The 2011 season will soon be at it’s end and the focus will be on who will be on the field come Opening Day 2012 with Reyes being a key variable in deciding that.
While free agent signings or trades for specific players may play a key part in determining 2012′s look. I wanted to try and look at what is already here and see how they may fit into the 2012 team.
I decided to categorize them as 1st & 2nd choice starter and 1st & 2nd choice backup for each position.
First base:
- 1st Choice Starter: Ike Davis, LHB – The player I most missed in 2011 I look forward to seeing continue his development at 1st base in 2012.
- 2nd Choice Starter: Daniel Murphy, LHB – While Murphy’s glove leaves a lot to be desired I find that if for some reason Davis misses time due to say injury. Murphy has shown enough this year to believe if allowed to play everyday he can do 1 thing well and that is hit.
- 1st Choice Backup: Nick Evans, RHB – I don’t know why but I just have always been a fan of Evans and I like how his RHB at 1st may compliment the team.
- 2nd Choice Backup: Josh Satin, RHB – This year’s Sterling award winner Satin seems to be like Murphy in the sense that he has no real position. He will be 27 come December and I believe he will be Rule 5 eligible so it will be interesting how the Mets go about handling him but if he is on the team come Spring Training 2012 I would not be opposed to seeing Satin get a shot at being the back up 1st baseman.
Second Base:
- 1st Choice Starter: Ruben Tejada, RHB – Tejada’s future at 2nd will most likely depend on if the Mets retain Jose Reyes this off season. If your looking for the best glove at 2nd then in my opinion that has to be Tejada. Unlike in 2010 Tejada has shown me enough with the bat that I believe he will no longer look over-matched at the plate and as long as he can hit .250/.260 I think he will not hurt the Mets so long he does the little things when called upon.
- 2nd Choice Starter: Daniel Murphy, LHB – Once again Murphy is my 2nd choice as a starter. The reason I chose Murphy over say Justin Turner came down to my opinion that defensively at 2b I don’t think Turner has that much more upside than say Murphy so if it comes down to the bat I think Murphy has the better bat over Turner. In fact I think Murphy’s bat is so good that it should be considered the 2nd choice to start at 1st,2nd and 3b.
- 1st Choice Backup: Justin Turner, RHB – I find myself fighting with why do I think Turner is a better choice as a backup as opposed to a starter. The best I can do to try and rationalize my thinking on this is that I believe Turner will probably hit better playing sparingly than Murphy would.
- 2nd Choice Backup: Josh Satin, RHB – Again Satin in the “player without a position mode” I can see him playing the role of backup over say Havens. I see Havens only making the team if he is going to play everyday and at this time I am not sure I see Havens starting everyday over Tejada at 2nd in 2012.
Shortstop:
- 1st Choice Starter: Jose Reyes, R/LHB – No explanation needed here. Just need to see if he indeed resigns with the Mets.
- 2nd Choice Starter: Ruben Tejada, RHB – If Tejada is the Opening Day SS in 2012 due to Reyes not resigning then I would expect a ripple effect to follow. The biggest of which could see Havens with a outside chance at being the starting 2nd baseman.
- 1st Choice Backup: Jordany Valdespin, LHB – Normally I would say Tejada as the 1st choice as backup but I would hope Tejada is starting either at 2nd or SS in 2012 and therefore won’t be available as a backup SS for the most part. Still I know very little about Valdespin other than he has played SS in AAA to be honest so he was more of not having a better in house alternative after you get past Reyes and Tejada.
- 2nd Choice Backup: Don’t really have one.
Third Base
- 1st Choice Starter: David Wright, RHB – Again no explanation needed here. The only thing that remains to be seen is if he is traded in the off season.
- 2nd Choice Starter: Daniel Murphy, LHB – Just as with Reyes not resigning a Wright trade could see a ripple effect follow that could see Murphy playing 3rd base as the starting 3rd baseman.
- 1st Choice Backup: Justin Turner, RHB – Again I believe Turner will probably hit better playing sparingly as a backup than Murphy would.
- 2nd Choice Backup: Don’t really have one.
Left Field
- 1st Choice Starter: Jason Bay, RHB – There are 16 million reasons why he is the 1st choice as the starting left fielder in 2012.
- 2nd Choice Starter: Lucas Duda, LHB – This is probably Duda’s best position considering this is where he played mostly before being called up by the Mets if I am not mistaken. Barring Bay being moved I hardly expect to see Duda here anytime soon.
- 1st or 2nd Choice Backup: I really have no clue.
