Shortstop 2015

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

He waited until the fourth paragraph to mention Madoff? He's slipping.

I think his premise is flawed. The question isn't whether the team can afford the contract, it's whether THIS is the guy worth spending it on. The track record with injuries, the Coors-inflated stats are all solid reasons to balk at paying full price for this guy. And that's not even counting the Jeter fetish.

[Edgy MD]

Starlin Castro detained for questioning in connection to a nightclub shooting in the Dominican Republic. Six injured.

[Frayed Knot]

The update to that link specifically says that Castro was not detained, but that's also coming from within his camp so who knows.
Perhaps the more disturbing part is where it mentions that this was the second time this month that Castro was in the vicinity of a shooting.

[Lefty Specialist]

Well, maybe now we can get him without giving up too much.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Sure, why not? As we learned with Francisco Rodriguez, Citi Field has a jail cell.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

See, the key for me is, six injured... but none critically.

I mean, you can't give up Syndergaard for that kind of accuracy.

[Edgy MD]

Frayed Knot wrote: The update to that link specifically says that Castro was not detained, but that's also coming from within his camp so who knows. Perhaps the more disturbing part is where it mentions that this was the second time this month that Castro was in the vicinity of a shooting.

The denials were not part of the story when the link went up. But that was and is the lede. I imagine what constitutes being detained for questioning and voluntarily submitting to questioning is ambiguous.

[MFS62]

Frayed Knot wrote: The update to that link specifically says that Castro was not detained, but that's also coming from within his camp so who knows. Perhaps the more disturbing part is where it mentions that this was the second time this month that Castro was in the vicinity of a shooting.

Forget baseball. He'll fit right in on the Oakland Raiders.

Later

[Lefty Specialist]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: See, the key for me is, six injured... but none critically. I mean, you can't give up Syndergaard for that kind of accuracy.

Kinda lends a whole new meaning to 'he's got a gun for an arm'.

[Edgy MD]

Late reports suggest he's still being treated as a suspect.

http://deadspin.com/starlin-castro-arrested-in-dominican-republic-after-nig-1675596404?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_facebook&utm_source=deadspin_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Castro seems like nothing but trouble.

[Frayed Knot]

Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: Castro seems like nothing but trouble.

That's what south Florida keeps saying.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Frayed Knot wrote: Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: Castro seems like nothing but trouble. That's what south Florida keeps saying.

Alley-oop, maybe, but this still gets me out of my seat for an oh-DAMN.

[Edgy MD]

A lot of heat out there in response to Mark Simon at ESPN speculating that Ben Zobrist is the shortstop that Sandy's been waiting to become available all along.

Solid, durable super-utility guy with a square contract, he's an asset to about 30 teams out of 30, but is an only sometimes shortstop turning 34 in May, is not so obviously the answer for the Mets. Not stopping folks from climbing out on ledges over whether the Mets get him, despite no reports indicating actual pursuit.

One more asset: Knows. How. To party.

[metirish]

Solid, durable super-utility guy 34


this does not light me up at all...

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Would be an upgrade on Muffy but would come at a cost to acquire. Not sure if he's really a ss. I mean if he was he would be, yes?

[Frayed Knot]

So the (not yet official) signing of Asdrubal Cabrera by Tampa Bay has the tongues of NYM watchers a-wagging about the availability of either Yunel Escobar and/or Ben Zobrist.
It's not quite clear what TB is going to do with Cabrera, he was the longtime SS for Cleveland but has lost some range and was strictly used as a 2B in his half season in Washington.

Escobar has been a more or less full-time SS for eight seasons including the last two with TB [career 162 avg = .276/.347/.381 10 HRs/28 2Bs]. Recently turned 32 and is signed for 1 year at $7mil plus an option for another at the same price w/$1mil buyout.

Zobrist has been the swiss army knife of ballplayers for nine seasons now - getting 600+ PAs every year for the last six while rarely playing 100 games or more in any one position. He's seen action almost equally at 2B, SS & RF while also seeing time in RF, CF, 3B, 1B, & DH. And no matter where he plays hIs hitting stats have been almost absurdly consistent:
BAs (last four seasons) = .269, .270, .275, .272. OBAs = .353, .377, .354, .354. And he switch-hits.
Slight dip in power recently (but then, the whole league has), turns 34 in May. Also on a one-year deal for the same money as Escobar.


