The Nationals and manager Davey Johnson continue to work toward a new contract for 2013, and based on the most recent reports it sounds as though the sides have a good chance of reaching a deal. Here's more from the NL East…
- The Mets aren't close to completing extensions with David Wright and R.A. Dickey, Andy McCullough of the Star-Ledger reports. The Mets remain hopeful that they can complete long-term deals with the players instead of trading them away.
- Todd Zolecki of MLB.com explains why Angel Pagan and Torii Hunter could be solutions for the Phillies this offseason. Zolecki doubts that Michael Bourn will return to Philadelphia this offseason and points out that B.J. Upton's far from a perfect player.
- Former Braves and Marlins starter Javier Vazquez will pitch in the upcoming World Baseball Classic for Puerto Rico and see if he wants to make a comeback, Peter Gammons of MLB Network reports (on Twitter). The right-hander didn’t pitch in 2012, but pitched quite well for the Marlins in 2011, posting a 3.69 ERA in 192 2/3 innings.
I still say trading Wright is the right move. The team isn’t going anywhere, and they should be able to get a coup for him. Dickey could fetch a nice return, as well.
Totally disagree about trading David Wright and disagree the team isn’t going anywhere. But whatever the ultimate status of the 2013 team is immaterial to Wright’s connection to and with the franchise. It’s ultimately about having him as career long Met – that value is immeasurable for a franchise lacking any history of career-long Mets with Hall of Fame potential. Wright’s importance to the Mets stretches well beyond 2013.
Insofar as the 2013 Mets, they already have a very good rotation in RA Dickey, Matt Harvey, Jon Niese, Johan Santana and Dillion Gee, and one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball – Zack Wheeler – likely to debut in 2013.
Therefore, a few solid moves for the starting lineup and pen, should make this team very competitive all season with chance for postseason.
Worst ever to happen to the Mets was having the Wilpons retain retain ownership. They are going to be irrelevant in the NL East through at least ’14.
“The Mets remain hopeful” is Alderson-speak for “yeah, I don’t really want to do that, but the fans sure want me to.” See: Jose Reyes.
To be fair, not re-signing Reyes was the right move and worked out fine, but be honest with your fan base. It’s hard enough being a Mets fan already—don’t make it more frustrating for us by lying to our faces.
You’re disproving yourself. You blame Alderson for not re-signing Reyes, yet you think it was the right move? No GM is going to tell you through the media what they’re going to do, without so many uncertainties out there. There’ll be positives and negatives to signing Wright to a long-term deal. I look forward to seeing them without the financial handcuffs that are Santana and Bay.
The one thing that Alderson should learn from the Reyes situation was that if you cant sign em, trade em. Imagine what a team like Boston or Baltimore would give up in a package for a face of the franchise type guy.
Boston would likely include Middlebrooks, and a combination out of the group of Webster, Ranaudo, Barnes, Brentz and maybe include guys at the ML level like Lavarnway or Bard.
Baltimore could give them a package centered around Gausman and likely Delmonico along with ML guys like Britton, Arrieta, and Tillman could also be involved.
Agreed. I love their timing with Beltran to get Wheeler. ATL would have selected him in the draft if he was still available. Don’t know why NYM didn’t do the same thing with Reyes, benefiting from a batting title-season to get some good young prospects into the organization.
All this “pleasing the fan base” stuff is garbage. People want their team to win, with David Wright or without him.
exactly. They werent making the playoffs with him. but they could make the playoffs in 2014 by trading him. Say for sake of argument they deal him to boston for Middlebrooks Webster and Barnes. Their rotation in 2014 could have Wheeler, Webster, Barnes, Harvey and a bunch of guys who could compete for the 5th spot. Plus a guy who can take over at 3rd in Middlebrooks and they still have Flores coming along in the minors
The best/cheapest options for Philly all are aging veterans. Scutaro would add a good bat at 2b and can back up SS/3b, but he is well north of 35. Hunter also well north of 35 also can probably be had for 2 years.
Philly really needs to get some infusion of younger players mixed in rather than just the same old practice of bringing in guys who are 30+. The bubble is going to burst hard.
Hasn’t it already?