Slim Pickens
TRDMB’s own Kingman 26 published a fine opinion piece this morning which prompted me to think and that is perhaps the highest compliment that I can pay to it. The result of that thinking was to make an assumption that the Mets’ most likely place to improve the offense is in the outfield and to then try and determine who might be available for that purpose. I came up with a list of names, many of which you’ve seen before, who in my opinion have contracts their teams might consider moving due to their poor position in the standings. Contract information courtesy of Cot’s Contracts.
Jermaine Dye: 09:$11.5M, 10:$12M mutual option ($1M buyout) The White Sox are in 3rd place, 3 games under .500 and could go either way. Their attempt to get Jake Peavy shows that they’re trying to go up. If they don’t, at least Omar has an established relationship with Kenny Williams (thank you Ramon Castro).
Jose Guillen: 09:$12M, 10:$12M The Royals started out as potentially this year’s ’08 Rays. That has taken a sharp downward turn. Guillen stands out on their roster as expendable due to contract.
Ichiro Suzuki:Â 09:$17M, 10:$17M, 11:$17M, 12:$17M I can’t imagine the Mariners trading him, but he is due $51 million from 2010-2012.
Matt Holliday:Â 09:$13.5M I would hesitate to deal with Billy Beane, but Holliday will likely be available in his walk year.
Adam Dunn or Austin Kearns: Dunn 09:$8M, 10:$12M, Kearns 09:$8M, 10:$10M club option ($1M buyout) The Nationals just signed Dunn and I would be surprised if they dealt him, and he’s an atrocious defender. IMO the Nats would more likely shed Kearns and his $8 million this year and $10 million club option next year.
Carlos Lee and Lance Berkman: Lee 09:$18.5M, 10:$18.5M, 11:$18.5M, 12:$18.5M, Berkman 06-10:$14.5M annually, 11:$15M club option ($2M buyout) The Astros are going nowhere and are paying both of these guys obscene amounts of money, Lee more money over a longer period ($55.5 million from 2010-2012). Their owner seems unlikely to kiss a season goodbye, but if he does I would guess Lee would be traded before Berkman.
Eric Byrnes:Â 09:$11M, 10:$11M The Diamondbacks are 14 games out of first place, Byrnes isn’t playing everyday and he is guaranteed $11 million next year.
IMO this is the list that Omar will be picking from. Who do you want? Who do you realistically think they might get? Who have I missed?
15 comments
saltygary
6/7/2009-1:08pm at 1:08 pm (UTC -4)
I was thinking the other day how great Ichiro would be here, but there is no way the Mariners want to trade him. The good thing is he wants to win, he is getting older, and is becoming unhappy with the Seattle direction. Do you imagine what Citi would be like with that guy leading off?
dirtysanchez
6/7/2009-1:11pm at 1:11 pm (UTC -4)
obviously it would be awesome to have berkman but that will never happen
I think omar is aiming for Lee but it depends how far back the astros get. Lol your opinions pretty much sum up what i would say about each of those players lol well done
Mr. Mets Butler
6/7/2009-1:24pm at 1:24 pm (UTC -4)
Lee PLEASE Omar!!!!! I hope you are right Dirty, but somehow I doubt it will happen.
trs86
6/7/2009-1:30pm at 1:30 pm (UTC -4)
Berkman might be more available than you think. Owed at least 16 more million after this season. They would save about 25 million total.
smooth
6/7/2009-1:23pm at 1:23 pm (UTC -4)
very nice list of trade targets, you missed nick johnson, mark derosa, and ive also heard jeremy hermida’s name thrown around. I would still like Holliday only if he agrees to an extension, if not i would take on Lee but only if the astros pick up some salary i wouldnt pay him more than$15 million a year
trs86
6/7/2009-1:27pm at 1:27 pm (UTC -4)
You forgot the Josh the Hammer with the Nats as well. Smooth I think his focus was OF.
Kingman 26
6/7/2009-1:32pm at 1:32 pm (UTC -4)
Grave, thanks for the huge compliment my friend. VERY appreciated.
As is your work on this fine piece.
Ichiro and a healthy Jose would be unreal as 1–2 in the lineup. This is hard to gauge, as while Ichiro clearly likes being closer to Japan and the large Asian population in Seattle, maybe he does want to win. And the Mariners may very well be ready to deal anyone but King Felix as they are poised for yet another high-payroll, low-result year.
trs86
6/7/2009-1:38pm at 1:38 pm (UTC -4)
I mentioned Ichiro last night. I think he could be available for the right price.
Kingman, your pieces have been great so far. I think your Sunday opinion was spot on and look forward to you supplying us with one of those each week???/
GravediggerHebner
6/7/2009-1:41pm at 1:41 pm (UTC -4)
I agree, one of these each Sunday would be looked forward to as much as my Sunday sports section!
And TRS you noted above that I was focusing on OF, that is correct. I had initially overlooked Willingham because he is “only” making $2.95 mil but I failed to note that he is in his arbitration years. The Nats may not want to pay what he’ll get going forward. Nice call.
Kingman 26
6/7/2009-2:23pm at 2:23 pm (UTC -4)
Guys, I truly appreciate the feedback. I will do my very best to make this a regular feature, and to make it worthy of this site.
The compliments from the two of you are almost as awesome as a 5-run top of the first when we really needed it!!
ghostofshea
6/7/2009-2:34pm at 2:34 pm (UTC -4)
Question? Come off season, who would attempt to sign…matt holliday or jason bay? I read on a sports column that boston wont be so quick to sign bay like that. U kno people are starting not to believe holliday but, i think he would thrive with citi fields dimensions with doubles. Carlos lee would be nice too.
GravediggerHebner
6/7/2009-3:19pm at 3:19 pm (UTC -4)
If they are both available and the Mets are looking to sign a major corner OF to a big contract I would choose Bay because he has proven he can perform in the Northeast and because his agent is NOT Scott Boras.
Kingman 26
6/7/2009-3:31pm at 3:31 pm (UTC -4)
Jason Bay, Jason Bay, Jason Bay.
Both of your points on Holliday are good, and he has recovered from the slow start.
ghostofshea
6/7/2009-5:33pm at 5:33 pm (UTC -4)
And i agree wih u too. I would choose bay more so for those reasons. Its gonna be a tuff market cuz u kno yanks and sox will be in it hard.
metsfan4decades
6/7/2009-5:55pm at 5:55 pm (UTC -4)
Nice analysis. Some of those available might fit nicely. Depends on what we have to give up to get.
I know I’ll take a pass on Dunn though. I don’t think that power bat of his can make up for his awful defense. He’s not even mediocre, in my book…