Yes, you read that right. According to NYP, Mets hire Bob Melvin to be a Major League Scout.
-I guess now Luis can help Jerry pack his bags as well
Dec 08
Mets hire former Arizona manager Bob Melvin….to be a Major League Scout
Leave a Reply
MLBTradeRumors
- Red Sox Notes: Lackey, Henry, Draft
- Quick Hits: Yankees, Dodgers
- NL Notes: Amarista, Nationals, Morse, Krol
- Nationals Designate Yunesky Maya For Assignment
- Mariners Designate Robert Andino For Assignment
- Central Notes: Reds, Cubs, Morneau
- Minor Moves: Dan Klein, Zach Braddock, Royce Ring
- Draft Links: Manaea, McGuire, Prep Catchers
- East Links: Braves, Nolin, Wheeler, Wada
- Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Walker, Hughes, Vogelsong
78 comments
trs86
12/8/2009-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
In my opinion incredible move.
prismo
12/8/2009-12:28pm at 12:28 pm (UTC -4)
+1
dirtysanchez
12/8/2009-12:31pm at 12:31 pm (UTC -4)
I agree
Kingman 26
12/8/2009-12:52pm at 12:52 pm (UTC -4)
Incredible??
Why?
trs86
12/8/2009-1:01pm at 1:01 pm (UTC -4)
Not often you get a guy with his experience to sign on as a scout (in my opinion one of the lower order jobs). Has had success in various markets including Seattle and Arizona neither known for their success. Granted he has also failed in both of those markets as well. He’s not old and has been considered as viable replacements for in other manager markets.
To me I would not be upset at all if he were manager in May (besides the fact that means we would be sucking and need a manager change.)
wannybackstra
12/8/2009-1:03pm at 1:03 pm (UTC -4)
I like the signing because I think it is always good to have a little pressure on a guy like Manuel.
But managerial skill doesn’t necessarily equate to scouting skill.
I have no idea if Melvin has a scouting background. Does he?
trs86
12/8/2009-1:06pm at 1:06 pm (UTC -4)
Nope, and who knows if he will ACTUALLY be used as a scout.
Perhaps it’s a made up position to hold him in-case he is needed?
wannybackstra
12/8/2009-1:09pm at 1:09 pm (UTC -4)
Could be, says the ever cynical Wanny.
Also in support of your pleasure with the appointment, a major league scout is not evaluating talent/tools as much as he is tendencies. At least that’s the way I interpret the logic of the exercise.
Kingman 26
12/8/2009-1:43pm at 1:43 pm (UTC -4)
Well, he took over Seattle after nearly a decade of success under Lou, he won 93 games his first year, then won 63 games.
And he was clearly the third best of the three managers that Arizona has had.
Not sure how you are measuring success here, but he looks a lot like Manuel and Collins to me–surely capable, but almost surely nothing special.
Jerry has to be replaced with a proven winner, or a new guy who can be the next Gardenhire or Scioscia–not another retread.
GravediggerHebner
12/8/2009-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
What, no new post for Mike Hessman?
trs86
12/8/2009-12:30pm at 12:30 pm (UTC -4)
I will let you take that one Grave. Guy is a AAA stud and MLB stub.
trs86
12/8/2009-12:31pm at 12:31 pm (UTC -4)
That being said, should improve relations with Buffalo. Nothing more exciting in the minors than to see the big HR hitter.
trs86
12/8/2009-12:47pm at 12:47 pm (UTC -4)
Another interesting point that I read on Mattsblog comment section.
Hessman did play all 10 positions (lol even DH and pitcher) last season.
trs86
12/8/2009-12:32pm at 12:32 pm (UTC -4)
Uhh….
… the buzz from Indianapolis is consistent with what olney is saying… basically, any trade the Mets have talked about involves Mike Pelfrey or maine… but, in order to make such a move, the Mets need to acquire a starting pitcher, be it in a separate deal or through free agency…
trs86
12/8/2009-12:32pm at 12:32 pm (UTC -4)
Only trades Pelfrey should be in is for Halladay or Agonz.
GravediggerHebner
12/8/2009-12:39pm at 12:39 pm (UTC -4)
Interesting tidbit on Edwin Jackson from the mlb.com video feed. The two hosts were discussing how he would be affected by where he might wind up and they seemed convinced that the Mets would be a good destination.
