You're The General Manager

[metirish]

OK , I'm giving you up to eight moves to make the Mets into a contender next season.

Your mission is to identify the areas that in your opinion need to be fixed and then to bring a plan to the owner .

You are to assume that Manuel is the manager and that Hojo and Wharten are back....


Here is a partial list of free agents for 2010

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/09/2010-mlb-free-a.html

Some things to think about

Murphy
Pagan
Perez

First Base
Left Field
Training Staff?
Bullpen
Move home plate in ten feet?

[Guest attgig]

complete list of FA's: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/12/2010-mlb-free-a.html

0)hire towers, to replace me... lol. (if this happens, i don't need any other moves... hence 0)
1)fix rightcenter outfield wall. make it straight, bring in the bullpen a little bit. keep walls lower for possible homerun robbing grabs. give dwright a few more hr's over there.
2)bring on bengie for a max 2 year contract. let thole work in AAA in 2010, and bring him in part time (when bengie's 37, and have thole be part time in 2011.
3)Possibly Blalock to a one year contract. his power is back. just gotta see if his average comes back up. and at 29, could be a good sleeper.
4)hairston as a backup IF'er for ~1.5mil (can't overpay for the backup)
5)Trade for crawford. give away pagan, fmart, Niese, and parnell. would that do it? probably not, but that's why i'm an armchair gm.
6)Eric Bedard. 3 year contract. insure it all
7)Marquis/Lackey - 3 year contract... whichever is cheaper.
8)Webb (if he doesn't get his option picked up). if webb doesn't happen, monitor sheets & mulder and grab the better one

I've left the pen alone. there can be some other no-name pickup. for now, stick with Frankie. i think if the mets are contending, he'll step up and be better. if not, then find a new closer for 2011.

this gives a lineup of
Reyes
Crawford
Wright
Beltran
Blalock
Bengie
Francour
Castillo

and a rotation of
Johan
Bedard
Webb (or sheets/mulder)
Lackey/Marquis
Maine/Pelfrey/or any one else.


dump ollie, or send him to AAA if he accepts.


back to work...

[Vic Sage]

1) fire Jerry
2) Make Omar head of scouting
3) hire Kevin Towers or Paul DePodesta
4) let them hire the manager and coaches
5) replace entire medical staff/trainers
6) move fence in and make it shorter (see FAFIF's memo on other stadium issues)
7) sign Holliday for LF
8) Sign Lackey and the cuban pitcher
9) sign Hairston as UT
10) Platoon Carter / Evans until Ike Davis is ready; send Murphy down to learn how to play 2b
11) promote Thole to platoon with Santos
12) keep Perez in AAA until he remembers how to throw strikes; let Maine go; promote Niese as 5th starter

lineup
Reyes, ss
Castillo, 2b
Wright, 3b
Holliday, LF
Beltran, cf
Francoeur, rf
Carter /Evans, 1b
Thole / Santos, C

bench: (5)
Evans / Carter
Santos / Thole
Pagan
Tatis
=#4040FF]Hairston

SP:
Santana
=#4040FF]Lackey
=#4040FF]Chapman
Pelfrey
Neise

pen:(7)
F-Rod
Parnell
Feliciano
Stokes
Green
Misch
Redding

[Ceetar]

Okay, first off, no moving home plate or the walls or anything. too much has been made of that. I wouldn't totally be against moving it 2 feet or so forward to help alleviate some of the obstructed views for the corner (not that they're that big a deal) but that would move the foul poles and cause just as much visibility problems.

Pagan has hit every chance he's gotten with the Mets. But he's been injured constantly. He can't have the LF job. But I want him to stay as the 4th OF, and possibly the RF when/if Francoeur reverts to the below-average player he is.

