Shortstop 2015

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Deal looks like Shane Greene to the Tigers, Gregorious to the MFYs, LHP Robbie Ray to the Dbaggs.

Tigers always looking for relievers. ALWAYS!

Ray was one of the guys the Tigers got in the Fister deal, and supposedly an OK prospect. Curious I suppose inasmuch as it becomes a challenge trade of Greene vs Ray with the MFYs getting a free shortstop.

If all Didi cost from our POV was a middling RH pitcher, I'd say this was an opportunity missed for the Flushing Nine.

[Edgy MD]

I get the idea that the bloom was off the rose from the Mets point of view. He got measurably out-OPS+'d by Tejada last year (OPS was .001 higher, but in Arizona), and he's the same age and just as out of options.

Some guys bring alternatives; some guys just make things more crowded.

From my point of view, I tend to irrationally believe anybody who comes up through the Cincinnati system was born to hit, and eventually will, given the chance. But that's silly.

[seawolf17]

Didi Gregorius sucks, kids. I'm thrilled he's a Yankee.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Robbie Ray was THE key to the Fister deal -- which has emerged as one of Dombrowski's big -- and rare -- blunders.

The Tigers bullpen last year was a disaster and the reason they flamed out in the playoffs. Of course, Joba played a big role in that...



How come teams demand our young guns, then go and make a deal with another team for lesser players?

[seawolf17]

Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: How come teams demand our young guns, then go and make a deal with another team for lesser players?

Because we never know what they're actually demanding, just whatever Beat Writer X needs to say to sell papers/get clicks.

[Lefty Specialist]

seawolf17 wrote: Didi Gregorius sucks, kids. I'm thrilled he's a Yankee.

This. The four most common words Yankee fans will utter in 2015 will be 'He's no Derek Jeter'.

[Ceetar]

Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: How come teams demand our young guns, then go and make a deal with another team for lesser players?

Because Sandy does his due diligence and talks to every team about potential fits, and every team asks for Syndergaard. Some teams call Sandy once a day just to ask about him. I doubt Sandy's had a conversation with another team where they haven't asked about Syndergaard.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Lefty Specialist wrote: seawolf17 wrote: Didi Gregorius sucks, kids. I'm thrilled he's a Yankee. This. The four most common words Yankee fans will utter in 2015 will be 'He's no Derek Jeter'.

Fans will say that, but I'd be surprised if it were so. Not because I think he's great but because his speed and range will be shocking, and that he's still young enough to improve. Trying to take emotion out of this this a good deal for the MFYs.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

He's okay. Like, Tejadan-brand okay. If he improves a little more, he'll be pretty good.

For the price of, say, Dillon Gee-minus-two-years (Greene's rough equivalent)? That's workable.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: He's okay. Like, Tejadan-brand okay. If he improves a little more, he'll be pretty good. For the price of, say, Dillon Gee-minus-two-years (Greene's rough equivalent)? That's workable.

I'm hoping the Mets are aiming higher myself, but yes, that's what I'm sayin'.

[Ceetar]

I mean, I'd be surprised if he didn't put up the numbers Jeter did last year. He might not put up the numbers Tejada did though, which is why the Mets weren't really interested.

[Edgy MD]

Rubin just reported on Metly disinterest in Cabrera, who to me, was --- if not obviously better --- at least distinctive enough alternative from Tejada and potentially nettable with a minor league deal.

I'm not sure if Gregorius is the sort of upgrade that's worth giving up Jeurys Familia and a guaranteed roster spot.

If we're thinking of potentially better, I'm OK coming in low. If we're thinking of obviously better, then where do we look to next? Back to Seattle?

[ashie62]

At any rate Digregorious is off the board...cheaply..

[Frayed Knot]

Gregorius's biggest flaw: his 490 career OPS vs LHP [.184/.257/.233] over 180 PAs]

He split 2014 between Arizona and AAA Reno. He regressed at the big league level [704 OPS in 2013 to 653 in '14] but did hit well in Reno [.301/.389/.447 in 226 ABs] with the caveat that: it's Reno.
Don't know what his minor league splits were.

I'd be surprised if he didn't put up the numbers Jeter did last year.

That's some pretty low hanging fruit right there.



It occurs to me that this is at least the second NYY/DET/ARZ three-way trade in recent years. The deal that sent Granderson to the Bronx involved the same clubs.

[Edgy MD]

Ashie62 wrote: At any rate Digregorious is off the board...cheaply..

I don't think he'd feel cheap if the Mets gave up Familia for him.

[ashie62]

Agreed

[Frayed Knot]

Cubs announce that they will NOT be trading Starlin Castro this winter.
Met fans can (and, I'm sure, will) view that as positive or negative news depending on their POV.

[Edgy MD]

Luis Sardinas, #7 prospect for the Texas Rangers. Some reports say the Rangers might be interested in one of the Mets' excess pitchers.

