Jose Abreu

[Edgy MD]

Cuban firstbasemean defects.

Considering the instant impact of Puig (and Cespedes, to a lesser extent), this guy is going to command truckloads of money.



Considering the amount of mid-20th-century cars that have stayed on the road in Cuba decades past their expiration date, sometimes I get disappointed seeing reports on Cuban players and not seeing them wearing wool uniforms and stirrups.

[Ceetar]

best hitter or not, it seems unwise for the Mets to invest large sums at first base.

[MFS62]

Ceetar wrote: best hitter or not, it seems unwise for the Mets to invest large sums at first base.

This.
Plus, I know about Puig and Cespedes.
But I also remember Jorge Toca.
You never know.

Later

[Edgy MD]

Citing that some prospects have failed isn't exactly very informative. Of course some have.

Toca, while he did alright $$-wise, didn't exactly get a blockbuster bonus.

[Frayed Knot]

Baseball America describes him as "the premier offensive player in Cuba". They go on to point out that, because he has played professionally in Cuba since the 2003-04 season, "he will be able to sign as a free agent [u:12dmmewl]exempt from the international signing bonus pools[/u:12dmmewl]", adding that "a massive major league contract [is] likely headed his way".

[Edgy MD]

Ceetar wrote: best hitter or not, it seems unwise for the Mets to invest large sums at first base.

I'm not advocating, as I don't know this guy from Alay Soler, nor do I know what the Mets have available to spend on MLB-ready talent, but first base seems as good a position as any.

[Vic Sage]

If the Mets are willing to sign ANYBODY to a big-money / long-term contract, why would it not be a 1bman? A 1Bman is a hell of a lot less likely to implode like a pitcher, or get run over repeatedly like a 2bman or catcher, or to have chronic hammies like an OFer, or take one off the head or leg at the hot corner. It's probably the safest place on the field. So if you can get a young guy who still has a decade of international ball at the highest level, whose considered the best hitter in his country (a country that turns out pretty good ballplayers to begin with), and he plays a position where you do not have a long-term commitment to anybody else and no particularly strong rookie candidates in the wings, why the hell would you NOT want to sign him?

Now I don't think they WILL sign him, of course. Oh, they might pretend like they tried after he signs elsewhere, because that's what they do. But to be that ballsy, to go out on a limb and make the highest bid for a guy they desperately need? Yeah, i don't think Fred and Jeff play that game these days. So we've got Ike and Duda, and Satin and Dystra, all ready to play 1b for our Metsies, and if that gets your knickers wet, so be it.

[Centerfield]

I'd love to see him signed as well. Especially since it won't cost draft picks.

In the end, as Vic states, it's probably too rich for current management.

I get the feeling we are seeing the end of Ike Davis, and probably go into spring training with a platoon of Satin/Duda. Not sure how I feel about this. As bad as Davis has been, I think he will be better next year, and I fear we have probably seen the best few weeks of Josh Satin's career. If I had to guess, I'd say Davis will be non-tendered, sign in some hitter-friendly park and hit 35 bombs with an OPS of .950+.

Of course, other Mets I swore would come back to bite us in the ass include Victor Diaz, Jae Seo, and Mike Jacobs.

[Benjamin Grimm]

At this point, I'm thinking that handing the 2014 first base job to Ike Davis, in the hope that he'll be good, is a bigger risk than letting him go elsewhere. 2013 was supposed to be his rebound year from 2012. He's had two consecutive lengthy and horrendous starts. If he eventually gets his act together somewhere else, then good for him.

[Centerfield]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: At this point, I'm thinking that handing the 2014 first base job to Ike Davis, in the hope that he'll be good, is a bigger risk than letting him go elsewhere. 2013 was supposed to be his rebound year from 2012. He's had two consecutive lengthy and horrendous starts. If he eventually gets his act together somewhere else, then [crossout]good for[/crossout] fuck him.

You have a typo in your post. I corrected it.

[Lefty Specialist]

If he's really 26, sign his ass immediately. Trade Ike for a beer pong table to be named later.

[Edgy MD]

Centerfield wrote: Of course, other Mets I swore would come back to bite us in the ass include Victor Diaz, Jae Seo, and Mike Jacobs.

Mike Jacobs TOTALLY came back to bite us in the ass.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yeah no way do I not look to trade Ike after another year like this. At worst, you'd have options like Doodoo or Flores to play first and if you really miss Ike down the road you can sign him when he hits free agency (but hopefully we won't have to).

[Ceetar]

It's funny, Ike Davis has put up nearly a 1.000 OPS over a longer stretch than Eric Young Jr has done anything good for the Mets but if feels like more Mets fans want to keep Young and dump Davis. Ike plays better defense. Oh sure, he's slower..

Spending money on Abreu probably means that's going to be the only real offensive upgrade to a team that desperately needs a lot of it. I'm not sure you're getting the best bang for the buck at 1B.

[Edgy MD]

Well, it might mean that it's the only major free agent upgrade. But an improvement in one department makes other departments easier to fill.

I don't particularly care if they sign the guy or not at this point. I just posted him because he's a story. Worth noting, though, that a lot of the big spenders --- Yankees, Angels, Dodgers, Tigers --- already have substantial commitments at first. This sorta bumps the Red Sox to the front of the line, but obviously, AL teams have a second place to play a first baseman, and substantial commitments can be traded.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Ike will also be getting a pay cut this year, which might make him worth it if he continues to work on his game.

I'd pay $1.5M-$2M for a Brooks Kieschnick pitcher-first-baseman-type, behind Abreu.

Or save the Cuban's money for, say, a Nelson Cruz or BeltranRound2. Or, failing that, sign nobody, and have, like, a dozen $300 sleepover nights.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Newsday poll wrote: Should the Mets pursue Cuban defector Jose Abreu (1B)? Yes, he could be a game-changer (195) 49% Yes, but only if the price is right (118) 30% No, too many unknowns (54) 14% He's good, but the Mets already have Ike Davis at first base (32) 8%

What's up with the 8 per cent who said "He's good, but the Mets already have Ike Davis at first base"?

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Ike will also be getting a pay cut this year, which might make him worth it if he continues to work on his game. I'd pay $1.5M-$2M for a Brooks Kieschnick pitcher-first-baseman-type, behind Abreu. Or save the Cuban's money for, say, a Nelson Cruz or BeltranRound2. Or, failing that, sign nobody, and have, like, a dozen $300 sleepover nights.

I'm not sure I'd want roid guy Cruz and as much as I love Beltran, I think he's happy seeking a ring in the baseball honeypot that is St. Louis.

Good point about the usual big spenders -- addd the Angels to that list -- being set at first. The Marlins might be a wild card, spending to get a Cuban guy in Miami to draw fans and relieve Giancarlo Stanton of the burden of being the only player on the team capable of setting off he massive Art Deco home run fish thing in center field. (Which was very cool when I saw it this year.)

[Edgy MD]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Good point about the usual big spenders -- addd the Angels to that list -- being set at first.

Hey man, I thought they were already the... they ARE already there! Why are you messing with my head?!

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Edgy MD wrote: metsguyinmichigan wrote: Good point about the usual big spenders -- addd the Angels to that list -- being set at first. Hey man, I thought they were already the... they ARE already there! Why are you messing with my head?!

Oops. Never mind.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Edgy MD wrote: metsguyinmichigan wrote: Good point about the usual big spenders -- addd the Angels to that list -- being set at first. Hey man, I thought they were already the... they ARE already there! Why are you messing with my head?!

Oops. Never mind.