As we have all turned our eye towards next year, I got to thinking about the many different directions the Mets could go on the FA market. This is assuming that the Mets do have around 25-30 Million to spend which for now I think they do. Granted if a Mets official comes out and says we will lower payroll or after the off-season it is lower.
After looking at the available Type A FA and Type B FA I started thinking about a system that would assign points to the type of player the Mets would sign. This is not completely accurate because some rankings are totally off and player contracts will vary but I thought it would be a little fun today to see where our readers would go with this. I have also included a Type C and Type D player. Type C players are right on the border of being a Type B and may have been if not for injury. Type D players are bench guys for the most part with some MLB experience. To see the ranking I used to come up with my list click here.
Type A FA: 5 points
Type B FA: 3 points
Type C FA: 2 points
Type D FA: 1 point
For the sake of this discussion I assigned the Mets 10 points to use.
So you may choose as many players from the list as you want as long as your final list is 10 points or less.
Click More For the List!
Type A FA:
OF:Â Abreu, Bay, Damon, Dye, Vlad, Holiday
IF/C: Cabrera, Hudson, Lopez, Molina, Glaus, Scutaro, Figgins
SP: Harden, Lackey, Wolf, Pettite
RP: Betancourt, Eyre, Valverde, Gonzalez, Hawkins, Soriano
Type B
OF: Nady, Byrd, Matsui, Giles, Anderson, Cameron, Winn, Sheffield, Tatis
IF/C: Hernandez, Kendall, Schneider, Variteck, Barajas, Pudge, Olivo, Delgado, Johnson, LaRoche, Polanco, Mora, Beltre, DeRosa, Tejada, Feliz, Belliard, Sanchez
SP: Webb?, Pinero, Johnson, Looper, Davis, Padilla, Marquis, Bedard, Duchscherer, Washburn, Garland
RP:Â Brocail, Howry, Park, Ohman, Calero, Beimel, Rodney, Springer, Lyon, Shouse
Type C:
Catcher: Zaun, Jose Molina, Torrealba
OF: Hariston JR, Griffey, Crisp, Ankiel
IF: Branyan, Blalock, Thome, Crosby, Crede, Carroll, Greene, Loretta
SP: Pavano, Escobar, Tim Hudson?, Myers, Smoltz, Hampton (injured?)
RP: Guardado, Jamey Wright, Percival (retired?) Hendrickson, Bradford, Mahay, Putz, C. Vargas
Type D:
C: Castro, Moeller, Barrett, Asumus, Bard, Blanco, Bako, Larue
OF: Kapler, Podsednick, Ktosay, Baldelli, Chavez, Stairs, Catalanotto, Kearns, Reed Johnson
IF: Hinske, Sweeney, Mietkiewicz, D. Young, Tracy, Aurilia, Blum, Counsell, Juan Castro, Cora, Uribe, Everett, A. Gonzalez, Quinlan, Kennedy, McDonald.
SP: Colon, Moehler, Livan, Contreras, Schmidt? (injured)
RP: Batista, Tomko, Issy, Benoit, Ayala, Herges, Villone, Embree, Jeff WEaver, Show, Rincon, Wells, Fogg
70 comments
prismo
9/4/2009-11:08am at 11:08 am (UTC -4)
I just realized I would make a terrible GM.
prismo
9/4/2009-11:17am at 11:17 am (UTC -4)
I would probably take Bay/Holliday, Jason Marquis, and some type C though – hard to choose which one. Cora and another type D could work out well too though.
Mr North Jersey
9/4/2009-11:20am at 11:20 am (UTC -4)
Do any of you think with the year that Castillo has had Minaya can possibly look to move his contract and actually find a taker that would then allow him to bring in a Hudson?
wannybackstra
9/4/2009-11:23am at 11:23 am (UTC -4)
No. But I don’t think that’s a good use of the limited assets either. 2B is not a glaring hole like LF, SP and C.
