Blocked Prospects: Joe Koshansky

He can only play first base and had a 263 EqA in Colorado Springs as a 25-year old. He's not a blocked prospect. He's just a guy biding his time until he gets a job on a bench or in Japan.

Just a quick FYI, Security Service Field (Colorado Springs) is NOT the highest elevation ballpark on the continent (Mexico City has a higher elevation, IIRC) - just in the USA.

If the Rockies have at least 2 blocked prospects (Ian Stewart at 3B and Koshansky) it seems obvious to me that they'll make a big trade at the deadline if they're in playoff contention. Otherwise, maybe they'll unload Atkins to pave the way for Stewart since they seem to be very high on him.

As a Met fan, I am interested in Koshansky, Helton, Atkins, or whoever they may have available. Is Atkins a possibility at first base? The Mets need to start looking for options for future 1B, because throwing money at Tex is the easy and lazy decision, and the wrong to go, especially when you have many other holes to plug, it isnt wise to spend 150 million on a commodity that is everywhere you look in MLB (1B). They are the easiest guys to draft and develop, and you can also just find a good hitter anywhere and teach him to play 1st. I realize Tex can mash, but I will take Kendry Morales/ Nick Johnson and a re-signed Oliver Perez any day over Tex at first and Nelson Figueroa in the 4th spot (even though I like Figgy.). But you get the point. It is easy to point to Delgado's decline, and Tex's impending free agency and say it is too perfect. They way I look at it is like this:

Carlos Delgado
Nick Johnson
Mike Jacobs
Ryan Howard
Mark Teixeira
Derrek Lee
Lance Berkman
Joey Votto
Prince Fielder
Adam Laroche
Albert Pujols
James Loney
Conor Jackson
Todd Helton
Adrian Gonzalez
Casey Kotchman/Kendry Morales
Richie Sexson
Daric Barton
Pauli Konerko
Jim Thome
Carlos Guillen
Justin Morneau
Vic Martinez/ Travis Hafner/ Ryan Garko
Kevin Youkilis/ Daivd Ortiz
Lyle Overbay
Carlos Pena

So basically, there are decent to solid to great 1st base options everywhere. And in the last 5 years we have seen Morneau, Garko, Prince, Ryno, and more all break into the league. When there are soo many other teams that have had success finding cheaper 1B options, or developing themselves then that tells me all you need to know about what Tex should be played. I would pay him 6/90. I dont think he is worth much more then that, its my opinion. He is a very good player playing at a position where there are lots and lots of good to great players. If he was a second baseman, then 140-150 might be more reasonable. I just dont see how it is worth it. For instance, I would take Chase Utley over any position player in baseball if I was starting a team for this year or next year, without even considering it because he is such an elite player at a pretty weak position. I love my boy David Wright, but if Utley was the same age I would swap those 2 IMMEDIATELY, because of the lack of talent at 2B and the fact that there is more of it at 3rd. If I were the Mets going into next year I wouldnt worry about Tex, I would look for a different option, perhaps one from this post, and then eat half castillo's contract and try to give him away for 3 years and 8 or 9 mil, or eat more and give him away for 3 years and 6 mil. Or just give him away, who cares. Pay the money to O-Dog or Mark Ellis. Then you still are going to have to go into the pitching market and bring somebody in, even if Perez is retained. The Mets have way to many questions to have another 20 million dollar man.

I would love a lineup of

SS Jose Reyes
2B Mark Ellis
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Garret Atkins
RF Ryan Church
LF Fernando Martinez
C Brian Schneider/ Ramon Castro.