Let's take a look at some Giants-related tidbits courtesy of the San Francisco Chronicle's John Shea..
- Eric Byrnes, who was recently designated for assignment by the D-Backs, told Shea that San Francisco would be the "best fit" for him geographically. Byrnes grew up a Giants fan and makes his offseason home in the Bay Area. The 33-year-old outfielder also admitted that he's not in a position to call himself an everyday player.
- Shea floats ex-Giant Randy Winn as an option for the Mets should they seek someone to fill-in while Carlos Beltran recovers from surgery.
- Adam LaRoche turned down a two-year, $17MM offer from the Giants to sign with the Arizona, where he may receive as little as $6MM for one year. LaRoche said that one reason for his decision was that he preferred Chase Field's hitting conditions to AT&T Park.
i liked eric byrnes a few years ago, i really don’t know about now. maybe if they signed him to a minor league contract with an invite to ST.
The Mets still need to get things done, if they actually want to contend. First off they will have to sign Ben Sheets.
They also need a First Baseman, so instead of signing back Delgado, they should sign Hank Blalock. Hes a young 29 year old with great pop. And he has yet to hit his prime years. He should be able to smack 30 homers for the Mets.
Next the Mets dont have a Cather, Bengie Molina is the guy. Sign him to a 2 or 3 year deal.
The last thing the Mets need to do, sign another 3 or 4th starting pitcher. Either sign Joel Pineiro or Jon Garland.
After they sign one of the two there biggest problem, wich is pitching will be solved.
2010 Mets
Reyes SS
Luis 2B
Wright 3B
Bay LF
Beltran? CF
Blalock- 1B
Molina- C
Murphy- RF
Pitcher- P
Johan Santana
Ben Sheets
Joel Pineiro/Jon Garland
Mike Pelfrey
Oliver Perez
Mets should get Byrnes if Arizona releases him for the league minimum. I know he’s an outfielder but he could platoon with Murphy at first with his .284/.345/.511 clip agaist lefties or fill in until Beltran gets back then go to first. He has speed and pop and also always gives it his all, seems like just a change of scenery would be good for him like Francoeur. (Said this in other thread about Byrnes too)
I agree with nyreyes15. Byrnes is definitely worth the risk(or lack of) due to him being so cheap. Not so sure if he can play 1B though, but it sure would be nice. Otherwise, Jerry Hairston, one of the smoothest fielders currently in MLB, is a better option than Winn.
I’ve always remembered Byrnes as a hustlin’ outfielder. Keep him as the 4th outfielder and Pagan to start while Beltran is gone maybe? Also consider Ankiel…
Byrnes’ problem isn’t his scenery. He has had hamstring problems, so a change of scenery isn’t going to help him at all. I think Byrnes was a great ball player and an even better person. He used to be on Best Damn all the time when he was with the A’s and seemed like a cool down to Earth guy. It’s a shame that injuries have screwed up his career in the middle of his prime, especially leg injuries to a guy that relied so heavily on his speed. How much of an asset do you think Jose Reyes would be if he lost 35-45% of his speed?At first the idea of him playing first seemed rediculous, but now that I think about it 1b might give him an opportunity to show he can still hit while not having to test his hammy in the outfield. Very atypical option for first with his lack of pop in his bat, but I think he’d be worth the risk for any team if nothing else, for his clubhouse chemistry and leadership.
Yea I agree it wasn’t the scenery and it was the injuires, but it looks like the D-backs have lost faith in him so I’m just suggesting maybe a new team and a fresh start is what he needs and obviously to stay healthy.
For sure. I’m thinkin any team would like to give this guy a shot. He’s got something to prove and everyone knows about his work ethic. I’d take him on the Brewers. We need a fourth OF badly and he has the upside to put up better numbers than Hart. So if Hart has another bad season we can have him step in, that is best case scenario obviously. I’m rootin’ for the guy wherever he lands…well maybe not if he’s in cubbie blue.
For sure. I’m thinkin any team would like to give this guy a shot. He’s got something to prove and everyone knows about his work ethic. I’d take him on the Brewers. We need a fourth OF badly and he has the upside to put up better numbers than Hart. So if Hart has another bad season we can have him step in, that is best case scenario obviously. I’m rootin’ for the guy wherever he lands…well maybe not if he’s in cubbie blue.