Mr North Jersey
9/4/2009-11:34am at 11:34 am (UTC -4)
I agree was just wondering about the cutting payroll aspect of it.
CaseStreet
9/4/2009-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)
doubt Hudson would sign for less than Castillo gets paid
Mr North Jersey
9/4/2009-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
I think Castillo is scheduled to make 12 million over the next 2 years. I believe Hudson signed for 3 million this year. I guess it’s too much to expect Hudson to sign for less than 12 million over the next 2 years.
CaseStreet
9/4/2009-12:04pm at 12:04 pm (UTC -4)
Guess it depends on demand. I’d think that he’d just stay in LA but ask for a little more, maybe $6M.
trs86
9/4/2009-12:11pm at 12:11 pm (UTC -4)
Hudson will make 8M this year because of incentives.
trs86
9/4/2009-12:24pm at 12:24 pm (UTC -4)
1 year/$3.38M (2009)
signed by LA Dodgers as a free agent 2/20/09
$0.38M signing bonus (deferred, without interest)
09:$3M
$4.62M in performance bonuses: $0.15M each for 150, 175 PAs; $0.2M each for 200, 225, 250, 275, 300 PAs; $0.25M each for 325, 350, 375, 400, 425, 450, 475, 500, 525, 550, 575 PAs; 10,000 for each PA 576-632
Kingman 26
9/4/2009-1:06pm at 1:06 pm (UTC -4)
I think that when looking at this team, Castillo is not even on the medium or long list of problems, let alone the short list. Hudson had a great start, and his production has dropped dramatically in the second half. There is no way the Wilpons should sign him.
Castillo has had a fine year, and we need at least one starter, an 8th inning bullpen arm, a catcher, a left fielder, and a first baseman.
The guy has been a good player for a decade, minus one injury-prone year.
CaseStreet
9/4/2009-1:12pm at 1:12 pm (UTC -4)
Support Your Second Baseman!
Kingman 26
9/4/2009-1:32pm at 1:32 pm (UTC -4)
Yes sir!!
Glad to see you back Case….
trs86
9/4/2009-1:39pm at 1:39 pm (UTC -4)
I agree Castillo is not a problem. You know my feelings though if they go the Crawford or Figgins route and keep Castillo then to me Reyes has to slide down in the order.
Mr North Jersey
9/4/2009-1:44pm at 1:44 pm (UTC -4)
I have no love for Castillo but yes I agree he has had an exceptional season and I agree 2nd base is on the short list of issues.
I agree that Hudson has fallen off his 2nd half. I agree on all these counts.
I wonder only if (and I pray they are not)the Mets are operating with a budget can Castillo’s 12 million over the next 2 years be used toward signing someone like a Lackey for example?
That 12 million would possibly be put to better use on such a player.
Hudson was a bad example for me to use as a replacement as he would most likely make too much money.
Now if you told me me in 2010 we have no 2nd baseman because we used his money to sign a possible #2 starter. I think I would sign up for that right now.
trs86
9/4/2009-1:46pm at 1:46 pm (UTC -4)
Question is who do you get to play 2B in your plan? Someone cheaper than 6M?
Mr North Jersey
9/4/2009-1:48pm at 1:48 pm (UTC -4)
Exactly if that is the question we have as a result of us signing a Lackey type player for example then I would sign up for that question right now.
trs86
9/4/2009-1:52pm at 1:52 pm (UTC -4)
But can we afford ANOTHER hole in the lineup? If it was 2011 and Tejada or Havens were ready then ship him off. But I can’t see trading Castillo to open up money with NO plans of a 2B?
trs86
9/4/2009-1:56pm at 1:56 pm (UTC -4)
Now IF you could bring in Carroll for 1-2M then I can see a way. Thing is the team that you are trading Castillo to would most likely rather have Carroll than Castillo considering price.
stickguy
9/4/2009-1:57pm at 1:57 pm (UTC -4)
with today’s roster, in that scenerio, I think you are looking at a full year of A Hern, until someone from the minors is ready enough to replace him.
although Havens might be better than Hernandez right now!
