Oh Jezz let this not be true
as per Andrew Marchand of ESPN 1050 NY radio just tweeted that an associate of the Wilpon’s says they might not spend at all this off-season. He went on to say that his source said that the only way to get the Wilpon’s to spend will be public pressure. There has been speculation from all areas that the Mets may reduce payroll to a little over the 100 Million dollar threshold .
Guys if this is true we are looking forward to the DeRouliet years part Deux !! If Fred & Jeff perpetuate this folly we should see new ownership within 5 years because the franchise will go bankrupt from the lack of ticket sales & merchandising revenue-To quote Joe Beningo ” OH THE PAIN!!”
To see Marchand’s comments go to his twitter account
16 comments
trs86
9/17/2009-6:53pm at 6:53 pm (UTC -4)
Still don’t buy it at all. They won’t be spending MORE than normal but they will not be saying well that’s it.
rustyjr
9/17/2009-6:56pm at 6:56 pm (UTC -4)
we are talking about fred wilpon who didnt want Piazza because he didn’t want to exceed a set budget
trs86
9/17/2009-7:08pm at 7:08 pm (UTC -4)
And what happen?
As much as the Wilpons obviously care about fan pressure I do not see them slashing payroll. It would be fan suicide. They might as well at that point trade Beltran and Reyes and rebuild because we would not be competitive with or without them.
rustyjr
9/17/2009-7:48pm at 7:48 pm (UTC -4)
i agree 100 percent man – and this could just be a ploy to get ratings on espn
but you gotta admit this wouldnt be the first time it happened – remember the mid ’90′s after the whole bonillia samuel saberhagen years – they barely got payroll over 100 mil samething from 2000- 2005
stickguy
9/17/2009-7:55pm at 7:55 pm (UTC -4)
lots of people rant about wanting to get young and athletic. No more old guys, or Omar retirement plan specials!
Well, young guys cost less. Which is a good thing, if they are better than the broken down old farts.
rustyjr
9/17/2009-9:27pm at 9:27 pm (UTC -4)
i hope you are right but we are in a big market and they have the revenue streams – so there shouldnt be any excuse to aquire the players we need – monetarily
stickguy
9/17/2009-7:54pm at 7:54 pm (UTC -4)
Not to be a heretic, but the average fan does not care (heck, most of them probably have no idea what it is) what happens to the budget. Only, of course, about how the team does.
And it is not guaranteed (just assumed) that the team will stink if the budget goes down.
If Omar was actually able to evaluate, and obtain, lower priced but good players, the payroll goes down.
Making all the big moves signing FAs (and yes, Santana was essentially doing that, since he had to give him his FA deal as part of the trade)? Payroll has to go up.
I also can’t believe that they would pull a Marlins this off season and unload any of the higher priced players (at least the good ones!). Ollie, and to a lesser extent castillo, they would be happy to see go to save $$.
So, basically what this means, if true, is that they won’t eb spending large $$ to replace the expiring contracts, right?
The real problem, at least for this year (not so much hopefully for next off season) is the farm guys aren”t really ready. So, they either go with what they got, or try to make some trades for cheaper talent.
If they basically recreate this years team, without Schnieder, Castro, Wags, putz and delgado (not one of which did jack diddle for them), replaced by 5 younger/cheaper guys (say, 5 million total), you get a net savings of ~32 million.
and, a rotation of familiar faces, thole at catcher, and some younger cheaper guys (hopefully they dont rush davis) in LF and at 1B, along with the rotation.
I know it might be a long shot, and will require full healthy years from most guys (and a few rebounds), but they can still eb competitive this way. Depending entirely, of course, if Omar can unearth a couple of cheaper young guys that actually do something worthwhile!
That, and they are able to blend in some MiL talent by 2011 (say 2 of the pitchers, F Mart and Davis, and maybe Tejada.
They could take a shot at retooling around the core, hoping for a lighting in the bottle 2010, and be pretty good in 2011.
trs86
9/17/2009-10:31pm at 10:31 pm (UTC -4)
I disagree, there is no way this cast can compete without a midrotation starter and 1 good mlb hitter.
stickguy
9/17/2009-10:50pm at 10:50 pm (UTC -4)
yes, they need those 2 guys. But my oint, assuming I actually have a coherent one, is that they don’t have to spend 30mill a year on those 2 players (or conversely, there are players to fill that role that won’t cost 30mill!)
stickguy
9/17/2009-7:58pm at 7:58 pm (UTC -4)
rambling on some more, teams usually get more expensive AFTER they fot good (assuming they are built from within).
the 2006 Mets? probably cheaper than any year since.
the 2007-2009 Phils, getting more expensive after they became good, and 2010 will be a record setting payroll.
You build the core with young cheap homegrown guys, put some peices around them, and if it clicks, you have a big year. Then, you gotta pay them all (unless of course you are the Marlins).
Then you end up with a team of older guys on the decline, with a bloated payroll.
stickguy
9/17/2009-8:11pm at 8:11 pm (UTC -4)
Oh yeah, since I know I am going to get roasted anyway, a perfect example of my theory is one of TRS’ favorites from last year, Kendry Morales. If, instead of paying 8mill for Laroche to play 1B (or johnson), what if Omar can target some kind of young talent like that, either stuck on the minors (blocked) or still working on putting it all together in the majors (like Kendry). Better player, lower payroll, papa johns.
Schnieder last year was another great example of wasting money on a lousy vet, instead of a comparable or better guy
Putz was probably another case. And really, how many teams have a set up guy with a closers salary?
The Mets payroll is what, 140mill? Problem is, it includes a lot of waste, much of which is being cleared out after this year. So, spending money, if wisely, is a great thing. But getting the right players at a lower cost is even better.
trs86
9/17/2009-10:32pm at 10:32 pm (UTC -4)
I agree on Schnieder. Problem still is Stick that we still need a real pitcher and a real hitter. I am fine with guys like Murphy or Carter for one of those spots but not for both.
stickguy
9/17/2009-8:12pm at 8:12 pm (UTC -4)
and don’t forget the ridiculous contract to Ollie. a prime reason to stay the hell away from FA SPs!
Kingman 26
9/17/2009-8:47pm at 8:47 pm (UTC -4)
Another problem is that our division is going to be absolutely brutal next year.
The Phils’ core returns, and their pen can only be better.
The Braves’ Hanson and Jurrjens and Lowe almost assure they will continue to be good.
The Marlins scout and develop talent better than anyone else.
CaseStreet
9/17/2009-8:54pm at 8:54 pm (UTC -4)
I wouldn’t pull the trigger, just yet. So someone’s cousins, roommates, ex-girlfriend says “Wilpons won’t spend”.
And that means what exactly?
Gotta love tweets.
rustyjr
9/17/2009-9:27pm at 9:27 pm (UTC -4)
heyI only reported what I read lol