Could Derrek Lee be a NY Met?
Posted by CaseStreet on 5:16pm, Tuesday July 14th 2009
I just read this interesting piece from the wonderful USS Mariner. Basically, the Seattle Mariners trade Erik Bedard and Jarrod Washburn who are FA’s after this year to the Milwaukee Brewers for J.J. Hardy who is under control through 2010. Dave Cameron suggests:
So the team is faced with a scenario where it should trade Bedard and Washburn for players that will be around past this season, but also should be looking to keep the 2009 team competitive. The solution? J.J. Hardy.
Since the Mets are in a similar scenario, I began to think what type of plan Omar Minaya could come up with. According to Detroit Tiger Thoughts latest Elias Rankings calculations, the current Mets who could be Type A/B after this season are:
- Brian Schneider (B)
- Carlos Delgado (A)
- Gary Sheffield (B)
- Billy Wagner (A)
- J.J. Putz (B)
- Fernando Tatis (Almost a B)
We can eliminate Delgado, Wagner and Putz from this discussion, since none will be healthy before the trade deadline and thus defeats the purpose of the acquiring team. That leaves Schneider, Sheffield and Tatis as potential trade candidates.
One team that may match-up is the Chicago Cubs and Derrek Lee. Lee is a gold-glove 1B who is under contract through 2010. The Cubs have rookie Micah Hoffpauir and 3B prospect Josh Vitters to replace Lee at first base. With Geovany Soto on the DL for at least a month, Lou Pinella recently let out that the Cubs are looking to add a catcher from outside the organization.
Maybe the Cubs would consider trading Schneider and a prospect for Lee. The Cubs get a much needed starting catcher and unload some cash, while the Mets get a first baseman for the next two years. Omar Minaya sent Ramon Castro to the White Sox, it’s only fair that he now send Brian Schneider to the Cubs.
I’ll look for some more possible trade candidates. What do you think?
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I dont see a team giving up a draft pick to sign Sheff or Tatis. It would be risky to offer them arbitration.
Sheff is pretty much done after this year. He just came back because his family wanted him to get 500 HR’s and one last shot at going for a ring.
I saw where Lee either left the game Sunday, or was a late scratch, due to neck spasms….Don’t know how series it was.
Couple of questions:
1. What do we do with Lee if Delgado makes it back?
2. What do we do for another catcher?
3. What do we do with Murphy if we made this trade? There is really no other roster spot for Murph other than 1B b/c we never want to see him in LF again….
1. well, if there’s a chance that Delgado will be back soon after the deadline, then I wait for Carlos. Otherwise, we can’t wait till Sept. If they’re both healthy, then you have the greatest platoon in history.
2. Cancel, Rivera or maybe Josh Thole could be ready.
3. I’d keep Murph as a pinch hitter, he’s been pretty good at it. If there’s no room, I have no prob w/ sending him to Buffalo.
Case you can’t have a Delgado Lee platoon. I don’t think either veteran would stand for that.
true, but that just kills Omar’s options.
So really, we should only be looking at Outfielders.
the injury is supposed to be just a neck tweek.
What do you do with Murphy? Is that a legit concern? Trade him to a European semi-pro team for a couple of kegs of beer.
No not really, he can either stay as a utility guy or go back to AAA. Assuming we do not have to trade him in any deal.
Honestly, if the cubs gm did that he should be fired immediately. They have the players to win NOW. they will be looking to make a run at the division in the second half and now is certainly NOT the time to trade one of their big bats for Brian Schneider.
This trade makes sense…. in the offseason. It makes no sense for either team right now. The Cubs are very much in the race and need all the runs they can get. Replacing Lee with Schnieder does not help run scoring.
Nor does it help the Cubs in run prevention, at which Derek lee is among the very best while Schneider has eroded to merely league average since his arrival in NY.
Maybe the Mets can get Micah Hoffpauir instead.
Don’t see that happening either, he would be a coup.
true, though Hoffpair and Vitters would add runs.
If they would add runs they would already be playing. This is Lou here.
Hoffpair spells Lee and Vitters is blocked at 3B by A. Ram through 2011 and in the OF by Soriano, Fuku, and Badley for the next few years.
But how would a platoon of those two over Lee add runs for them?
By all accounts I’ve read Hoffpauir has steel hands.
They also have Jake Fox, a minor league Ted Williams, playing in the corners but with no defensive skills to speak of.
