Discussion: Replacing Jose Reyes

Tejada's definitely a name to throw in the mix. What do you think he'd command?

JON NIESE not kon

cant do that because reyes is only out a mont, so trade niese kunz and evans or something like that for dye

I'm not crazy about DeRosa, he isn't much of a SS.

I think Crosby is the easiest to get. Tejada would provide better production but where do you play him when Reyes comes back?

Of course, Reyes may not come back. So do you take the wait-and-see approach and then get someone better or do you get someone lesser now? Very difficult decision.

jack wilson?

On Twitter, someone jokingly replied, saying "Trade for Mike Bordick."

That pretty much sums it up in my book.

I am sorry, a slight tear of the hamstring and the guy could be back at all star break?!?!?! are you guys listening to yourselves?
No matter what size tear there is to a hamstring, its the hamstring and Reyes is someone who NEEDS his legs for his game.
A tear to me means surgery, surgery means more than 6 weeks for recovery, rehab and getting back into game shape. In my opinion Reyes is done for the season..... this is not a strain, its a friggen TEAR.

I bet yall would take that Derrek Lee for Jose Reyes trade right about now LOL

But I dont think the Cubs would go for it anymore :)

I do not think SS wise they should do much right now, unless it was a Crosby, Orlando Cabrera or Jack Wilson on the cheap. That is also considering Reyes will miss serious serious time (all season) because it is a lot of speculation as it stands.

Otherwise they need another bat at 1B or LF/RF to put them into the talks of winning the NL.

A name that would be a huge impact bat now and moving forward... Carlos Lee. If they can add some salary this season, it seems possible without emptying the farm because he makes so much. 18.5M till 2012, the Stros could unload tons of payroll with him, Valverde and Tejada this season and improve overall.

Grudz was an epic fail SS even 10 years ago (the last time he played more than 4 games in a season there). No reason to think accelerated age would help him there.

They might almost be looking to unload Carlos Lee and his contract on a team, it may not require a load of talent.

The Mets have to do something drastic. When you have a stadium for the cheapest non nose bleed seat is 80 bucks, the current product is unacceptable. Granted it's not their fault all these guys got injured but with 35 million coming off the books in the off season, they need to take on some salary this year and make a respectable run at the Phillies for the Eastern division

Im a Cubs fan first, but a Mets fan second (every Cubs fan has to have a second since we so rarely make the playoffs lol). I honestly thought at the time that Derrek Lee for Jose Reyes was a good deal for both teams. Sad to say, that it is no longer a good deal for the Cubs.

But I think the Mets need a good defensive SS, and that would be Jack Wilson. IMHO...he is their best choice for a replacement for Reyes.

Derrek Lee for Reyes, and that is a bad trade for the Cubs??? A 34 year old 1st baseman who has not driven in 100+ since 2005. His numbers are starting to slow, in the midst of a very slow season. Owed 13M next season ---> for a 25 year old all star shortstop who is entering his physical prime, one of the fastest players in the league, great glove, loads of more potential to touch and signed through 2011. What with this trade? I think the Cubs would make that trade, regardless of this injury... eh?

I honestly thought at the time that Derrek Lee for Jose Reyes was a good deal for both teams.
Posted by: drphonic7 | June 04, 2009 at 09:45 PM

I've seen some stupid things on this site, but this one might take the cake. After that deal maybe the cubbies can give the cards some salary relief and swap Bobby Scales for Pujols.

Scales for Pujols? Sounds like a good deal to me LOL

Maybe the Cubs would go for the trade and continue in the meantime with what they have until Reyes comes back from his injury. But I dont think the Cubs would do it because both Theriot and Fontenot are cheaper in the longterm, and they dont need a leadoff man.

I see Fontenot as a super utility man, and Theriot as a 2nd baseman. Longterm, Reyes would fit great in the SS position. Where we hit him in the lineup...who knows???

But after being called stupid by several people, I still think the DLee for Reyes trade would have been very beneficial to both clubs a month ago...and it still may be.

