Last night, Jon Heyman, Baseball writer at SI and SI.com; insider at MLB Network, WFAN and SNY; fan of In-n-Out burgers, Northwestern and Curb, tweeted:
#angels offered abreu a 2-year extension for about $16 million. after MVP calibre year with LAA, he is looking for more.
Heyman later reported that Abreu rejected the Angels’ offer.
According to Dave Cameron of fangraphs.com:
Over the last three years, Abreu has established a pretty consistent skillset – he draws a bunch of walks, has gap power, runs the bases well, but defends like an old man. His wOBAs from 2007 to 2009: .360, .368, and .367, which makes him worth around 20 runs above an average hitter over a full season.
Defensively, it’s another story. Even as a corner outfielder, he’s bad. His UZR this year was “only” -10 this year after a disastrous -26 in 2008, but a decent chunk of that was from throwing – the ARM portion of his UZR went from +2.4 to +6.8 runs this year, somewhat hiding the fact that he still can’t run down balls in the outfield.
I don’t know. I mean Abreu’s ability to get on base would be great to have Wright and Beltran drive him in. On the other hand, his poor defense would certainly cost the team many runs and games.
What do you think? Should Wilpon offer Abreu more than 2/$16M or will there better Left Field options available for the Mets?
21 comments
GravediggerHebner
10/16/2009-1:21pm at 1:21 pm (UTC -4)
I may be missing someone (and I’m sour on Vlad Guerrero specifically because he should’ve been here 5 years ago, now seems too late), but on the available FA list I would say that Abreu is the 3rd best available corner OF after Holliday & Bay. Forgive me this obvious statement but any 1 of those 3 would dramatically improve the team which is of course a goal this off season. Unfortunately, after those 3 (or 4 if we must include Guerrero) the production drop off is significant.
Of those 3, Abreu would also seem to be the one likely to get the shortest, least expensive contract. So if those guys are my only options, and knowing the many other holes to fill on the team, Abreu makes the most sense.
Somehow I think the 2010 season will begin without any of the above in LF for the Mets.
CaseStreet
10/16/2009-1:51pm at 1:51 pm (UTC -4)
I like Mike Cameron and Marlon Byrd, too.
stickguy
10/16/2009-1:55pm at 1:55 pm (UTC -4)
I like Ike.
Nice snarky headline BTW. Paris as Gm. Gotta love it.
rustyjr
10/16/2009-1:57pm at 1:57 pm (UTC -4)
we like snarky – especially his machine ( bad pun on a old burt reynolds movie)
CaseStreet
10/16/2009-1:58pm at 1:58 pm (UTC -4)
thanks, I’m all about snarky
stickguy
10/16/2009-1:54pm at 1:54 pm (UTC -4)
pass. Especially if we are talking about at least 2/20 for him.
Citi has a big OF to cover. Enough with overaged liabilities out there.
Ever think that part of the problem with the pitching was the often dismal, and ever changing, defense? I suspect it might have been especially damaging to Pelfrey, having stiffs at SS most of the year, no range at 2B, an adventure at 1B, and often no range (and sometimes no glove) at LF.
Abreu made a ton of sense for 2009 when he was available for 1 year/5-7 mill. 1 year older, declining in the OF, and looking for 2/20+? No thanks. Let him stay in the funny DH league.
rustyjr
10/16/2009-1:56pm at 1:56 pm (UTC -4)
but defends like an old man. His wOBAs from 2007 to 2009: .360, .368, and .367, which makes him worth around 20 runs above an average hitter over a full season. – in other words he’s the Jeff’s man to get the job done lol
GravediggerHebner
10/16/2009-2:02pm at 2:02 pm (UTC -4)
wOBA?
Isn’t that what Downtown Julie Brown used to say on MTV?
CaseStreet
10/16/2009-2:07pm at 2:07 pm (UTC -4)
LOL. Wubba, Wubba, Wubba
rustyjr
10/16/2009-2:07pm at 2:07 pm (UTC -4)
mmmmm brittish chocolate ( down town julie brown ) – drools
metsfan4decades
10/16/2009-2:19pm at 2:19 pm (UTC -4)
My eyes are bleeding looking at available FAs and stats these past couple of days – LOL.
Is it me or does the current crop look pretty unimpressive this year? I guess it all depends on what teams are looking for….
rustyjr
10/16/2009-2:23pm at 2:23 pm (UTC -4)
pretty unimpressive – thats jeff and omars out when they explain why they didnt get any impact players
trs86
10/16/2009-9:43pm at 9:43 pm (UTC -4)
Right because Omar has done a bad job getting impact players.
CaseStreet
10/16/2009-3:02pm at 3:02 pm (UTC -4)
might as well let the kids play, unless ur a trade the farm kind of gal
rustyjr
10/16/2009-3:52pm at 3:52 pm (UTC -4)
damned if you do damned if you dont i guess
CaseStreet
10/16/2009-4:04pm at 4:04 pm (UTC -4)
maybe we’ll be surprised.
stickguy
10/16/2009-4:22pm at 4:22 pm (UTC -4)
the FA pool does look pretty darned mediocre.
But, at least the mets have alot of talent already on hand the was either underutilized (off years) or on the shelf (DL).
Probably not too many other teams getting back as much as the mets, without evenhaving to make a movew.
Oh, and for the moment, I am on the try to resign Delgado cheap for 1 year bandwagon, if he doesn’t get any decent offers elsewhere.
He can be the 2010 Bobby Abreu.
metsfan4decades
10/16/2009-7:42pm at 7:42 pm (UTC -4)
There you go. I know it’s taking a chance, as he never came back this year, but it’s a chance I wouldn’t mind taking if it’s on the cheap, as you said.
trs86
10/16/2009-9:42pm at 9:42 pm (UTC -4)
I like the idea of bringing Delgado back on a 3M incentive based deal. Something like what Hudson got. As long as he knows that if he does not carry his weight he is gone and that Murphy will start 1 game a week for him. IF that happens though to start the year I want Murphy in AAA learning to play other positions and staying fresh. Around the end of May bring him back up and start resting Delgado more.
trs86
10/16/2009-9:46pm at 9:46 pm (UTC -4)
Abreu for basically 3/30? NO way, please no. Bad idea.
OF it’s Holliday, Bay or 1 year deals.
CaseStreet
10/17/2009-1:34am at 1:34 am (UTC -4)
or Pagan