No matter what Mets site, MLB radio show, or sports network you attend during the day the topic of David Wright seems to permeate the airways for Mets fans. All day people, including myself, discuss the worth of our All-Star 3B and one of the best if not the best position player the Mets have ever developed. Do the Mets sign him long-term? Do they trade him to whatever team willing to give prospects to complete the rebuild process? Do they let him play out his contract and then see where the team is at that point? And even those options have sub-options.
1) Sign him long-term, GET IT DUN SANDY: How long is long and for how much? As our guys at MMO will tell you Sandy don’t like no long-term contracts. Well that’s not exactly what he said. He said those were reserved for the young elite. Is Wright one of those young elites? Looking at MLBTR’s list of potential FA for this off-season I counted less than five positional players younger than Wright. Clearly if Wright was a FA this off-season he would leap to the top of almost every offensive wish list, perhaps only second to Josh Hamilton, baggage and all. So back to the point, what’s he worth? Obviously most fans would love to get Wright for 4 years and about 18 per season. I don’t see that happening. This season has proven, while streaky, that Wright is still a top level 3B and that is a commodity that won’t be cheap. I would imagine that it will take the Mets no less than 5 additional years at 18-20M per year. If you do not feel that option one works for the Mets, move to option 2.
2) TRAID WRIGHT!!!: Boy this group has been throwing this out there since the fateful September night that determined if Wright was clutch or not. But does it now have merit? Will they get their wish? Because of a clause in Wright’s contract, he could void his 2013 contract if traded during the 2012 season. Based on speculative reports, Wright can officially be traded after the World Series as soon as the Mets pick up his option for 2013. So what is the thought process behind trading Wright? I mean besides he stole the press from Reyes and struck out in September while batting about .350 for the month? The Mets are bad and Wright is our best asset if trading for prospects is your idea of fixing the current direction of the Mets. Wright has proven one thing, as all stars do, he can’t do it by himself and currently there is no one close to providing a consistent threat in the lineup to back him up. Please don’t say Ike either. While he has made great strides, Adam Dunn of the East needs to put up numbers over an entire season before he can be counted on as protection for anyone. So back to the point again. In theory the Mets are bad enough with Wright so might as well trade him instead of getting nothing. Add to that the contention that focuses only on the comments made by Wright about looking to play for a winner and you have the potential to have the Reyes situation over again where the Mets get uh… who did we draft for Reyes? So if the Mets do decide that trading Wright is in the best interest what should they look for and what level of players could they get? Boy, there’s a mystery. You get one season of Wright, the Mets would need to make sure he was willing to negotiate with that team to maximize the trade value. I would expect 2 players within a reasonable level of Wheeler and a filler piece or two. I saw one poster speculate about another trade with the Giants, our favorite trading partner. David Wright for Gary Brown, Pablo, one more top level prospect and filler. I have no idea what the offers would actually be only that the Mets could look to plug 3B to wait on Flores to develop for another year and would have to do it with a RH. Of course you would free up Wright’s 15-20M for other players but who is going to replace that production and would the Wilpons even spend it.
3) You Got Him For One More Year, Why the Rush?: You don’t hear this group as much but it has it’s own reasoning as well. The Mets were supposed to answer a lot of questions this year. Unfortunately many of those questions turned into more questions. Davis, Duda, Murphy, Gee… With Johan and Bay still on the books surrounded by so many question marks 2013 is bound to be another “transition year” as well. Perhaps the D & D become the middle of the lineup force, perhaps the rotation and pen become strengths. If so then you have an All-Star 3B for another year and have a chance to compete by adding a little here and there and then reassess in July and or October of 2013. Perhaps you are putting off the inevitable but you could buy yourself time and if Wright really wants to stay you could re-sign him after the season. Call this the Reyes plan. However, just because the Reyes plan backfired, does that mean this one will as well?