LOL....funny comment johan....and it may be true.

this is not a strain, its a friggen TEAR.'

you dont get it, a strain is a tear. its a way to say in public that it isnt completly torn, and not to get everyone scared. Remember S. Drew early this yr, he was out 6 weeks with a 'strain'

johan is GOD, you have some relationship with Dye and Lee? Lee has over 70m coming his way, along with a NTC. Dye has 2 more yrs, and the Sox wont give away Dye. They arent BAD hitters, but they probably arent what the mets need. they should sweat it out, wait for a McLouth-type deal for a slugger to come up in July, or sign their future slugger next yr.

J.J. Putz is headed to New York to have his sore right elbow examined and Newsday's David Lennon writes that "surgery seems like the logical next step."

Putz is bothered by a bone spur in his elbow that doesn't allow him to finish pitches. "I'm not following through because it hurts," Putz said. Putz lost his eighth-inning responsibilities to Bobby Parnell on Wednesday. Jun. 4 - 5:11 pm et
Source: Newsday

The mets will not trade Martinez, Neise or Murphy so do they have the depth to pull off a trade for a big bat?? I don't think so.... with Putz hurt they can not trade Parnell neither. The Mets are going to have to hold off and see whats out there, no need to get someone big for SS if Reyes is coming back. They need a Pitcher and a Bat but i think they will only get one of those.

The conversation left this track a while ago, but I really don't think the Miguel Tejada idea is that terrible. It seems a bit weird, but its actually a decent fit. Hear me out:

1. Its a pure salary dump for the Astros. If the Mets will take on his salary, they can probably get him for virtually nothing. One mediocre prospect and some organizational fodder at most.

2. If/when Reyes comes back, if Delgado does not, he's probably a guy you can move to first base. He's pretty poor at SS anyway, someone you'd need to keep Wilson Valdez around to back up, but he probably has enough bat to give the Mets more than they currently have at 1B. He might not maintain a .395 wOBA all year, but if he were acquired today, could be worth nearly a full win over the Mets replacement SSes for the time Reyes needs to miss, and then perhaps even another full win over what the Mets have at 1B through the seasons final three months.

3. If Reyes AND Delgado come back, he'd probably turn into someone you can use to share time with Castillo at 2B.

4. He's a free agent at the end of the year, so there's no long term commitment. He'll probably even be a Type A, but offering him arbitration would also probably be risky unless you're willing to make him a full time 1B next year.

"On the contrary...
Parnell, FMart, Flores, Thole, + Holt are going nowhere. As they are considered cornerstones of our future. However, outside of that, the Mets will move parts bc all their depth is at the lower levels.
I would expect to see guys like Niese, Gee, Broadway, Kunz, Murphy, Marte, Antonini, etc be available to land someone.
It may be feasible to bring in an Oswalt for something like niese, murphy, + prospect. PLUS landing a guy like huff, johnson, or DeRosa using ML caliber P trading someone like Gee, Antonini, Broadway, or Kunz.

Please...we just saw Atl fleece the Bucco's...maybe the Mets will have some luck[finally]"

I agree with this. I definitely think Niese and/or Murphy are movable in the right deal. The only guys I really can't see moving are Holt, Martinez and Flores. I don't think they would be in a rush to move Mejia or Thole either, but I think anybody else is pretty much on the table. I like the Tejada deal, as he is a rental, and I am starting to warm up to the idea of Matt Holliday also, though I really don't know what Beane would want for the rental. I guess we will have to rely on the sheer grit and clutchness of Mr. Speed Stick Santos, and his gritty .270 something OBP.

I really think at this point that aubrey huff would be a great choice. He can Play 1st for the time being, and can man left if delgado comes back. I'm fine with Cora at short, I think the biggest issue is adding a little more power to the lineup. I really like the idea of claiming Padilla off waivers. He's an adequate #4 type starter and won't cost any prospects. He'd be an immediate upgrade to Redding.

Could we be so lucky to get the opportunity to kill 2 birds with 1 stone?
a.A's-Holliday + Cabrera
b.Hou-2 of Tejada/Lee/Keppinger
c.Was-Dunn/Johnson + Belliard
d.Flo-Bonafacio + Cantu
e.Col-Barmes + Hawpe/Helton
f.Tex-Vizquel + Byrd

aside from option a...they all should not be too expensice and will all make a major difference.

