Mets CF Backlog

RMF · April 13th, 2007, 07:09 PM

It doesn't appear that we'll ever be able to get Baldelli. We already know the rockies aren't brave enough to trade for a player like Dukes.

The NYMets have a situation with 3 very good CF's. They've Got Beltran. Milledge has been sent ba mck to AAA as a RF. And Carlos Gomez. I'm not sure what position Fernando Martinez is set for but the Mets appear to be loaded with Of's.

Some of those guys are really going to cost us but the Rockies must address the CF position?

I'm very intrigued with Gomez most of us Like Milledge. Maybe a Fuentes/Jiminez deal can get us a new CF.

RMF · April 22nd, 2007, 12:06 AM

How do people feel about Gomez? If Stewart really is back then you'd think we'd need to make some kind of trade later this season. We can't be sitting around with an extra hitter and continue to have such a horrible CF.

Would a guy like Gomez or Milledge be worth trading Morales for? That would bring a potentially impact CF Or do the Rockies try and make some kind of Stewart for Baldelli trade?

It seems like the organization is deep enough that they should consider trying to upgrade the big club.

Chris Iannetta needs to start hitting. This guy can do it. It's time to hit.

Heltonfan · April 22nd, 2007, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Would a guy like Gomez or Milledge be worth trading Morales for?

Milledge? Absolutely. Gomez? Tougher call, but yeah, I'd do it.

I don't think the Mets would go for it, though. Shawn Green will be gone after this year, Alou will be gone the year after... they'll only have too many outfielders if all three of the prospects pan out. And if that's the case, whichever one they wind up trading will have more value than he does right now, so they have no reason to make a deal now unless it really helps the '07 team. Which basically means that the deal would have to involve Fuentes... but I'm inclined to believe that we could get more for Fuentes if we dealt him to a team that doesn't already have the 8th and 9th innings pretty well taken care of.

hiaspire · May 25th, 2007, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RMF

It doesn't appear that we'll ever be able to get Baldelli. We already know the rockies aren't brave enough to trade for a player like Dukes.

Dukes may not be around the game too much longer if he keeps this stuff up. Sounds like Milledge is increasingly available and may be on another team by the trading deadline - probably for pitching, though, you'd think.

One way I think they are going to try to fix the Rockies in reality next off-season is to sign a big bat that will represent their largest signing since Hampton/Neagle at a position of need. For the money on a team not spending much I like Taveras, but CF certainly could be one of those areas with some guys to target on the market upcoming. Maybe corner OF if they make a move with one of those guys (or 1B/3B) instead.

I heard Jason Stark give an interview on the radio about his new book on the most over/under rated players. Here is some of it: ESPN.com: Stark: "The Stark Truth"

For CF he goes with Andruw Jones and brings up some interesting points related to his decline in recent seasons (both at the plate now and especially defensively over the years).

Certainly most Rox fans would love Jones patrolling our OF with his 40 HR bat and still pretty young. If the Rox decided that a bold move was necessary to turn things around and went after Jones, it could be another example of the team trying to make a big splash but ignoring some warning signs on a big transaction that could backfire as many have for them before.

I've suggested A.Jones trades before in the past, so I'd like to see him here and believe a change of scenery can sometimes put that bounce back into a player's step (and our spacious OF boost his average in addition to his big power numbers in altitude), but I'm definitely giving that hope some second-thoughts.

If they trade away one of their better young veterans, I'd hope they get some kind of OF prospect in the deal and give them an extended MLB audition to see if they might play their way into a bigger role in 08 before they invest a lot into another deal that could make them pull back again financially if it fails also.

John Cocktoston · May 25th, 2007, 12:28 PM

I don't disagree with the general sentiment, but I think Andruw Jones has Bad Idea Jeans written all over him. In addition to the questions about his decline in the field in recent years, he's in line for a Zito-esque contract that essentially pays him for past performance and name recognition. That's a bad contract for any team, but could be crippling for a team like the Rockies. Same for the other "marquee name" out there, which is Torii Hunter. He's going to turn 32 this summer and will likely be looking for something in the neighborhood of Vernon Wells' 7 year, $126 million contract in Toronto. Does 5 years of Torii Hunter at $85 million make sense for a guy with a .793 career OPS? Probably not, particularly when he's going to be in a corner OF slot for the last couple of years of that contract, since he'll be 37 in the final year of the deal.