Personally I can’t back any of the options 100%. Currently I think they have to either work out an extension by the Winter Meetings or send him packing by Christmas. This isn’t an easy decision that Sandy and the Mets are faced with and as usual there will be detractors regardless. My hope is that what we wished for when Sandy came in, the adult in the room, is able to look at all alternatives and make a decision based on the long-term success of the Mets and not the current whims of the fans. If for nothing else it should make for an interesting winter.
47 comments
darknova306
9/17/2012-1:44pm at 1:44 pm (UTC -4)
TRAID WRIGHT FOR ALL TEH GRITTY JUSTIN TURNERS!!!
JJ
9/17/2012-2:04pm at 2:04 pm (UTC -4)
Pitching, Pitching, Pitching, and more Pitching!
TRS86
9/17/2012-2:12pm at 2:12 pm (UTC -4)
I would have agreed but is that now the true need of the team?
With Harvey, Wheeler, Niese, Gee all being young and under control and Dickey as a potential extension candidate is it pitching we still need or is it offense? If you trade Wright you HAVE to bring in at least two RH bats to make up for his production and they better be ready soon.
Stickguy
9/17/2012-2:19pm at 2:19 pm (UTC -4)
considering that outside of Nimmo and Flores, the system may not have any viable position prospects (that can play both sides of the ball), and lots of intriguing arms, I am going with glaring need right now is positional.
If they could trade DW and end up with 2 of CF/C/3B/SS/2B back to play pretty much right now, and another guy a little further away, it would help a lot.
TRS86
9/17/2012-2:24pm at 2:24 pm (UTC -4)
Would it? I mean, unless those two are going to replace the current player AND Wright’s production in the next couple of years all you are doing is creating another hole.
In a perfect world you keep Wright, trade for Gomez, re-sign Dickey, trade Fulmer and Flores in a package to get Justin Upton and go to war and hopefully be in the hunt for the playoffs.
Stickguy
9/17/2012-2:16pm at 2:16 pm (UTC -4)
hey, a think piece! nice.
I think they will kick the tires on a combo of all 3. Certainly will explore the extension option . Depending on the reception, they will either kick the tires on on #2, or jump in with both feet.
they only move onto option #3 if they get a definitive “maybe” from Wright (the old, I want to see how things look first), but not a flat out No or $ minimum they will never touch. And, nothing jumps out from option #2.
because I would bet that it Sandy does not have a done deal, he is going to look for his best out. If that is off season, he goes. If all the factors don’t quite work, then thy could roll with #3, and hope to woo him over mid-season, or trade him in July.
that last one is a real crapshoot (do you get 1st half or 2nd half DW with this hanging over his head?). Running it out to FA seems like a long shot, and that only happens if he is having a disappointing year, and the trade offers are underwhelming.
and at some point, the Mets may just say his production is not worth a big contract.
wanny
9/17/2012-2:34pm at 2:34 pm (UTC -4)
I agree with your inconclusive conclusion. There’s merit to all three options.
Based on Sandy’s prior actions I would guess he chooses three.
I would probably agree with your conclusion to try to sign him and then deal him if you can’t come to an agreement. In a lot of ways, trading David this winter is striking while the iron is hot (even if his second half has been pretty cold). He’s proven healthy and effective again and played at an elite level when the team around him was contributing. He would be attractive to other teams.
However, I do not think he’s worth the type of deal that Ryan Zimmerman received (Zimmerman did not deserve it either) and my gut tells me trading him is the right way to go if that’s what he is looking for.
Any ideas on potential trade partners?
TRS86
9/17/2012-3:02pm at 3:02 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t think he will get Zimmerman money. I have always said just because someone else is stupid doesn’t mean your IQ decreases because of it. Let the Marlins and Redsox (Dodgers) suffer for Reyes and Crawford, let the Nats eventually suffer for Zimm like they are Werth. That is what got us to overpay Bay, because Holliday got overpaid. What a great reason to overpay!
I have to wonder if they will wait to trade him until after the season ticket sales go out? Wouldn’t that kill off every bit of good will left, if there is any.
