In yesterday’s 14-6 loss to the Braves, David Wright officially tied Darryl Strawberry on the all-time Mets RBI list with 733. It took Wright only five more games to get to this figure.
The man Wright is passing is one who helped to change Mets baseball forever. He changed the way people looked at the Mets and proved himself to be one of the greatest Mets of all time. Darryl came into his own in late in the 1983 season, ending the year with 26 home runs, 76 RBI and a .257 batting average, winning the Rookie of the Year Award. Darryl went on to have seven more fantastic seasons with the orange and blue, including a stellar 1986 season, helping to lead the Mets to a world championship.
Darryl also proved to be clutch at such a young age. In game 7 of the 1986 World Series, Darryl hit a solo shot in the eighth, essentially sealing the deal for the Mets.
He was the figurehead of the 1980s teams and the face of the franchise.
David Wright came up at the tender age of 21 in the 2004 season, near the end of the reign of another New York legend- Mike Piazza. Mike’s professionalism made him a great person for kids to look up to. Not only was he a great player on the field- hitting 30 or more home runs in four straight seasons- but he was also known for his leadership. He led the Mets in the difficult days after 9/11, hitting his most famous home run- an eighth inning shot in the first game back that lifted the spirits of New Yorkers and people all around the country.At just 29 years of age, Wright’s name already belongs up with these two greats. He had five straight .300 seasons from 2005-2009, something no Met has ever done. He is looking very impressive this season, striking out far less than before. It seems possible that his multi-year “slump” may be coming to an end.
But what has been more impressive than any statistic has been the heart and soul David has invested in this team. He has always been a team-first guy without question. He goes out there every night, and leaves it all out on the field. He fights through injuries and always has the team in mind with whatever he does. He’s not a headache. He is not a troublemaker. He is the rare combination of skills and attitude that fans coaches, and scouts are always seeking. His passion for the city and the franchise is admirable.
In the coming months, the Mets have to extend David Wright. It would be a shame to let him walk.
56 comments
Mr North Jersey
4/19/2012-1:59pm at 1:59 pm (UTC -4)
“It seems his multi-year “slump” has come to an end.”
Cmon Connor really? We are only 9 games into the season.
I am in no rush to sign Wright. He has an option still and resigning will prob require a min of $15M per year. Let him 1st establish that last season was a fluke by going out and having an All-Star season. At least a All-Star 1st half before committing big dollars long term to him.
Stick
4/19/2012-2:04pm at 2:04 pm (UTC -4)
12 games, but who’s counting!
unless you mean how many Wright has played. In which case, never mind…
Mr North Jersey
4/19/2012-2:12pm at 2:12 pm (UTC -4)
LoL I should of said Wright has only played 9 games so far this season.
ConnorUAF
4/19/2012-2:08pm at 2:08 pm (UTC -4)
I really think his slump is over. His approach at the plate is what it was in 07,08.
ConnorUAF
4/19/2012-2:14pm at 2:14 pm (UTC -4)
I changed the wording to make it a little easier to digest lol
Mr North Jersey
4/19/2012-2:17pm at 2:17 pm (UTC -4)
mrose
4/19/2012-2:01pm at 2:01 pm (UTC -4)
great article, but one thing, it was not a walkoff for PIazza after 9/11…it was an 8th inning blast.
ConnorUAF
4/19/2012-2:06pm at 2:06 pm (UTC -4)
my bad. You’re right
Stick
4/19/2012-2:03pm at 2:03 pm (UTC -4)
certainly the revitilaization shown by his start means you should start having the discussion. I think it makes sense for about mid season. If they do want to extend him, I would like to see it done before the real off season work has to kick in, since what the do with DW will ahve a huge impact on the other moves needed to make.
So, get together before the ASB, and work out some qround picking up the 2013 option, then adding 3-4 more on top of that with a couple of option years tagged on if needed.
seems reasonable for both sides. Not likely to kill the mets and give him a nice security blanket, and he can hit FA again at age 34.
Won’t be happing though if his agent comes out with “7/150 or don’t bother dialing the phone:” to start the conversation!
