Has anybody mentioned Stephen Drew?

[Benjamin Grimm]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I'm sort of hoping he'd come here for 1 year. Be a potential tradeaway guy at the deadline.

I'd be okay with two years. I suspect the Mets are more likely to contend in 2015 than 2014 (and not because of Matt Harvey) so it may make more sense to have the veteran shortstop available for that second year, especially if they're giving up a third-round draft pick to get him. None of the Mets top shortstop prospects seem at all likely to arrive before 2016 (if then) so I'd prefer a two-year solution to a one-year solution.

[Edgy MD]

If they get him, great. If up his price for somebody else who eventually outbids them, great. I view him the way I do all non-Met players. With deep suspicion.

[ashie62]

I feel that way about agents...

[Ceetar]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I'm sort of hoping he'd come here for 1 year. Be a potential tradeaway guy at the deadline.

eh, I hate playing the stock market this way. I'd more hope he has a great year and they can qualifying offer/draft pick him, or have first dibs at re-signing him if other options haven't surfaced.

[Edgy MD]

I hear ya.

But I'd more hope he hits 74 homeruns.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: I hear ya. But I'd more hope he hits 74 homeruns.

yes, and then qualifying offer him, thank him for the WS ring, and take the draft pick. He's not repeating that in 2015.

[ashie62]

It is 1/27.....have the MFYs signed this guy yet?

[Frayed Knot]

Anthony DiComo - MLB.com
In a telephone interview Tuesday evening, general manager Sandy Alderson reiterated that his team is "unlikely" to sign Stephen Drew, despite the shortstop's perceived lack of suitors on the free-agent market. ... Alderson recently checked in again with Drew's agent, Scott Boras, [but] he described the talks as "sporadic."

"We haven't ruled it out, but I think doing anything is unlikely," Alderson said. "I think that Stephen will always have other opportunities. We continue to monitor his situation. We're looking at other free agents that are still available and trying to judge their status, and how they might fit with us. I know there's been a lot of speculation about Drew and the Mets, but at this point, that's what it remains -- speculation."

[seawolf17]

I have zero interest in Drew.

[Frayed Knot]

Why not big boy?

[Ceetar]

Frayed Knot wrote: Anthony DiComo - MLB.com In a telephone interview Tuesday evening, general manager Sandy Alderson reiterated that his team is "unlikely" to sign Stephen Drew, despite the shortstop's perceived lack of suitors on the free-agent market. ... Alderson recently checked in again with Drew's agent, Scott Boras, [but] he described the talks as "sporadic." "We haven't ruled it out, but I think doing anything is unlikely," Alderson said. "I think that Stephen will always have other opportunities. We continue to monitor his situation. We're looking at other free agents that are still available and trying to judge their status, and how they might fit with us. I know there's been a lot of speculation about Drew and the Mets, but at this point, that's what it remains -- speculation."

Sounds like the Mets might just be getting this guy.

[MFS62]

Sounds like the classic sales "Takeaway" move by Sandy.
Boras may feel he has a reasonable offer from the Mets, so he's now checking out other teams to see if he can do better.
And Sandy is telling Boras his interest is waning, trying to get Boras to take his offer while its still on the table.
And Spring Training is about two weeks away.

Interesting.

Later

[Ceetar]

MFS62 wrote: Sounds like the classic sales "Takeaway" move by Sandy. Boras may feel he has a reasonable offer from the Mets, so he's now checking out other teams to see if he can do better. And Sandy is telling Boras his interest is waning, trying to get Boras to take his offer while its still on the table. And Spring Training is about two weeks away. Interesting. Later

yeah, that's how I read it. (of course, there could be another layer of subtlety I'm missing) Sounds like we have the best offer but Drew doesn't like it.

[Edgy MD]

Sounds to me like he's easing fans into the (likely disappointing) reality of the situation --- that he believes Boras likely has better bids in hand and they are not interested in being drawn above their position into a bidding war.

[TransMonk]

Edgy MD wrote: Sounds to me like he's easing fans into the (likely disappointing) reality of the situation...