Vitters is the real deal. If Ramirez is not moved eventually, I’m sure Vitters will be the heir apparent at 1B.
I think this offseason they very well may try and dump Soriano and Lee but I don’t see it in the season.
Vitters likely isn’t showing up until 2011 anyway.
oh, I meant they would add runs to Schneider’s runs, which in total may not equal up to Lee’s runs.
but, if they know they’re gonna have to trade or let Lee walk soon, they have a replacement, and they have a need at C right now, they might be interested, especially if it clears some cash for them to make another move.
Eh, nice out of the box thinking, but I don’t think it matches.
yeah, I’m realizing that.
The J.J. Hardy example works because the Brew Crew wouldn’t lose much run production.
I say we try and come up with what it takes to get AGonz and Edgar Gonzalez. Edgar just for the fun of it, he’s not a bad backup PH either.
with this contract, it’d be near impossible:
10:$4.75M, 11:$5.5M club option (no buyout)
It would take a lot, true. Thing is will his value ever be higher than it is right now? His HR and OPS are both at career high paces. The Padres are not going to be competitive while he is there. If I were them, and many writers have said the same thing, I would trade him while the 1B market is so weak.
has there been examples of this type of trade?
What type?
Trading a guy with an below market value contract for prospects while his value is high? Surely you jest?
Dan Haren is a recent example.
“I never jest and don’t call me shirley.”
Quiz: What is the most at-bats a player has had for an entire career without ever hitting a HR?
I hope you’re not going back to the turn of the century…
Okay, let’s stay 1970 or later to make it more interesting. Otherwise you come up with Dave Eggler with 2,546 playing pre-1900. Tom Oliver played outfield for the Red Sox in the roaring thirties and didn’t manage a homer in 1,931 ABs.
I’m sure there are some pitchers who might be in there…
But is there also a current Yankees coach?
Sorry…don’t know the current Yankee coaching staff that well. lol
Mickey Kelleher coaches 1B for the Yanks!
I think he’s one of the all-time futile hitters.
He’s fourth at 1,081 ! Tim Johnson…total sissy who played for the Brewers is the 1970 and later leader among position players. 1,269 ABs without a homer. His career slash stats: .223/.274/.265. His OBP was higher than his SLG! This guy actually DH’d 8 games! How desperate was the Brew Crew on those eight days???
Was he the yutz who lied about his Vietnam service and lost the Jays’ managing job as a result?
I think you might be right on that. The name sounded familiar but I couldn’t place it.
But yes, Don Sutton went an amazing 1,354 ABs without a homer. Next up is a position player…
By the way, I think Don Sutton is as borderline, if not completely foul-ball, as any HOFer.
When was that guy even the ace of a staff?
Absolutely agree. Maybe worse than Scooter. I love Scooter but he’s no HoF.
It’s a shame that great players from the 80s, i.e. Dale Murphy, Tim Raines and Alan Trammell are getting the shaft because the inflated numbers of the 90s have outshined them. But then when the Vets committee inducts its old friends like Bill Mazeroski, it gets even worse.
Give me Alan Trammell, a better than average fielder and a superb hitter for a SS over a no-hit defensive 2B like Bill Maz any day of the week.
I can’t agree more. One of my life goals is to really tear into the Hall inductees (and worthy non-inductees) and come up with a “true” Hall of Fame. I know I’m not the first, nor will I be the last, but I want to really delve into that. Murphy, Trammel, Raines are all getting hurt. Raines was probably the greatest leadoff hitter in NL history and he hardly got a sniff last year.
Was that a pun (Raines - sniff)?
Raines was easily the best leadoff hitter in the NL during his entire Montreal run. And I can’t think of the last NL (or AL other than Rickey) that even compared.
If you line up his pctg stats with Lou Brock’s, Raines blows Brock away.
I’m at work running Access queries on baseball data. Very exciting day here.
I think the Angels would be interested in Livan. They are struggling in the rotation and a veteran would not be a bad idea for them. Wonder if they would have anyone they wanted to dump?
would’ve loved to send them Delgado for Morales and/or Rivera.
the only top 100 prospect they have is rhp jordan walden.
Not necessarily a prospect. Anyone they would dump? And yes I was preaching a Delgado for Morales and an IF trade in the off season.
I think they have too many injuries to consider dumping guys.