As for partners, I don’t see that the Rockies would be a good spot anymore as they are contemplating rebuilding already and Wright doesn’t pitch. If the Yankees got out of rotating DH mode but imagine the Mets trading him to the Yankees. Same to be said for the Phillies and Braves I am guessing.
Cincy? Rolen is 90 years old and is a FA at the end of the year. They have some decent offensive prospects to throw on the wall. I would also imagine Wright wouldn’t mind playing for a team not too far from his home.
Dodgers? Why the hell not? LOL. They plan on having a payroll over 200M anyway. They are win now if you ever saw one. If they hadn’t signed Either at such a terrible rate you could try and take him back as your CF but ….
Dbacks: They were rumored to be in the first time. I have no idea what they got but they aren’t missing the playoffs by much and could use a bat like Wright.
TRS86
9/17/2012-3:02pm at 3:02 pm (UTC -4)
Didn’t have time to look at the AL.
wanny
9/17/2012-3:38pm at 3:38 pm (UTC -4)
Could see CHW or CAL of ANA Ducks being interested but I don’t really see a lot of depth to their minor league system. CHW has some toolsy outfielders like Hawkins (probably untouchable right now) and Jared Mitchell but Mithcell doesn’t seem like a Sandy kind of guy. Trace Thompson might be playing the wrong sport but looks like a RH Ike Davis (2012 version) in the OF.
TRS86
9/17/2012-4:13pm at 4:13 pm (UTC -4)
Well the Angels could be intriguing. I am not as high on Burgawhatevr as many but he would be better than what we got, they have Hank Conger in AAA who is a good hitting catcher (switch hitter), and Luis Jimenez at 3B.
wanny
9/17/2012-4:23pm at 4:23 pm (UTC -4)
Conger hasn’t performed in his 200 MLB at bats but might just need a chance. He’s still only 24 and rakes at AAA.
Jimenez doesn’t strike me as a Sandy guy. Zero plate discipline and questionable defense. Looks like he has power though.
I don’t love Bourjos as a starter. But his defense would make him a hell of a 4th outfielder. Or a great starting CFer if he played between two mashers that the Mets don’t have.
wanny
9/17/2012-3:28pm at 3:28 pm (UTC -4)
Cincy can plug Todd Frazier in at 3rd. Or they can make him part of the package to the Mets. Would be fun to acquire the much ballyhooed speedster Billy Hamilton in a deal.
Arizona is interesting. Wright for Upton makes sense for the Mets in that a) they get the young RH power bat for the outfield that is no where in the system, and b) he is signed reasonably through 2016 ($38m due over the next three years). If the real Justin Upton shines through, the Mets lose nothing and probably save a few scheckels in the process.
Perhaps Arizona would consider it in order to eliminate the Upton headache (as long as they were willing to sign Wright long term).
TRS86
9/17/2012-4:06pm at 4:06 pm (UTC -4)
Hadn’t really thought about involving Upton there. Do you think you could expand the deal to make it more than straight up?
wanny
9/17/2012-4:09pm at 4:09 pm (UTC -4)
I can do anything my imagination allows. But would Arizona be interested in expanding a deal in which they are likely taking on big money and giving up the younger established player (Upton is far more valuable than anybody who currently qualifies as a prospect).
TRS86
9/17/2012-4:14pm at 4:14 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, I was thinking more along the lines of sending more than Wright and getting back more than Upton.
wanny
9/17/2012-4:15pm at 4:15 pm (UTC -4)
As far as prospects go, AZ’s got plenty of them. Surely enough to entice the Mets as long as they are so willing to deal them.
For positional prospects, the outfielder Adam Eaton is the flavor of the month after obliterating the hitter friendly PCL to beyond even good-for-PCL numbers, as well as outfielder AJ Pollock, 3B men Matt Davidson and Ryan Wheeler and C Stryker Trahan.
