The Angels have signed Josh Hamilton to a 5 year, $125 million contract. The Texas Rangers were the other team expected to be all-in on Hamilton. Given that these were also two of the top teams potentially vying for Dickey, how do you think this might affect the Mets?
As of now, the Angels are sporting Trout, Hamilton, Bourjos, and Trumbo in their outfield. You have to think it’s likely one is traded, unless Bourjos is relegated to the 4th outfielder position. Or might this make Texas more desperate to make a move and appease their fanbase? Either way, I think Hamilton signing is a good thing for the Mets – in that hopefully the Dickey saga will end sooner rather than later.
[The story on MLB Trade Rumors]
78 comments
Prismo
12/13/2012-2:47pm at 2:47 pm (UTC -4)
By the way, if anyone suggests trading Dickey for Bourjos I’m having TRS permanently ban you from the website.
Stickguy
12/13/2012-2:48pm at 2:48 pm (UTC -4)
But Dickey for Trumbo will get you named “poster of the week”, and a special parking spot right out front.
Prismo
12/13/2012-2:52pm at 2:52 pm (UTC -4)
Dickey for Trumbo alone would be bad too. Would have to include a top prospect as well I would think.
TRS86
12/13/2012-2:53pm at 2:53 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, yeah I admit I would still trade him for Trumbo as the headliner. Not Bourjos though.
Donal
12/13/2012-5:29pm at 5:29 pm (UTC -4)
Trumbo is another 1B/DH type the Angels use in the outfield because they have Pujols.
TRS86
12/13/2012-2:54pm at 2:54 pm (UTC -4)
Look gotta go all in on the trade now
Dickey, Murphy and a decent prospect for Trumbo, Bourjos and Conger.
Sign a backup for 2B.
Shopping list done.
Stickguy
12/13/2012-2:58pm at 2:58 pm (UTC -4)
they might all suck, but yes, you would have filled the perceived major holes. Other than the pen, and that is going to be all live arms fighting for a job.
actually, you forgot 1 key piece. They need another SP, so better sign Lannan for the rotation too.
Q-Rod
12/13/2012-5:45pm at 5:45 pm (UTC -4)
Why not Anibel Sanchez? Four years at $13/yr.
TX
12/13/2012-5:51pm at 5:51 pm (UTC -4)
Seems like Cubs are in on him. 5 years 75 mil.
TX
12/13/2012-2:58pm at 2:58 pm (UTC -4)
Would be Salderson’s 2nd good day!
Stickguy
12/13/2012-3:16pm at 3:16 pm (UTC -4)
2 guys that can’t hit a lick so far in the majors, and were nothing special in the minors. But at least 1 can catch.
and once the league figured Trombone out last year (mid-june) the rest of the way he was Jason Bay.
but, at least all three K like a met, and have lousy OBP. That should give Hudgens something to work with.
oh, most important, they are all super cheap. None are even arb eligible until 2014.
so if they do this deal, can they afford to sign Lannan to replace dickey? and just maybe, try to find a real RH bat to platoon with Baxter in RF?
Stickguy
12/13/2012-3:17pm at 3:17 pm (UTC -4)
oh, if nothing else, you cured the problem of being too RH hitting.
Prismo
12/13/2012-3:18pm at 3:18 pm (UTC -4)
Honestly? I think Texas can make an offer I like more. I think they’ll be more desperate and I think the Mets are bad enough that I’m more interested in high upside players than established mediocre players.
kingman 26
12/13/2012-3:24pm at 3:24 pm (UTC -4)
Ugh.
Vomit.
Seal the team’s 4th place fate for maybe years.
A Cy Young winner for a basket of garbage.
Quantity NEVER trumps quality.
Trade with Texas, who might now be more desperate to improve.
Profar or Olt/Martin.
Olt/Martin have the potential to be SO much better than the Angels’ garbage.
Terrible horrific proposal and a nightmare if it happens.
