Here's the latest Full Count video from Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com …
- Mets third baseman David Wright, a free agent after next season assuming his 2013 option is picked up, will likely seek an eight-year contract extension of $150MM, using the long-term deals of franchise players Troy Tulowitzki, Matt Kemp and Joey Votto as negotiating points.
- With several hard-to-trade veterans on the roster in Wandy Rodriguez, Carlos Lee and Brett Myers, the Astros might be well advised to trade second baseman Jose Altuve as a means to replenish their farm system. Houston has a well-regarded second base prospect in the minors in Jimmy Paredes, who was acquired in the deal that sent Lance Berkman to the Yankees.
- Most teams expect the Cubs to trade Matt Garza, but the North Siders are also considering re-signing the right-hander to a long-term extension. If the Cubs opt to trade Garza, though, they should be able to draw interest from pitching-needy AL East teams, as well as the Tigers.
- The Red Sox are motivated to trade Kevin Youkilis sooner than later, wanting to preclude a distraction and limit the positional shuffling of Adrian Gonzalez, but potential suitors want to see Youkilis remain healthy and productive before buying. The Dodgers are an obvious fit, while the Diamondbacks, who expressed interest last offseason, might not have the financial flexibility to take on the $12MM owed to Youk.
I couldn’t see how the Mets would offer less than 8 years and $150 million for Wright.
Now I’m sure that somehow, someway, Freddie Coupons will screw this all up and Wright will end up in Los Angeles or something in 14
Maybe all these huge contracts gone bad has scared me. But 8/150MM for Wright just seems like a horrible contract waiting to happen. If that’s what it takes, I have a feeling the Mets will be regretting it.
He’ll be 31 once his next contract starts in 2014. 8 years would be very very bad. 6 tops but I’m not running a team.
You may not be running the team, but I think your point is valid, from a Met fan’s perspective. What’s in the team’s long term best interest? 8 years at 31 years old? Not so much.
I would certainly love to see the Tigers be the team to trade for Altuve along with Wandy or Myers if need be. Perfect guy for this team at this point and in to the future. Im thinking Turner and Hernan Perez plus cash coming back to the Tigers should do it.
I’m not sure that with Paredes that Perez would be a high priority for them. I’m old enough to remember the Doyle Alexander for Smoltz swap back in the 80’s (actually I’m old enough to remember the ’68 Series win) so trading young pitchers always makes me nervous. Of course, Andrew Miller and Maybin for Cabrera also reminds me that “A bird in hand…”
It’s only a matter of time with Youk. As a Red Sox fan, I dont want to lose a productive Youkilis but it just seems another DL stint is inevitable this summer. I hope Cherrington is able to trade him during a high water mark. But considering the salary and impending free agency, I really dont think he’ll poach a return of any notable worth for the Sox.
I think Boston would eat salary in exchange for better/more prospects. They’re rather thin in the upper minors, so any ML-ready pitching would help.
Or perhaps package him with one of our extra outfielders or shoppach, maybe a lefty reliever, and/or a few prospects for a legit starter.
David Wright….eight-year contract extension of $150MM. My goodness Adrian Beltre didn’t even command that kind of scratch. I dunno, I know he’s Mr. Met, but that is a lot of money. It’s really nice to see the Mets doing as well as they are. 7 games over .500 and two shut outs in a row of the Cardinals isn’t too shabby.
Astros will figure out as to what to do with their Vets, someone can use all those players. As for the Cubs, it’s a shame the only way they make the news these days is because of someone retiring (Woods) or a possible trade (Garza).
As for the Diamondbacks wanting Youk? Why? They might have been a one hit wonder as far as playoff contention. They should draft a third baseman or something. Youk is too old for their plans
You say that like Beltre is Babe Ruth or something. Over the course of their respective careers Wright has been a much better offensive player than Beltre. His career OPS is nearly 100 points higher, his career OPS+ about 25 points higher. And also factor in to a lesser degree the other off the field stuff, how important he is to the Mets, etc. Wright should make more than Beltre.
That said 8 years, 150 mil does sound excessive. 5-6 years seems more reasonable
you’re getting pretty creative with the numbers there. 05-08 wright was not the same player as 09-11 wright. if he’d been consistent, 8/150 would be the low side. he hasn’t been consistent. not with the bat and especially not with the glove
beltre meanwhile has been an elite defensive player every year in every park. his offensive numbers were poor in seattle, and pretty great everywhere else. better than the david wright of the last several years
is david wright back to his 05-08 form? maybe. i certainly hope so. but that is a huge, huge gamble to make right now. and there really isn’t any reason to make it
Beltre’s elite numbers every season (ex at Seattle) and his superb defense seem to not faze many of the mets fans here and have brought that up myself. Even with beltre having inked that 6/96 (option year) contract that is considerable less than what Wright is looking for.
