Ten years ago today, the Mets traded 20-year-old outfield prospect Nelson Cruz to the Athletics for Jorge Velandia. Cruz had yet to make his pro debut. He was traded twice more before breaking out with the Rangers at age 27. Today's links, as Cruz returns from the disabled list…
- R.A. Dickey told Mike Mazzeo of the Newark Star-Ledger that New York is a great place for him. The knuckleballer is under control through 2011 as an arbitration-eligible player.
- William Wan of the Washington Post writes about MLB's efforts to grow interest in China.
- Chone Figgins had the biggest drop this year compared to last in Wins Above Replacement (WAR), according to Pat Andriola of FanGraphs.
- Baseball America's Jim Callis stacks this year's top 50 draft bonuses against MLB's top 50 slot recommendations.
I don’t think anyone expects Dickey to pitch another 150+ innings of 2.50 ERA ball next year but when he’s under team control it shouldn’t even be a question that you give him a healthy raise and a rotation spot for next year.
Why is Pat Misch even on the Mets? He’s a AAAA pitcher makes NO SENSE to have him continue to throw. MESSAGE TO MANAGEMENT : “Excite your fan base and Bring Up Mejia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
A knuckle balller ages well and is worth buying a free agent year from (2012) a maybe giving him an option for 2013. history shows successful knuckle ball pitchers can go into their 40’s
Giving him a multiyear extension after 1 successful year at age 35? Seriously?
the mets would be crazy to give this guy up after the season they’ve had and he’s had. Give him arbitration for next year and see how he does. If he doesn’t repeat his success then you have your answer
I didn’t say to give up on him. I said you dont lock him up for multiple years when he’s 35 and had one good year.
Mostly be signed to a 2 year deal after 2011. Knuckleballers are a different kind of pitcher. Like percussionists and concert bands.
Agreed, either go to arbitration with him or give him a 1 yr deal with incentives to trigger a 2012 player option. He’s at least earned a nice 1 yr deal and could probably fetch at least what I said he should be offered if he was a FA. If he earns the 2012 contract much like he has earned his 2011 contract, then it’s a win-win for both sides.
Why is Pat Misch even on the Mets? He’s a AAAA pitcher makes NO SENSE to have him continue to throw. MESSAGE TO MANAGEMENT : “Excite your fan base and Bring Up Mejia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
I hate the use of the term “grow.” You mean “increase.”
Typical Mets-like low-risk/low reward short-term trade, that allows them to keep their better prospects, but doesn’t fully addresses immediate needs. Cruz is a nice late-bloomer. It isn’t a horrible trade though because in the longrun I’ll guess that Cruz is the type to have a strong peak, but disappears pretty quickly. I think his strikezone numbers leave him susceptible to losing everything as soon as the batspeed loses a tick. Also, his swing is very susceptible to getting out of whack in the past.
It’s unfair to assume the Mets could’ve predicted that 7 years down the line. Come on.
Does anyone really think that Dickey will remain a Met after next year unless the team signs him to a team friendly cost effective deal now? The Wilpons are known to misspend money and if Dickey repeats what he does this season next year for an entire season he will be very expensive to sign
Its a touchy situation. If they go to arbitration (which I don’t think would be the smart thing to do) they will be required to pay him close to 6-8 mil next year. That is a lot of money for a guy who has never experienced this type of success. Remember he didnt just start throwing the knuckleball. He has bounced around at least 4 organizations with minimal success. I would say approach him with a one year 3 mil dollar deal and add in some incentives. If he refuses it would be smart to non-tender him.
Before giving Dickey any kind of multi year contract, please Minaya, for the sake of Mets fans and your owner’s finances as well, look over his career track record and think about it, then either go to arbitration, or let him pitch next year on a 1 year deal.
If anybody in the game screams “fluke season” at you, this is the guy. A good season, after 6 atrocious ones out of the blue? Come on, let’s see it again before another Ollie perez bungle that you are so fired up to make Minaya.