In terms of CF options, I think you make that decision based upon what you think Dexter Fowler is. If he's a legitimate stud CF in two or three years, than you're better off trying to retain Holliday or buy out Tulo's arbitration years this winter. If Fowler will be patrolling CF at Coors Field in 2009, then all you really need is a stop-gap.

I'd love to see them invest in a marquee type player this winter, but not one of the available CF options.

Heltonfan · May 25th, 2007, 01:16 PM

Agreed on Hunter and Andruw. The last thing we need to be doing is handing out long-term deals to guys who aren't even legitimate stars now.

The problem is there really aren't any appealing marquee players available at other positions. The best second baseman out there is Tadahito Iguchi. Jorge Posada might be available, and is a hell of a player, but I don't think we want to be paying big bucks for a guy on the wrong side of 35. And I wouldn't touch Carlos Zambrano with a ten-foot pole.

There are, however, a couple of star center fielders out there who you didn't mention: Ichiro and Kosuke Fukudome. Ichiro, in addition to his obvious on-field merits, would be a marketing bonanza. And Fukudome can just plain rake (.310/.464/.570 this year, .351/.438/.653 last year). I'd be really surprised if we had the resources to sign either of them, but we ought to at least put ourselves in the running.

And I don't think Fowler is particularly relevant here. If he develops as we hope, he can replace Hawpe or Holliday.

BigRapidsJackass · May 25th, 2007, 09:13 PM

Ichiro would be an absolutely great guy to pursue.

If you kept Kaz Mat and Ichiro, the club would reap huge marketing benefits in Japan (Rockies gear the top seller in Tokyo?) as well as a major publicity boost for the hometown fans.

And I think it's not outside the realm of possibility, depending on how imaginative the Monforts and O'Dowd are ... I have a feeling Ichiro would relish the opportunity to hit 15-20 HRs by substituting Safeco for Coors.

John Cocktoston · May 25th, 2007, 10:45 PM

For what it's worth, PECOTA doesn't love Ichiro going forward. He's lost a step or two and is likely to lose another, which is bad news for a guy who relies on his speed to fuel so many aspects of his game.

Still, he'll likely have enough speed into his mid 30's to make him awfully interesting playing in a yard as big as Coors. He would hit a few more HR's, but the biggest benefit could be that he might put up 50 2B+3B in a season. For a guy with his combination of speed and pop, he really doesn't hit as many 2B's as you'd think.

I'm just afraid he's going to be looking for a 5 or 6 year deal at an AAV of $15 million, and I'd frankly rather see them give some of that money to Holliday instead of Ichiro.

sg8335aa · May 28th, 2007, 06:01 PM

Milledge is increasingly available especially after his latest situation with his "record".

There is ZERO chance that they trade Gomez......he's a guy that needs another year in the minors, but the shine hasn't worn off of his star yet.

Milledge will be the guy the Mets try to trade.

April 13th, 2007, 07:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
RMF Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 206	Mets CF Backlog It doesn't appear that we'll ever be able to get Baldelli. We already know the rockies aren't brave enough to trade for a player like Dukes. The NYMets have a situation with 3 very good CF's. They've Got Beltran. Milledge has been sent ba mck to AAA as a RF. And Carlos Gomez. I'm not sure what position Fernando Martinez is set for but the Mets appear to be loaded with Of's. Some of those guys are really going to cost us but the Rockies must address the CF position? I'm very intrigued with Gomez most of us Like Milledge. Maybe a Fuentes/Jiminez deal can get us a new CF.

