It appears that the market for AJ isn’t what he would like. While I assumed with Russell Martin getting 2/17 and Mike Napoli getting 3/39, Pierzynski would fall in between, based on current rumors he is not getting the interest he desires. Is it possible that because AJ is such a polarizing figure that he may have to settle for one year with an attainable option based on PA?
Would he settle for 1/9+ a 12 million dollar club option with a 3M buyout? That gives you one year of AJ for 12M or 2 years at 21M, certainly a fair market deal for the 37 year old catcher. It would also allow them possibly offer him a qualifying offer following 2013 and obtain a draft pick if he didn’t accept the deal. Basically meaning the Mets could go year to year with AJ as long as either were willing.
Of course the question would remain, could the Mets even afford such a deal? Although the Mets have forked out cash on Wright it really did nothing to show that they are currently in better financial standing, especially if reports are accurate that Wright deferred 2013 money. However, one thing that intrigues me is why would Wright agree to defer money from 2013 unless he is under the assumption the Mets will indeed spend that money to improve the roster?
Lets assume that the Mets trade either Niese or Dickey for an OF. I know that isn’t the most popular idea among all fans but I do believe at this point it is a reality. Under that same assumption the Mets will not be trading either for someone who takes up cash. Under that premise they would have money to spend on catcher, BP and another starter like Lannan to fill out the rotation. That BP pitcher could come in the pitching trade. I am well aware that the catcher could as well but in the current market I am afraid the trade demands for catcher outweigh the production delivered.
Let me also say that keep in mind according to Metsblog’s Matt Cerrone the Mets haven’t shown any interest in A.J. Pierzynski and this post is most likely moot.
24 comments
TX
12/5/2012-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
Would make Stick’s day if they did.
I’d be much happier with AJ on the team vs. T-Hole and ShopVac.
srt
12/5/2012-12:24pm at 12:24 pm (UTC -4)
I’d be happier with AJ as well.
I have to imagine the fact that no rumors have been linked to him from the Mets means they’re not willing or able to come close to the money and years he’s asking for.
Prismo
12/5/2012-12:12pm at 12:12 pm (UTC -4)
As you said, probably a moot point. And I think even if the Mets wanted him, they don’t have $9MM to throw at a catcher.
Hypothetically, if our payroll wasn’t sh*t, I think this would be a very good move for the Mets to make. Low-risk in that it’s 1 or 2 years, and a significant offensive upgrade at a position. (Given that the guy just had the best offensive season of his long career, which is a bit fishy)
TRS86
12/5/2012-12:24pm at 12:24 pm (UTC -4)
Well if you trade Dickey you have another 5M to throw on catcher and you also have the 4-5M you would have spent on an OF.
Stick
12/5/2012-1:23pm at 1:23 pm (UTC -4)
and even better, absolutely no need for Thole!
kingman 26
12/5/2012-1:14pm at 1:14 pm (UTC -4)
“Would he settle for 1/9+ a 12 million dollar club option with a 3M buyout?”
Probably and really, a fine question.
“Of course the question would remain, could the Mets even afford such a deal?”
Probably not, and an even better question.
“…why would Wright agree to defer money from 2013 unless he is under the assumption the Mets will indeed spend that money to improve the roster?”
Because he wanted to make $1 more than Johan’s deal, because he loves being rich and living in Manhattan, because money is by far his primary concern, and because winning means less than nothing to him.
TX
12/5/2012-1:22pm at 1:22 pm (UTC -4)
His primary concern is Molly. And unfortunately, she has expensive tastes…
Stick
12/5/2012-1:22pm at 1:22 pm (UTC -4)
I think you are being a little too harsh on DW. If he really truly only wanted money he likely would have gotten more playing out to FA, trade or no trade. And he signed for a long time, so if it takes a couple years to potentially be a “winner” then so be it. besides, in 2-3 years, the fortunes of any team can change radical (up or down).
but lowering his 2013 pay really only impacts the Mets. if he wanted more total “phantom” $s he would have just agreed to bigger deferrals.
And as I note below, they should be able to squeeze AJ into the budget, certainly if they do move a SP.
kingman 26
12/5/2012-2:14pm at 2:14 pm (UTC -4)
If he plays it out, and plays in 2013 as he did in all of 2011 and half of 2012, he would not receive half of this deal.
In addition, regardless of the size of this deal, in a year’s time, the offers might come from cities which are not as massively fun for a young, single, rich guy.
Money and ego are jobs 1 and 1-A for St. David the Magnificent and the Bulletproof, the St. of Queens With the Dreamiest Dimples, who performs the work of the Lord and maketh men swoon. And whose glory transcends trivial matters like wins and other good players. Praise him for agreeing to re-join us and continue as the Face of Fourth Place, the Face of Second Half Collapse, for such a tiny sum.
Praise the sacrifices of St. David!
Who could care less about winning.
Stick
12/5/2012-3:02pm at 3:02 pm (UTC -4)
so no player cares about winning, since those are jobs 1 and 1-A for all of them. Including Pujols.
kingman 26
12/5/2012-4:30pm at 4:30 pm (UTC -4)
Not at all what I said; I was talking about Wright.
As for Pujols? Of course the most money was what mattered possibly along with living in LA over St. Louis.