Mr North Jersey
9/4/2009-1:57pm at 1:57 pm (UTC -4)
If you look at it like creating another hole only then you are 100% right.
I am looking at it as picking which hole would you rather have.
Hole #1) A need for a #2 starter
or
Hole #2) A need for a 2nd baseman
I’d rather have the latter as an issue.
trs86
9/4/2009-2:01pm at 2:01 pm (UTC -4)
True, but again we have to have a league average player there to make it worth it. You are also assuming that the team we are trading Castillo to would be taking on all the contract and giving us players with little contract.
Mr North Jersey
9/4/2009-2:10pm at 2:10 pm (UTC -4)
That was my whole premise to begin with
“Do any of you think with the year that Castillo has had Minaya can possibly look to move his contract”
It’s not looking to get a fair trade back it is just the idea to get rid of the contract.
Also if I told you you have a choice between 2 solutions you can either
A: Have a #2 starter for your rotation.
or
B: Have a 2nd baseman for your team.
Which one do you think you’d take?
trs86
9/4/2009-2:32pm at 2:32 pm (UTC -4)
Of course I take the #2 but not to put lets say Tejada there next year. I would rather have Castillo and Pinero than Lackey and Tejada there next year.
Mr North Jersey
9/4/2009-2:57pm at 2:57 pm (UTC -4)
So if having Lackey meant losing Castillo you’d rather not do it.
You’d rather have Pinero instead.
I don’t know where Tejada came from but I would think the Mets would go with someone that played 2nd base this season b4 they put Tejada in there maybe Cora, Ahern, R. Martinez, A. Reyes possibly.
I don’t know if I’d agree with the Pinero/Castillo combo being better than the Lackey/Cora/Ahern/R.Martinez/AReyes/ combo.
That is why 2009 off season is going to be a blast.
wannybackstra
9/4/2009-3:07pm at 3:07 pm (UTC -4)
Omar is known to be a fan of Jamey Carroll (I guess from their Motnreal days) so it wouldn’t surprise me if he somehow managed to relieve the Mets of Castillo’s contract to go with Carroll and Cora in an inexpensive time share at 2B.
I don’t think that makes 2B better but it might create another $3m to spend on a pitcher.
I’d probably take Lackey and Carroll/Cora over Pineiro/Castillo.
And probably wouldn’t think twice about it.
trs86
9/4/2009-3:25pm at 3:25 pm (UTC -4)
That I agree with Wanny for sure. Not so sure about Cora though. I don’t think he could play fulltime and hold up.
NJ, I understand your point. I am torn, trade Castillo. I am fine with that. But I would have to see what we did with the offense before I could agree to put someone below league average there. If we are going with junk in LF and Murphy at 1B I am not so sure I would rather have Lackey and another scrub over Pinero and Castillo.
I think we see each other’s sides so I will shut up.
Mr North Jersey
9/4/2009-3:49pm at 3:49 pm (UTC -4)
I agree TRS, if you want you can insert let’s say Jason Bay wherever you saw that i previously wrote Lackey and my question is still on the table.
trs86
9/4/2009-4:59pm at 4:59 pm (UTC -4)
Great now you got me talking again.
No doubt if trading Castillo helped us get Bay or Holliday I am game. I would much rather have Holliday and scrub than Figgins and Castillo for example.
wannybackstra
9/4/2009-11:22am at 11:22 am (UTC -4)
Scenario 1:
Lackey (5), Byrd (3), Bard (1) and one of Batista (1) (could be a good swing guy and short reliever), Rincon (1) or Benoit (1) (high upside but coming off injury).
Scenario 2:
Pineiro (3), Marquis (3), Byrd (3), Bard (1)
I don’t have faith in either of Pineiro or Marquis to be as good as they are this year but I feel like they are at worst a solid 4-5 guys who will give you innings all year.
