Who should be the imported "big bat"??

[Mex17]

For those who believe that we DESPERATELY need a new righthanded slugger to bat cleanup (as I do. . .the debate for that is, of course, valid and can be discussed on the board, albiet preferably in a thread isolated from this one), I am posting this poll to discuss who the best option ought to be.

I am including Glaus based on the fact that I heard on 1050 ESPN radio that he will be made available be Arizona. It has been said that Glaus can play first base, so if we acquire him (or Konerko), Jacobs can stay behind the plate and hit lower in the order.

I am also hoping that, in any trade we make, we will be able to keep at least Diaz or Milledge (preferably Milledge with Cameron holding the fort down until he is ready)..

[MFS62]

Other: Gary Sheffield (for Mike Cameron).

Sheffield is an MAJOR offensive upgrade for us and playes the position (right field) we would need to replace Cameron, and Cameron provides the centerfielder the Yanks need. Sheffield earns about $4 million more, so money is still available to be spent elsewhere.

Both contracts have one more year to run, so if Milledge is ready for the majors we say bye bye to Gary. If he isn't, we re-up Gary or look elsewhere.

Later

[Mex17]

Good call, but I think that you have to add to the equation that Sheffield will demand a contract renegotiation in order to come over and (more importantly) not be a colossal pain in the ass.

[Guest KC]

I didn't vote, but I could see Konerko becoming a Met and coming here and
stinking - it would be so Metsesque for him to do that.

I can't see either Manny or Sheffie in a Mets' uniform - ain't gonna happen -
nor do I really want to see it happen.

[Theoldmole]

Konerko -- he fits a key position need. I'm not ready to write in Jacobs.

[metsmarathon]

if its anybody, its gonna be konerko... i think.

[nymr83]

of the guys on that lost i'd take Konerko, though depending on what you think of Jacobs the DIFFERENCE between konerko and jacobs may not be as wide as the gap between our current 2Bmen and Soriano.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Manny is one hell of a hitter, but he's too expensive and his defense is a liabilty. His attitude is suspect as well. You have to ftake into account that he wiould be replacing Floyd in LF. Any increase in offensive production that Manny would supply would be partially offset by the loss of Floyd's production. Personally, I'd pass on Manny.

Alfonso Soriano isn't the clean up hitter the Mets line up needs. Pass.

Paul Konerko is a solid hitter. He wouldn't cost anything in trade. Probably the best option in the group. I would definitely look into signing him this offseason.

Troy Glaus is an interesting possibilty. I guess it would depend upon his willingness to switch to first base and what the Diamondbacks would want in return for him. Possibly a back up option if negotiations with Konerko fell through.

[Frayed Knot]

]that you have to add to the equation that Sheffield will demand a contract renegotiation in order to come over and (more importantly) not be a colossal pain in the ass.

Sheffield has no power - except I guess by being a colossal pain in the ass - to demand a renegotiation. He has no no-trade protections currently and would have to play out the final year of his deal for the team that trades for him or not play (or get paid) at all.

]It has been said that Glaus can play first base, so if we acquire him (or Konerko), Jacobs can stay behind the plate ...

Getting Glaus (or whoever) for 1st base doesn't mean that Jacobs is suddenly going to morph back into a catcher. If they thought he'd be any good back there he'd be donning the tools regardless of who was playing 1st. That bat with an even decent defensive resume as a catcher would be like holding a winning lottery ticket. As it is, he was a below-avg arm backstop prior to his shoulder surgery and missed season and it's now been 2 full years since he's caught more than occasionally.

When and if he proves he can catch at at least a decent level ... great. But until then you don't shoe-horn a guy into catching simply because there's nowhere else to put him. More like the other way around.

[Guest martin]

Rockin' Doc wrote: Manny is one hell of a hitter, but he's too expensive and his defense is a liabilty. His attitude is suspect as well. You have to ftake into account that he wiould be replacing Floyd in LF. Any increase in offensive production that Manny would supply would be partially offset by the loss of Floyd's production. Personally, I'd pass on Manny..

can't floyd move to right? he has a good arm. cameron could replace damon in boston, and manny could play right at shea?

[smg58]

I'd look into all those guys listed, but I think you'd have to have some idea what each player would cost before making a choice between them. As far as focusing on righties goes, I'll start a new thread.

[metirish]

The Boston Globe reported today that Manny is demanding a trade, it's causing all kinds of shit in the Front Office...it's causing shit because it was leaked form an employee of the Sox..

[Guest Edgy DC]

Other.

Nobody.

Shore up the bench instead. No more four backup middle infielders. More backup corner outfielders.