I've gotten this impression every time Sandy has opened his mouth in the past 4 years.

[Edgy MD]

Which is probably why we should take him at his word this morning.

OE: And heck, if he's just trying to bluff Boras that he's walking away, how can we expect Boras to buy it if we don't?

Deep sad sighs, everybody.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Which is probably why we should take him at his word this morning. OE: And heck, if he's just trying to bluff Boras that he's walking away, how can we expect Boras to buy it if we don't? Deep sad sighs, everybody.

There is pretty much zero truth to anything either party says in a (semi) active negotiation.

[ashie62]

Badabing..

[ashie62]

Sandy has a bad case of Californiaitis paralysis by analysis.....Make the move dude...

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Still think the everpopular Someone Else will be at SS for the Mets this year. Still think it will involve a trade.

[seawolf17]

It's just Stephen Drew, people. We're not talking about Cal Ripken in his prime.

[Edgy MD]

Ashie62 wrote: Sandy has a bad case of Californiaitis paralysis by analysis.....Make the move dude...

What move are we talking about? Five years and $250 million?

Every deal has a price. It's part of GM's job to get the right price for his organization. If that means walking away from Stephen TinTin Drew, I get that.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

I think the Tigers said they weren't interested in signing Prince Fielder -- none whatsoever -- right up until the moment they announced they signed him. I don't think we can believe much of what we read about these things. Boras is a notorious leaker and he often waits until the last minute. Plus, Sandy hasn't created the salary hole by trading Ike or Duda.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

seawolf17 wrote: It's just Stephen Drew, people. We're not talking about Cal Ripken in his prime.

Yabbut, Cal Ripken in his prime doesn't ever make it to free agency anymore. And if it's not Drew, well, the pickings look slim, or at least iffy/less appealing (including attendant stuff like draft-pick-loss, etc.), for the next few years.

I'll stick with my two-plus-non-vesting-mutual-option thing, but I'm REALLY coming around to "yes" on Drew. Ruben makes a better backup plan than he does a Plan A.

Edited January 29, 2014 by Guest

[Edgy MD]

I think the Tigers said they weren't interested in signing Prince Fielder -- none whatsoever -- right up until the moment they announced they signed him. I don't think we can believe much of what we read about these things. Boras is a notorious leaker and he often waits until the last minute. Plus, Sandy hasn't created the salary hole by trading Ike or Duda.

I don't recall that.

By the way, at the risk of hijacking, how much bloody damage is Fielder going to do with his bat in Texas?

[Edgy MD]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Yabbut, Cal Ripken in his prime doesn't ever make it to free agency anymore.

Really? I think it happens all the time. This year, Cal Ripken's name was Robinson Cano. Last year: Zach Greinke, Josh Hamlton. Two years ago, Pujols and Fielder hit the market a the same time.

Hall of Fame talents in their prime, all.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

In their primes?

"Near their primes, with said primes just in the rearview," (Cano included, I'd bet a kidney) more like it.

[Edgy MD]

Cano was coming off his age 30 season. Greinke off of age 28. Hamilton 31. Pujols 31. Fielder 27.

The prime is pretty much the median in there, I think. Ripken's best season was at age 30.

We can disagree on "prime," but I think 28-31 or 32 feels right. But it goes without saying that if a HoF talent in his prime signs a free contract, that contract will likely take him well past said prime. Glory is fleeting.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Edgy MD wrote: I think the Tigers said they weren't interested in signing Prince Fielder -- none whatsoever -- right up until the moment they announced they signed him. I don't think we can believe much of what we read about these things. Boras is a notorious leaker and he often waits until the last minute. Plus, Sandy hasn't created the salary hole by trading Ike or Duda. I don't recall that. By the way, at the risk of hijacking, how much bloody damage is Fielder going to do with his bat in Texas?

Big Time. The Tigers were here in the state Capitol and Dombrowski was asked about Fielder specifically. He said Fielder "wasn't a good fit." And it was like, the next day that he was signed.

[Frayed Knot]

So it's settled then, Drew will be taking his NYM physical tomorrow.