But I agree that Livan would be a good fit for them.
no, I meant they really don’t have prospects to replace the guy they dump on us
They still have Brandon Wood, who at some point has to be given a chance to hit homeruns in the major leagues (could the Mets acquire him and convert him to 1B?)
Okay, maybe I’ll try a different approach. Do any of these names seem like they could be a fit:
Lance Berkman HOU *
Wes Helms FLA
Jason Giambi OAK
Ross Gload FLA
Paul Konerko CWS
Derrek Lee CHC
David Ortiz BOS *
Lyle Overbay TOR
Carlos Pena TB
Albert Pujols STL *
Alfredo Amezaga FLA
Pat Burrell TB
Eric Byrnes ARI
Frank Catalanotto MIL
Carl Crawford TB
Coco Crisp KC
Michael Cuddyer MIN *
David DeJesus KC *
Adam Dunn WAS
Jermaine Dye CWS
Jody Gerut MIL
Jose Guillen KC
Willie Harris WAS
Brad Hawpe COL *
Geoff Jenkins PHI
Austin Kearns WAS
Jason Kubel MIN *
Magglio Ordonez DET *
Marcus Thames DET
I think we can find a use for Albert Pujols or Lance Berkman… but we’d have to be willing to get rid of Dan Murphy!!
Lee, Pena, Dunn, Konerko, Cuddyer, Kubel, Hawpe and Crawford would probably be useful too.
You talking about a fit now, next year, or both?
Cuz I don’t wanna waste any time thinking about one when you mean the other.
now. a team that could trade one of these guys now and whom might be a good trading parner with the Mets.
I have a hard time seeing Albert Pujols on the trading block.
yeah, it’s a list of 1B and OF FA’s after next season. Figure if we trade it should be for someone that will be here for at least another year, though there’s always contract extensions.
Well after I asked and I checked Cot to find that this is a list of potential free agents AFTER 2010, so I think the answer should be “both” no?
Anyway, I’m going to contemplate on it as “both.”
OK, I’m done.
Yes.
But more seriously, most of them fall into one of two categories: not likely to be able to get; or not worth getting.
For example, I’d love to have Carlos Pena but why would Tampa part with him?
For example, I want nothing to do with Eric Byrnes but I’m sure we could get him.
Willie Harris it is!
Lee is a perfect guy for Omar.
Old (34 in September), tailing off, not what he used to be on the field, but a big “name” with lousy contract. Unless 13mill give or take is good?
Perfect!
Not sure that trying to keep Delgado for 1 more year might not be better. OK, scratch that, but at least an option.
ALthough I guess Lee is still a better option than Murph man now, and for only 1 more year? No harm likely.
And if you can get him for Schneied and a non-top prospect? Then I am all for it!
Opinion time: Who thinks that all this creative thinking is really just an exercise in futility?
Or to put in another way, does anyone think that our genius GM is really thinkig of radical or out of the box creative solutions? Be honest now, don’t hold back!
Although to be fair, few GMs do. They allseem to be too afraid of a roll of the dice blowing up and making them look bad. Stay conservative and by the book, and at least you can’t be blamed for the big deal flaming out, right?
Without investigating it at all, Kenny Williams of the ChiSox comes to mind as the guy who’s not afraid to make creative moves. But he’s the only one (and I suppose, those he trades with - hence, Omar Minaya!)
I thought the Putz deal required some creativity on Omar’s part.
Agreed and I still consider the Santana deal to have been creative. So many of Omar’s most vocal critics talk about how it was either just a money deal, or that the Red Sox and Yankees handed it to him, or both. They can’t dare consider the possibility that Omar knew all along that the Sox and Yanks were merely trying to monitor to make sure the other didn’t get him, and thus never wavered on his offer, never increased it in a panic to include Jose Reyes or somesuch, and struck at the right moment.
Agreed. And he obviously had to do a sell job either during the negotiations or prior in anticipation of such a deal, i.e. the hype around Guerram the showcasing of Gomez, etc.
You have to give Omar credit for making that trade but Minnesota does have scouts and considering the amount of success they have had for a small market team their scouts are not stupid. I’m not sure how much selling Omar could have done.
KW does some interesting things.
Johan though does not fit the bill. That was a very straightforward idea (duh, the top 1-2 pitcher and everyone knew available?). Well played yes, but not out of th ebox.
putz I guess was unexpected. I will give you that.
I’m really thinking one of the left field solutions that TRS likes to dream up.
pedro passed his physcal - deal expected to be annouced tomorrow