If he wanted to win first and foremost, of course he would have taken a slightly less obscene contract and stayed in St. Louis.
You are smart enough to understand this I am quite sure.
He left a CHAMPION for MORE MONEY.
How much more black and white could this be exactly?
darknova306
12/5/2012-3:24pm at 3:24 pm (UTC -4)
If players didn’t care about winning to at least some degree, they likely would never have had the drive to continue playing and competing at baseball.
That being said, I think it should be pretty well understood that first and foremost players want to get their paydays. Regardless of how much money any of us thinks is ‘enough’ for one person to have, baseball is a huge money maker, and the players deserve their fair cut of that.
kingman 26
12/5/2012-4:33pm at 4:33 pm (UTC -4)
Sorry Dark—this applies to amateurs, minor leaguers, and guys who have not already made tens of millions. This isn’t a college kid or a minor leaguer making $1000 a month. Wright owns homes worth millions and does whatever he wants. Sure, he has earned it, absolutely.
When Wright CLEARLY insisted on being paid a dollar more than Johan, the idea that he was giving a discount or helping the team is simply an absolutely ludicrous idea.
wanny
12/5/2012-5:19pm at 5:19 pm (UTC -4)
i don’t buy that he made such an insistence. first of all, the idea that he got more money than Santana is stupid. Santana got more money over fewer years. the only way wright’s value totals Santana’s is if you include the money remaining under the existing contract.
darknova306
12/5/2012-3:28pm at 3:28 pm (UTC -4)
And you’re 100% right. Wright’s contract is about removing all of his risk and placing it on the shoulders of the Mets. It’s not some grand humanitarian offering, it’s a guarantee of his major payday without the possibility of messing it all up by playing poorly in 2013 going into FA.
TRS86
12/5/2012-6:55pm at 6:55 pm (UTC -4)
Good god, are you Alex’s cousin?
kingman 26
12/5/2012-7:57pm at 7:57 pm (UTC -4)
Oh come on. Humor.
Learn about it.
Stick
12/5/2012-1:19pm at 1:19 pm (UTC -4)
preaching to the choir baby, preaching to the choir.
I think it actually solves a bunch of problems for the team, and should be budget friendly.
Of course, I have no idea what the $ would be. Say for S&Gs it is 8mill next year. I also assumed they are trading Dickey. if they don’t spend on aonther pricy FA, that saves you about 4mill. The other 4 mill is scrounged up from the actual budget, savings on Bay, savings on DW year 1, etc.
then do something like Wanny wanted, and trade for a cheap glove guy like Revere. having a catcher that can hit suddenly lets you carry a D only/speed but no power CF.
Stick
12/5/2012-1:36pm at 1:36 pm (UTC -4)
also, there was all this talk about making adjustments to basically “borrow” some of the 2014 flexibility for this year (DW, bay). If they went to all that trouble, it really seems that they need to use it. And if really close, figure out a way to steal some (float a loan, sell a share, anything).
so if a gift like Aj is sitting there, waiting to be grabbed, it is ridiculous to think they will pass due to a few million in 2013 payroll.
just backload, defer, anything. hell, do a Castillo, and give him less per year but add a year (3/24 instead of 2/20, or some such plan).
But adding a real catcher and a RH power bat, while also subtracting Thole from the mix (or most of him), is such a win win it seems like a total no brainer.
adding some balls to the team can’t be a bad thing either (threw that in there to sell Knog on the idea!)
wanny
12/5/2012-2:18pm at 2:18 pm (UTC -4)
Pierzynski’s SLG pctg was 100 points higher than his last few years’.
That doesn’t strike me as a trend likely to continue for a 36 y.o. catcher.
boldib
12/5/2012-2:23pm at 2:23 pm (UTC -4)
I often asked myself, why don’t these guys (see Wright, Santana, Bay) offer to defer some money now to open up the possibilities of putting a winner out there. It’s done in other sports, not all the time, but it’s done. I’m not a lawyer but I would imagine contracts can be altered somewhat if all parties agree,
I, for one, am extremely impressed and pleased that D. Wright agreed to this. Calling Johan. Cmon!
Prismo
12/5/2012-2:27pm at 2:27 pm (UTC -4)
Amen. David Wright wants to win and he proved it by cutting his salary in half in 2013 so Alderson could spend 8 million additional dollars.
kingman 26
12/5/2012-3:02pm at 3:02 pm (UTC -4)
David Wright wanted one dollar more than Johan, and wanted to lock in 138 million before risking performing in 2013 as he did in all of 2011 and the second half of 2012.
The Mets offered his $1 more than Johan and a totally insane contract with the condition of the deferred money and St. Dimples said yes.
It remains to be seen whether winning or spending on good new players will be part of the equation.
The idea of having to have just a bit more than Johan kind of totally blows up the idea that he is sacrificing or giving hometown discounts.
boldib
12/5/2012-3:56pm at 3:56 pm (UTC -4)
Talking about “sacrificing” or “home town discounts” would seem kind of preposterous, even obscene, when we’re talking about a guaranteed $138 mm.
For whatever reason, deferring $8 million is good for the team all around. I thank St. Dimples for the grand gesture. It’s the world we live in….