I don't like the names I'm hearing

[Centerfield]

Over the weekend, I read some articles about filling holes for next season. Instead of guys like Soriano or Carlos Lee, they're talking about guys like Moises Alou and Julio Lugo. Alou is 40 years old, and Lugo is a guy who doesn't hit for much power and doesn't get on base. I'm guessing both could be had relatively cheap, but with last year's team coming so close, I'd really like to seem them open it up and go for it all rather than trying to cut corners.

After the 2000 season, the Mets failed to upgrade their offense and attempted to replace Hampton with cost-effective options Kevin Appier and Steve Trachsel. And in 2001, they didn't return to the post-season. I'm hoping they don't make that same mistake this off-season.

I hope they bring in an impact player at either second base or LF, then the other can be filled in by a cheaper option. I'm hoping they pursue Jason Schmidt aggressively. He's not a bona fide ace, but he's a second-tier guy, and at 33, I would think he has a few years left in him.

[metirish]

Seems like the Mets have been after Moises Alou for a few years now.

[Vic Sage]

if we're going to shop at the discount store for 2b and/or LF, i'd prefer a REALLY cheap option, like DeRosa and Jose Guillen, rather than Lugo and Alou, who we'd have to pay more for but isn't actually any better. That way we can spend money on a Schmidt or similar SPer.

And Schmidt is too an ace, when he's healthy enough to pitch.

but i agree with CF that this is no time to cut corners.

[Guest ABG]

I like Ronnie Belliard as an option at 2b. He's a FA, right?

[Guest Edgy DC]

I think part of the thinking is to look for guys they can get for a short-term (preferably one-year) deal, so they can toss them aside when their prospects ripen.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

ABG wrote: I like Ronnie Belliard as an option at 2b. He's a FA, right?

Well, he's a FAT, at least.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

I guess it's true that an advantage to Alou is that he can be easily displaced by Lastings Milledge while Alfonso Soriano can't, but that's not the way I want them making decisions.

I'd rather they sign Soriano and make Milledge try to displace Green.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I hear ye. I'm just speculating.

Belliard is a fright to me. He's more or less capable, but he's a chunker, in his thirties (when that stuff catches up with you), and I don't want to fall into the Yankee pattern of misvaluing guys because they did well against us in the playoffs.

[Guest sharpie]

Also, big dropoff in defense with Belliard from Valentin. Plus, that sticking his tongue out thing is disgusting.

[MFS62]

Some comments:

The day after the NLCS ended, Omar was interviewed by M&MD. He said that he has already been told by Fred Wilpon that he will be able to spend to improve the team. He added "within fiscal reason, of course." I don't think he will be looking at only low priced solutions.

Edgy, I'm not sure if there are any middle infielders in the organization who will be ready to make a significant contribution in the near future.

ABG - yes, Belliard is a free agent this year.

I'd be all right with Lugo. He was a Mets fan as a kid, and has said they are the only team he'd be willing to change positions for on a regular basis. I like the idea of someone with a shortstop's arm playing second. We saw how important this was this year on Valentin's relays because of Green's diminished throwing ability in right.

The first guy who volunteers to shake Alou's hand when he joins the Mets will get my vote for team captain.

Later

[Vic Sage]

Belliard is the same as Lugo is the same as DeRosa... guys with OPS of around .750 (with OPS+ in 90-95 range), around 30ish.

if this is all your going to go after, just get the guy who costs the least.

[Valadius]

With the offense we generate out of shortstop, I would be willing to settle for an average offensive player at second base with a great glove. We need to make sure our defense up the middle stays sound.

[metirish]

]The first guy who volunteers to shake Alou's hand when he joins the Mets will get my vote for team captain.

Is he a dick or what?

[MFS62]

Valadius wrote: With the offense we generate out of shortstop, I would be willing to settle for an average offensive player at second base with a great glove. We need to make sure our defense up the middle stays sound.

Yes, defense up the middle is very important. But if they move on that front, the team still needs a righty hitter to play left to balance the lineup. And if that is going to be Alou or Lee, Omar had better have some money left over to get Beltran a pair of roller skates to cover the ground between either of them and Green.

Later

[soupcan]

metirish wrote: ]The first guy who volunteers to shake Alou's hand when he joins the Mets will get my vote for team captain. Is he a dick or what?

He pees on his hands to 'toughen them up'.

[metirish]

The first thing Omar should do is extend Willie's contract,and he has talked about doing that,Nomar probably won't be back in LA,can he play second base?

[Guest Edgy DC]

]Edgy, I'm not sure if there are any middle infielders in the organization who will be ready to make a significant contribution in the near future.

I didn't mean to imply otherwise.

]I'd be all right with Lugo. He was a Mets fan as a kid, and has said they are the only team he'd be willing to change positions for on a regular basis.

I don't think he's really said this. Plus, he gave the Dodgers absolute garbage this year after coming over in the midst of what seemed like a breakout season for the Rays. He's been a passable hitter at best throughout his career, and that looks worse when you take him away from shortstop.

Check out the OPS+ numbers.

2000 HOU 90
2001 HOU 77
2002 HOU 84
2003 HOU 64
2003 TB 99
2003 TOT 95
2004 TB 94
2005 TB 105
2006 TB 122
2006 LA 40
2006 TOT 95

Maybe he couldn't get adjusted to his new city and new role and willl still break out, but I'm not about offering him a multi-year deal and moving him leftward on the defensive spectrum to find out.

I also don't think it's cool to send teams flirtatious messages through the papers about what you'd be willing to do if they signed you when you're supposed to be trying to beat them with your current team.

[RealityChuck]

sharpie wrote: Also, big dropoff in defense with Belliard from Valentin. Plus, that sticking his tongue out thing is disgusting.