Plenty of pitchers to chose from too.
wanny
9/17/2012-2:51pm at 2:51 pm (UTC -4)
The Orioles seem like a good fit because Wright is localish, JJ Hardy is disgustingly bad and Baltimore might be fooled into thinking they can do this next year too. Not sure how deep their prospect pool is, though it is very high on top with guys that likely won’t deal: Bundy, Gausman and Machado.
But a package with Jonathan Schoop might be a good start (would love to get local boy Nick Markakis but that’s not going to happen for a lot of reasons).
TRS86
9/17/2012-3:03pm at 3:03 pm (UTC -4)
Well actually they got a kid playing 3B that they are very high on. Machado as you said is already up and playing. While he is not polished I think they would view him as their future there.
wanny
9/17/2012-3:21pm at 3:21 pm (UTC -4)
Machado is their SS of the future. For some reason they decided to play him at 3B in deference to JJ Hardy.
Reese
9/17/2012-3:39pm at 3:39 pm (UTC -4)
I can see a deal with the Reds starting with Devin Morasco, Billy Hamilton plus another piece or two.
wanny
9/17/2012-3:45pm at 3:45 pm (UTC -4)
I’d be interested to see how Cincy’s front office would respond to that proposal. They traded Grandal because they were high on Mesoraco and Hamilton is their current top prospect. Mesoraco was the 16h top prospect per BA before 2012. That’s a hefty package.
I would think it more likely that a package from Cincy would center around one of the two… if either.
Pacific NorthTex
9/17/2012-3:54pm at 3:54 pm (UTC -4)
Can Hamilton hit?
wanny
9/17/2012-4:10pm at 4:10 pm (UTC -4)
At High A and AA this year: .311 .410 .420
Pacific NorthTex
9/17/2012-4:16pm at 4:16 pm (UTC -4)
I’d take that. Would prefer more pop, but with his speed, you can’t complain.
TRS86
9/17/2012-4:17pm at 4:17 pm (UTC -4)
Keep in mind he is still young. He’s never gonna be a HR hitter but he did have 22 doubles and 14 triples this year to go with holy hell, 155 steals.
wanny
9/17/2012-4:25pm at 4:25 pm (UTC -4)
From what I’ve read, his defensive home might be in CF. I think we can probably fit him there.
TRS86
9/17/2012-4:15pm at 4:15 pm (UTC -4)
He might be stupid but he sure can run… Forest Gump flashbacks.
Yeah, guys a stud and I can’t see them trading him for a year of Wright.
Pacific NorthTex
9/17/2012-4:02pm at 4:02 pm (UTC -4)
See, when inspired, you produce some good stuff.
I think you are right that it will be a combo of options 1 and 2. Try to sign and if not, trade him away. Technically ATL and PHL could be destinations for him, though I don’t see him going in the division. Other option could be the est is Cincy for the catcher and Fraiser plus another 2 pcs. You could Ben take Rolen back to stopgap at 3B to give them salary relief, but increase the pospct package.
TRS86
9/17/2012-4:08pm at 4:08 pm (UTC -4)
I think Rolen is a FA. Hey, who is this?
Pacific NorthTex
9/17/2012-4:15pm at 4:15 pm (UTC -4)
Who do you think?
I thought he was a FA after 2013, but I could be wrong.
Sitting at the Issaquah brewery, enjoying cooler temps and a Rogue Brutal IPA. Ah…
TRS86
9/17/2012-4:16pm at 4:16 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, just giving you a hard time.
Anyway, he’s on the MLBTR list for this off-season
Third basemen
Miguel Cairo (39)
Eric Chavez (35)
Mark DeRosa (38)
Brandon Inge (36)
Maicer Izturis (32)
Jose Lopez (29)
Placido Polanco (37) – $5.5MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout
Mark Reynolds (29) – $11MM club option with a $500K buyout
Scott Rolen (38)
Ty Wigginton (35) – $4MM club option with a $500K buyout
David Wright (30) – $16MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Kevin Youkilis (34) – $13MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Pacific NorthTex
9/17/2012-4:18pm at 4:18 pm (UTC -4)
Then all the better.