Stick
4/19/2012-2:08pm at 2:08 pm (UTC -4)
one thing (just the way I think) is that the whole homegrown, what records he holds, etc should not count for that much. Pro sports is a tough business, and a contract has to be primarily based on what you WILL do, not what you once did. So, you first have to look at a current player like you would any FA. fan sentiment, etc. should only be a small part of th eequation.
Remember, the fans are the ones that will disappear as soon as the team is not winning, even if they resign a guy that grew up with the team. If the Mets stick and are cruising along at a 60 win pace, no one is buying tickets to see DW in a couple of yeras.
ConnorUAF
4/19/2012-2:16pm at 2:16 pm (UTC -4)
Well but having David is certainly better than having a free agent of his caliber, right? Him being a homegrown guy adds at least a little bit to it.
A free agent couldn’t come in and have an impact on a team like Wright has in these nine years.
Stick
4/19/2012-2:36pm at 2:36 pm (UTC -4)
think of it as more of a tie breaker, and worth a little extra in the contract ($).
but not a reason to go all in on a guy that isn’t going to (or is not likely to) come close to giving the production he is being paid for.
Jason Bay would still suck even if he had been a Met for the last 10 years.
Ceetar
4/19/2012-2:42pm at 2:42 pm (UTC -4)
more apt to sell tickets to things like Wright’s 2000th hit, and his ‘retirement tour’ one day than a free agent. Plus he markets the team and would provide at least as much value as guys like Strawberry do today. And you hurt fans feelings when you let too many homegrown guys get away. It’s an emotional thing.
And he’s good. very very very good. You could get a free agent that turns out like Bay, but there’s less risk of that from David.
ConnorUAF
4/19/2012-2:44pm at 2:44 pm (UTC -4)
I think if he gets 5/80 or 5/90 would be fair for his production level if he returns to 06,07,08 form.
Ceetar
4/19/2012-2:46pm at 2:46 pm (UTC -4)
that’ be a steal on the Mets part.
Prismo
4/19/2012-3:06pm at 3:06 pm (UTC -4)
Well Zimmerman got 6/100 so that’s probably around the range we’re looking at.
Considering the Mets would lock up Wright’s option year next year at $16MM, a 5/90 extension on top of that would sort of be a 6/106 deal.
Do you honestly think Wright will get much more than that on the open market?
kingman 26
4/19/2012-4:30pm at 4:30 pm (UTC -4)
Even with the down numbers the last couple of years, Wright’s career has been much better than Zimmerman’s.
Wright’s 2005–2008 is WAY better than Zimmerman’s best 4 years. By a longshot.
gategem
4/19/2012-4:41pm at 4:41 pm (UTC -4)
But the Nationals are on the verge of being a special team for a number of years. If the Mets were in the same position I would definitely call for David to be given an extension but since they are not what’s the rush?
NJstuckinTX
4/19/2012-2:48pm at 2:48 pm (UTC -4)
No No No No No No No. one more to make it 8. No.
However well this team impressed up up until the last 2 games, let’s not go getting tipsy on the India Pale Ale of a 7-3 start. This team is still quite top heavy and relying upon the actualization of all the expectations of the youngin’s. Unless a lot of things break right, there are still many holes that need addressing on this team. I still contend to wanting to keep Wright, but without the unlimited coffers of Omar, err, Madoff, err, Wilpon, spending correct needs to be priority one.
Yes, D’Wright is solid, but do the ends justify the means in giving him an extension? Unless they have shed Bay and possibly Santana by next year, extending Wright now (when he still has an option left to go) would be the right “Fan” move, but the wrong “baseball” move.
Stick
4/19/2012-2:58pm at 2:58 pm (UTC -4)
I look at it this way. they are exercising the option anyway, so he is getting paid next year. the extension would kick in for 2014, when Bay will be gone (Johan too, right?) So Wright wil be the only well paid veteran on the team. And they are allowed to have at least 1 or 2!