[fimg=450:1m1lwkb7]http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/files/2013/11/C25I5690_30259028.jpg[/fimg:1m1lwkb7]

He hasn't lit it up in the minors (or 43 games in the majors this year), but he's clearly been pushed ahead of his level. (He's two years younger than Matt Reynolds.) Was the BBA #84 prospect before the 2013 season. Was the MLB.com #9 shortstop prospect before the 2014. A speedy switch-hitter with an on-base tool.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Like it. Gee for Sardinas. GET IT DONE SANDY

[Edgy MD]

Worth noting is that the "on-base tool" is based on reports and numbers in the lower minors. It didn't show up this year, though, with an .021 OBP-BA difference in 81 games at AA and AAA, and an .042 differential in 40 MLB games.

Plenty of room for growth, but it's a leap of faith.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Heyman sez we're interested in 27-year old, power-hitting shortstop Jung-Ho Kang (39 HR's in Korea last year). Sounds like a mythical beast to me.

My Korean's rusty, but here he is winning an award for best female pop performance.

TYp6zt627oA

[Centerfield]

Big leg kick. Fly ball hitter. I see a lot of balls dying on the Citi warning track.

The fence in one of those clips says 118 meters. That's about 387 feet.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Word is there's some doubt his glove makes it as SS so it could wind up as another Flores.

Smashes those HRs, dunnie?

[A Boy Named Seo]

If he hit 15 home runs and kicked like a Rockette, I'd be all about him.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

A Boy Named Seo wrote: If he hit 15 home runs and kicked like a Rockette, I'd be all about him.

15 Long Struck Dongs is closer to his historic norms; even including last year, he's averaging about 21.7 HR per season over the last six (since his "breakout").

Looks like an interesting skill set, with the rate stats (last year's absurd career high aside) looking good-not-great; signing him probably creates even more of a surplus at 2B/3B, though, than it does fill a shortstop hole.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Long struck dongs lololllolollollool

[A Boy Named Seo]

NO MORE YANKEE HIS WAKNEE! The Donger need FOOD!

[Benjamin Grimm]

A Boy Named Seo wrote: Heyman sez we're interested in 27-year old, power-hitting shortstop Jung-Ho Kang (39 HR's in Korea last year). Sounds like a mythical beast to me.

Sounds like a super-villain to me!

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy MD wrote: Luis Sardinas, #7 prospect for the Texas Rangers. Some reports say the Rangers might be interested in one of the Mets' excess pitchers. [fimg=450]http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/files/2013/11/C25I5690_30259028.jpg[/fimg].

Below is a John Sickels report on Sardinas from April 2014 so it doesn't include anything from this past year. Sickels has the Rangers report up next on his docket (with the Mets to follow) so we'll probably have a (briefer) update by the end of the week.

** Sardinas was a big-dollar signing, earning $1,200,000 out of Venezuela in 2009. He was considered a very advanced defensive player for his age with a chance to hit once he matured physically. Injuries struck almost immediately: a broken finger limited him to just 26 games in the Arizona Rookie League in 2010, and a more severe shoulder dislocation kept him to just 14 more contests in '11. He hit well both years (.311/.363/.350 and .308/.367/.385), showing contact hitting skills and good speed with 10 steals combined, but obviously needing to prove his durability.

Shoulder problems continued to nag him in '12 but he played 96 games for Low-A Hickory, hitting .291/.346/.356 with 32 steals, 29 walks, and 52 strikeouts in 374 at-bats.
He finally played a full season in '13, seeing 128 games between High-A Myrtle Beach (.298/.358/.360 in 383 at-bats) and Double-A Frisco (.258/.286/.311 in 135 at-bats) w/32 steals.

Listed at 6-1, 170, Sardinas is a switch-hitter (b: 5/16/93). His best offensive tool is speed: he could steal 20 or more bases per season if he gets on base enough. Alas, that could be a problem, at least in the short run. Although he was an effective contact hitter at lower levels, his complete lack of power has been a serious issue in Double-A and his production at that level has been inadequate. He is young enough to gain some strength and improve a great deal, but it hasn't happened yet.

His defense is well ahead of his offense at this point. His arm is very strong, his range is above average, and he has quick hands. He'll botch routine plays occasionally but he also reaches balls most infielders can't touch. With more experience he should be an excellent defender.

It is likely that Sardinas will have a long major league career, but the shape of that career is uncertain. If he maxes out his hitting skills, he could be an All-Star. If his hitting improves somewhat but not to the maximal projection, he could still be a long-term regular due to his glovework and speed contributions. If the bat remains inadequate, he could still be a useful utility player. **

[Edgy MD]

Not saying that doesn't sound like a character with as much value as a Dillon Gee, but it seems questionable whether he's ahead of Reynolds at this point. He certainly doesn't seem like he's ready to push aside Tejada and Flores and establish himself as the go-to option in 2015.