Sign 1 of Sheets, Padilla, or Pedro so we don't have to watch Redding anymore.

meddler

as much as i dislike miguel tejada, he would make perfect sense for the mets right now, and you do make some great points

however, if we take on that salary dump, then would you be ok with miguel tejada as the "big mid season move" we were almost guaranteed when they did not go after manny? listen, i love this team, they have played as a cohesive unit with all of the injuries... but we do need some help, but i dont think miguel tejada is the answer

wright is my boy,

Completely different situation with Manny. The big thing is the luxury tax. I'm not sure how payrolls are calculated given midseason acquisitions, but Manny would have no doubt put the Mets over the line, a line that the Wilpons have consistently expressed a distinct aversion to crossing. Assuming Tejada's contract calculations in terms of the Mets payroll for the luxury tax is prorated, its likely he'd push them close but keep them a bit under. He'd probably use up the buffer Omar left himself in the offseason, but it'd mean no more big money acquisitions in all likelihood without some sort of salary dump (It'd also expose the flaw in giving guys like Cora, who I don't mind, or Redding, who I do, multimillion dollar deals, neither of them was worth that).

In regard to the "this is a cohesive unit" argument, I will say that Gary Sheffield was seen as someone who could throw a wrench into that with his last second acquisition, but instead, he's been the team's saving grace.

I just don't see too many other acquisitions that would just about guarantee the Mets at least a 1.5-2 win upgrade if Jose and/or Delgado have to miss significantly more time than anticipated. At least, a 1.5-2 win upgrade without giving up significant prospects.

Huff's an interesting thought, but that'd be putting a lot of responsibility on Beltran defensively if Delgado does come back and Huff moves to the outfield, and with his knee injury, Beltran's actually a bit below par in that department so far this year. You'd pretty much be relying on Sheffield and Huff to play RF and LF, respectively. Two guys who essentially hadn't played any outfield in two years.

I don't hate the Huff idea, but I think I'd prefer Tejada. Assuming he winds up in the outfield, I just don't see how he's a huge upgrade over piecing things together with Fernando, Sheffield, Tatis, and Church. You have an interesting group there with nice complimentary skills. Then again, relying on Jerry to exploit that properly may be asking too much. Still, Huff would probably cost more in terms of prospects than Tejada, though if the McLouth deal set the market rates, Huff shouldn't cost THAT much.

MEddler, I honestly think the value of both Huff and Tejada will be about equal. Jorge Cantu would be the other name I'd really have interest in if he can be had.

"MEddler, I honestly think the value of both Huff and Tejada will be about equal. Jorge Cantu would be the other name I'd really have interest in if he can be had. "

I won't argue with any of that. If the Marlins are willing to deal Cantu within the division, awesome, but he'd cost some legitimate prospects. I don't know if that's quite worth it, and at the very least, I wouldn't deal for Cantu in a panic. I'd wait until the deadline, hoping that the McLouth deal winds up depressing the value of established players a bit on the trade market, and at which point you'll probably know if Delgado will be back.

I also see a whole lot of "we"'s in this and so many other threads.

I love when people say "we" when talking about their favourite sports team. To realize how nuts you people sound think about how youd react if you ever heard someone saying "we" in regard to their favourite band. Like "wow we played an amazing show tonight" or "we should add some older hits to the setlist for the next show".

Youre not on the team, youre not on the staff, that means there is no "we" to the equation.

I understand your point about the lux tax, but I was just using Manny as an example. A lot of players could have been had cheap (O-dog, Abreu, Garland, etc) but instead, and i tended to agree, and still do, to wait it out and go with what we had. I fully expect the Mets to make moves come the deadline, whether it be for a complimentary bat, or a back of the rotation guy. That being said, if the Mets were to take on a contract i would like it being a player worth the money we saved by not signing one or more of the above mentioned players. I just dont think Tejada is the answer, but I would take him at the right price.

I love when people say they love something but they really mean they hate it.