They based that on their opinion that Jim Leyland destroyed him by pitching him too deep in games and that he was dead by the 2nd half. They said ‘a manager like Jerry Manuel, who has demonstrated a tendency to remove a pitcher at just over 100 pitches, could be good for Jackson allowing him to be stronger and more consistent in the 2nd half of the season.’
trs86
12/8/2009-12:45pm at 12:45 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, at least Jerry is good for something. That strategy always seemed to work with Pelfrey and uh…
wannybackstra
12/8/2009-12:53pm at 12:53 pm (UTC -4)
Jerry’s dream pitching staff would have 27 pitchers, 14 righties and 13 lefties, that he could use for a 1/3 of an inning each depending upon the opposing hitter.
GravediggerHebner
12/8/2009-12:53pm at 12:53 pm (UTC -4)
These same guys I keep mentioning from mlb.com video feed are saying that they expect the John Maine for Corey Hart deal to be completed as soon as Randy Wolf is officially signed by the Brewers.
OMIGOD they just also uttered this stream of consciousness:
The big 3 team AZ/NYY/DET trade goes through with Granderson winding up a Yankee, as a result the Red Sox acquire Adrian Gonzalez, and this somehow winds up with Mike Lowell as Met 2010 1B.
wannybackstra
12/8/2009-12:56pm at 12:56 pm (UTC -4)
The Brewers scenario makes little sense to me. The Mets lose out on Wolf but then trade a pitcher?
The other scenario seems a little precarious to me too. Curtis Granderson will not scare the Sox into doing anything they wouldn’t have done before. But I’d take Mike Lowell for 1B next season.
wannybackstra
12/8/2009-1:00pm at 1:00 pm (UTC -4)
Lowell v. lefties in 2009: 301 .363 .503. Career: .288 .355 .494
At worst he is an outstanding platoon partner with power and some of the “winningness” this team lacks. At best, he is capable of taking the 1B job full-time if Murphy fails. He could also cover 3B without a hiccup if Wright gets injured.
I’d be interested to see what the Mets end of this deal would be and whether it is possible even without the Gonzalez component.
trs86
12/8/2009-1:04pm at 1:04 pm (UTC -4)
I agree. I mentioned before the Scurato deal that the Mets might consider somehow sending Castillo for Lowell. Obviously not even…
wannybackstra
12/8/2009-1:06pm at 1:06 pm (UTC -4)
The three team scenario makes sense in that the Mets would serve as the dumping ground for Lowell’s contract. I don’t see a match between the two teams because the Sox are obviously looking to upgrade 1B and probably won’t deal Lowell until they do.
Do they view Adam LaRoche (redux) as that guy?
wannybackstra
12/8/2009-1:01pm at 1:01 pm (UTC -4)
Lowell would strike me as 2010′s version of 2006′s Todd Zeile.
GravediggerHebner
12/8/2009-1:05pm at 1:05 pm (UTC -4)
The Brewers thing doesn’t make any sense to me either from the Mets perspective. For the Brewers it makes some sense because after signing Wolf they’d clear some money in a Hart/Maine exchange.
But I agree, for the Mets it’s a ? unless it then shoots off into flipping Francouer (or Pagan) for a pitcher from someone else, which is my supposition, nothing these guys mentioned.
Lowell is fragile but I agree he could be a useful piece, but I’m not sure how the $12 mil works.
trs86
12/8/2009-1:02pm at 1:02 pm (UTC -4)
Actually I think it’s if the Brewers sign Wolf then the trade is dead based on my interpretations anyway.
GravediggerHebner
12/8/2009-1:06pm at 1:06 pm (UTC -4)
That wouldn’t surprise me especially considering that these guys who are discussing it keep calling it “the Maine/J.J. Hardy trade.”
trs86
12/8/2009-1:07pm at 1:07 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah I was getting my info from the reliable Mattsblog.
GravediggerHebner
12/8/2009-1:13pm at 1:13 pm (UTC -4)
Ultimately I won’t be surprised by massive turnover in the Brewers starting staff, which as a group sucked last year.
I imagine they’ll build around Manny Parra and Yovani Gallardo, everyone else is disposable.
They could enter 2010 with Parra, Gallardo, Wolf, Maine and Mulder (the latter courtesy Heyman).
GravediggerHebner
12/8/2009-1:19pm at 1:19 pm (UTC -4)
I have to step out for a while (probably back late afternoon) but I leave you with the report that the agent for Ben Sheets is meeting today with the Mets (and the Yankees).