Not sure that the Mets are interested in Escobar, and I'm not sure I'd want Zobrist as the primary SS. I'd see him more as a complement to Flores rather than instead of. Meanwhile he'd back up everyone everywhere except probably d'Arnaud and maybe even him in a pinch.
TB was rumored to be wanting to move him even before the Asdrubal signing so I suspect the Zobrist rumors are going to pick up.

[Frayed Knot]

Avi wuz here

Edited December 30, 2014 by Guest

[Frayed Knot]

One more asset: Knows. How. To party.

Although he and wifey, a Christian signer apparently, have a book out that talks about "the importance of his faith, life, and athletic career" and "gives fans a first look into the heart of an athlete whose talent and devotion to God, family, and baseball make him one of the most loveable figures in the Major League today" ... so maybe those parties won't be as wild as we hope.

[metirish]

I would say he would be an asset on a team with designs of making the playoffs etc. Mets are such a team I would hope.

[Frayed Knot]

I think the two of them need look no more.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Oh. OH.

SS-hedge who plays around the diamond-- including the other middle-infield spot-- more than serviceably, has the durability of an Odin-enchanted F-150 truck (146-plus games in six straight years), AND is a workable, on-basey bat even at a corner OF position? Season-ending-injury insurance at at least four positions AND an upgrade at short?

Four-and-a-half-win utility tool? God knows I'd love to have him. Getting him, though? Como siempre... depends on the deal, doesn't it?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

[Meeeeerge!]

Edited December 30, 2014 by Guest

[seawolf17]

The Rays are smart. He won't come cheap. But he's EXACTLY what we need. He's Joe McEwing, except he can actually hit.

Career WAR leaders in his range (years, age), as per BR:

23. Rafael Furcal (14, 36) 39.0
24. Adrian Gonzalez (11, 32) 38.2
25. Troy Tulowitzki (9, 29) 37.6
26. Ben Zobrist (9, 33) 36.6
27. Curtis Granderson (11, 33) 36.5
Hanley Ramirez (10, 30) 36.5
29. Jose Reyes (12, 31) 36.2

[Benjamin Grimm]

He's in his free agent walk year, correct? I would imagine that if the Mets traded for him, it would be as a one-year rental. If the Mets really are in go-for-it mode, then getting a one-year shortstop isn't such a bad idea. I have no idea what the Mets would have to give up to get Zobrist. I imagine it would be less than Noah Syndergaard, but more than Dillon Gee.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Also, alphabetically speaking, Don Zimmer has been the last Met on the list since April 11, 1962. Ben Zobrist would end that very long streak.

[Edgy MD]

One more asset: Knows. How. To party. Although he and wifey, a Christian signer apparently, have a book out that talks about "the importance of his faith, life, and athletic career" and "gives fans a first look into the heart of an athlete whose talent and devotion to God, family, and baseball make him one of the most loveable figures in the Major League today" ... so maybe those parties won't be as wild as we hope.

You haven't partied until you've partied with an athlete whose talent and devotion to God, family, and baseball make him one of the most loveable figures in the Major League today.

I'll merge this into the shorty stop thread.

[Frayed Knot]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: He's in his free agent walk year, correct? I would imagine that if the Mets traded for him, it would be as a one-year rental.

Yes. Zobrist's 2015 season will be the second of two option years (TB already picked up the option at season's end) that were tacked onto the end of a four year contract dating back to 2010 and it's not like he's in any position to be able to force any extension beyond that. Nor should the Mets be anxious to give an in-advance extension to a soon-to-be 34 y/o and so I assume if a trade went down that they'd simply let the season play out and take things from there.

Also, alphabetically speaking, Don Zimmer has been the last Met on the list since April 11, 1962. Ben Zobrist would end that very long streak.

Well, hell, if that isn't the last piece of evidence that this needs to get done immediately then we might as well all just pack it in!

[Edgy MD]

So, what do you think we're talking about here? Plawecki and Campbell? Do the Rays need one of the Mets pitchers?

[Benjamin Grimm]

It would be nice if it could be Gee plus someone else, but I have no idea what Tampa might want.