NJstuckinTX
4/19/2012-3:01pm at 3:01 pm (UTC -4)
Fair enough and point well made. But if you are going to do that, you might as well sit down with Wright a couple weeks prior to exercising that option to hammer out an extension then.
ConnorUAF
4/19/2012-3:13pm at 3:13 pm (UTC -4)
Yep, once an extension would come into play, the weights that have been bringing the Mets down will be gone. Having Wright as the center of the Mets would be great along with all these young guys we have up right now.
SpencerRealDirtyMets
4/19/2012-3:13pm at 3:13 pm (UTC -4)
This season hasn’t changed my opinion, i still think he should get 5 years at the absolute max. While the hot start is nice it’s still SSS.
Ceetar
4/19/2012-3:29pm at 3:29 pm (UTC -4)
yes but the “awesome” sample size and even the ‘very good’ sample size is so much bigger than any negative spot you can point to.
SpencerRealDirtyMets
4/19/2012-5:02pm at 5:02 pm (UTC -4)
I’m just concerned at the strikeouts and defense. If Wright can return to 07/08 form then in that case I would be willing to overpay for him, but he’s 29, so he probably only has a few years left of being able to reach those levels.
The point I was making is that I wouldn’t extend him based on these two weeks, and that I would like to see him play like 07/08 for a full season before signing him. He’s gonna want the Ryan Zimmerman contract.
srt
4/19/2012-3:20pm at 3:20 pm (UTC -4)
In a word: Yes.
I’d like to see a reasonable contract though in years and money. 4 years, option for a 5th?
Wright is a damn fine player. Superstar? No. But we know what he’s been – both good and bad – and if healthy, he puts up good numbers. You never know what you’re going to get with a prospect.
kingman 26
4/19/2012-3:30pm at 3:30 pm (UTC -4)
Sorry my friend, but again, you are missing some perspective here.
The season just started. Wright looks great–looks like the effects of the beaning are finally behind him. But he’s played NINE games.
The Mets hold a team option for 2013, so Wright is under Met control for the next 312 games.
If Wright continues to appear to finally be back to his 2005–2008 form, maybe sometime well into the second half of the season if the numbers are there, you approach him to see what it might take to get him to agree to an extension, and then maybe work something out in the offseason.
Even considering an extension after nine games would be positively Omarian, and utterly irresponsible and totally unnecessary.
It’s April 19, 2012, and the Mets control Wright until the end of the 2013 season.
NJstuckinTX
4/19/2012-3:36pm at 3:36 pm (UTC -4)
Omarian. I like.
ConnorUAF
4/19/2012-3:38pm at 3:38 pm (UTC -4)
Omarian. Nice.
Maybe not today after nine games, but within the next few months Wright should be given a contract.
When I say “The Time Has Come…” I mean sometime this season.
saltygary
4/19/2012-3:48pm at 3:48 pm (UTC -4)
I am on the same page where we need to wait a little longer before signing Wright, but I read a good point somewhere: “Isn’t the wait and see approach the same direction fans wanted with Reyes and what happened with that”.
Now I understand that the contract situation is different between Reyes and Wright. I also believe that both Reyes and the Mets wanted to part ways. But maybe the time is now to sign him. Can we get a hometown discount doing it now as opposed to later? Would Wright be more inclined to sign now where by the end of the year he may get tempted by the FA market?
I still feel we should wait, but it may be a mistake.
NJstuckinTX
4/19/2012-4:32pm at 4:32 pm (UTC -4)
Problem with the Wright/Reyes comparison is we get an extra full year of Wright vs. the situation Reyes was in. So you could effectively extend Wright prior to him playing the next season a free agent to be.
saltygary
4/19/2012-3:54pm at 3:54 pm (UTC -4)
One other point I read from some beat write, don’t the Mets as a team need a life long homegrown player to hang their hat on?
It should always be in the best interest of the team to have the best product on the field, but maybe the move should be done for historical purposes. He leads the team in RBI and should in runs shortly. Searver is the all time Met, but maybe we need the next generation version. Having a guy that spent his youth a Mets fan, drafted and played only with the Mets organization and having most of the Mets offensive record totals would be a big deal. Isn’t that what we always dream of seeing? He is also the type of guy that can handle that burden and situation for the rest of his life with tremendous class and humility.
