We. Still. Need. Outfielders.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: How'sabout Nolan Riemold? Hits when he's healthy, but knocked out last year by a herniated disc. The Orioles re-upped him for a $1 million dollar-one year contract, but they've sort of moved on during their run last year and have a crowded outfield in place. Could probably be had for a second tier prospect. Ahmed Rosario? Gabriel Ynoa? Cory Vaughn? Juan Lagares? Maybe it'd take two, but still. I feel a fraternity with our orange brethren, and Oriole players have always made a grain of sense to me in Mets uniforms and vice versa.

doesn't seem to be a good fielder either, but looks to be able to hit. sign me up.

[Edgy MD]

You agree on what it would take to get him?

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: You agree on what it would take to get him?

I have no idea. Trying to predict those things is tough, I mean the "experts" are frequently wrong even days leading up to big trades (things like, "He'll never get Wheeler for Beltran").

I do think there is a deal that works that the Mets have something the O's want and they would part with.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

He's a good if-he-stays-healthy bet... but I know that the Orioles-- especially in the wake of Reynolds' departure-- aren't exactly overflowing with right-handed power, so I don't know that he'd be an easy pry. [Plus, from the Irrelevant-but-Unsightly Department, you can't spell "Reimold" without a little bit of 'Rod.]

The sub-.400 slugging Rivera (over the last three years)? That I could do without.

Edited January 28, 2013 by Guest

[metirish]

Mike Puma ?@NYPost_Mets
Latest on Michael Bourn negotiations: He wants at least five years, and Mets aren't willing to go there.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I don't think the Mets unwillingness to give 5 years is "latest" nor would Bourn's desire for such a deal be news either.

[metirish]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I don't think the Mets unwillingness to give 5 years is "latest" nor would Bourn's desire for such a deal be news either.

not at all like the Post to stretch things.......if he gets five years anywhere all the best to him.

[smg58]

Kyle Blanks. Calling him an injury risk would be understating things, but 20 homers in 420 ABs while playing home games in Petco screams upside, and it's not clear the Pads have room for him even if he's healthy. He's actually been a plus defensive outfielder, proving that converted first basemen aren't doomed to be hopeless. I bet he'd cut down on the Ks if he could just get regular at-bats, too. I'd offer Valdespin (the Padres were rumored to be looking for a lefthanded reserve infielder, plus Minaya likes him). He'd basically be a cheap lottery ticket, but that might be the direction the Mets need to go at this point.

[Vic Sage]

i love that idea. i had an eye on Blanks when he first was on his way up to SD, and had high hopes for him. He reminds me of Kevin Mitchell.

[ashie62]

Have Reimold and Blanks to the Mets popped up on the interweb other than here?

[MFS62]

Just got the new Baseball Almanac. I noticed that Juan Lagares had 17 OF assists last year and has played all three OF positions in the minors. He was hurt at AA part of last year. I think a jump to AAA, playing in the hitter friendly PCL, he could get off to a fast start and might be up as at least a platoon player by mid year.

Later

[Edgy MD]

He played in 130 of 142 games for Binghamton, so he couldn't have been hurt too bad.

[MFS62]

Edgy MD wrote: He played in 130 of 142 games for Binghamton, so he couldn't have been hurt too bad.

He got injured just after mid season. He was on the DL for a while then played through injury when he came back. In the final weeks, his average dropped about 20 points from where he was before the injury. (around .300)
He had hit very well when he was promoted to AA the prior year, so I was following his progress pretty closely this year. I also noticed that when he hit 1 or 2 in the lineup (so he must have speed) he didn't do as well as when they batted him further down in the lineup.

I think he's an option for an OF spot.

Later

[metirish]

Marlon Byrd signed to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training.....