Posted by: MEddler | June 05, 2009 at 02:47 AM

----------------------------

I hate it when people say they love it when people say they love something but they really mean they hate it :)

The lack of knowledge about the Mets farm system is funny to me, sure, all they have is F-Mart, Niese, Kunz, and Parnell :rolleyes: . Please, some research would be nice. I'm not convinced Niese or Kunz would even make the Top 10 of the Mets Farm System right now.....not with the way Niese has struggled.

As for the Mets big league team, I still contend the Mets need a Starting Pitcher more then they need a bat. Ollie is a headcase and you have no idea what he's actually going to give this team going forward, and a rotation with a 4/5 of Livan Hernandez and Tim Redding is not taking this team where they want to go....as well as Livan has pitched. They need another starter in the worst way, and if they get anything from Ollie then great.

Reyes and Delgado aren't on season-ending injuries, they'll likely both be ready to go, or close to being ready shortly after the All-Star Break. They just need to weather the storm in the meantime. It's not like there's a whole lot of players on the market right now anyways that the Mets really have a choice in the matter anyways...

Bring in Jack Wilson for a mid-level prospect.

What about Christian Guzman? He available?

xethicx:
Yes, one mid-level prospect. Jack Wilson's salary hinders Pittsburgh from getting anything like a top prospect from a team.

Not to mention that Jack Wilson isn't the only option on the table as well as not even being the best option and the Pirates know that.

If the Pirates act stupid and demand that they get a Grade-A prospect, they'll get laughed at in the face and the other team will just go out and trade for Juan Uribe or something

The Mets really don't have much to trade. I see Tejada as out of the question.

And to keep hearing about the Santana trade... he is the second highest paid player in baseball. It wasn't a "fleece"

The problem is not who the Mets need to fill Reyes' spot with. It should be focused on developing all-around talent. Their catcher, first base, second base, left field, right field spots are all garbage. Not to mention SP spots 2-5.

I was about to say, he must have forgotten how the Yankees were under .500 when Alex Rodriguez came back from Injury. But hey, they overcome injuries that other teams cannot.

jza1218:

You're an idiot. But then, you're a Mets fan so I guess I can't expect anything more.

Jack Wilson isn't going anywhere, at least not right now. The Bucs have several good-looking SS prospects in the minors but none are ready yet. So no trade, yet.

And what gives you this idea that you're going to get a decent shortstop in exchange for your crumbs? Yeah, I'm sure all major league teams are sitting around thinking to themselves "(DUH), How can we help da Muts and shoot ourselves in da foot?...(DUH)"

Now empty your drool cup, pull
up your pants, and quit being
such a damned HOMER!

Scribbletone:

Youre forgetting the fact that Pirates know that the Mets are in diar need of a shortstop.

You said it when you said that he is a "plus defensive shortstop" which is what the Mets need right now. His offensive production is still better than their in house options.

Ok I may have over rated him by saying 2 prospects but I can tell you that the Mets will have to give up a solid pitching prospect to get Wilson, maybe not Niese or Kunz but someone good. That or 2 higher level B grade guys.

The other option is JJ Hardy. I see him as a potential target for the Mets because they could very easily move Hardy to 2B when Reyes returns and then theyd have 3 great young infielders who can all hit, run and field with the best in baseball.

I would give up Niese/Kunz and Murphy for Hardy, wouldnt you?

Some people are funny. An A and a B prospect for Jack Wilson? Why wouldn't they just stick with Alex Cora, he is pretty much just as good as Wilson. It annoys me that Yankee fans have the best team in the majors, are playing wonderfully, and they are still worried more about the Mets and trashing them then their own team. You guys do know the Mets and the Yankees are completely irrelevant to each other right? You are aware that they play in two separate league's, no? Just enjoy your own team.

I wonder if the Mets could make a move with Seattle, something like, Niese, Murphy, Gee, Church and Kunz for Bedard and Branyan. Those guys could both be valuable, but at the same time, I think Holt, Martinez, Flores, Havens, Mejia, and to an extent Thole and Marte should be pretty much off limits. Don't deplete the farm system. I would rather just miss the playoffs this year, then to gut everything for a few rentals. This idea that the Mets have to win now is funny, they are moving forward with a core of Reyes, Wright, Beltran, Santana, Pelfrey, Maine, Martinez. Oliver Perez is here for better of for worse. I think he will pitch as a number 4, albeit, a high paid number 4 through the life of this deal, always with that potential to be something much better. So over the next couple years, the Mets will possibly have to fill catcher, first base, right field, second base and probably a number 2 or 3 starter. That is assuming none of their prospects step into those roles. So again, don't gut the farm system, I would rather wait until next year then go all in this year.