Prismo
12/13/2012-3:28pm at 3:28 pm (UTC -4)
I kind of agree. I think it’s all about potential because our team has so many holes and mediocre players. Trumbo is above average overall and I like his power, but his liabilities in the field and getting on base lessen the excitement of that. Bourjos is the second coming of Torres. Conger may turn out to be a good backstop, but his time in the MLB so far has been less than stellar.
I think we need HIGH upside guys. And Texas has some of them in their minor league system who fit our holes.
kingman 26
12/13/2012-3:32pm at 3:32 pm (UTC -4)
Prismo I agree 100%.
And our lineup will be VERY different than the one Trumbo hit in last year with Pujols and Trout.
Have to trade with TEX or try to get d’Arnaud or KEEP Dickey.
We would suck SO bad if we made that deal with the Angels.
Stickguy
12/13/2012-2:56pm at 2:56 pm (UTC -4)
5 years on Hamilton, at 25 per? Makes Wright look like a bargain. He is seemingly already crumbling. Could be an interesting fight for DH space soon.
so of course, the Angels have excess in the OF. And bourgeois still sucks. As does Trumbo. though trumbo for a guy like Mchugh, fine. But not Dickey.
do the Halos really need more SP? I can’t keep up with teams that make moves. too confusing. That is why I like the Mets. They move nice and slow.
Or does this panic the Rangers that they need more pitching? And maybe that lineup in Anaheim will make them more interested in a KB pitcher to screw with their heads?
Profur! Do it!
Prismo
12/13/2012-2:59pm at 2:59 pm (UTC -4)
Yes sir, the Angels definitely need more starting pitching.
I think the Rangers will do SOMETHING to respond, maybe multiple things. By all accounts, their fanbase is very upset right now.
greggofboken
12/13/2012-3:03pm at 3:03 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. Seems more likely than LAA. Daniels didn’t get a shot to respond w/counter offer. Gotta figure he’s now highly motivated.
Prismo
12/13/2012-3:10pm at 3:10 pm (UTC -4)
Wow, really? Didn’t Hamilton promise he’d let them have a final counteroffer?
I’m guessing the Angels pulled the old “exploding offer.”
Donal
12/13/2012-5:31pm at 5:31 pm (UTC -4)
” He is seemingly already crumbling.”
I wouldn’t go that far. Hamilton did hit 43 HR last year.
TX
12/13/2012-2:56pm at 2:56 pm (UTC -4)
This means Swisher and Ross will be getting plenty of play.
Stickguy
12/13/2012-3:00pm at 3:00 pm (UTC -4)
outside of Fenway, Ross really is pretty damned mediocre. Not sure what the fascination with him is as other than a ST platoon guy. Might as well keep Hairston for less (money and years).
but I bet that Texas is now going to be heavy for Swisher and/or Bourne.
TRS86
12/13/2012-3:02pm at 3:02 pm (UTC -4)
He looked pretty damn decent back in Florida.
TX
12/13/2012-3:02pm at 3:02 pm (UTC -4)
Considering they wanted to sign a SP and trade for their OF, looks like the plan got flipped upside down.
srt
12/13/2012-2:59pm at 2:59 pm (UTC -4)
Well…interesting.
Getting Pujols didn’t net them a post season spot last year. I guess they figure adding Hamilton will do it.
greggofboken
12/13/2012-2:59pm at 2:59 pm (UTC -4)
Per Olney twitter:
Buster Olney @Buster_ESPN
Other teams asked about Mark Trumbo, and been told that he’s not available; the Angels have said they are keeping him
Stickguy
12/13/2012-3:01pm at 3:01 pm (UTC -4)
well, was that before or after they signed Hamilton, who really is taking his job (unless the Angels really plan to try and keep him in CF?)
greggofboken
12/13/2012-3:06pm at 3:06 pm (UTC -4)
Sorry. See below. 15 minutes ago. Retweeted by Martino.
TX
12/13/2012-3:01pm at 3:01 pm (UTC -4)
was that after or before Hamilton?