CaseStreet
9/4/2009-11:30am at 11:30 am (UTC -4)
Figgins – 5
Lackey – 5
Fill the rest of the holes from w/in.
Santana
Lackey
Pelf
Perez/Maine/Niese/Figgy, etc
Same as #4
Castillo
Figgins
Reyes
Beltran
Wright
Frenchy
Murphy
Santos
Cancel
Pagan
Reed
Evans
A. Hern
Of course, I’d like to bring back Cora, trade for Pena and also sign Bengie for 1 yr w/ an option.
trs86
9/4/2009-11:37am at 11:37 am (UTC -4)
LOL, then you ran over. Not easy huh?
CaseStreet
9/4/2009-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
not at all, but I think the lineup and rotation I put up there looks pretty good.
Of course, if there are any injuries, we’re done. But I think we’re done w/ injuries for the next decade.
wannybackstra
9/4/2009-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
Boo Molina, he’ll be a 36 year old catcher, likely not cheap and hitting .259 .279 .433. While he’s caught the second most base stealers in the NL (23), he’s also given up the most stolen bases (71). While some of this is commentary on his pitchers’ ability to hold runners, it is clear that no one is afraid of him behind the plate anymore.
Santos has thrown out 14 and given up 30 (32%)!
Jesus Flores, grrrr…, has caught 8 of 19 base stealers!
Josh Bard, also a free agent (and a left handed hitter) has caught 27% of baserunners (Molina 24%) would be fine as an inexpensive complement to Santos and as a stop gap to Thole.
CaseStreet
9/4/2009-12:01pm at 12:01 pm (UTC -4)
Hey, he’ll be 36 next July.
wannybackstra
9/4/2009-11:47am at 11:47 am (UTC -4)
Under the points system, Hudson and Myers would be worthwhile at 2 points each. But those guys will get paid more than the TRS Free Agent Point System would indicate.
trs86
9/4/2009-12:13pm at 12:13 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed, but you can’t adjust for that yet. Just going based on the faulty Ellias system.
wannybackstra
9/4/2009-12:20pm at 12:20 pm (UTC -4)
Not a criticism. Just an observation.
metsfan4decades
9/4/2009-12:06pm at 12:06 pm (UTC -4)
Wow – nice work.
I’ve done this 9 ways from Sunday and keep running over the alloted 10 points. So, along with Prismo – I too know I’d make a lousy GM.
Have to work this some more.
Some observations:
- Pretty slim pickings on the A list for next year.
- I believe Hampton just made his first start back from the DL last week. Don’t know how he did.
- I think he’s a nice guy, professional in all things baseball and plays the game hard but….had to laugh that Tatis is on the B list and Cora on the D list.
- After looking at this list, makes me realize more and more that I believe the wave of the future is going to be development, for the most part. I think it’s going to be harder and harder to pick up that premier player from FA.
wannybackstra
9/4/2009-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
M4D — you may be better than you think. The flaw in the points system is that the players you choose might reach 10 points but might still come short of the actual spending budget in terms of dollars and cents.
trs86
9/4/2009-12:14pm at 12:14 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, no doubt. I addressed that a little. Example, Darren Oliver is a type A but he would not command more than 1M on the FA market because his is a type A.
metsfan4decades
9/4/2009-12:20pm at 12:20 pm (UTC -4)
Well most know I want Lackey and that’s a good chunk right there. I either have to give up on that idea or settle for the other holes that are needed.
Although I was surprised to see Wolf on the A list too. Some would have rather had him or combo of him and Garland last year instead of Ollie but I wasn’t too high on him. I guess I was wrong there.
I wouldn’t mind taking a flyer on Marquis, instead of Lackey – but I keep hearing that most think he’s not worth it.