Scribbletone:

Ah, yes. Nothing like a pencil-necked Cubs fan to chime in and cherry pick stats.

1. Did I say anything about Bixler? Huh? Did I? He's no more than a UT player and everybody knows that.

2. Remember that Mercer is less than a year removed from college, hitting in a bad hitter's park in a slightly pitching friendly league. All in all, not a bad line.

3.I notice you failed to mention Chase D'Arnaud. He of the .297/.380/.430/.811 line. And also less than a year removed from college.

4. And just saving the best for last: Jarek Cunningham. Unfortunately out for the year with a knee injury but doctors say he'll be as good as new next year and he's probably the best prospect of the bunch.

I don't mind being proven wrong (Lord knows it's happened plenty), but it irritates the heck out of me when people cherry-pick stats.

I don't know which one of these guys will be the eventual long-term SS but I am certain ONE of them will be.

jj puts is valuable because he has an option on the contract. i doubt the mets are pickin the option up and payin him 8 mill next season. so assuming JJ and church come back soon... and parnell doesn't fall apart, y not make bobby the 8th inning guy murphy/tatis your firstbase platoon and trade:

rp jj putz, of ryan church and rp sean green (or player of equal value)

to The Tampa Rays for:

IF/OF Ben Zobrist, SP Jeff Neimann and RP Chad Bradford

zobrist can play ss 2b or of. gold glove no but hes not the worst and can hit. bradford can be had for anything rays just dont want to pay his $2-3 million salary. green is a similar type pitcher only younger and cheaper so i think thats an even swap there. and neimann well maybe they wouldnt trade him but i dont see why not. once kazmir is back its either neimann or price getting bumped out and i would guess if price is doing well it aint him thats gonna go. if they cant get zobrist stick with what you got omar. i dont want to see grdzilanek wilson or any other middle infielder over the age of 30 coming into our everyday lineup. cora is bad enough. there all 250 hitters with no pop and average defense. let valdes play or get a guy with some pop like zobrist to fill in, nothing else makes any sense to me. errors at ss and 2b arent whats been killing the mets this season. I'd also to get Dunn if washington is looking to just dump his contract but I dont see why they would have signed him if there not hoping to at least fetch some good prospects for him...and off the top i know i wouldnt give up parnell niese gee martinez or thole for him so what else you really got to get that deal done?

WFAN is reporting Putz is headed for bone spur surgery a la John Maine. He'll miss 8-10 weeks if this report is accurate.

and u know carp isn't a top prospect his absence isn't stopping us form getting a trade done. that deal with seatle was a wash. I actually think reeds been good so we maybe improved a hair or 2. but we didnt lose a damn thing and it was a great move even if JJ is a bust. only a complete omar hater would think otherwise. and oh I forgot about Nick Evans...there you go. I'd in fact give them Evans and Green if thats what it took to get a deal like that with tampa done.

"At least there is an explanation to why he was so terrible."

Yeah I think it was pretty obvious at this point. His velo was down significantly and he wasn't locating at all. He was just a mess.

BTW, I saw you popped into AmazinAvenue the other day, nrmax. That's pretty much my interwebz hangout at this point, I come here when something like this happens, but AA's a pretty good place to discuss without having to deal with the loads of crap you sometimes get in the comments section here.

Yeah that one was hilarious. I'm pretty sure the writer did something just like that about Ollie when it looked like he might be going to the pen, but I can't find it now. Ah well.

I would never trade reyes for derek lee Iknow Im'late on that but it's ridiculous. My post name is for that reason He's 26 in the hardest market for media plus we need to keep homegrown players.No one can replace the excitement he brings he has fun. Gets paid nothing and loves the game.When all is said and done we will love these guys.

plus rollin s #'s are balooned by that ban box of a park.