I admit that I am not right about many things.If that was true I would be a wealthy man. But last season I had predicted that Angel Pagan would be non-tendered. Okay so he was traded – not non-tendered (semantics) but I was right that he wore out his welcome with the team brass.
On December 7th of last year, Pagan was traded to the San Francisco Giants for outfielder, Andres Torres as well as middle reliever, Ramon Ramirez..While on the surface it seems like the Giants got the better end of the deal – Pagan appeared in 154 games and batted .288 with 8 homers and 56 RBI’s as their lead-off hitter. Andres Torres and Ramirez were ineffective at best, but I still believe that this trade will work in the Mets favor. First off Torres most likely will be non-tendered due to the fact he will get a raise via arbitration. Torres – like Pagan during his time with the Mets proved to be a butcher on the base paths and sloppy in the outfield. I can see the Mets re-signing Ramirez because it is common for a reliever to have a off season, and his prior pitching line shows he is so much better than what he showed us last season.
I also feel that Pagan needed a change of scenery. There was a lot of pressure for him to be as good as Carlos Beltran at the plate as well as in the field – something that most centerfielders in the game would find difficult to replicate. With the Giants Pagan has been able to find himself, and he has been healthier than he was in his Mets days, and he seems to be comfortable and less moody – something he has admitted to on the record with Mets beat reporters.
Pagan will be a free agent after this season and I expect a team – it could be the Giants or another team that will be willing to overpay him for his services, and I expect him to become the Oliver Perez of the outfield ( hefty contract that will handcuff whatever team he signs with).
Look I have met Pagan and he is a good guy, but with that said I don’t think he would have thrived in New York. It speaks volumes that when Sandy Alderson – a good judge of talent , who knows that the outfield was weak to begin with traded a Pagan – a player with good raw talent but a lack of base running instincts and who took questionable routes in the outfield.
In the end I think history will prove that Pagan is better suited as a mid level starting outfielder at best – and a above average fourth outfielder at worse. Either way I am happy to see him in the World Series – he is deserving of a ring.
And with that said…. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday includes:
Reserve outfielder from ’82-’83, Gary Rajsich is 58 (1954).
Pinch Hitting specialist from ’98-’01, Lenny Harris is 48 (1964).
Utility infielder from ’93-’96, Tim Bogar is 46 (1966).
Mets closer from ’04-’05, Braden Looper is 38 (1974).
Current Mets back stop, Josh Thole is 26 (1986). I hope next season he can finally put up respectable offensive numbers.
Sadly on this day in 1993, spot starter/ middle reliever, Cal Koonce passed away. Koonce pitched for the Mets from ’67-’70.
The New York Mets released third baseman, Ed Charles on October 28, 1969. “The Glider” was a journeyman third baseman by the time he reached the Mets, but he was a presence in the clubhouse, and helped the ’69 team to the World Series.
The New York Mets released third baseman, Bob Aspromonte on October 28, 1971.
The New York Mets granted reserve outfielder, Gerald Williams free agency on October 28, 2005.
Mo Vaughn doesn’t consider “Rice A Roni” a San Francisco Treat !!!!
6 comments
srt
10/28/2012-8:29am at 8:29 am (UTC -4)
I didn’t mind when they traded Pagan. I do believe you’re correct in that he probably needed out of NY. He apparently got some label attached to him regarding his confidence and mindset and once that happens, it’s hard to shake that.
He wasn’t doing all that well coming into August, as they had him batting 5th. They moved him to lead off beginning of Aug and he finished strong those last two months.
Wonder where he’ll wind up and what kind of contract he’ll get?
Stickguy
10/28/2012-9:33am at 9:33 am (UTC -4)
I agree Rusty. At the time, I understood the reason for the trade, and thought it was an OK swap. Did not, on the surface, seem to work out for the Mets. But, as you noted, far from a guarantee he would have had a good year with the Mets (and he really only had a “big” year compared to Met CFs. in absolute terms, he was good, not great).
I don’t, however, think they will offer Ramirez the 3mill+ deal that will be required. if he has a big rebound year, oh well. And typical Met luck. But I really don’t think they have the $ or desire to bring him back. And Torres has to go.
IMO, Torres was also intended to be a placeholder until Kirk was ready, then a 4th OF>
but, key to the deal, it was of no ongoing impact. Everyone can be a FA this year (no LT commitments) so no harm no foul.
I also laugh, for these reasons (well, and others) at the subset of fans that despise Sandy so much, they have no objectivity. These are the ones that somehow feel that this deal, and signing a guy like Rauch, somehow Elevate Sandy to be the stupidest GM ever, and that they destroyed the Mets. B.S there.
srt
10/28/2012-11:56am at 11:56 am (UTC -4)
We need to part ways with Ramirez. He might be just one of those players who can’t perform in NY. I don’t want to spend the money to find out…..
Bear Man
10/28/2012-11:11am at 11:11 am (UTC -4)
I might be in the minority who was upset the Mets traded Pagan. At the time I thought he was an asset to the team and not a detriment.
But after reading your points, Rusty, I can see why this was a good business decision for the Mets as well as a good move for Pagan. He’s now beloved in San Francisco and is going to get the ring he might never have gotten in New York.
It’s hard to make me change my mind about players I love, but you managed to do it. Nice job, Rusty!
gategem
10/28/2012-1:24pm at 1:24 pm (UTC -4)
Pagan has health problems that include colitis and bouts of depression. Both can and will affect his performance on the field. He’s a very physically gifted player that will probably never live up to his potential. The Giants caught a break (is it a break or is Sabean a shrewd GM) as Pagan played well enough this season to help them to what will probably be a WS title. The Mets made the correct transaction in trading Pagan and the Giants an even better transaction in acquiring him.
Stickguy
10/28/2012-2:28pm at 2:28 pm (UTC -4)
it seems to be impossible for some people to to grasp, but it is possible for a deal that does not work out to still have been the right deal, at the time. You also can’t assume a guy does the same thing if you don’t trade him. Especially a guy like Pagan, and the situation with the mets.