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/8/2009-1:22pm at 1:22 pm (UTC -4)
Report is that the Mets are too concerned about his health. oh wait.. I think that’s from last year.
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/8/2009-1:25pm at 1:25 pm (UTC -4)
According to Mattsblog, Church was DFAed. Mets should pick him up as 4th or 5th OF. But then Jerry hates Church.
whataputz
12/8/2009-1:28pm at 1:28 pm (UTC -4)
Well as much as we love to bash Omar, I think this clearly demonstrates we won on that trade.
prismo
12/8/2009-1:46pm at 1:46 pm (UTC -4)
Indeed.
trs86
12/8/2009-1:47pm at 1:47 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. The fact that the Braves are even more desperate for OF than the Mets and they DFA him….
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/8/2009-1:41pm at 1:41 pm (UTC -4)
Looks like the 3-way deal between the Yanks, Tigers and DBacks will go through. Great deal for the Yanks. Looks like they are giving up Ian Kennedy and Austin Jackson.
whataputz
12/8/2009-1:43pm at 1:43 pm (UTC -4)
O how the rich get richer. How is it humanly possible to root for the Yankees?
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/8/2009-1:46pm at 1:46 pm (UTC -4)
I bet you Mets could have traded Niese and FMart to get him too.
Granderson is still 28 and is a good player.
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/8/2009-1:47pm at 1:47 pm (UTC -4)
And if the Mets don’t bring Beltran back, Granderson could be the next CF too.
trs86
12/8/2009-1:48pm at 1:48 pm (UTC -4)
Fmart nor Niese are as highly regarded in my opinion as Jackson and Kennedy. And the fact that Fmart can’t play 50 games without getting injured.
whataputz
12/8/2009-1:57pm at 1:57 pm (UTC -4)
This is why you trade prospects at their highest value. FMart could have done so much for our team if he was traded 2 years ago.
trs86
12/8/2009-2:00pm at 2:00 pm (UTC -4)
MAYBE? Or maybe he could have developed and been a cheap in house solution for LF. 2 years ago he was 17 years old.
whataputz
12/8/2009-2:04pm at 2:04 pm (UTC -4)
And teams actually wanted him.
trs86
12/8/2009-2:07pm at 2:07 pm (UTC -4)
Maybe, but again should you always trade your prospects? Again, what if Fmart had developed like every scout thought he would and he took over LF as a young exciting cheap player? If he can stay healthy he still has time to do that.
trs86
12/8/2009-2:08pm at 2:08 pm (UTC -4)
Too much hindsight for me. I for one would have had no problem rooting for the 20 year old Fmart manning LF next year and years to come if that had been the case. It was not but 2 years ago how were they supposed to know? Based on skills he may still have that talent. I guess they should have known 2 years ago that he would get injured a lot.
whataputz
12/8/2009-1:56pm at 1:56 pm (UTC -4)
At this point lets just let the Yankees hand pick their 25 man roster and then just have a big draft for the rest of mlb talent. So at least while the Yankees will always win, there will be some form of parody.
trs86
12/8/2009-1:59pm at 1:59 pm (UTC -4)
They paid a big price here and did not do this deal because they are the Yankees. The Yankees just sign Holliday and move on.
Jackson, Kennedy and Coke (maybe one more) is no slouch offering for Granderson.
whataputz
12/8/2009-2:03pm at 2:03 pm (UTC -4)
Kennedy is nothing and Coke is sub par. It was a salary dump by the Tigers.
trs86
12/8/2009-2:06pm at 2:06 pm (UTC -4)
There was no salary dump here at all. They are getting a very good return. If they were doing a salary dump it would not be for a total of 7 million? Why would they even include Jackson at 2 million if it was a salary dump?
What 4 prospects would you have wanted the Mets to give up that would have been comparable?
whataputz
12/8/2009-2:18pm at 2:18 pm (UTC -4)
Not for Granderson, our prospects are pretty terrible so we pretty much have 1 player we can with them, and Granderson would not be ideal for us.
trs86
12/8/2009-2:20pm at 2:20 pm (UTC -4)
That info has been countered by many scouts. Mets have some attractive names they are just not very deep.
oleosmirf
12/8/2009-2:13pm at 2:13 pm (UTC -4)
well the Yankees do at least draft well. If they didn’t have young talent they wouldn’t be able to pull this off. Besides the latin teenagers and Ike Davis, we dont really have much.
trs86
12/8/2009-2:15pm at 2:15 pm (UTC -4)
There is the latin teenagers again. LOL.