With Beltran out on the DL, the Mets shouldn’t consider Winn. They should go out and get that switch hitting CF who hit .306, 11 triples, 14 stolen bases and a modeste .837 ops last year when someone finally gave him the chance. Oh wait, the Mets already have Angel Pagan. Amazing how a player takes advantage of an opportunity when someone goes on the DL.
Exactly what i was thinking. There are no better outfielders on the market than pagan right now. And why waste money getting a lesser player to start for a month? Pagan can do the job and return to the backup role when beltran is healthy.
Pagan had a career season last year, that’s for sure. But those of you saying he never got a chance in the bigs, didn’t the Cubs give him a chance then give up on him like they did with so many other outfielders (patterson, pie)? Not saying that the OF’s they gave up on ever really panned out, but they do give them a shot. I haven’t checked the numbers on plate appearances or games played so I may be mistaken.
apparently John Shea doesn’t fallow Mets baseball that closely but that doesn’t stop him from having an opinion that involves pawning off a spent aging giants player on to our team like it’s really a benefit to us . Pagan is one of the most exciting players to watch and he is only going to get sharper; by the time Beltran comes back I bet they consider benching Frenchy instead mark my words. pagan is getting slept on big time. Those to boneheads on loudmouths “i don’t trust him” what does that even mean? because he hasn’t been given a legit chance to get comfortable as a regular major leaguer? so he made 2 or 3 errors thats what happens when you get religated to a bench and have your break out years hampered by injury. It’s decieving that he is so skilled yet doesn’t have a well developed baseball IQ but if you read between the lines it’s obvious that he hasn’t developed smoothly; you don’t have to “trust him” trust his numbers instead, and the baseball IQ will come.
At the very least I expect Byrnesy, if not signing with the giants, to probably end up with KNBR, or the Comcast BA team with Kype and Kruk…. Bye Bye Biff!!
the one team i see him signing with is the giants as a 4th outfielder. he lives there and as a giants fan. it would be dumb for the giants not to sign him. he has tremendous upside for league minimum. he gives all he’s got when he’s not hurt and can fill holes if someone gets hurt or in a slump.
He already said he would love to play for SF and said he can’t consider himself an everyday player anymore. I think it would be cool to see him go to SF and play for his home town team. Anyone remember seeing him in the Cove snagging home run balls with his pooch a few years back during the home run derby? It was hilarious, he looked like a little kid out there. I agree he would also be a great entertaining broadcaster, but I hope his career hasn’t come to that yet. As a Brewer fan, I’ll be tuning in to Giants games if he goes to the booth, that’s for sure.
Also, I agree with LaRoche. This year will be his break out year. A little less money in the short term, to create big number production, will lead to a higher paycheck and multiyear deal in the long run. Then again, look at the 1b he has to compete against in 2011. However, most of those names will sign a new contract with their respective clubs taking them out of the free agent market.
I think it’s a smart move by LaRoche too, but don’t you think teams with look at his home/away splits and take that into consideration for a big pay day if his home numbers are superior to his away numbers? Kind of like pitchers poor numbers and hitters good numbers at Coors.
How much would it take to sign Pedro Martinez?
Isn’t LaRoche saying he prefers Chase Field to AT&T Park just ‘spin’ for “My agent & I mis-read the market completely; I’m happy to have a contract”?
Yep. I agree 110%.
More like “I want to build up my value as high as possible to get more money next year, and I’d rather play in a hitter’s park rather than a pitcher’s park.”
Even though LaRoche must’ve missed that there’s a bunch of first baseman hitting the FA market next year.
For realz, I rooted for him so badly too, and I honestly thought that we would get him after that offer… but what an idiot. I lost a lot of respect for him.
Yeah, it’s definitely a cover. Saying you prefer one park over another is a pretty weak excuse… but it’s better than admitting that your own stupidity cost you $11MM.
yeah its obviously spin. his OPS in 43 PA at Chase Field is .661 and his OPS in 50 PA at AT&T is 1.227. I know its an extremely small sample size, but it still seems as though the hitting conditions at Chase have had a negative effect on LaRoche
The Giants tried to get Byrnes a few years back, maybe too late now for him. I like the last post by themotleynat, nobody gives up millions because “they don’t like the park”. Guess that’s easier to say than “me & my agent blew it”.
