at 1B like AGon. Power should be first priority.
Just offer Bay the 5th year and be done with it! Be creative.. make it easily obtainable option. The Mets are doing these negotiations all wrong. If you’re going to lowball and not WOW someone with an offer you need to set a hard deadline and be willing to walk away… not be wishy washy.