TRS86
12/13/2012-3:02pm at 3:02 pm (UTC -4)
We shall see.
Prismo
12/13/2012-3:06pm at 3:06 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t see this tweet on his feed anytime in the past couple days.
Prismo
12/13/2012-3:07pm at 3:07 pm (UTC -4)
Nevermind, my settings were off. It was just a few minutes ago. -_-
kingman 26
12/13/2012-3:27pm at 3:27 pm (UTC -4)
“Other teams asked about Mark Trumbo, and been told that he’s not available; the Angels have said they are keeping him”
Let us pray he is right.
greggofboken
12/13/2012-3:05pm at 3:05 pm (UTC -4)
15 minutes ago. Retweet by Martino.
TX
12/13/2012-3:05pm at 3:05 pm (UTC -4)
Posture posture posture…
greggofboken
12/13/2012-3:13pm at 3:13 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah. Could be. Who knows? The news is so fresh, folks still just reacting.
wanny
12/13/2012-3:12pm at 3:12 pm (UTC -4)
They didn’t pay 125m to add power so they could trade away power making next to nothing.
Trumbo stinks anyway.
Trs offer the worst deal ever.
Prismo
12/13/2012-3:19pm at 3:19 pm (UTC -4)
“Trs offer the worst deal ever.”
At least you were gentle about it lol.
kingman 26
12/13/2012-3:25pm at 3:25 pm (UTC -4)
I totally agree. Trumbo SUCKS.
Stickguy
12/13/2012-4:40pm at 4:40 pm (UTC -4)
basically a RH hitting Ike.
kingman 26
12/13/2012-6:11pm at 6:11 pm (UTC -4)
Not really. Before the injury and Valley Fever Ike was much better–Trumbo’s K/BB ratio is Bad News Bearsian, and he’s a 1B playing the OF.
SaltyGary
12/13/2012-3:15pm at 3:15 pm (UTC -4)
I would give anything to be at Hamilton’s celebration party this weekend.
greggofboken
12/13/2012-3:18pm at 3:18 pm (UTC -4)
Keep those 7-up’s coming!
TX
12/13/2012-3:20pm at 3:20 pm (UTC -4)
Mott’s Boxes of Apple Juice and Animal Crackers all around!
Stickguy
12/13/2012-3:21pm at 3:21 pm (UTC -4)
key part of the deal for the angels (why they went 5): It is LA. So easy to have someone help him fall off the wagon if he starts sucking and they want out for under. You kinow that has to be in the deal.
TX
12/13/2012-3:16pm at 3:16 pm (UTC -4)
Demptser to Red Sawx
Two-year, $26.5MM contract
Dickey should demand 2 years, 30 Mil easy.
Stickguy
12/13/2012-3:21pm at 3:21 pm (UTC -4)
Dickey is not a FA. he is getting less because he is essentially buying an insurance policy.
TX
12/13/2012-3:24pm at 3:24 pm (UTC -4)
Not technically. But he is about as close to a FA as you can possibly be without actually being one. Dickey is a goner, and he’ll sign an extension with the team that trades for him.
kingman 26
12/13/2012-3:29pm at 3:29 pm (UTC -4)
Dempster is not much younger than Dickey and also is not as good.
Exhibit 845 of why the Mets’ offers are not real and designed to be rejected.
TX
12/13/2012-3:32pm at 3:32 pm (UTC -4)
Yup.
ColoradoMetsFan
12/13/2012-3:54pm at 3:54 pm (UTC -4)
Condescension and humiliation have long histories as hallmarks of a successful organization.