This may be the move where you don’t look at payroll and make the move for the sake of a long term outlook that is beyond winning.
Prismo
4/19/2012-4:05pm at 4:05 pm (UTC -4)
It’s a great point salty, and one a lot of people will dismiss regardless. But in reality, it’s not ALL about the numbers.
Stickguy
4/19/2012-4:07pm at 4:07 pm (UTC -4)
it just needs to be a balance. They can’t go too overboard on someone that is not going to come close to producing enough to justify the deal.
Besides, is Wright is the big-money guy, and playing like Bay, fans sure as hell aren’t coming out to see him (unless it is to boo!).
Sure, give him a little extra (turn it into a personal services deal), but you better be comfortable that he isn’t going to be an anchor on the teams play on the field.
kingman 26
4/19/2012-4:27pm at 4:27 pm (UTC -4)
I absolutely agree Salty, and while Keith and Kingman are among my favorite Mets, so are Seaver and Mookie, and I always am VERY enthusiastic about the homegrown. I really do vividly remember following Doc and Straw from day one in the minors, and Jose too. And Tim Leary and Kazmir. And many more.
But Wright’s career just has had WAY too much of a dichotomy pre- and post-beaning.
You cannot give a 5 or 6/100 mil+ deal to the 2009-2011 Wright, no matter how wonderful he may be as a person. That’s just dumb baseball.
If he continues to look like the 2005–2008 Wright for 3-4 months with no major setbacks, then yes, begin to explore it.
gategem
4/20/2012-1:56am at 1:56 am (UTC -4)
I didn’t realize you were a major R&B guy and liked B2K.
srt
4/19/2012-3:33pm at 3:33 pm (UTC -4)
On that note, good interview with Wright and Jerry Crasnick on ESPN:
http://espn.go.com/new-york/story/_/id/7831944/david-wright-chasing-new-york-mets-records-future-remains-uncertain
Prismo
4/19/2012-4:03pm at 4:03 pm (UTC -4)
If “wait and see” is always the correct move, why do teams sign players to extensions at all?
Why did Niese get one? Mets had a few years to “wait and see.” Why Cain, Zimmerman, or the plethera of other top players who signed pre-free agency extensions with their teams?
There are a lot of reasons, and certainly some of it is risk vs. reward.
1. You’re hedging. If Wright is healthy the next 2 seasons and produces, he could easily get a 6 year/100+ MM contract. Whereas the Mets could likely lock him up to that which would start next season, a year sooner. (just guessing) Or he could not produce as well, although he’s always ween at least a good player, and the Mets could end up paying a few million extra per year relative to his true worth. I don’t like the idea of predicting injuries, because those can happen with any contract to any player.
2. You’re taking the pressure off Wright, ownership, and the fanbase. One less thing to worry about, and it’s a big thing. I know it was a long time ago, but some of you may remember when Jose Reyes was set to become a free agent and it was just about all anyone talked about for several months. An extension means none of that with Wright, and the team and fans can focus on other aspects of the ballclub.
3. Actually I think that’s enough. The man deserves an extension and we’ll all be thankful when in 10 years he retires and Braves fans complain about the Wright tribute video being played in his final game at Turner Stadium.
kingman 26
4/19/2012-4:24pm at 4:24 pm (UTC -4)
Well, there are two issues at play here which may not have been in play with many of the others.
One is that it is mid-April 2012, and Wright is under Met control until October 2013. That’s a long time.
Another is that Wright was a player at one level from 2005 until getting hit by Matt Cain in the middle of 2009, and a very different player from his return later in 2009 and the end of 2011.
Which Wright will we be extending?
Having seen at least most of 7 or 8 of Wright’s 9 games thus far in 2012, it appears that he is no longer flinching from inside pitches, no longer flailing at outside pitches, no longer unable to hit to all fields, and appears to be recovering the form that made him great from 2005–2008.