But they have drafted a few good prospects but the Mets have their own as well. If you bother reading our minor leagues have been rated as about average and having some decent prospects but not much depth.
Thole, Murphy, Mejia, Holt, Niese, Fmart, Davis, Haves, Flores, Nick whatever, and others could all be attractive.
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/8/2009-2:29pm at 2:29 pm (UTC -4)
So why not use the good prospects to get someone who can help win now?
Yes I understand that prospects are important for the future. But we just witnessed Yankees vs Phillies WS. And I would not be surprised to see them back in WS in the near future.
So, what is the Mets doing about this? Signing 25 catchers??
If the Yankees can get Granderson via trade, Mets should be able to pull off something like that too.
trs86
12/8/2009-2:32pm at 2:32 pm (UTC -4)
OH NO OMAR HAS NOT MADE A TRADE YET PANIC…..
Settle down.
Did you want Granderson and if so what 4 prospects would you have given?
And If you noticed unless you are the Yankees, those prospects if developed can lead you to a ws like it did the Phillies. I am not opposed to the Mets trading a couple of top prospects for the right player but in my mind if they are giving up a package of 4 players including some top level it better be for Agonz or Halladay.
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/8/2009-2:43pm at 2:43 pm (UTC -4)
From what you’ve been reading, hearing and watching, do you really think the Mets are going to make the right moves to put them over Phillies?
trs86
12/8/2009-2:45pm at 2:45 pm (UTC -4)
Maybe? Who knows? Why would I base what the Mets are going to do on a media that tells a different story every five minutes?
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/8/2009-2:50pm at 2:50 pm (UTC -4)
Yes, media tells different story every five minutes. But there are some stories that are agreed upon.
For example, Mets are not distant 4th runner on Halladay sweep steak. Holliday, Lackey and Bay prices are too high for the Mets. Mets want to sign Benji.
so….. what are the Mets doing?
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/8/2009-2:50pm at 2:50 pm (UTC -4)
Talking to the Rangers about f-in Kevin Millwood???
trs86
12/8/2009-3:33pm at 3:33 pm (UTC -4)
So you have not read reports that say the Mets are in big on Lackey? Or reports saying they will pay for Holliday? Man I must be on the exclusive list.
oleosmirf
12/8/2009-2:33pm at 2:33 pm (UTC -4)
well our prospects dont compare with the Yankees ones. Kennedy, Joba, Hughes is a hell of a lot better than Niese, Pelfrey and Parnell.
trs86
12/8/2009-2:36pm at 2:36 pm (UTC -4)
Why include only pitchers? Why not include Fmart, Flores, Havens, Tejeda, Davis, Thole, Murphy or even “Minors: Nieuwenhuis Moving on to the Radar”
wannybackstra
12/8/2009-2:52pm at 2:52 pm (UTC -4)
The difference is that the Mets don’t have many healthy prospects who are close to the majors.
TRS was right when he said that Niese/FMart is not a favorable matchup to Jackson/Kennedy and it is largely because of FMart’s health. Otherwise, the players are pretty comparable. The Mets also have no answer for Phil Coke, a young lefty who has already had some success in the big leagues. Our closest comp would be Bobby Parnell, who is right handed and was awful for much of last year.
The Tigers cleaned up in this deal on high quality major league close or ready talent with the additions of the two Yankees prospects and Scherzer and Schlereth.
The Mets have no one that close other than injured FMart and injured Niese both of whom are not unanimously considered high end prospects.
oleosmirf
12/8/2009-2:32pm at 2:32 pm (UTC -4)
i know about our minor leaguers but I cant put stock in players that are 17, 18 and 19. Its too early to tell. Just look at Ian Kennedy’s numbers in the minors.
Besides Thole, Davis and Martinez (at times). Noone else has really standout numbers above St. Lucie
trs86
12/8/2009-2:35pm at 2:35 pm (UTC -4)
If all you are asking for is stand out above Single A there are a few that fit. Even Murphy fits that.
No one is asking you to buy stock in those 17-19 year old players but you can’t just trade them in any or every deal that comes along.