[metirish]

Here's what I found on the story

]Leak riles Henry By Michael Silverman/ Red Sox Notebook Sunday, October 30, 2005 Infuriated by what was reported as a leak from one of their own, the Red Sox said yesterday that the source of another Manny Ramirez-wants-to-be-traded story actually came from outside the club. The Red Sox would not confirm or deny a report in yesterday�s Boston Globe that Gene Mato, one of Ramirez� representatives, had conveyed to team owner John Henry on Friday that Ramirez wanted to be traded. Ramirez could always change his mind during the process, Mato was said to report, but if the trade request was not honored, the slugger would not report to spring training. The Globe attributed the source of the leak to a �team source� and general manager Theo Epstein told the Globe that it was �ridiculous� for the leaker to have revealed any such private communication. The source, said Henry, was actually not from the Red Sox. �I echo Theo�s remarks today that deplore leaks to the media regarding private conversations,� Henry said in an e-mail. �I was able to ascertain that today�s story on Manny did not come from the Red Sox.� A source on the Red Sox said the team was �furious� about the story but given that Ramirez has made and withdrawn similar requests in the past, having him possibly express a desire to be traded once again did not raise anybody�s eyebrows along Yawkey Way. Still, the breach in confidence reportedly bothered the Red Sox a great deal, even if the source was discovered not to be on the payroll. However, if Ramirez� request to be traded does remain on the table for a long period of time, the leak does no favors for the Red Sox, who would lose leverage if potential trading partners believe that Ramirez is forcing a trade.

http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/view.bg?articleid=109503

[Guest Rotblatt]

I'm not convinced that we need a "big bat;" I think that getting an average 1B & 2B along with a fifth outfielder with some pop would be enough. That being said, a big bat instead of an average one at one of those spots could really improve our offense, so I went with Konerko. Soriano's overrated and given his defense should probably be in the outfield.

Manny would be sweet, but it'd have to be along the lines of Cameron + Heilman = Manny + Shoppach + ~$15M. If we give up any more than that, it's probably not worth it, IMO.

[Elster88]

Rotblatt wrote: I'm not convinced that we need a "big bat;"

I think if we had traded for Manny right before Cammy's injury then we probably make the playoffs.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yeah, but that's pretty easy to do.

[Frayed Knot]

]I think if we had traded for Manny right before Cammy's injury then we probably make the playoffs.

Even assuming that no big current parts were sent to get him (iow, just Cammy and/or minor leaguers) would less half a season of Manny have been enough to make up 7 games in the standings?

Doubtful.

[Elster88]

There were many, many close games down the stretch that one clutch hit would've won. I think the preceding statements was the main ammunition for "The Mets had a good offense last year" theorists.

And we weren't seven games out when Manny was supposedly available. Maybe one win in the middle of that ugliness would've kept the Mets from losing 10 out of 12 or whatever it was.

I don't really want to get into a discussion about this. I just think it's food for thought.

And that we absolutely, positively need a big bat.

[Frayed Knot]

This is not an argument against adding offense, merely that part of what gets teams in trouble at times is when they go overboard in thinking that one player can make a bigger difference than it's reasonable to expect.
Generally, it'll take a top shelf player to mean a 10-win difference over the course of an entire season.


My "7 game" remark was meant to show the minimum diff between us and a likely WC or NL East title and it's unlikely that Manny could have provided that over a short span.
Remember, the team who had him didn't exactly streak down the stretch either.

[Guest 86-Dreamer]

i voted other. Furcal as 2B and leadoff hitter intrigues me. i also wonder if Nomar could be a bargain addition for 1B and/or 2B. Before you stop laughing, consider i am only interested in Nomar for 1 yr deal.

[Mex17]

According ro Francesa, Omar was quoted as stating that his priorities in order are:

1) closer
2) CLEANUP HITTER
3) catcher

[Elster88]

86-Dreamer wrote: i voted other. Furcal as 2B and leadoff hitter intrigues me. i also wonder if Nomar could be a bargain addition for 1B and/or 2B. Before you stop laughing, consider i am only interested in Nomar for 1 yr deal.

I see no reason to think Nomar would be of any use next year. What in his recent history makes you think he would be a good addition for even half of next year?

[Zvon]

I dont think we need a 'big bat'.
Wouldnt mind one, but I dont feel its a high priority need.

NY papers report Manny says he only wants to go to the Angels or the Indians, for what thats worth.

And reports also say Cameron has voiced a desire to play centerfield again.
His agent denies the demand.
(hey,I guess if they have to make up stories its okay. Its just nice to see the Mets name in print again)

What does anybody have on Kenji Jojima?
All it says is he's a .300 hitting 30 homer guy from Japan, but so was Kaz , so that dont mean much to me.
He is a catcher, but probly dont speaks Japanese and theres no room for a translator between homeplate and the mound.

[Guest Edgy DC]

]All it says is he's a .300 hitting 30 homer guy from Japan, but so was Kaz , so that dont mean much to me.

He's hit exactly .300 (or .299627329) over 10 years in Japan, and averaged about 32 homers per 550 at-bats. But simply because Kaz Matsui failed to replicate his Japanese production in the US is no reason to dismiss all Japanese production as irrelevant. Somewhere on the internet, I'm sure there's a calculator to convert Japan League production into its Major League equivalent.

]He is a catcher, but probly dont speaks Japanese and theres no room for a translator between homeplate and the mound.

I assume you're saying that you suspect he doesn't speak English and it would be problematic.

A lot has been written about this guy, certainly over the last week, including that he's been studying English for the last two years. I assume teams meeting with him (he's flown into the country to meet with GMs) will guage for themselves how he communicates.

[MFS62]

Edgy DC wrote: Somewhere on the internet, I'm sure there's a calculator to convert Japan League production into its Major League equivelent. .

I saw one a few years ago. It may have been a Baseball Prospectus premium piece. IIRC the factor they mentioned for projecting major league performance from Japanses league data was either 83 or 86%. It may be adequate for projecting batting average. But after seeing what some imports have done, especially Hidecki Matsui, I wouldn't trust it in projecting home run numbers.

Later