The Mets talked with the Cubs about the possibility of trading for catcher Geovany Soto, Andy Martino of the New York Daily News reports. However, the sides aren’t likely to complete a trade.
While the Mets are comfortable entering the 2013 season with Josh Thole as their everyday catcher, they’d like to add a proven backstop who bats from the right side to complement Thole. The Mets could re-start talks for Soto or another right-handed hitter this offseason, Martino reports. The Mets also had some interest in Ramon Hernandez and Kelly Shoppach, but couldn’t agree on a price with the Rockies or Red Sox.
Soto, 29, has a .195/.278/.345 batting line in 194 plate appearances for the Cubs this year. The 2008 NL Rookie of the Year earns $4.3MM in 2012 and will go to arbitration for the third time this offseason unless he's non-tendered.
What happen to him, from ROY to just a ROLE player, i wanted to go after him after his sophmore year. I just knew he would bounce back but nope.
Have you ever looked at his minor league numbers prior to his callup/breakout?
.272/.353/.386/.739 – 2006
.253/.357/.342/.699 – 2005
.271/.355/.401/.756 – 2004
.242/.313/.316/.629 – 2003
There should be no question why he has struggled in the majors – those questions should instead be asking how he was so good for those two and a half seasons.
i never looked at, but he was successful, not all players tear apart the minors, but somehow in the majors they succeed. And he did it for more than 1 year, so there was something to it, it wasnt just luck.
you’re missing the point
.285/.364/.501/.868 – 2008
.280/.393/.497/.890 – 2010
Those two seasons do not match his ability
.218/.321/.381/.702 – 2009
.228/.310/.411/.721 – 2011
.195/.278/.345/.623 – 2012
Those do (well, 2012 is too low, but the ISO and differential is about correct even if the BAbip is unrealistically deflated)
Somehow in those 2008 and 2010 seasons (plus 2007 between the minors and majors) he went from his normal 100-150 ISO and expected .280-.300 babip to a .220 ISO and .330 babip. That is unrealistic.
Now granted, he was in an age range which could see some boost, but he was not a player who was ever expected to do that – and especially not to that degree. He was thought of as a platoon Catcher coming up, and was specifically often compared to Henry Blanco; someone he has since been extremely similar to outside 2008 and 2010.
So again, the question is, how did he become such a threat those 2.5 seasons? Those seasons are the aberrations here, not everything else.
I think IF should be when. The only reason he wouldn’t be nontendered is another team trades for him.
Josh Thole is not the answer at catcher
neither is soto
Well of COURSE the Cubs aren’t going to be able to trade him. This trade deadline is cursed. Despite having two of the most sought-after starters, a catcher, a first baseman/corner OF, a second baseman, a left fielder, a center fielder, a righty platoon OF/4th OF, an everyday RF/CF, and about a half dozen other movable parts to spare, we seem destined to go through the deadline without getting squat.
Whether it’s Dempster exercising his 10/5 rights, Garza developing arm issues at the worst possible time, the team that badly wanted Barney getting a different 2B, LaHair forgetting how to hit, or the general stink of Soriano’s last few seasons and ridiculous contract being so bad that no other team seems to acknowledge he’s quietly gone back to being a 2.5-3.5 WAR player who we’ll pay YOU to take, this whole trade season just feels cursed.
There’s no such thing as a curse. Also, the trade deadline isn’t over until Tuesday. The issue here is that Soto is not that good.
I guess at this point, anyone for the Mets is better than Mike Nickeas.
The backup catcher and bullpen are two key areas Alderson needs to address.
Instead of discussing, considering, and weighing, the Mets should start doing.
Their patient approach is one I understand but one that has also hurt them this year.
Soto would address a need and is the perfect buy low option. Mets should do it.
To these eyes, the problem with Soto is that he’s both the kind of hitter whose bat cools terribly when he doesn’t get to play everyday, and the kind of catcher who picks up an endless string of nagging little injuries when he does get to play everyday.
Soto and Shawn Camp for Edgin or Tapia
Why would a team that isn’t even hoping to contend for at least two years want Hairston?
I thought about Hairston then I edited it to Edgin or Tapia
*Facepalm* At this point they could just put Soto in left…
I would put money that Soto won’t be with the Cubs at the start of next season. More than likely non-tendered.