Hurry, let's chat about De Aza before it's too late

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Rosenthal: Mets "close to deal."

[Benjamin Grimm]

Would this mean they'd no longer be interested in Span? Or might they sign both of these guys?

[Edgy MD]

Always seemed to me like some letters had fallen off his jersey, and he just got stuck with that name.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Not particularly strong against righties, and not terribly experienced (or good) in center field.

Even when we're shopping bargain-aisle, we're going bottom shelf. Hell, I'd rather have Billy Princeton, I think, and I'd rather not have Billy Princeton.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I think they must see De Aza as comparable in "skills" -- lefty bat to hit RH pitching/defense etc., but would come cheaper in $$ and years and is less likely to miss half a year with a hip injury.

I only know De Aza because one year my fantasy team sucked (well most years it does) but DeAza was racking up ABs for the White Sox and was available and became my new guy.

Definitely lacking in the Sex Appeal department, and a bit of a hot potato since the White Sox (Os, Red Sox, Giants, maybe others?)

[Benjamin Grimm]

Buster Olney says one year, $4.5 million for De Aza.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Is that before or after the coupon code and Gap Cash?

[Edgy MD]

Is Kirk worth DFA'ing for this guy? Because it's him or Campbell. And waxing Campbell, while certainly preferable, leaves us really lefty-heavy.

[Centerfield]

Who's left?

Well there's De Aza.

Is he a good hitter?

Not really.

Is he a good fielder?

Not really.

Does he play centerfield?

Not really. I mean, he can in a pinch.

Ok. Sounds good. Everyone good? Ok. Let's get him.

[Edgy MD]

•Jon Heyman: "Plan is to share CF with Lagares"

•Mike Puma: "Mets had concerns about Span's health and signability. Didn't want to go multiple years with Span or Parra"

•Joel Sherman: "Signing of De Aza is another blow to the notion of Mets bringing back Cespedes"

The Mets beat, everybody.

[Centerfield]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Would this mean they'd no longer be interested in Span? Or might they sign both of these guys?

I would guess this effectively ends our pursuit of Span, Cespedes, Parra etc.

I think we are just looking at a Ryan Raburn type to round out our post-season.

Jesus. I remember being worried in November that the Mets would skimp out and sign someone like Colby Rasmus in lieu of Cespedes.

[Frayed Knot]

Can we make him use a lower case D on his uniform?
Seems like it would be bad for team morale if he didn't.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Edgy MD wrote: Is Kirk worth DFA'ing for this guy? Because it's him or Campbell. And waxing Campbell, while certainly preferable, leaves us really lefty-heavy.

I like Kirk as much as anyone, maybe more, but he's a hard thing to have to rely on and the Mets already demonstrated once they had the nads to let him go.

[Ceetar]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Is Kirk worth DFA'ing for this guy? Because it's him or Campbell. And waxing Campbell, while certainly preferable, leaves us really lefty-heavy. I like Kirk as much as anyone, maybe more, but he's a hard thing to have to rely on and the Mets already demonstrated once they had the nads to let him go.

Kirk _could_ outperform him, but De Aza has 4 years of being about league-averagish with the bat and is probably more reliable.

I don't really think the Mets needed another lefty though. 4.5 isn't really much though. Okay in a vacuum but probably not great if they don't do anything else out there. Won't really know what type of use he gets until he actually starts getting used. B.S. statements in December have little to do with how Terry actually ends up using guys in April.

[Edgy MD]

I think he'll be used more if he performs well, and less if he performs poorly. And gets Mayberried if he goes a 2-for-June or something like.

[TransMonk]

I wasn't expecting as much as CF from Freddy and the boys this winter...but De Aza?

Color me unimpressed.

[Guest themetfairy]

Frayed Knot wrote: Can we make him use a lower case D on his uniform? Seems like it would be bad for team morale if he didn't.

I know - I was thinking that the upper case D will just look wrong at this point.