Stickguy
12/13/2012-4:52pm at 4:52 pm (UTC -4)
But fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life son.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1hnwvWhbJw
NCMetFan
12/13/2012-5:05pm at 5:05 pm (UTC -4)
Angels getting Hamilton may force the Rangers hand to trade Profay or Andrus to Arizona for Justin Upton. At that point the Rangers may back away from trading two more of their top 10 prospects for RA. I think the Hamilton deal is bad for the Mets because it will lessen the likelyhodd the Rangers will part with Olt since they will want him to go to AAA as an outfielder. To make matters worse the Angels and Blue Jays are next likely trade partners and lack the talent with high offensive upside (more speed guys like Gose & Bourjus) and that isn’t better than keeping Dickey. At this point, if Olt and Martin can’t be had then sign Dickey for for two more years, add Hairiston (my preference) or Ross and add a reliever. I’d check in on Bourn though because he is a proven major leaguer so if his demands are more reasonable it may be worth adding him in CF for 4 years 45 – 50 M and Hairiston, keeping Dickey and Hope that next year another piece can be added to the outfield.
kingman 26
12/13/2012-5:44pm at 5:44 pm (UTC -4)
Holy cow we need you to be a regular–welcome!
I agree with nearly ALL of this!
Ross is probably better than Hairston and surely would cost more, and if he was affordable, I would definitely check into Bourne. Not a star, but can do a lot of things which most of our players cannot, i.e. run fast and catch the ball.
And keeping Dickey is preferable to trading him and receiving less than d’Arnaud or Profar or Andrus or Olt AND Martin.
The Angels’ guys stink; Dickey’s worth more.
Stick
12/13/2012-6:20pm at 6:20 pm (UTC -4)
I am not a Bourne fan really. He screams of a guy that if he loses a step as he crosses 30, his only real asset will disappear, and he will be Luis Castillo.
on a small deal, sure, but 5/80 and locking up the 2nd of 2 “big contract” slots? No.
You should be able to find a cheaper option to run down balls in CF and K 140 times. Probably a platoon out there will work the best.
and the simple answer here, get the RH OF bat (Ross is not crazy starter money since he is a platoon guy), and sign AJ Polish. Helps in multiple ways.
kingman 26
12/13/2012-6:46pm at 6:46 pm (UTC -4)
Well, I definitely want AJ.
He hits.
And he possesses two qualities this team does not even know how to define–toughness and experience with winning.
Q-Rod
12/13/2012-7:32pm at 7:32 pm (UTC -4)
I think your right. I disagree with two things: I believe a deal centered around Gose is doable. And Bourne is a nonstarter because he was tendered and so would cost a draft pick.
Mr North Jersey
12/13/2012-5:54pm at 5:54 pm (UTC -4)
So I come back from watching “Trouble with the curve” and I see nothing new Met related to report. At least other than 1050 ESPN Deportes doing the Spanish radio broadcast of the Mets games in 2013.
As far as the Hamilton signing I’ll say the same thing I said last year for the Marlins. On paper that lineup looks impressive.
That said, just how far will their pitching take them? Time will tell.
kingman 26
12/13/2012-6:02pm at 6:02 pm (UTC -4)
How was Trouble With the Curve? Despite his pathetic performance in Tampa this summer, I still love Clint…
Patience my friend. The Mets are just assessing their many, many options, and do not want to rush into anything.
I am sure they will soon up their offer to Dickey by about 500 bucks a year, and then wait for his agent to respond, while again carefully and patiently evaluating things while all of the crazy, impatient, and utterly irresponsible teams are out there signing players and making trades.
Dickey for d’Arnaud, Profar, Andrus, or Olt AND Martin!
Or keep Dickey!
Stick
12/13/2012-6:15pm at 6:15 pm (UTC -4)
I saw it in the theater, and it was actually better than I was expecting. JT improves any movie.
Mr North Jersey
12/13/2012-6:16pm at 6:16 pm (UTC -4)
The movie over sells on the stereotypes almost as if they want (to be sure) the audience to know who are the bad guys and who are the good guys making the film a bit too for lack of a better description Hollywoodish.
But where the movie really gets you is the relationship between an aging father/scout, Clint Eastwood and his daughter/lawyer, Amy Adams.
This for me by far is where the film wins it’s price in admission. Then add the continued growth of Justin Timberlake as a great actor. The scenes between him and Adams were fun to watch.