Center Field
- 1st Choice Starter: Angel Pagan, R/LHB – This is a position that I hope the Mets can upgrade via trade or free agency Pagan shows how thin the Mets are depth wise at CF. Nieuwenhuis is a hopeful but the jury remains out on how he will be after he recovers from the injury that ended his 2011 season.
- 2nd Choice Starter: Jason Pridie, LHB – Again the Mets need to create some depth in CF. I am not even going to attempt to pick a backup at this position.
Right Field
- 1st Choice Starter: Lucas Duda, LHB – Duda will most likely have a strong chance to be the everyday Right-fielder in 2012. Quite frankly I am pretty excited to see if Duda along with Davis can combine to give the Mets 2 power hitting lefty bats in the lineup in 2012.
- 2nd Choice Starter: Fernando Martinez, LHB – Why not? At this point I don’t envision FMart a centerfielder with those knees.
- 1st Choice Backup: Don’t really have one and at this point I just want to wrap this post up anyways. Still odds are the backup will be some veteran free agent.
Catcher
- 1st Choice Starter: Josh Thole, LHB – Another position where Mets have little depth. Time will tell if the Mets can upgrade the team at this position. I don’t know if I bring back Paulino for 2012 but the Mets in house alternatives are slim to none.
I am done. Now of course this is just like a 1st draft and none of these names are locks by a long shot. This was just something to get the ball rolling so to speak as to what in house alternatives exist. Feel free to add or remove as many names as you see fit. I am sure I am overlooking players from the Mets system since it is now 10 to midnight as I write this and I am just plain tired.
23 comments
Anonymous
9/20/2011-11:11am at 11:11 am (UTC -4)
I think they need to bring in some new players here!
I still want Havens to have a huge fall/winter and ST and just win the 2B job. Just because.
And maybe F Mart will be up to platoon with Bay? And what the heck, let them do it in RF so Duda can play LF.
rustyjr
9/20/2011-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
honestly we know my feelings about Pagan
And in regards to Valdespin – from what I’ve heard he’s not the kind of player we would want up here
Anonymous
9/20/2011-12:37pm at 12:37 pm (UTC -4)
valdespin I see as trade bait. If he can help bring back some pitching, maybe a catcher, take the shot and move him.
MetsFan4Decades
9/20/2011-1:54pm at 1:54 pm (UTC -4)
I’m with you with Valdespin as trade bait.
Way I’m looking at this, if they want to upgrade the SP rotation, they’re going to have to make a trade. I’d do one to get a bit better arm then what’s available as a FA this year – outside of someone like CC who I think will resign with the Yankees anyway. And no, don’t want to see them spend the money to sign him anyway. I’m content to see what we’ve got ready for 2013. It’s for 2012 we need to at least upgrade, especially b/c no one knows when? what? Johan is gonna be.
Anonymous
9/20/2011-1:58pm at 1:58 pm (UTC -4)
What makes him the kind of player we would not want up at the majors?
rustyjr
9/20/2011-2:12pm at 2:12 pm (UTC -4)
A bit of an attitude problem
MetsFan4Decades
9/20/2011-2:35pm at 2:35 pm (UTC -4)
Apparently, he’s got anger issues. Been suspended twice and reprimanded countless times b/c of it.
Anonymous
9/20/2011-3:28pm at 3:28 pm (UTC -4)
so did kevin mitchell…
Anonymous
9/20/2011-8:50pm at 8:50 pm (UTC -4)
so did Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth….:-P
MetsFan4Decades
9/20/2011-11:58pm at 11:58 pm (UTC -4)
Touche, guys.
If only Valdespin turns out to be a Cobb or Ruth type player.
And I loved Kevin Mitchell back in the day. One of this franchise’s more dumber moves getting rid of him.
Adam "Prismo"
9/20/2011-12:50pm at 12:50 pm (UTC -4)
Really really nice piece NJ, very impressed.
Only one of those I really don’t want to see next year is Angel. Would be fine with him as a 4th OF, although he’ll get paid to much in arb to do that. The fact is that he hasn’t hit this year, and he plays defense well below his talent level due to mental errors. The issue with that is that as Keith would say “it can’t be taught.” The Mets have enough liabilities on defense, that we don’t need one in centerfield with a sub-.700 OPS.
Other than that, it’s just more of the same. 2011 Mets = 2012 Mets. Welcome to mediocrity!