Sometimes a team has to just cut your loses and paying Wright nearly 20m over 7 seasons is another blunder of NYC proportions.
I honestly think that Youk might be good for the Mets if he can be had for a bargain and Davis continues struggling. But the bullpen is the priority and if Davis needs to be sent down, then they would move Duda into the infield and just start someone from their surplus of outfielders.
Ken is crazy. If the Astros traded Altuve it would be the worst decision. He’s only 22, Paredes is 23.
Not to mention Paredes only has a .324 OBP in Triple A. That is not future starting material…
Don’t the Astros strike out enough? Paredes’ plate discipline is HORRIBLE. He’s Chris Johnson without the pop (even though Chris Johnson has no pop anymore), and no one’s lining up to trade for him. Altuve is a keeper.
If thats what he wants, might as well trade him.
In what world is Jimmy Paredes a well regarded prospect? Trading Altuve to make room for him would be foolish.
Altuve is 22. 22. Does he think 22 is too old to be part of a rebuilding process? He should be the one guy thats untouchable. The fans love him and if ownership gets rid of another fan favorite the fans will turn on this group just like they did the last one. Paredes is decent but Altuve is better. He is the face of the franchise.
jose altuve beings the face of the franchise es exactly whats wrong,,,, he is supportings player, not face of a franchises,, you wills have a hard time being winning team wit jose altuve as face of franchise,,,, trade him for very many prospects,,,,
(pardon mi ingles, not a natives speaker)
I don’t know about face of the franchise. He’s a solid, scrappy player that any team should want, but as a rebuilding team without a biggio or bagwell type, I think Houston’s a pretty faceless franchise right now. That hopefully will change when Singleton arrives (and who’s destroying AA at 20 right now).
Having Youkilis, Middlebrooks and Gonzo is a good problem to have. So what if Gonzalez has to play RF a little big. He’s making 150m it shouldn’t even be looked at as ridiculous to have him in right. I think having these 3 when everyone else comes back allows them to field the best team possible.
the problem isn’t that gonzalez might dislike playing there. the problem is he’s horrible out there
I think he makes up for the little time he is out there with what he can do with the bat. Granted he isn’t lighting it up offensively, but he is bound to turn it around.
A middle infield of Castro and Altuve? GAH! (drools)
Yeah, Youk should be ashamed of his 3.7 WAR in 120 games last year…
So is half the over the hill gang Phillies more than likely from an age and injuries perspective.. At least Youk is on the playing field you know…
He’d fit right in.
Haha. Brilliant
Except for the fact that WAR is adjusted so as to neutralize teammates, park factors, league, year, etc. It is not possible for WAR to be “inflated.”
you’re thinking of WARBIs
LOL. Yeah.. About 2 weeks ago he would have and he did fit in pretty well (tho older) with CC and Ellsbury also huh.
I’m sure when (really if… but let me have when) Utley and Howard will have decent stretches.
Personally, I like Youkilis. He’s not the same player he once was but he’s still a good player to have on your ball club and should be a great addition for whoever acquires him and likewise if he stays with the Red Sox. (which is personally what I would do… IMO he makes sense as the long term DH given his positional flexibility… flexibility Papi doesn’t have).
but by the time the mets are ready to do anything he’ll be on a down slide.. so the question is, are the mets not better off dangling him?
From 2009-2011, David Wright had the worst UZR/150 (-12.0) among third basemen in all of baseball – even worse than Mark Reynolds (-10.7). He’s also dead last in RngR, and in the bottom 5 in TZL and ErrR. Giving him a massive contract into his late 30s is a terrible idea in the National League, where there’s no way to hide him in the DH spot. I think that they’re better off drafting somebody new and just letting him go. In fact, trading him now might be a good idea – he’s not going to keep a .418 BABIP forever.
Yes, I wonder the same thing. I love Wright, but is this long-term, very-expensive commitment really in the Met’s long-term interest? I dunno . . . .
I don’t know what all your sabr-stats are, but your comment about the risk of giving him a massive contract for so long is what concerns me also . . . better in the long run to get value for him now, as you suggest?
no, he isn’t. but it’s worth noting that he hasn’t just been getting lucky. his LD% this season has been incredible. it’s not sustainable, but he has been legitimately awesome