But when he’s under team control until the end of next year and we’ve seen the resurgence for a total of 9 games, why even discuss it yet?
It’s just way, way too early.
Niese is a young lefty pitcher with huge upside. Not a meaningful comparison.
Cain has started between 31 and 34 games every year of his career, has never been hurt and has been very consistent, with WHIP improving since 2008. Very unfair comparison.
Zimmerman might be closer to a relevant comparison, but he’s 2 years younger, had just one injury/down year, and really was just blossoming in 2009–2010; it’s not 4 years since his best years like it is with Wright right now.
Prismo
4/19/2012-4:37pm at 4:37 pm (UTC -4)
I’m fine with waiting until the ASB and trying to work something out around then if everything stays the same. Ideally I’d like to have something done by the end of July (non-waiver trade deadline). Or even a couple weeks before that. I think ASB is ideal though.
ConnorUAF
4/19/2012-4:44pm at 4:44 pm (UTC -4)
ASB would be perfect. It HAS to be done between now and the trade deadline. You don’t want a situation where he is a lame duck next year.
srt
4/19/2012-5:52pm at 5:52 pm (UTC -4)
Agree with this.
SpencerRealDirtyMets
4/19/2012-5:06pm at 5:06 pm (UTC -4)
The Niese contract was a bargain, the Mets would have ended up paying him that much and probably more in arbitration, so why not lock him in at a set price for most of his prime?
If we can sign Wright to a relatively comparable deal than I am all for it.
Hazmet
4/19/2012-5:41pm at 5:41 pm (UTC -4)
Because Niese got one like David and Jose both got early in their careers? Same thing, extend young when it’s smart.
imo – no rush on David yet with the 2013 option. I’ll revisit this thought in late August.
Stickguy
4/19/2012-4:05pm at 4:05 pm (UTC -4)
There is a practical reason to get this done mid-season (say over the ASB). This off season is already going to be crucial, with some big decisions to be made, and a lot of players (in the minors) to deal with.
So, whether Wright is going to be here for 3 months, 1 year, or long term after this season is going to have a major impact on what they do. And the sooner they have the situation resolved, the better positioned they will be to make other moves.
gategem
4/20/2012-2:23am at 2:23 am (UTC -4)
OTOH if you sign Wright at the ASB and he regresses then at the critical junction that you reference the Mets will have to make decisions possibly hamstrung by Wrights contract. It’s easy for us fans to make that decision but ownership may have different ideas. I believe the progression of the youngsters could have a marked influence on whether or not they sign Wright to a long term contract or trade him. The longer they wait the better read they will have on the kids. While I truly like Wright I don’t believe he is essential to the Mets success say as Tom Seaver was in the early days.
Stickguy
4/20/2012-7:32am at 7:32 am (UTC -4)
at some point you can’t be hamstrung by 1 contract. I know it is trite, but this is NY! Even Sandy has said they care allowed to have 1-2 big contracts.
But, sure you can just keep waiting for kids (not that there are any lined up to take over 3B). And have a super low payroll, and never actually have a winning season.
So if they don’t spend some money on Wright to be the veteran leader going forward, and fill in with complementary pieces to try and wind and be competitive, what’s the alternative, just become the Pirates with a $50mill payroll, and an empty stadium?
gategem
4/20/2012-8:47am at 8:47 am (UTC -4)
The potential resources available in New York compared to say Pittsburgh is huge. However, if your attendance is poor and the sale of merchandise is down because you put out a poor product then you can’t afford a large payroll anymore than Pittsburgh can. And we really aren’t privy to the Mets finances so we don’t know if they can afford the risk of a bad contract as the Yankees can. If you are gullible enough to believe what the Mets FO tells you after what we have seen these past few years then I have choice property in South Castlegar, BC, right off the Columbia River. Never mind that for half the year the property is underwater. Think of all the salmon you can catch.