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/01/mets-sign-outfielder-marlon-byrd-to-a-minor-league-contract/

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

metirish wrote: Marlon Byrd signed to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training..... http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/01/mets-sign-outfielder-marlon-byrd-to-a-minor-league-contract/

Cool-- now Hawkins and Atchison have a third for Kingston Trio/Drifters songs at Duffy's Karaoke Night.

Seriously... hell, it makes more sense than Bourn.

[MFS62]

An experienced major league outfielder.
A good pickup. Let's see what he has left in the tank.

Later

[TransMonk]

Jason Bay 2012 OPS: .536
Marlon Byrd 2012 OPS: .488

We still need outfielders.

[Lefty Specialist]

I hate when they sign a guy and your first thought is, "Gee, I thought he retired."

[Frayed Knot]

We should make a poll on when Byrd gets suspended for PEDs

[Guest vtmet]

I hate when they sign a guy and your first thought is, "Gee, I thought he retired."

speaking of which, I just noticed this one today...kind of surprised with the Mets need for some cheap RH'd power in the OF that the Mets got beat to the punch by the O's on this one:


http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/01/31/arthur-rhodes-and-fernando-tatis-audition-for-orioles/

Arthur Rhodes and Fernando Tatis audition for Orioles D.J. Short Jan 31, 2013, 10:18 PM EST 11 Comments According to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles turned back the clock by holding workouts for left-hander Arthur Rhodes and infielder Fernando Tatis in recent days. And you thought the Orioles� offseason has been boring. Rhodes didn�t pitch in the majors last season and had a 4.64 ERA and 21/11 K/BB ratio over 33 innings between the Rangers and Cardinals in 2011. The 43-year-old was originally drafted by the Orioles in the second round in 1988 and spent his first nine major league seasons with the club. He still lives in Baltimore. It�s been even longer since Tatis� last stint in the majors, as the 38-year-old appeared in 41 games with the Mets in 2010 prior to undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder. Best known as the only player to hit two grand slams in one inning, Tatis had a brief stint with the Orioles back in 2006. It wouldn�t cost more than a minor league deal to bring either player aboard, so it�s worth a shot. Who knows, maybe Tatis will be the 2013 version of Lew Ford.

[Ceetar]

I don't think Rhodes has that much power.

[ashie62]

No love for Abreu as a one year caretaker?

[Frayed Knot]

Ashie62 wrote: No love for Abreu as a one year caretaker?

What they really need is a RH stick with good glove & range, preferably with the ability to play CF. Abreu can still get on base but otherwise fails on all three counts.

[ashie62]

Marlon Byrd was an All Star in 2010, productive in 2011 and barely there in 2012.

I like the signing...Frsh start for Marlon with no pressure on him..Howsa about 15-20 hr's with the big club.

[Vic Sage]

15-20 HRs?

Byrd averaged about 8hr/400ab over his career, with most of that production coming in the launching pad of Texas, when he was a full-time player in his prime.
At age 35, coming off injury, and coming to a pitchers park to platoon with 3 LHed OFers, you can't possibly expect or even reasonably hope for 15-20 HRs.
I think the best case scenario for Byrd at CitiField is (assuming he makes the team and stays healthy) 350-400 ABs with .270 avg / 5-8 hr. If he's lucky.

[metirish]

Lefty Specialist wrote: I hate when they sign a guy and your first thought is, "Gee, I thought he retired."

this is unfortunately very funny.....

[Edgy MD]

Vic Sage wrote: At age 35, coming off injury, and coming to a pitchers park to platoon with 3 LHed OFers...

You left out that he's coming off a PED suspension.

[Vic Sage]

Yeah, that too.

He'll be competing with Colin Cowgill, Andrew Brown, Juan Lagares, and Matt VanDekker (so far) as the short end of an OF platoon. Whoever sucks least, and keeps our LH OFers from getting exposed, gets the job. I doubt its going to be Byrd, but he's worth taking a flyer on.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I think Byrd is Bourn insurance.

[Vic Sage]

not the kind of insurance you burn down the factory to collect on, though.