The 1B free agent market is a lot weaker than LF. I don't think a trade is a great option, because most of what the Mets have to trade for a legitimate Gonzalez type piece they need, guys like Parnell. So I'd keep Murphy there. I think Murphy has made great strides, as long as he's an everyday player, and not a platoon guy, where he struggled. I like his aggressive nature at 1B defensively, the ability to go to second on a bunt or infield hit for the lead runner. (example: Yesterday, Murphy had the forsight to break for a ball in the gap between him and Castillo, realize that he wouldn't get it and Castillo would, and was able to return to first to field the throw.) He's made some mental/pressing errors, but I'm hoping an off season and spring will help him be more comfortable.

I would sign either Jason Bay, or Matt Holliday. There are some secondary level guys that might be okay, but I feel the power is need here. The one big 'presence' bat in the lineup to make _Everyone_ better.

Catcher is a problem. I think Jose Molina might be a decent backup, but backup catcher is a minor concern. Santos is not good enough. Even if he claims he's going to 'work hard' in the offseason. (Was he not working hard as a career minor leaguer?) Josh Bard maybe? I might give the job to Thole. That seems too much of a gamble though. But if I'm confident that Reyes will be ready to go, and we get that big LF bat and everything else looks good, I might take that gamble.

Need another starter, that's healthy, will stay in games, and will make 35 starts. Justin Duchscherer maybe. I'm not sold on Lackey for the price he'll command. Josh Fogg? I would do some hardcore analysis and talk to Warthen about who he likes as well.

The bullpen is actually pretty good. I imagine Parnell sticks around, and I think he'll make a solid set-up guy. Frankie should be better once the games actually matter. Stokes and Green turned out to be pretty good. I feel like Relievers are hit or miss, so I'd sign/grab a handful, and have 'em waiting in the wings and let whoever pitches well make the team.

I might sign Cora, I think he's a good guy to have, a good backup. If I could get a more disposable/cheaper option that i felt I could rely on, I'd do it, but It wouldn't be a focus.

Curiousities:

Nelson Figueroa, Pat Misch: Both these guys have pitched very well in my opinion, and I think they both deserve a legitimate shot. I don't think the Mets can afford that shot though, because they could be bad. No one claimed Figgy off waivers mid-season, but off his second half he might have some trade value. I don't think they're enough to get anything major, but I'd bring in some younger pitching prospects or infielders that other teams may have soured on. Some injury depth insurance.

Nick Evans: I have no idea what to do with this guy. He didn't play enough to evaluate. He has no trade value and likely no place on this team.

Niese: You gotta give Niese a shot to compete for a spot, but you can't afford not to sign another pitcher either. Shame he got injured. Maine will probably be cheap and expendable, and Niese _could_ take his spot if Maine sucks in spring/gets hurt.

Jeremy Reed/Cory Sullivan: Neither guy had a lot of value. I think they both have a lot of value as a defensive guy. I think they both can hit enough as that 5th/defensive outfield, however, they may not have a spot, and you can't keep both. Reed isn't liked by Manuel (never gets a shot to start, even given the injuries. was kept 'cold' in my opinion.). Sullivan was maybe liked less, as he wasn't called up despite playing well in AAA.

Bench: This is a big part of the team. It's been a weak point in my mind. They need some healthy guys in their that can pop one, like Marlon Anderson and Damien Easley in 2006. No Tatis, no Sullivan/Reed. maybe Evans can field this role. This might be a knock for Cora being the backup. Another plus for Pagan as the 4th OF. I don't know who best to sign for this stuff, but opposing managers weren't exactly threatened by the idea of Manuel pinch hitting Cora, DP Tatis, or Reed. Santos and Schneider aren't really power guys/scary either. Sheffield had a reputation, but couldn't make much of it, and was hurt so often. Power on the bench is more important than building a power lineup in my mind.