Trying to come up with mine based on SP as the most needed hole to fill, then work around that. That’s probably why I’m getting stuck. I’m looking for that A or good B and others think it would be better to just go with ‘solid’ and not necessarily high end. And they might be right….
trs86
9/4/2009-12:22pm at 12:22 pm (UTC -4)
I think Pinero would be a steal if we could get Duncan with him. LOL.
wannybackstra
9/4/2009-12:25pm at 12:25 pm (UTC -4)
That’s me fear with Pineiro (as I just said below simultaneously!). Is he this good… or is Duncan?
metsfan4decades
9/4/2009-12:41pm at 12:41 pm (UTC -4)
Hopefully, they will be making Duncan an offer as well…
trs86
9/4/2009-12:15pm at 12:15 pm (UTC -4)
Guys there is a ton of flaws with this system as I addressed yesterday. It’s just for fun and to have something to talk about.
trs86
9/4/2009-12:20pm at 12:20 pm (UTC -4)
OK my turn. Feel free to rip away.
Holiday 5 points
Pinero 3 points
Quinlan 1 point
Weaver 1 point
wannybackstra
9/4/2009-12:23pm at 12:23 pm (UTC -4)
Like the top 3 and thought of doing something similar. But I think they need something more definite in the rotation (whereas you obviously feel they need something more definite in the lineup).
I’d be cautiously optimistic if either comes to fruition (but would really want to get Dave Duncan if they got Pineiro).
trs86
9/4/2009-12:25pm at 12:25 pm (UTC -4)
Hey you don’t like Weaver? LOL. He has had a good year.
CaseStreet
9/4/2009-12:25pm at 12:25 pm (UTC -4)
Tim Dierkes does a quick run through of FA catchers on MLBTradeRumors.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/09/free-agent-market-catchers.html
trs86
9/4/2009-12:26pm at 12:26 pm (UTC -4)
I think Catcher may be the most overrated slot. Not many in the NL can hit and chances are Santos and a scrub could mount league average numbers.
Unless you are getting Russell Martin in a trade then I am going cheap at catcher.
CaseStreet
9/4/2009-12:31pm at 12:31 pm (UTC -4)
True, which is why Santos/Cancel is just as good, maybe even better than Schneider/Santos.
trs86
9/4/2009-12:34pm at 12:34 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed, If they could find a LH junk catcher for a backup/platoon with Santos I am fine. In fact not even a platoon, just to give Santos the occasional day off when a tough RH is on the mound.
CaseStreet
9/4/2009-12:55pm at 12:55 pm (UTC -4)
so you want Schneider back?
wannybackstra
9/4/2009-1:50pm at 1:50 pm (UTC -4)
Bard would be fine in that role for a heck of a lot less money than Schneider.
And maybe Thole tears up AAA next season.
trs86
9/4/2009-1:59pm at 1:59 pm (UTC -4)
I like Bard but based on what I see he can’t hit RH. We really need that guy to be LH or can hit RH.
wannybackstra
9/4/2009-2:11pm at 2:11 pm (UTC -4)
His career v. RHP is .253 .325 .370, not particularly good, not terribly bad for a catcher. But he’s a good defensive player, which is the primary concern back there with heckyl perez and jeckyl pelfrey on the hill.
I’m sure there are others — my point is really to agree with you in that we should be bargain hunting at C and spending the money in LF and on the mound. Especially when Thole seems reasonably close.
trs86
9/4/2009-3:22pm at 3:22 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed, do you think even Cancel could do the job?
You know I want Morales, not sure if we could pry him away. Looks like Texas has given up on Salty.
wannybackstra
9/4/2009-3:29pm at 3:29 pm (UTC -4)
I’d surely like to take a shot on a high upside guy like Salty or a blocked guy like Morales — no harm in trying Salty out for a year to buy time for Thole.
But a veteran scrub like Bard or someone else will only cost something close to the league minimum and no players in exchange.
Would Texas be willing to take a couple of B prospects for Salty?