Maybe that's why they want him. He can join Wright and Pelfrey.

[MFS62]

I hadn't looked at Lugo's numbers before that post. He seems to be one of those players who you think is better than he really is.
Thanks,
Later

[smg58]

As usual, I don't know how much money the Mets have to spend, and that will obviously affect whther they should go for one big-money player or several. The big difference between now and 1999 and 2000 is that in both those years they lost somebody to free agency that they couldn't really replace, and that's not going to happen this year.

I think they do need to get one of Zito/Schmidt/Matsuzaka. The postseason notwithstanding, the rotation is their area of greatest need, and if they have money for just one big acquisition it needs to be a starting pitcher.

Lugo's been fine when given steady at-bats, and it's possible that his stint with the Dodgers lowered his market value below what it should be. He's not somebody I'd stretch the wallet for, though. I'd consider bringing Valentin back if I can get a suitable righty bat (Rich Aurillia might be available) to go with him, but that's obviously a one-year fix.

I like Alou, but somebody older than and as fragile as Floyd doesn't sound like a prudent investment. Craig Wilson is a better version of Xavier Nady when allowed to play, and he's a proven lefty-masher, so he might be a good bargain. And of course, if the Mets have money for a second big free agent, you have to put Lee and Soriano on the table.

[Farmer Ted]

Lugo was mentioned in some trade-related news several years ago until this minor blemish to his reputation.


On April 30, 2003, Lugo was arrested and charged with assulting his wife, Mabely Lugo, outside of Minute Maid Park in Houston before playing the Atlanta Braves. Mabely was treated and released from a hospital, and filed a restraining order against Julio. Mabely originally contended that Julio punched her in the head and slammed her head into the windshield of their car. Julio contested that he was acting in self-defense by blocking an attack by his wife, who hit herself and stumbled into the car, smashing her head into the windshield. Mabely later changed her story to coordinate with her husband's, and dropped the restraining order, however Julio was still tried in court accused of misdemeanor assault. Julio was eventually found not guilty, and he has remained out of trouble from the public eye since this incident.

[metirish]

From Steve Popper in the Bergen Record...

] Jason Schmidt is the other top-of-the-rotation free agent, compiling an 11-9 record with a 3.59 ERA for the Giants. But at 33, his numbers have dropped in recent years, fueling speculation within his own clubhouse that he used and stopped using steroids -- a charge he angrily denied.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

IIRC, Lugo was released by the Astros about 4 seconds after that incident happened.

Months later, I got a tour and took BP at MM Park: The bats the Astros provided for us to use were all Julio Lugo models (I grounded to first with his bat!)

[TransMonk]

I don't want Lugo, Alou or Belliard on my team.

Schmidt wouldn't be at the top of my pitchers list either.

Not that they listen to me.

[metirish]

Jeff Suppan will be a FA.

[MFS62]

TransMonk wrote: I don't want Lugo, Alou or Belliard on my team. Schmidt wouldn't be at the top of my pitchers list either. Not that they listen to me.

So, who would you go after?

Later

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

It doesn't bother me at all to hear vague rumors about Moises Alou at this point. We were hearing the same things two years ago and we ended up with Carlos Beltran.

[TransMonk]

="MFS62"] ="TransMonk"]I don't want Lugo, Alou or Belliard on my team. Schmidt wouldn't be at the top of my pitchers list either. Not that they listen to me. So, who would you go after?

My X-mas list that will go out to rich Uncle Wilpon and connected Uncle Omar reads as follows:

1. Contract extension for Willie Randolph. He deserves it and it shows potential FA that we're committed to winning.
2. Bring back Tom Glavine. Our opening day rotation for 2007 is pitiful, at least this would solidify the top end and let us evaluate what else needs to be done. Also, it would be nice to have him for his 300th win...to have him go back to ATL to do it would feel pretty crappy
3. Re-sign Endy Chavez
4. Re-sign Chad Bradford
5. Sign Barry Zito - he's tops on my list, anyone else is settling for less because we couldn't get him
6. Put in an honest bid for Matsuzaka
7. I would not be opposed to Soriano, after all, he is the best bet as an offensive FA...what position he would play and where he would bat in the lineup are the 2 big questions. I would want him to play second base and I would keep Cliff Floyd (knowing that Endy and eventually Milledge are waiting) and dismiss Chris Woodward and have Andy Pants for a defensive replacement.

That's all for now.

I believe this is the offseason to shoot for the moon and, moreover, that the moon isn't that far away. Omar has done things over the past two offseasons that I didn't believe were possible, so now my expectations are higher. The goal should be to get better each year, not just plug in parts so that if everything goes right it may work out.

Schmidt, Alou, Lugo and Belliard are all question marks IMO. If they play to their potential them they are an asset to any team. If they don't, then they will be a liability.

Zito and Soriano are known quanities that would only help this club.

[smg58]

We still have control over Endy for two seasons (only four full years in the bigs) unless the new CBA changes something about free agency. We'd have had a hard time competing with somebody willing to pay him to be an everyday CF, but that appears to be a non-issue right now.

It's possible that somebody could make Bradford an offer we wouldn't match, but I'd say the chances are good he'll be back too.

Glavine will cost us $14M next year, but doing that and going with Pelfrey or Humber in that spot in 08 should save us money over the long term without hurting the staff.

If Zito would benefit from reuniting with Peterson (and I'm inclined to think he would), then he's the best pitching option. Matsuzaka is second, but he appears to be capable. Schmidt is option #3, although given how unpredictable pitching can be and that he basically only had one bad year, I find the steroids accusation insulting.

[Elster88]

Am I the only one who thinks Zito is overrated?