[smg58]

1. Offer Murphy, Pagan, Maine, Wil Flores, and Brad Holt to the Jays for Halladay and Lyle Overbay.
2. Offer Matt Holliday 5 years and $80M.
3. Sell Francoeur and Castillo while we can, and try to get a starter and a reliever in return. (Maybe to the Giants for Jonathan Sanchez and Sergio Romo.)
4. Offer K-Rod back to the Angels for Macier Izturis.
5. Offer Ollie to the White Sox for Scott Linebrink.
6. Take a flier on Ryan Garko. He's a likely non-tender, and his natural position is catcher. If it doesn't work out we still have Thole.
7. Grab Matt Murton, Ryan Freel, and Esteban German on the cheap. Murton can replace Francoeur, while Freel and German compete for spot #25. Maybe also another lefty bat to compete with Chris Carter for a spot.
8. If Niese is healthy, offer Pelfrey to the Indians for Chris Perez.

Internally:
Give Niese and F-Mart the chance to show what they've got. Give Davis and Thole another year.
Find a young manager who thinks outside the box and who knows about sabermetrics without worshiping them.
Let Figueroa, Misch, Stoner, Nieve (if healthy) and the guy we claimed on waivers last week (forgot his name) compete for the fifth rotation spot. Don't spend money on bad veterans.

[Met Hunter]

I like Tim Bogar as a managerial replacement.

I have no loyalty to any player on this team anymore. Well, except Johan.

[Mex17]

1) Get rid of the "1988 N.L. East Champs", "1999 Wild Card Winner", and "2006 N.L. East Champs" banners in leftfield. Going forward, nothing short of winning the pennant in the traditional sense (IE: making the World Series) gets commemorated for all time. Instill a stronger organizational sense of striving for greater achievements from now on!

2) Bring in a whole new training staff and stop blaming your foul-ups on others (like the Dodgers doctors, for instance).

3) Work out a trade for Carl Crawford, who I do not think will be quite as expensive as someone else in this thread thought he would be. FMart and Pagan for sure, but let's see if we can hold onto Niece and Parnell.

4) Sign Adam LaRoche for first base.

5) Go big on John Lackey. Make this the crowning achievement of the winter

6) If there is money left, sign Aroldis Chapman.

7) Get some sort of veteran catcher to pair up with Santos while letting Thole improve his game in Buffalo. I guess that Barajas is the best of these for cheap.

8) If this team is not performing as expected by Memorial Day, do not hesitate to can Manuel and make Wally Backman the interim manager.

Here's my lineup/rotation:

1) Crawford -LF
2) Castillo - 2b
3) Reyes - ss
4) Beltran - CF
5) Wright - 3b
6) LaRoche - 1b
7) Francoeur - RF
8) Barajas - C

Santana
Lackey
Perez
Pelfrey
Maine/Niece/Chapman

[Benjamin Grimm]

Mex17 wrote: 8) If this team is not performing as expected by Memorial Day, do not hesitate to can Manuel and make Wally Backman the interim manager.

I agree with the first part, but not with the second part of that.

If we're looking for a fiery ex-Met to manage the team, I'd prefer John Stearns to Wally Backman. Stearns wouldn't be my first choice, but I'd prefer someone who's, you know, sane, and I have my doubts that Wally fits that criteria.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Nobody gets promoted from minor league instructor to major league manager as an interim appointment. Any interim appointee is going to come off the staff, or maybe out of the front office.

More likely, any managerial change is going to be a decisive one with no interim in the title. Minaya can't really afford to putz around, and it's kind of lame-o to play from Memorial Day onward with a manager you're not committed to. You don't make half-hearted appointments until at least, um, June 17.

[ashie62]

1. Fire Manuel before spring
2. Sign Jason Kendall..Thole at AAA
3 Sign Hank Blalock 1B
4. Sign Matt Holliday
5. Sign Jason Marquis & Carl Pavano
6. Sign Jack Wilson as Reyes insurance and or super sub

1B Blalock
2b Castillo
3B Wright
SS Reyes
LF Holliday
CF Beltran
RF Francouer
C Kendall

Starters..Johan, Marquis,Pelfry,Maine,Pavano...Bullpen: Rerun..
l

[Guest Edgy DC]

Three questions:

1) Who is your manager?

2) What have you done with Oliver Perez?

