As you guys know, I am not one to overreact or usually react to quickly. However, this recent swoon and continued injures has me pondering the direction Omar and the Mets should take. Hat tip to Stickguy with this post:
“To me, the injury bug also raises the real question: Should they “gut†the farm for a shot at this year, even though the move isn’t likely to make the difference?
Or, just try to fight through the injuries, break in some prospects, and see what happens, even if it means focusing on 2010?
The good GMs (think White Sox a few years back) look realistically at the big picture. The bad ones put on rose colored glasses (think: V. Zambrano) and make trades that hurt for years to come.
IMO, the “big†acquisitions are going to be guys they already have. Reyes, Putz, Wagner, Delgado (maybe). And hopefully some help from the minors (F Mart, Holt, maybe some unexpected RP arm).
Don’t fixate on the Phils, or trying to win the division. Just get the roster and line up stabilized, and stay in the mix to at least snag the WC.
Instead of falling apart in September, get healthy and hot and storm into the playoffs.
And don’t panic and trade the farm for poor stop gaps or albatross contracts.”
That of course is one train of thought. I am not sure which direction I want to go. It is debatable if any trade can make a difference. The Braves bringing in Nate does not make them incredibly better but it does solve some issues.
So what are the options?
In my thinking it’s the following. I will provide examples of what I think could happen based on these.
1) Ride it out. We have a lot of injuries right now. They are not career or season ending injuries these players are on schedule to come back. Ollie can’t be that bad forever and the Phillies can’t keep winning with the pitching staff they have.
Good:Â The good in that is that we do not use any prospects and the chemistry that is built if we stay in the race with injuries could propel us even more when they return.
Bad: We are assuming an lot. Assuming Reyes can shake the leg issues, Delgado will come back and be effective, Church can recover and is not just a 4th OF, and Perez and Putz will get better. You know what they say about assuming.
2) We can make a few minor moves that are more stop gap type moves. Trades to fill in an OF position, 1B, BP, or a #5 starter. These are guys that will mostly only cost money or low prospects. Think the Green/Elduque and Castillo trades. This provides us with depth and insures the Ramon Martinez, Emil Brown Wilson Valdez’s don’t play.
Good:Â Patches holes with out costing us major players or prospects.
Bad:Â Only patches the holes with very cheap parts that already have rust on them.
3) Trade for a difference maker at either the OF, 1B or SP. This one we hear a lot. “The Mets should trade for Peavy, Holliday, Halladay, Oswalt, McLouth (whoops), Lee, Vmart, and the list goes on and on. These types of players would cost the Mets their best prospects and in some cases even current MLB players. These guys would take the place of the current players and theoretically solve the problem.
Good: Adds either a strong bat to the lineup or a #2 pitcher behind Johan. Gives the Mets confidence and tells the team and their fans we want to win this damn thing right now.
Bad: If you don’t win this right now it could set your team back for years to come. Most of those players have decent contracts attached and would tie up any money needed to improve the team in other areas next year. You would not be able to make trades to improve the team because you have no more prospects.
(Click the above link to take a poll about these decisions)
9 comments
dirtysanchez
6/4/2009-4:41pm at 4:41 pm (UTC -4)
it was this type of despiration that brought us ollie in the first place…i think we should ride it out but omar should keep his ears open for a big gun for the lineup.
Kingman 26
6/4/2009-4:44pm at 4:44 pm (UTC -4)
And for those who haven’t, check the schedule after the Nats…..Yanks twice, Phils twice, Dodgers, Cards, Brewers, Reds, Rays and O’s leading to the break. The next 5+ weeks are going to make or break this team.
CaseStreet
6/4/2009-4:47pm at 4:47 pm (UTC -4)
I said this yesterday, We went 7+ in April and May. If the Mets go .500 in June and July, then in August and September we should have a full healthy team where they can go 8 above .500, which should give the Mets 89 Wins, which would’ve won the division the past two years.
So A) do you believe we can go .500 in June and July? and
B)do you believe with having everyone back in August and September we can +8 in Sept. and October?
stickguy
6/4/2009-5:14pm at 5:14 pm (UTC -4)
yes, and yes.
stickguy
6/4/2009-5:13pm at 5:13 pm (UTC -4)
TRS, are they paying you by the word?
Thanks for plug though. I feel honored.
Now I wil probably argue with myself, but not the first time!
One big factor is timing. This is pretty early in the year for this type of slaughter. So, more time to recover.
And since everyone is supposed to be back at some point, yo uhave to take that into consideration.
Reyes is probably the key. If he never comes back, they are not liekly to go anywhere anyway.
SO, if they can get an upgrade for non-top prospects, consider it. If not, mix/match and wait for the wounded to come back.
I personally don’t miss Delgado. And if CHurch and Reyes are back in 7-10 days, the team is pretty complete.
I don’t expect Sheff to last, but F Mart could always come back up.
Still, I think they have a nice core, and a few guys that will be helping soon (F Mart, Holt, THole and possibly even Tejada if they can unload Castillo).
Ollie is still probably the SP pick-up, but if they can get Marquis and his salary for someone like Antonino (sp?), they do it for depth and just in case!
and fast track wagner please.
Anyway, like I said before, stay afloat, use what yo ugot (and they could be whole in a week or so), and look to start cranking in August/September.
Colorado in 2007. Phils in 2007. Yanks a few years back.
gategem
6/4/2009-5:30pm at 5:30 pm (UTC -4)
I think you totally underestimate the impact a healthy Delgado’s bat has on this lineup.
metsfan4decades
6/4/2009-6:01pm at 6:01 pm (UTC -4)
That pic of Omar is priceless, trs. Kind of sums it all up, huh?
I don’t have the answer, I just have my opinions. I really think if they do anything other than stand pat it should be for a 4th type starter. The depth of this rotation is very shaky.
Omar’s getting paid to figure this out so here’s hoping he does just that.
Mr. Mets Butler
6/4/2009-6:02pm at 6:02 pm (UTC -4)
What are the chances we can get Carlos Lee from the Astro’? He would be the perfect cleanup hitter for this team. I said three years ago Omar should have signed him when he was a free agent, but he instead decided to bring on Moises ‘BooBoo’ Alou.
So I’ll say it again. While the Astro’s are playing poorly, maybe try to get Lee from them. Take on his contract, 18 million /yr. for the next three years, and give Houston a few prospects and maybe Church or Murphy.
Lee would be valuable as a power bat, .300 hitter, and can play outfield and first base.
gipperpdx
6/4/2009-7:10pm at 7:10 pm (UTC -4)
Stickguy mentioned what I wanted to touch on – everything comes down to timing. I’d vote to ride it out (for NOW) and see what we get from the returning players (and WHEN we get them). Make a decision about the other two options closer to the deadline, when we have a better idea where we stand.
That said, getting swept by the PIRATES makes me want to gut the entire team. (j/k….mostly)