Eric Young Junior

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Rubin sez the Mets are asking the Rockies to trade him to us, suggests Justin Turner is a fair exchange.

The Mets have expressed interest in Colorado Rockies outfielder/second baseman Eric Young Jr., a major league source told ESPNNewYork.com. Sending Justin Turner to Colorado might get the potential deal done, the source added. The Mets also continue to have dialogue with the Rockies about Jon Niese. Young, 26, hit .247 with no homers and 27 steals in 198 at-bats last season. He is the son of former major leaguer Eric Young Sr. and hails from Piscataway, N.J.

I like the idea of a versatile infielder-outfielder over Turner, who plays only 1 position. Young hasn't shown he can hit in the big leagues but has stupid speed and pedigree and good minor league numbers. Stole 87 bases for Asheville in the Sally League!

[Guest sharpie]

For Turner? Sure.

[Edgy MD]

If there's anything the Mets need, it's some good, solid, red-hot Junior action. The minute Young slips on his uniform, he'd be the fifth-best Junior in Mets history, with a pretty clear path to a rapid ascent to number one.

Best Juniors in Mets History

1. Junior Ortiz
   
2. Sandy Alomar, Jr.
   
3. Gary Matthews, Jr.
   
4. Junior Noboa
   
5. Lee May, Jr.
   
6. Jim Burt, Jr.
   
7. Gil Hodges, Jr.
   
8. Er...
   
9. Um...
   
10. Yeah, about that...

Although he didn't wear it on the uniform or baseball card or nuttin', Jos� Cardenal was a Jr. He'd probably be number two.

[ashie62]

As long as it doesn't turn into Niese for Young Jr. Eric's dad was a helluva football player at RU.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I like the idea of a versatile infielder-outfielder over Turner, who plays only 1 position.

To be fair: 78 games at second, 36 at third, 1 at SS last year (and 36 games at short over the previous two years in the minors).

[Edgy MD]

I kinda thought the Mets would look to deal Turner. He's kinda redundant with Satin, but with enough big-league experience to make him more shoppable. Plus, if they had no particular loyalty to Pridie, what chance would his wedding guests have?

They're pretty deep, organization-wise at second. They were much deeper, of course, before their best one had to move to short to replace Reyes.

[smg58]

Young has speed, he'd give the Mets an extra option at both second base and center, and his minor league numbers suggest he's capable of more than he's shown in the majors to date. If it doesn't take more than Turner, I'd do it.

[Ceetar]

Young sucks. Turner is overpaying, but give me Turner over him and just resign Hairston or someone else for the OF. Turner can backup 2nd and 3rd, and 1B isn't exactly hard if they wanted to have him workout there as the emergency backup. (although I imagine they've got no problem with moving Murphy there for most backup games) sign a crappy backup SS guy or use Turner there too on Santana/Dickey days when there aren't as many hits/grounders.

[Edgy MD]

Ceetar's terse and rude review has some merit. I like versatility a lot, but a replacement-level bat is a replacement-level bat. Short benches need versatility, but that superversatile guy also becomes your third pinch-hitter, and therefore the stooge you send up there in the ninth with the tying run on after you've exhausted all other options.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: Ceetar's terse and rude review has some merit. I like versatility a lot, but a replacement-level bat is a replacement-level bat. Short benches need versatility, but that superversatile guy also becomes your third pinch-hitter, and therefore the stooge you send up there in the ninth with the tying run on after you've exhausted all other options.

Looking into it a little closer, I think it was a beat writer that floated Turner as the piece that would get Young, not an actual trade rumor.

[ashie62]

smg58 wrote: Young has speed, he'd give the Mets an extra option at both second base and center, and his minor league numbers suggest he's capable of more than he's shown in the majors to date. If it doesn't take more than Turner, I'd do it.

What kind of speed does Young have?

[Ceetar]

Ashie62 wrote: smg58 wrote: Young has speed, he'd give the Mets an extra option at both second base and center, and his minor league numbers suggest he's capable of more than he's shown in the majors to date. If it doesn't take more than Turner, I'd do it. What kind of speed does Young have?

He can get from the bench to the water cooler in no time flat.

[Edgy MD]

Rockies supposedly remain "strongly interested" in Turner.

It would be trading for more versatility but more volatility as well.

[ashie62]

Edgy DC wrote: Rockies supposedly remain "strongly interested" in Turner. It would be trading for more versatility but more volatility as well.

How do you figure volatility?

[Edgy MD]

The range of possibilities for his potential net contributions to the team has a higher ceiling and a lower floor.

[smg58]

Edgy's right. And given how the status quo looks, a little volatility might not be such a bad thing.

[Edgy MD]

The flip side of the report on the Rocks' very interest in Turner was that their pursuit of Marco(s) Scutaro had cooled.

Well that pursuit perhaps cooled because it was completed, as the Rox have landed Scutaro from the Red Sox, trading fringey swingman Clayton Mortensen to Boston, who looks like they're mainly dumping salary. Mike Aviles is now looking like Dustin Pedroia's new DP partner, with some help maybe from the newly signed Nick Punto.