I can’t see how Byrnes would fit in SF. Say they carry 13 position players; Sandoval, Uribe, Renteria, Sanchez, Huff, DeRosa, Rowand, Shierholtz, Posey, Whiteside (or FA catcher) are locks in mind right now. That leaves Ishikawa, Lewis, Torres, Velez, Bowker and potentially now Byrnes fighting for 3 bench spots. Bowker still has an option left so he doesnt have to make the 25 man out of ST, but Lewis/Velez/Ishi either make the team or they’re gone. Not sure where Torres stands but if Byrnes is battling anyone its Torres who right now in his career is putting up better numbers and playing better defense. Maybe its not a bad idea to give Byrnes a minor league contract with an invite like they did Uribe last year but do we want to give Sabs/Botch that many option to screw up and create 162 lineups next year?
Way too many better options in the outfield to sign Byrnes. I’ve always liked his hustle, but we have Torres who can do better offensively.
I agree, I thought the idea was to simplify our outfield situation not add an old, injury prone, hitting liability. Even if he signs a minor league contract, he’ll be on the 40 man and that spot could be filled by a capable up-and-comer. I like the guy, but he’s done.
I can see the excuses already starting for the Mets, I hope their whole team is healthy so they have no reason to complain during the season. It wouldn’t make sense to sign Randy Winn when Angel Pagan can do better for less money. They should bring in a 1B though, Russell Branyan could provide some cheap power.
Laroche miss calculated the market with his salary demands period!! He will now suffer his salary reduction with D’backs and will have tough time next off season with all the premium 1B that will be the FA market. Tough lessen to learn for Laroche but something agents need to see with the economy and putting up ridiculous salary demands
very very true. he would have been better with a 2 year contract. so that he won’t have to go up against the first base free agents next off season.
Please not Winn. I think I want Byrnes though, because I’ve always liked his aggressiveness in the field. Why not sign Ankiel for a year and have him platoon with Pagan until Beltran returns. Seems like a good backup outfield staff too!
I’d take Byrnes over Velez or Torres any day. Especially if they’re playing for the same salary.
Have you comapred them stat-wise? Torres is faster, plays about even in the OF but has shown more offensive upside. Byrnes has shown nothing but a steady decline whereas Torres showed he could be a huge assett especially if Rowand goes down. Byrnes would have to show A LOT for this fit to make sense
Yes I have.
so you’ll take byrnes’ terrible ~.270 OBP over the last two seasons compared to Torres’ .343 last year? Byrnes’ ~65 OPS+ the last two seasons over Torres’ 124 last year? I’ll give you Torres’ sample size is limited and both have had health issues, but even in an injury riddled season Torres out performed Byrnes with much less opporunities.
You don´t need stats to compare them, by simply watching them play you can tell which one is better, Torres over Byrnes? I mean, really? This guy gives his all every day, plus, I love to see him running the bases, jumps everytime a teamate gets on base and my favorite part is that he likes to hit to the triples alley which is a blessing for him. Just what this team needs on bench.
You don´t need stats to compare them, by simply watching them play you can tell which one is better, Torres over Byrnes? I mean, really? This guy gives his all every day, plus, I love to see him running the bases, jumps everytime a teamate gets on base and my favorite part is that he likes to hit to the triples alley which is a blessing for him. Just what this team needs on bench.
I think he’d(Byrnes) be a good signing for the Cardinals actually. He’s gritty, can play all 3 outfield positions, and he would thrive in St.Louis.
dude you play baseball to win. Players USED to play partially to make a living. nowadays in any sport that’s not the issue. I know precious stats are important to these guys but what about the fact that you’re on a winning team. And not to mention one of the best franchises in the world with at least the 2nd best NL pitching rotation. How does that not excite you?
Might I just add that dbacks suck and aren’t going anywhere this year?
dude you play baseball to win. Players USED to play partially to make a living. nowadays in any sport that’s not the issue. I know precious stats are important to these guys but what about the fact that you’re on a winning team. And not to mention one of the best franchises in the world with at least the 2nd best NL pitching rotation. How does that not excite you?
Might I just add that dbacks suck and aren’t going anywhere this year?