SaltyGary
9/20/2011-1:09pm at 1:09 pm (UTC -4)
My only disagreement with this is Murphy needs to be in the everyday lineup. Not including Beltran (who still leads in most 2011 Mets offensive categories) Murphy was the 2nd best hitter on the team. The team desperately needs his bat in the lineup with the way it’s currently constructed.
Anonymous
9/20/2011-1:55pm at 1:55 pm (UTC -4)
Love me some Murph as well, but I wouldn’t mind seeing him traded for a C of some note. Not straight up, mind you, but Murph + something for anything better than Thole. I’ve soured on that kid.
SaltyGary
9/20/2011-3:07pm at 3:07 pm (UTC -4)
Yea I’m fine with moving Murph to upgrade other areas. Catching will definitely need a different solution.
MetsFan4Decades
9/20/2011-2:19pm at 2:19 pm (UTC -4)
So much of this depends on if Reyes resigns. And from what I’m reading, early hints are they’ll make an early run at him and if it’s not looking good – just move on. They want to know how much money they have to work with early.
I don’t see a scenario where Pagan isn’t back for 2012. We really have no better options in the minors and besides, do we really want to see 2 rookies in the OF next year?
Given his defensive regression, I’d still try moving Bay to CF, Duda to LF and Pagan in RF.
I think 2nd base is Murphy’s job to lose in ST, if he’s not used as trade bait.
Turner is not a starting IF, IMO. Since he apparently has the best numbers this year on hitting with R.I.S.P., I’d have no problem with his on the bench. He does play multiple positions.
Given the big ?? on Johan and the rest of the staff being what is – and very little depth in the minors for about another year – I’d be looking to do a trade for another SP arm.
MetsFan4Decades
9/20/2011-2:19pm at 2:19 pm (UTC -4)
So much of this depends on if Reyes resigns. And from what I’m reading, early hints are they’ll make an early run at him and if it’s not looking good – just move on. They want to know how much money they have to work with early.
I don’t see a scenario where Pagan isn’t back for 2012. We really have no better options in the minors and besides, do we really want to see 2 rookies in the OF next year?
Given his defensive regression, I’d still try moving Bay to CF, Duda to LF and Pagan in RF.
I think 2nd base is Murphy’s job to lose in ST, if he’s not used as trade bait.
Turner is not a starting IF, IMO. Since he apparently has the best numbers this year on hitting with R.I.S.P., I’d have no problem with his on the bench. He does play multiple positions.
Given the big ?? on Johan and the rest of the staff being what is – and very little depth in the minors for about another year – I’d be looking to do a trade for another SP arm.
Paul J. Festa
9/20/2011-3:07pm at 3:07 pm (UTC -4)
You’re right, the Mets really are thin in the OF. That’s why it makes sense to make another attempt at teaching Murphy how to play out there. He was a bad outfielder the first time around, but is he that much better in the infield?
MetsFan4Decades
9/20/2011-3:26pm at 3:26 pm (UTC -4)
IDK.
From what little I’ve seen of Duda his defense is still better than Murph’s was out there – and that’s not saying much b/c Duda needs some work.
Do we really want an OF of Murph Bay and Duda? That’s not a great defensive OF at all.
Adam "Prismo"
9/20/2011-3:28pm at 3:28 pm (UTC -4)
I think you’ve forgotten just how atrocious Murphy was in LF. He was MUCH worst than he’s been at 2b.
Anonymous
9/20/2011-4:09pm at 4:09 pm (UTC -4)
It’ll be ANOTHER long season with an OF of Bay-Pagan-Duda!
AND…..For the 80th time…Broadway Danny Murphy is a DH!
Anonymous
9/20/2011-8:58pm at 8:58 pm (UTC -4)
I came across two trade proposals the other day that i was extremely intrigued by.
1) Trading Pelfrey to the Royals for AAA CF Lorenzo Cain. The Royals OF is set next season so they basically have no room for Cain other than the 4th OF. Pelfrey would certainly be an upgrade in the rotation and might be better back home.
2) Trading Murphy to the Tigers for the best AA/AAA SP they are willing to trade us. He’s obviously not capable of playing 2B and the other positions he can play are occupied. The Tigers biggest hole is at 3B and i’m sure we could get a good prospect given how good of a team they have and how he fills a critical need.
Anonymous
9/20/2011-11:04pm at 11:04 pm (UTC -4)
I saw over the weekend the Royals possibly flipping Melky for Pitching help and was thinking Pelf for Melk as a possibility given Melky’s had a nice bounce back year and is under control for another year too I believe.
ripple bay
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