May 27
After yesterday’s dominating pitching performance by Johan Santana, today’s question is a no brainer.
Let’s say a team calls up the Mets and wants to trade for Johan. They are willing to give up a top prospect and maybe a couple of minors ones….the only catch is that the Mets are going to have to pick up around 90 percent of his salary for the remaining portion of his contract…..
You going to make that trade? Why or why not?
MLBTradeRumors
How Much Longer Should The Mets Go... { We'll see. Not sure how... } – May 20, 5:44 PM
How Much Longer Should The Mets Go... { In one of my rare... } – May 20, 4:45 PMHow Much Longer Should The Mets Go... { When these guys cool off... } – May 20, 4:27 PMHow Much Longer Should The Mets Go... { The other teams tried that... } – May 20, 4:20 PMHow Much Longer Should The Mets Go... { You still have to make... } – May 20, 4:16 PM
13 comments
drklynoon
5/27/2012-9:10am at 9:10 am (UTC -4)
If I was Sandy I’d say no. Next year with the same prop I maight be inclined to say yes but with a year and a half on the books it would be foolish to pay for an ace on another team for prospects. Santana has value to this team as a leader and as a seat filler. the extra ten percent that the other team would pick up would be lost due to a drop in attendance. This would essential make this a straight up trade of prospects for Johan frickin Santana. I just don’t see it being worth it. Outside of your example I have a hard time seeing Sandy trading Johan if this team stays above .500. The loss of Beltran and Reyes last year could be a cause for the drop in attendance this year and I am pretty sure that trading Johan would drop attendance even lower. If that is true then it would be worth while for the Mets to keep him until his contract runs out and by then maybe the team is well on their way to recovery and could withstand the blow of the departure.
SaltyGary
5/27/2012-10:43am at 10:43 am (UTC -4)
Hey drkly welcome. If you want a avatar picture just set one up at gravatar.com.
srt
5/27/2012-9:17am at 9:17 am (UTC -4)
Tough question…..
At this trade deadline? Picking up 90% of his contract will be expensive, even for the turn you’re suggesting. Especially since we’ve got no one to replace him in the rotation.
I suppose it would all come down to who those prospects were. If we’re getting the top near ready catching prospect or someone like Bryce Harper? Tempting……but that’s not happening.
I predict Johan will remain with the team all season.
Stickguy
5/27/2012-10:16am at 10:16 am (UTC -4)
Under your conditions, I say no. Could be different if a team came along offering to take ont he salary, but if that happened, you are getting no more than a couple of spare part fillers to make it look like a trade and not a buy. I can’t see even the Yankees ponying up that much money.
so I think he stays. They hopefully have the budget stabilized, and they have no replacement for him (or anywhere really to spend the money).
Could be different if they were down in Cubs/Padres territory in the standings, but as long as they are competitive, no chance.
Now, if someone makes an offer for pay with 90% of the salary, any return is more than acceptable!
SaltyGary
5/27/2012-10:50am at 10:50 am (UTC -4)
Where I see a real problem with the trade is if someone paid most of the salary. Then all you would hear is Sandy is dumping salary he doesn’t care about winning blah blah blah.
NJstuckinTX
5/27/2012-11:20am at 11:20 am (UTC -4)
Sandy pays most of the salary, he got fleeced. Sandy gets the other team to pay, it’s a salary dump. Catch 22.
SaltyGary
5/27/2012-11:37am at 11:37 am (UTC -4)
I know, doesn’t it make your head spin.
SaltyGary
5/27/2012-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
No Way. Even if it was 25% of the salary I would have a tough time right now. These kids are going to be up soon enough and I want him around to show them the right way to approach games and handle themselves on the team. Plus the rotation is so weak right now the team cant afford his loss.
NJstuckinTX
5/27/2012-11:18am at 11:18 am (UTC -4)
I’m with the Salt. Unless they are getting major prospects back (thinking two blue chippers and 1-2 others) if they want the Mets to pick up that much salary. Even then, I’d say a 50% pick up on the salary would be the max the Mets should do.
Honestly, it probably makes sense to move Santana for said blue chip prospect (Travis D’Arnaud anyone?) plus a couple extras, take the savings from that in order to extend Wright and have some extra cash to be used for next off season (SP depth, bench depth, extension for Dickey, etc). The SP rotation would be Dickey, Niese, Gee, Harvey & SP acquisition with Mejia and others waiting in the wings. Then come the following year, with Bay kicked to the curb, the finances would be there to sign a top of the rotation type pitcher as a finishing touch to give the Mets a WS contending team. Bam, and the Sandy-ologists are confirmed correct and the crowd rejoiced.
gategem
5/27/2012-12:36pm at 12:36 pm (UTC -4)
Isn’t it easy being a GM? LOL
SaltyGary
5/27/2012-11:47am at 11:47 am (UTC -4)
OK just got back from Disney and I’ve been there four years in a row now and I have some exciting news regarding fandom. I love paying attention to who wheres what team. Every year I drive the wife bizonkers by counting how many Phili fans there are and getting all pissed. I think it was last year that I my count got close to 30 and no other teams came close.
Well I am happy to say that I didn’t annoy her this time. The Phili count was down to about 3 families. They were ghosts and those fair weather fans are wearing their eagles caps again. Good riddance. Tamp Bay had a very strong showing which is good because Tampa isn’t far away and it’s nice to see the locals finally buying in. Number one was Boston. I don’t know if there was some kind of school break, seems late in the year, but they blew everyone out of the water. Saw about 5 Mets caps. I talked to a guy from queens that worked at Epcot, and he said the Mets caps are starting to come back again.
Other notables were some Texas, a few Yankees but pretty weak showing by them, and some Cinci.
srt
5/27/2012-12:08pm at 12:08 pm (UTC -4)
Surprised about the low number of Yankee gear. Except for the locals, I would expect that would have come in second.
Paul
5/27/2012-11:50pm at 11:50 pm (UTC -4)
If the Mets could get a major league ready, top flight prospect plus another high risk / high reward prospect, I would make the trade.
I’m not concerned about the potential loss in ticket sales, since the park is only half-full most nights as it is.
The Mets probably will not be ready to win before Johan Santana’s contract is up at the end of 2013. (No one is going to touch his option for 2014)
A top level major league-ready prospect would help more than a pitcher who has to have his pitch count closely monitored and effort made to get him extra rest when possible.