I don’t think Cancel can play regularly. I don’t see him doing anything well enough in a semi-regular role. At least Santos will be solid defensively when he doesn’t hit.
wannybackstra
9/4/2009-3:31pm at 3:31 pm (UTC -4)
re: Salty — remember, catchers develop slowly. He’ll only be 25 next year.
wannybackstra
9/4/2009-3:35pm at 3:35 pm (UTC -4)
In 500 MLB at bats from the left side, Salty has hit .275 .344 .424 with 15 Hrs 66 RBI and a zillion strikeouts.
Thems are good numbers from the catching position despite the whiffs.
trs86
9/4/2009-4:56pm at 4:56 pm (UTC -4)
Salty would be great. I just wonder if they are ready to give up on him yet. Their C “prospects” were so bad this year they had to get Pudge.
Cancel, it’s hard to say what he could do in 2 games a week.
stickguy
9/4/2009-1:19pm at 1:19 pm (UTC -4)
nice work. Are you sure you have a job aqnd a 3 YO?
anyway, this exercise really brings home th ephilosophy point. That is, the Omar way (a couple of high $ “stars”, surrounding by crap), or skipping the super expensive guys and loading up on likely better than average supporting cast.
That, and to stay within a budget, you have to have a fair number of minimum wage (or close to it, say 1mill or below) guys on the roster to offset the big contracts. So, fewer 2-3 mill bench and BP guys, plus working in rookies or near rookies into the lineup.
so, this does mean that they have to keep some prospects to actually use. And work system guys into the pen.
so complain about the production of Parnell and Murphy, but absolutely the right idea to put them into the mix.
and why in a couple of years, they should be waving bye bye to Beltran, and sliding someone like Neuihaus (man, I will never learn to spell that name) into his spot.
stickguy
9/4/2009-1:20pm at 1:20 pm (UTC -4)
Bottom line, the Mets have to get better about fining/using the NEXT somebody, not overpaying for the FORMER somebody.
trs86
9/4/2009-1:27pm at 1:27 pm (UTC -4)
Good point, and those guys don’t have to come from your system. See Garza.
stickguy
9/4/2009-2:35pm at 2:35 pm (UTC -4)
I wanted Garza. I was skeptical when his name was mentioned as a trade candidate, but darned if he didn’t go. That is the kind of guy you trade a 19YO OF prospect for!
trs86
9/4/2009-3:21pm at 3:21 pm (UTC -4)
You don’t know how happy I would have been if we had traded Fmart and LMilz for him.
GravediggerHebner
9/4/2009-7:37pm at 7:37 pm (UTC -4)
3-Washburn
3-Duchscherer
2-Ankiel
1-Bard
1-Benoit
Washburn and Duchscherer (the guy is oft-injured but virtually unhittable when healthy, in 22 starts in ’08 his WHIP was 0.995 and for his career it’s 1.123, he’s a cheaper Harden) slip into the 2nd & 3rd slots in the rotation (Santana, Wash, Duch, Pelf, Perez), and yes I know Duch is suffering from depression currently – what better place to work through that than NYC?;
Ankiel plays LF, brings some power and hardnosed play (grit?) and while he may not be Delgado-esque he essentially replaces Delgado in the batting order as LH power;
Bard to split time behind the plate with Santos while we wait/hope for Thole;
Benoit to help the set up crew in the pen with his experience because the RH set up options are relatively inexperienced (Stokes, Parnell) or complete unknowns.
trs86
9/4/2009-8:01pm at 8:01 pm (UTC -4)
I almost picked Ankiel and Benoit. Washburn scares me as does Duchscherer’s injuries.
wannybackstra
9/5/2009-12:23pm at 12:23 pm (UTC -4)
Washburn, if nothing else, will provide innings. And he may do well in what is looking a good place for pitchers to pitch.
I like Duch as an upside guy. His health scares me, though. But I guess you gotta be in it to win it.