3) How much do you estimate that spending spree will cost?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I like the Jack Wilson idea anyway. Not sure if Jack goes for it though.

[Guest attgig]

I worry about how expensive jack wilson is. he made...8 mil last year? and wilson rejected a pirates offer of 8 mil for 2 years. i don't want a supersub for that much.

[metirish]

attgig wrote: I worry about how expensive jack wilson is. he made...8 mil last year? and wilson rejected a pirates offer of 8 mil for 2 years. i don't want a supersub for that much.

A small price to pay for a scrappy white player , just what this team needs I think.

[ashie62]

Edgy DC wrote: Three questions: 1) Who is your manager? Durham Bull Mgr Charlie Montoya 43 years old..if not him Oberkfell 2) What have you done with Oliver Perez? Seems Ollie is already out of my head..Can Pavano 3) How much do you estimate that spending spree will cost?

Think Omar can pitch tax-deferred variable annuities? nah, neither do I

Kendall 1Yr 1 Option 4.5 million 2 million option
Blalock 3Yr 18 Million total
Holliday he probably wants 6 yrs but..5yrs 45Million total 1 yr option 5 Million 50 million
Marquis 3 yrs 20 million total
Wilson..Sorry Jack, nobodies giving you eight..except the Mets.. 3 Years.. 8 Million 7, 6, 21 Million total

Could always dump Castillo and pop Wilson there, or put Blalock at !B and use that Muffy guy

I am willing to pay Wilson and not have to worry about Jose Reyes' every step

[metsmarathon]

if you're giving jack wilson 8 mil for that first year, how are you convincing matt holliday that he's worth only 9 million?

[Benjamin Grimm]

I guess you have to tell him he's only 12.5 per cent better than Jack Wilson.

Or sign Holliday first, and then shower Jack Wilson with his millions.

I have no idea what Jack Wilson is worth, but I do like the idea of getting a veteran shortstop who can step in for Jose Reyes if necessary.

The Mets had that in 2009 with Alex Cora, hopefully next year's Alex Cora will be better and more durable. (I suspect, though, that next year's Alex Cora is going to be Anderson Hernandez.)

[Guest Edgy DC]

Know who I see as possibly ending up in Buffalo or maybe Flushing next year? Wilson Betemit. He did nothing in the majors last year and only a little more in the minors, but he's still youngish and plays all over the field. I don't know that his shortstopping abilities get him any respect any more, but I can't say I wouldn't have preferred to see him at short over the Valcordezes we were running out there the last two thirds of the season.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I was watching a game once, and one of my kids thought that Wilson Betemit's last name was "Better Meat."

That's all I have on him.

[metirish]

What could possibly make you think of Wilson Betemit , Edgy?

[Frayed Knot]

He's not a SS.
Maybe for a few innings here or there he could be, but not if you want him as longer-term Reyes insurance. The funny part is that he was the #1 hot-shot SS prospect prior to Reyes. They always thought he might hit more although even then it was questionable whether his growing (and not in a good way) frame would eventually move him off SS.
Problem is he hasn't really hit either. Also looks to me to be a very undisciplined player; not just as a hitter but a bit of a meat-head as well.


ESPN announcer Jon Miller - who does speak Spanish - is the one mainly responsible for making the 'Betta-Meat' pronunciation of that name known, as opposed to the previously common Bet-a-Mitt.
He's the one who also insists on Carlos Bell-TRAHN rather than the more Americanized BELL-tran. The fact that that particular quirk sends Joe Benigno into fits of rage (not that it's a long journey) makes it good in my mind.

[Guest Edgy DC]

metirish wrote: What could possibly make you think of Wilson Betemit , Edgy?

He's a free agent, his career is floundering, he has power, he's still youngish, and he might have a Desi Relaford-ish future as a guy who finds himself saving his career as a jack-of-all-trades infield sub with better-than-infield-sub power.

Then again, he might not. But the price to find out might be on the cheap side, and else he could give them a stronger Buffalo nine than last year. How bad would that be?