TRS86
9/17/2012-4:20pm at 4:20 pm (UTC -4)
Looking at that list though you see how valuable Wright is for sure.
kingman 26
9/17/2012-6:20pm at 6:20 pm (UTC -4)
Have been a huge fan of Wright’s but let’s face it, he has been great for three months since 2008, April/May/June 2012, and since then he has been precisely the 2011 Wright.
He is about to turn 30, and signing him to a massive deal would be insane.
I say dangle him extensively and try very, very hard to get 2 Wheeler-level prospects for him, regardless of position. Keep building the pitching. Build a great rotation and a very good pen, and you do not need even one player of Wright’s 2005–2008 caliber; all you need is a team with good solid players like Tejada, and a few good fielders with a bit of pop like Ike.
There’s zero chance we will see a much different team in 2013, and we can hope–hope–that losing Bay and Johan will free up some dollars for a new bullpen and team depth in 2014.
20 mil a year for Wright is just not sensible for this team.
If there is no market? Wait it out and see how he starts next year, hope he starts off hot, and let contenders bid for him.
And while he may not be a part of the problem, this team has run the same movie now for 4 straight years, and Wright has been a star every year. Change is needed, and very, very badly.
Could it be that Wright really IS a soft non-leader who is not respected in the clubhouse? I do not know, but I know what I have seen for 4 years in a row, and I know what I have seen from Wright almost every day in the second half—the fader-in-chief leading the team to the bottom for the 4th year in a row.
Again, not saying he is unclutch, and he was not a person to blame for 2007 or 2008, but it really probably is time to have a new “face of the franchise” guy.
Thanks for everything, I will root for you to succeed elsewhere, I hope you get a ring to smack your naysayers in the face with, but you need to be traded for prospects before we sign you to an Omarian deal.
trs86
9/17/2012-6:32pm at 6:32 pm (UTC -4)
Well thats certainly yhe other side of the coin.
kingman 26
9/17/2012-7:43pm at 7:43 pm (UTC -4)
TRS–I assure you I am neither bi-polar nor fickle.
But change is needed.
No?
Trs86
9/17/2012-8:42pm at 8:42 pm (UTC -4)
I agree change was needed, where we differ is on if it has already began.
kingman 26
9/17/2012-11:50pm at 11:50 pm (UTC -4)
No sir, I think where we differ is on whether the change thus far has been part of a real plan for the future, or just whatever can be done to save the Wilpons as owners.
I strongly believe it is the latter, without a doubt.
srt
9/18/2012-7:27am at 7:27 am (UTC -4)
‘…or just whatever can be done to save the Wilpons as owners.’
Bingo….couldn’t agree more kingman.
That being said, we all know the team has gone downhill since 2006.
- First they tried replacing the manager – twice.
- Then it was ‘break up the core’. Done. Only one left from that 2006 team is David Wright.
- Two years ago, it was a new FO and an overall at the minors league level by the new FO.
Yet not much has changed….yet.
I realize this FO was stuck with 4 biggger contracts when it came in and not much of a cohesive team. But when you historically slash payroll 50 MIL from one year to the next, it’s about the money and nothing but the money. Team SA was brought in on a deal with the Wilpons and Selig to save the team financially for the Wilpons. Everything else after that is secondary. SA will be here through his contract then pass the torch.
And while I’m not disagreeing the team needed to go in another direction – because we could all clearly see that – I’m not convinced following that to the letter of the law is necessary. Meaning I think they need to make every effort to sign Wright.
I still believe Wright is part of the solution. They need to not only build a contender but need to build a team that clicks together – chemistry, if you will (although I hate that word as applied to ML teams).
Case in point is the Marlins. They went out and tried to buy up every available big name FA over the last off season. They succeeded in getting Reyes and Buehrle and Bell. Yet look where they wound up by mid season. It’s not just assembling talent. The pieces have to fit.