Think about volume wise how many prospects the Mets have traded the last few years starting with Delgado and LoDuca all the way through Putz.
DNDJohan aka kistics
12/8/2009-2:35pm at 2:35 pm (UTC -4)
Looks like all 3 parties have agreed.
Yanks get Granderson
DBacks get Edwin Jackon and Kennedy
Tigers get Max Scherzer, Daniel Schlereth, Austin Jackson, and Phil Coke.
trs86
12/8/2009-2:37pm at 2:37 pm (UTC -4)
Good move by multiple teams. I think the Dbacks get the best of the deal but that remains to be seen. It really depends on Austin Jackson.
whataputz
12/8/2009-2:39pm at 2:39 pm (UTC -4)
Then you my friend are in denial. You understand Granderson in that ballpark and line-up, Curtis Granderson will hit 40 home runs.
whataputz
12/8/2009-2:41pm at 2:41 pm (UTC -4)
how many major league games has Jackson played? O right but he’s more valuable than a 28 year old who’s hit 30 + hr’s in a giant pitchers park and can steal around 30 bases.
trs86
12/8/2009-2:46pm at 2:46 pm (UTC -4)
What is your point? Did I say he was more valuable than Granderson? Did they trade Jackson straight up for Granderson? I must have missed the other players they included.
whataputz
12/8/2009-2:52pm at 2:52 pm (UTC -4)
Phil Coke…aka the next Cy Young..o what will they ever do without their mediocre lefty middle releiver! O Ian Kennedy is gone! How will they ever fix their pitching staff? They’re really going to miss a guy who’s either hurt or is gives up 9 runs a game.
wannybackstra
12/8/2009-2:55pm at 2:55 pm (UTC -4)
Granderson is not perfect. His defense declined badly last season and he couldn’t hit a left handed pitcher if he fell on one.
Anyway, he was dealt to save some cash and the result is that the Tigers got two very high end arms who are close to the majors, a young lefty reliever who has already had some success and a toolsy CFer who may turn out to be as good or better than Granderson. Jackson profiles to be a similarly dynamic but imperfect strikeout machine as Granderson.
stickguy
12/8/2009-2:46pm at 2:46 pm (UTC -4)
granderson may not have been the best fit for the Mets, but perfect for the yankees.
especially since they gave up table scraps for him.
not even sure how to compare systems, but this would have been like Kirk N and Parnell from the mets.
why do the yankees never have to give up 1 legit guy to get a good player?
Oh yeah, they end up with the salary.
trs86
12/8/2009-2:48pm at 2:48 pm (UTC -4)
I still disagree. Jackson was regarded by many as their top hitting prospect and Coke coming into last year was in their top 10. Not sure about this off-season where they rank.
wannybackstra
12/8/2009-2:58pm at 2:58 pm (UTC -4)
Kirk N is not a good comparison. First of all he’s a long way away and there’s no consensus that he’ll even arrive.
Jackson’s skills are similar to that of Granderson and he’s succeeded at higher levels than Nieuwenheis. I bet as many scouts would prefer Jackson over F-Mart, even without health as a consideration but certainly if they considered it.
Also, you left out Ian Kennedy who is probably on par with Niese in terms of prospect status. Kennedy has a first round draft pick pedigree to boot.
Don’t forget the Tigers are also getting two high end arms in this deal from the Backs, the type of major league ready arms the Mets could not provide.
trs86
12/8/2009-3:31pm at 3:31 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed, this is something close to Fmart, Niese and Parnell in my eyes.
stickguy
12/8/2009-3:43pm at 3:43 pm (UTC -4)
the Mets shoudl esily be able to match Kennedy.
Don’t they have an abundance of players that missed al of last year after getting surgery?
I also think you are way overvaluing these guys as prospects. I do recall Kennedy getting slammed big time as a worthless stiff back in the Johan deal days.
ANd Jackson has shown a mediocre OBP and middling power. But he does K a ton to make up for it.
It really looks like the D Backs are the ones that gave up serious young talent. I relaly don’t understand their end of the deal.
GravediggerHebner
12/8/2009-3:52pm at 3:52 pm (UTC -4)
Somewhat related to this talk, the mlb.com guys were talking about both the Mets and Yankees late this morning, about various trade rumors involving both teams, and they concluded that “it’s hard to talk about NY teams and prospects because their prospects always get overhyped because of being associated with NY. Not overrated necessarily, but overhyped.”