Correct pronunciation: BET-tuh-mee.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Bettameat? 10-percent walk rate, .430 slugging... and his position range is Beyond Relafordian-- he spent (limited) time at first, short and third this past year, and has played everything short of battery at some point in the last three years.

However, by all indications, the glove-- negative-4-to-negative-10 UZR in spot duty, with even worse DEWAN numbers-- is exceedingly shitty. For a minor-league deal, I'd bite.

Oh, and Ashie-- you're paying JACK WILSON 21 million over three... for insurance? Pardon, but are you farking kidding?

Edited October 14, 2009 by Guest

[ashie62]

No, I'm not kidding at all..He will get 400AB's regardless of Reyes..I see a few here like Wilson..Just because I say 8 doesn't mean it will be..If he wants a guaranteed third year less I would think...

Your stats look like bad calculus

Do you really want to worry about Reye's every move every day for the rest of his Met life?

Also, Citifield. It looks like a minuature golf course. Hit the Apple over the ridiculous tall fence and win a diamond dash for your kid..Keep the Apple, kill the fence.

The 10-15 foot deep gap in right center..bring it forward, it looks like a bank shot on a Par 2..10 more HR for David also.

The Pepsi Porch..The very name is a little too happy...kill the neon and put up a bullseye of J. Wilpon..hit it..the fan with the lucky seat dunks him

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

First-- cost. As Edgy pointed out, Wilson negged an 8-a-year extension with Pittsburgh, and made 6-plus per over the last 3 years. If you're bringing on guys-- like Wilson-- who aim to start at their chosen positions, you often have to pay them more in FA if you want them to ride the bench(see: Eckstein vs. Cora last offseason). "Insurance" is costlier, at times, than a starter at the same position.

Second-- in 12 years, he has literally NEVER played another position as a pro. (Majors or minors.)

So where do you get the idea that he's signing for less money to play a backup/utility role?

[ashie62]

Cost of Jack Wilson...I don't think he's the type of guy that will "clean up" in a lower budget free market season...Maybe he would take 15 for 3?

Beyond that Marcus Scaturo is available, albeit off a career year

Bobby Crosby used to be a baseball player and may come near the minimum

Lastly, Can Ruben Tejada do the job?

I'm flexible.

Except about the CF clown fence

[Frayed Knot]

If Jack Wilson can command $5-8mil/yr it's because someone thinks he can hack it as a starter which means it's not going to be here.
And if he's going to sign here as a backup you don't give him that kind of money OR a 3-year deal much less both.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Scutaro much more worthy of discussion, although his career year saw him float out of the super sub role into that of a starting shortstop. And while he may not have much future there at his age, there aren't a lot of shortstops on the free-agent market, and I think teams are going to bid on him as a starter.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Tejada seems a bit raw, and could use-- both for development and org-evaluation purposes-- another full year of regular playing time upstate.

If we were getting 2004-05 Crosby at the price, I'd call him intriguing. But... well... it's 2009. He's decent with the glove-- if with much less range due to leg injuries-- but woeful with a stick in his hand (.683 OPS, sub-.300 weighted OBA, slugs like crap, walks little).

Scutaro's a maybe... but I get the feeling the team would be paying for a career year. And again, I'm pretty sure we'd have to OVERpay to get him as Reyes insurance/supersub. Outside of the last two years, his defense-- at any position but LF-- seems to have been below-average at best (UZRs in the -7 to -8 range in 2004, 2006, and 2007... and -9.2 for his career. He's DeRosa with less power.

[smg58]

Scutaro is also type A, which ought to discourage somebody looking for a utility guy (Hairston is Type B, by contrast). While Fangraphs had Scutaro's fielding regressing back to average after a big spike last year, his +/- from The Fielding Bible remained quite high. Assuming the truth lies somewhere in the middle, he's become a pretty solid fielder, if not in the same category as Jack Wilson (who didn't hit well enough to even qualify as Type .