All in all if you can look past some of the oversell of Hollywood stereotypes watching Eastwood and Adams together is worth the effort.
kingman 26
12/13/2012-6:44pm at 6:44 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks Mr N! Excellent review. And really, this reminds me of Gran Torino–the stereotypes were there, but the acting–especially Clint–overcame them.
Love Clint, love Amy Adams, and really agree on Timberlake’s development.
Nice review; really.
greggofboken
12/13/2012-5:59pm at 5:59 pm (UTC -4)
Scratch off Sanchez – 5 for $75M to Cubbies. Leaving the viable top-tier starting pitching options to Lohse and Dickey.
Big, big day…..
Mr North Jersey
12/13/2012-6:02pm at 6:02 pm (UTC -4)
TX
12/13/2012-6:03pm at 6:03 pm (UTC -4)
Cubs were a surprise. Now Det could be in the mix for Dickey as well.
Stick
12/13/2012-6:08pm at 6:08 pm (UTC -4)
true about the Cubbies. and if it is what interests you, certainly not a team that was likely to be in the mix to trade for Dickey. So it seems to help the supply/demand equation.
kingman 26
12/13/2012-6:04pm at 6:04 pm (UTC -4)
Cannot wait for the next person to defend the Mets’ offers after first Guthrie got what he did and now this.
1-2 years of Dickey is worth more than 5 of this guy!
greggofboken
12/13/2012-6:07pm at 6:07 pm (UTC -4)
My gut? The offer to Dickey is pretty much moot. Someone’s gonna blink. And soon.
Stick
12/13/2012-6:10pm at 6:10 pm (UTC -4)
either trade him or sign him by the weekend. And I think you are right that it is going to happen.
one last troll to the possible trade partners, and if they won’t pony up, they should be able to finalize a contract extension in about 15 minutes.
TX
12/13/2012-6:08pm at 6:08 pm (UTC -4)
I would think it would be justifiable to keep the money at $15 or less (maybe even 13 per?), but make it 3 years in addition to the option. in essence, 4 years at a total of 47 mil, if you got 14 per for 2014-2016.
Stick
12/13/2012-6:12pm at 6:12 pm (UTC -4)
I highly doubt the mets will go 4 years.
more like keep 2013, add 2 guaranteed (the 23-29 being discussed), and maybe a team option year.
TX
12/13/2012-6:14pm at 6:14 pm (UTC -4)
Your prob. right. Though I think he could possibly get that on the open market. It’ll prob. be better for Dickey to be traded and subsequently elongated by said acquiring team.
How is he not endorsed by Dickey’s, I’ll never know…
darknova306
12/13/2012-10:30pm at 10:30 pm (UTC -4)
Greinke is making $24.5M annual average value. Dickey is easily worth more than that. Too bad for him he’s not actually a free agent, so his leverage is low.
Stick
12/13/2012-11:12pm at 11:12 pm (UTC -4)
he is such a special case that I don’t think he would close to that from anybody, even with the Cy Young.
it is like a bizarre custom house in a suburban neighborhood. It gets a lot of attention, but really hard to find comps to value it again!
darknova306
12/13/2012-11:33pm at 11:33 pm (UTC -4)
That’s a really fair assessment. His situation is as unique as they come. I really just want the whole damn storyline to go away. I also want to see more positional talent in the organization. Oh well, there’s always 2016 (or much much later).
greggofboken
12/13/2012-9:19pm at 9:19 pm (UTC -4)
Acosta’s departure is now a certainty. Signed by the Yomiuri Giants. The -1.2 WAR will travel with him. Nearly as big a drag on the team as Bay’s.
Now….if we can somehow get Duda out of this outfield…..
Stick
12/13/2012-10:16pm at 10:16 pm (UTC -4)
for all the grief Sandy is getting, he is following through on getting the worst players off the roster. Not having Manny, Bay and Torres by default makes them better, since it is almost impossible to find replacements that will be worse.