I think the only way Wright is not on the team going forward is if Wright himself decides it’s time to move on. If he won’t sign, they need to trade him – which might be his goal all along come this off season. But if they just low ball him or hem and haw on contract negotiations ala Reyes, I’m going to have a hard time supporting anything they’re trying to do. Fans aren’t that stupid. Either make the commitment or be honest in the direction you’re trying to go in and the vision for the future.
This isn’t politics. I think baseball fans are smarter on the whole than your average voter. At least in the sense that we probably pay way more attention to what our team is doing than we do in what the politicians are trying to sell. Don’t insult our intelligence. Give us the plan, stick by it and let us decide if we believe they’re moving in the right direction.
Stickguy
9/18/2012-8:25am at 8:25 am (UTC -4)
what would actually be best is if Wright put the team first. Not by signing a cheap deal (not happening) but by not holding them hostage.
that is, tell them right up front that yes, I want to be back, here is the required (reasonable for both sides deal) that will do it, and I will sign now. Or, tell them that short of Pujols money (as in, NFW it happens) I want to move on for a change, and I will not be signing a new deal, so trade me know.
and key to that, no leaks to the press! Basically giving the mets the blessing (and direction) to go trade him, but without cutting their leverage off entirely.
worst case is a passive-aggressive stall tactic, so the team can’t really tell what they are looking for.
srt
9/18/2012-9:05am at 9:05 am (UTC -4)
Agree, stick.
Letting these negotiations drag out all winter while they both play cat and mouse with each other is definitely a worst case scenario.
darknova306
9/17/2012-9:48pm at 9:48 pm (UTC -4)
Wright would be dumb to sign with this team, they’re going nowhere really fast.
Get traded to a contender, David, and get the uber-overpay that some Omar-wannabe will drop on you. Go for the ring AND the money, bud! You deserve it after your buddy Reyes helped choke you out of the playoffs in 07 and 08 while you were carrying the damn team.
And the Mets would be insane to give this guy an uber-deal. $20M a year for a guy that hasn’t been consistently elite over a full season since 2008? Yeah, the April/May/June of this year was a really fun period, but he’s back to Kaptain K. Wright can be a nice complimentary piece for an already really good team. That’s not the Mets.
And the “face of the franchise” thing I find to be highly overrated. Win baseball games, and that sort of thing takes care of itself. Just win, baby.
Hazmet
9/17/2012-10:01pm at 10:01 pm (UTC -4)
This, especially the deserve it portion for the ring and $$.
Eddie Coleman on WFAN this afternoon discussed Wright’s drop off and he said that every opposing Manager he speaks with before a series has stated they will not let Wright beat them and he will see nothing to hit. While an obvious observation to hear their beat writer state it that clearly along with the fact that he has no one in the line up around him and they have no talent, which is what he said, goes a long way as to why David’s dropped off. Put him in a line up with Pujols and Trout or a bandbox like Cincy with their line up and watch the numbers he’d put up. I love #5 but I’m all about “Free David Wright” now. He deserves a legit shot at competitive championship baseball instead of this crap in Flushing.
wanny
9/17/2012-11:02pm at 11:02 pm (UTC -4)
Tough to argue with anything you say here, Kong. (And I am a professional arguer.)
kingman 26
9/17/2012-11:42pm at 11:42 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks Wanny. I am a pro too, and I know one when I see one.
I love the team, but this is just ridiculous at this point.
How many years can we watch the same movie with the same star?
I say four years is enough.
srt
9/17/2012-7:09pm at 7:09 pm (UTC -4)
I’ll take door number one, please.
Money and years aside, I don’t think locking him up will be easy. From Wright’s own comments he seems to be wanting to see some proof of the Mets moving in the direction of a competitive team – sooner rather than later. And if this is true, these contract extensions might drag on all winter. Which, just cannot happen.
If it seems like he has no intention of signing here, you have to trade him. The only way we’ll get anything of value back for him is if a team will have his services for the entire year. Playing him and dealing him at the trade deadline is not going to work much for the Mets.