David Wright is a hell of a ballplayer and presently my favorite Met player. But it has been pointed out that at his present age and established performance he is not the type of person you build a ball club around. He’s the missing piece when all the other parts are already in place. And right now the Mets don’t know if they will have all the other parts.
trs86
4/20/2012-8:50am at 8:50 am (UTC -4)
It is true, yet you do have a ton of money coming off the books early in the extension and the issue is that the FA market seems to weaken every year. Would I lock him up for 5/100? Nope. Would I start throwing some 4/70′s out there? Why not?
ConnorUAF
4/19/2012-4:15pm at 4:15 pm (UTC -4)
Wow I actually have a few people on my side! Surprised me.
SpencerRealDirtyMets
4/19/2012-5:08pm at 5:08 pm (UTC -4)
I always check the comments and pray I have a few people defending me. It certainly helps me validate my opinion to myself.
ConnorUAF
4/19/2012-6:58pm at 6:58 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t really think it matters what others think of my opinions. Obviously, if they find flaws in my reasoning, then that’s another thing. But if you can back up your opinion with solid reasons and you really believe in it, then it really doesn’t matter.
Hazmet
4/19/2012-7:34pm at 7:34 pm (UTC -4)
I find your opinions completely supportable while it may appear as though I’m in disagreement. You clearly state sometime in the future during the season. That is a completely reasonable assesment that sometime later in the year an extension should be explored. It’s all a matter of the sliding scale of when. For me, in the first half is too soon. Get to the ASB and start laying the ground work for meaningful discussions to get it done by the end of the year if it can be done within some realm of fiscal responsibility.
But consider that there is no way this is getting done for less than $100M which is a huge commitment for a guy coming off a broken back at nearly 30 years old. Forget the Zimmerman deal as a reference as to me the number is going to be driven by the massive man crush the Rockies have long had for David. Probably the equivalent or exceeding the one the Marlins had for Reyes. The one thing on our side is I believe David seriously wants to stay in NY where I believe Reyes may have been motivated to get to warmer climate for his hammy.
So at what point in the season has David shown his durability has not been compromised by last years back injury that it merits getting this done. That for me is the tipping point and it certainly is not 12 games into the season, or, for me half way through, give me a good 120 games with some good numbers and a healthy body and I’m all in at a reasonable price. Say 5 at $100M as what I expect the starting point for discussion to be. He is not going to come cheap and certainly not for Niese numbers like John’s first deal. This would be a veteran looking for his last big payday so the number is going to be large. I actually expect it to be no less than $120M if he’s healthy. And I don’t expect David to look to sign to soon so he can prove he’s healthy and drive the number north based on performance.
srt
4/20/2012-7:31am at 7:31 am (UTC -4)
‘…the number is going to be driven by the massive man crush the Rockies have long had for David.’
La LA LA – I can’t hear you……
Seriously, all well put. I don’t expect to hear anything about an extension until at least the ASB. Right now, we really don’t know what the FO is thinking regarding this.
- How serious are they – if at all – about re-signing him?
- Will they just pick up the option at the end of this year and just deal with it next year?
- Will they just give us lip service on this one, all the while planning to trade him at some point?
IMO, extending Wright is completely different than Reyes. Of the two, Wright is the better bet.
- less injury plagued career
- better numbers
- less of clear cut heir apparent than we had for Reyes. (i.e. Tejada, who already proved he could play SS at the ML level).
- Mets financial situation more stable than at the time Reyes was walking.
I don’t expect Wright to sustain this very hot start he got off on. However, I’m hoping this apparently healthy Wright is more the 2008 Wright than the one we’ve seen in the past couple of years.
Also hoping we start hearing about talks for extension sometime between the ASB and the end of this season.
NJstuckinTX
4/19/2012-4:59pm at 4:59 pm (UTC -4)
Reading the title of this article, I’m reminded of the Chamber Bros. song “Time has come today”.
darknova306
4/19/2012-7:34pm at 7:34 pm (UTC -4)
Sign him to an extension, then trade him for a boat load! *trolling*
In all seriousness, I agree completely with Kong: wait and see. Wright is a more unique case than just a hot young prospect with tons of upside and a recent track record of success. He looks like he’s back to his old form, but 9 games isn’t enough to judge that on.