[Lefty Specialist]

Can't wait for the Post headline when he makes a critical error:

Pain in DeAza

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

You can't spell Amazin without AZA

[Guest d'Kong76]

Maybe they can coax Cuddy out of retirement in July.

[Centerfield]

All kidding aside, I'm trying to see positives here. Ok numbers against lefties last year. Certainly beats going 3 years, 27 million for Gerardo Parra. And looks to be better than Will Venable. He's cheap. Not much commitment.

Maybe it's such a small monetary commitment it allows another OF move? Or maybe more money for the bullpen?

I don't know. This move makes me sad.

[bmfc1]

A step up from Kirk. Could be part of a good platoon because of his splits but he has a negative defensive WAR.
BUT not as good as Yo or Span. A decent, cheap option with emphasis on the cheap.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

He's better than Venable, except at running and catching the ball at the position for which he's been signed.

Similarly, he's a step up from Kirk... with the bat. Probably.

[Centerfield]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: He's better than Venable, except at running and catching the ball at the position for which he's been signed. Similarly, he's a step up from Kirk... with the bat. Probably.

You know, I never took into account Venable's defense.

We're bringing up Kirk. You'd have to think Nimmo's name gets thrown into the mix before the year is out.

[Frayed Knot]

I'd be lying if I claimed to have any first hand knowledge of De Aza
A look at the numbers shows a better split vs RHPs for his career, what looks like some speed, and has played more CF in his time than anywhere else.
I have a healthy distrust of defensive numbers so I'm going to hold off on an opinion there until I see him over some span of time.

He was decent in the years he was a more or less full-time starter (2012-14 w/ChiSox -- .266/.329/.401) and I tend to have hope for guys with some prime left (32 in April) moving from full time to platoon roles.
I know he drew some praise in Boston last for helping out their OF situation (bouncing mostly between LF & RF) after they picked him up last June from Baltimore. Of course they dealt him away again three months later but I think that says more about the ups and downs of the Sox last year than it does about him.
Good OBA numbers in both Boston & SF last year [.347 & .387] but that's a smallish sample [250 PA] so probably shouldn't be looked at as sustainable - although it's not like his career norm of .331 is bad

Wouldn't have to do too much to surpass Pena and become the Mets' best Alejandro ever.

[nymr83]

i like the deal as a stand alone proposition, if not for what it says about the Mets' willingness to spend bigger on other pieces.

31 years old, ~100 OPS+, can play all 3 outfield spots even if some say the CF is below par, i'm happy to sign that kind of guy to a fairly cheap 1 year deal. i'm less happy that he is viewed as the dominant half of a starting platoon, but if Lagares bounces back to his 2014 form or Nimmo turns it on De Aza can be relegated to the 4th outfielder role he is very well suited for.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Let's graft memories of experiencing De Aza's career to our brains.

Who could forget his walkoff triple against the yankees?
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You know who's gonna love this move? Addison Reed, that's who!
[youtube:3s7imdfv]dPTYsPnW8KQ[/youtube:3s7imdfv]

You know this move will sell seats in the Mo Zone! Look out, Jeremy Hefner!
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[Edgy MD]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Who could forget his walkoff triple against the yankees?

A walkoff triple. That's hard to do! The implication is that he reached third before the runner ahead of him scored.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: You know who's gonna love this move? Addison Reed, that's who!

Jon Niese must be feeling a little stupid right now.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Only one Met has ever had a walk-off triple, Cleon Jones on September 10, 1970.

The Mets have lost twice on walk-off triples: Lee May of the Reds on June 24, 1968 and Jack Clark of the Giants on June 19, 1980.

[Edgy MD]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Is Kirk worth DFA'ing for this guy? Because it's him or Campbell. And waxing Campbell, while certainly preferable, leaves us really lefty-heavy. I like Kirk as much as anyone, maybe more, but he's a hard thing to have to rely on and the Mets already demonstrated once they had the nads to let him go.

It'll probably be Ceciliani who gets dropped initially anyhow. Barring injuries, though, Nieuwenhuis will be set up to find himself in a pinch come opening day.