May 25th, 2007, 10:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
John Cocktoston Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 375	For what it's worth, PECOTA doesn't love Ichiro going forward. He's lost a step or two and is likely to lose another, which is bad news for a guy who relies on his speed to fuel so many aspects of his game. Still, he'll likely have enough speed into his mid 30's to make him awfully interesting playing in a yard as big as Coors. He would hit a few more HR's, but the biggest benefit could be that he might put up 50 2B+3B in a season. For a guy with his combination of speed and pop, he really doesn't hit as many 2B's as you'd think. I'm just afraid he's going to be looking for a 5 or 6 year deal at an AAV of $15 million, and I'd frankly rather see them give some of that money to Holliday instead of Ichiro. Last edited by John Cocktoston; May 25th, 2007 at 10:47 PM.

April 22nd, 2007, 12:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
RMF Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 206	How do people feel about Gomez? If Stewart really is back then you'd think we'd need to make some kind of trade later this season. We can't be sitting around with an extra hitter and continue to have such a horrible CF. Would a guy like Gomez or Milledge be worth trading Morales for? That would bring a potentially impact CF Or do the Rockies try and make some kind of Stewart for Baldelli trade? It seems like the organization is deep enough that they should consider trying to upgrade the big club. Chris Iannetta needs to start hitting. This guy can do it. It's time to hit.

May 25th, 2007, 12:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
John Cocktoston Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 375	I don't disagree with the general sentiment, but I think Andruw Jones has Bad Idea Jeans written all over him. In addition to the questions about his decline in the field in recent years, he's in line for a Zito-esque contract that essentially pays him for past performance and name recognition. That's a bad contract for any team, but could be crippling for a team like the Rockies. Same for the other "marquee name" out there, which is Torii Hunter. He's going to turn 32 this summer and will likely be looking for something in the neighborhood of Vernon Wells' 7 year, $126 million contract in Toronto. Does 5 years of Torii Hunter at $85 million make sense for a guy with a .793 career OPS? Probably not, particularly when he's going to be in a corner OF slot for the last couple of years of that contract, since he'll be 37 in the final year of the deal. In terms of CF options, I think you make that decision based upon what you think Dexter Fowler is. If he's a legitimate stud CF in two or three years, than you're better off trying to retain Holliday or buy out Tulo's arbitration years this winter. If Fowler will be patrolling CF at Coors Field in 2009, then all you really need is a stop-gap. I'd love to see them invest in a marquee type player this winter, but not one of the available CF options.

May 25th, 2007, 01:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
Heltonfan Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Yerevan, Armenia Posts: 902	Agreed on Hunter and Andruw. The last thing we need to be doing is handing out long-term deals to guys who aren't even legitimate stars now. The problem is there really aren't any appealing marquee players available at other positions. The best second baseman out there is Tadahito Iguchi. Jorge Posada might be available, and is a hell of a player, but I don't think we want to be paying big bucks for a guy on the wrong side of 35. And I wouldn't touch Carlos Zambrano with a ten-foot pole. There are, however, a couple of star center fielders out there who you didn't mention: Ichiro and Kosuke Fukudome. Ichiro, in addition to his obvious on-field merits, would be a marketing bonanza. And Fukudome can just plain rake (.310/.464/.570 this year, .351/.438/.653 last year). I'd be really surprised if we had the resources to sign either of them, but we ought to at least put ourselves in the running. And I don't think Fowler is particularly relevant here. If he develops as we hope, he can replace Hawpe or Holliday.

May 25th, 2007, 09:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
BigRapidsJackass Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,175	Ichiro would be an absolutely great guy to pursue. If you kept Kaz Mat and Ichiro, the club would reap huge marketing benefits in Japan (Rockies gear the top seller in Tokyo?) as well as a major publicity boost for the hometown fans. And I think it's not outside the realm of possibility, depending on how imaginative the Monforts and O'Dowd are ... I have a feeling Ichiro would relish the opportunity to hit 15-20 HRs by substituting Safeco for Coors.

May 28th, 2007, 06:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
sg8335aa Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 118	Milledge is increasingly available especially after his latest situation with his "record". There is ZERO chance that they trade Gomez......he's a guy that needs another year in the minors, but the shine hasn't worn off of his star yet. Milledge will be the guy the Mets try to trade.