The Mets don’t view this offseason as the time to spend significant money on outfielders, so they don’t expect to pursue high profile free agents such as B.J. Upton, Michael Bourn and Shane Victorino, Andy Martino of the New York Daily News reports. Though Mets executives have not finalized the team’s offseason plan, Martino reports that the Mets aren’t likely to offer any outfielder a multiyear deal.
The Mets will be pursuing outfielders this coming offseason, but GM Sandy Alderson is prepared to build through trades. While the 2013 payroll hasn’t been finalized, it’s expected to sit marginally higher than $90MM, Martino reports. The Mets would like to retain prospective free agent Scott Hairston, but they’re likely to non-tender Andres Torres, according to Martino. Assuming Torres doesn’t return, Lucas Duda, Mike Baxter, Jason Bay and Jordany Valdespin will be among the team’s internal options.
Outfield depth is a strength of the 2012-13 free agent class, so the Mets could find some late-offseason bargains if Alderson is willing to be patient and flexible. The trade market for outfielders could include players such as Shin-Soo Choo and Justin Upton.
Sweet, another year of suffering ahead!
Well, I think everyone knew this would happen from the start. Ah well. I hope they at least look into acquiring Upton now, as long as it doesn’t cost them Wheeler or Harvey.
They are not going after Upton as stated in the article. Get over it, there are other players in mLB not named Upton. Geesh. Yankees don’t have an Upton on their team and can still win 100 games – how is that possible?
JUSTIN Upton. Why would I mention losing prospects to sign a free agent? That makes no sense.
Thanks for the help. Obviously Justin Upton but Mets fans want BJ too (no pun intended)
Probably because of the massive amounts of cash the yanks have, the constantly filled stadium, and an ownership group who hasn’t gone through their 2nd ponzi scheme and are scraping the bottom of the barrel just to pay operational costs and keep themselves afloat?
But aside from those minor differences, you’re pretty spot on……
$90M is enough. The A’s are doing fine with half of that. Mets had a 140M payroll last year. It’s not how much you spend, it’s how smart you spend.
Well of course, but I think it’s clear to anyone who follows the Mets that they are pretty lacking in the “smart” department,
LOL…you couldn’t be more wrong. DePodesta and Alderson are two of the smartest executives in baseball. (Both Harvard grads, if that’s your cup of tea). I think the problem is that most Met fans really don’t understand baseball or how to build a competitive team. It’s really, really hard to build a competitve team through FA alone b/c the costs are prohibitive ($>170M+)
You missed the point, it was a knock on the organization as a whole (which is why the mets are in the financial position they’re in), and not each individual’s merit.
Things like 3/36 for Ollie Perez (when no one was bidding against the mets
– $2million (with a $2million option) for Alex Cora to be a back up
– $12 million for Frank Francisco
Etc etc etc etc. You can’t possibly look at the Mets as an organization and think “smart” goes hand in hand. Please don’t delude yourself.
Are you sure you’re a Met fan? Could you possibly be this clueless? O wait yes most Met fans are. Alderson was hired in 2011. Do you understand? Minaya ran the club before then. You can’t blame Alderson for decisions made before his arrival. I hope this makes sense or I will be really scared. The only decision on that list that the current regime made was Francisco, an overspend but nothing crazy as it’s just a 2 yr deal.
Stop. Breath. Take a step back and read. Where did I mention any names? I specifically said “The Mets organization as a whole.”
I don’t know how much clearer I can be here for you, reading comprehension is your friend. The mess that Alderson and his team are working through and the constraints they have to deal with stem from the previous regime’s shortsightedness and the Wilpon’s financial follies.
Do you understand now, or should I break it down into simpler terms? Maybe one or two syllable words for you? Mets dumb. Alderson smart. Me hungry.
clueless?
Alderson was hired in October of 2010…
Alderson was hired in 2011 hence the only decision on the list that was his doing was Francisco, no big deal a 2 yr deal
Again, where did I say my comment was a reference to just Alderson? This really isn’t a hard concept to grasp, and the fact that you simply cannot understand it is pretty remarkable.
There are more people associated with the Mets than just the GM and the problems he is facing stem back years ago…hence my original comment is 100% applicable.
Alderson also traded Pagan for Ramirez and Torres, left us with one VERY lousy bullpen this year, and signed DJ Carrasco to a 2 year deal as well. Just to refresh your memory, in 2011, he pitched in 42 games and his ERA was 6.02. In 2012, he pitched in 4 games with an ERA of 7.36 before being cut.
So don’t think Alderson can do no wrong. He’s hit one or two balls out of the park (Hairston and Beltran) since coming to NY, but struck out several other times as well (Reyes).
btw, Mets fan’s don’t understand baseball? That’s a pretty bold generalization….
“DePodesta and Alderson are two of the smartest executives in baseball. ”
LMAOOOOO
…and neither has received an interview for a GM position since being canned
What prospects do you think ARI might be interested in, if not Wheeler or Harvey?
I’m looking through the Binghamptom and St. Lucie rosters and I’m seeing some mildly interesting guys.
I think a package based around Valdespin (to fill in at the ML level) and Flores (absolutely raked this year, still only 20) would get the ball rolling. It would take more, but I think it could be done.
Flores stood out to me as well.
edited: Mets unlikely to spend on anything.
Mets unlikely to do anything good this offseason. Keeping Bay and extending Dickey and Wright instead of releasing Bay and trading Dickey and Wright while their value is high.
You guys can take Tabata or Presley… please!!!
Bay for Presley = done.
Can’t really blame them. I’m sure those guys could help a bit, but not really enough to justify the double digit millions they’re each going to want.
All of these players would probably end up being overpaid anyway but it’s a bit disturbing that every report out of the Mets in recent weeks has basically had them explicitly pulling the plug on the 2013 season before this one is even over.
It would be a bad thing if the Mets were turning their back on acquisitions that would clearly make them ready to contend. Given that they have a ways to go (not saying they’re in need of a full-on rebuild, but 2013 is probably out of reach), that’s probably a responsible approach.
Well, they did it on 2012 before it started, so they are getting pretty good at it by now.
The Mets should end this charade of being a major league team and petition for admission to AAA.The International League could use a team in the NY Metro area.
I dont mind the mets passing on the OFs with their high, overpriced cost. The only guy in the group I would even want the mets to consider would be BJ upton. Hes only guy that would be in his prime when they are going to be ready to contend. I would especially like getting him if the mets somehow also traded for justin upton. They have enough money coming off the books in 2013, take the hit for one year and stop being so cheap. I know it is the mets that we are speaking about though so it wont happen. But in the ever so slight chance it did happen, I would be ecstatic. Putting a good team on the field is how you get fans in the seats and make a profit.
If they dont go for the uptons, please spend all the money on upgrading the pen. Madson, jp howell, farnsworth, moylan, mike adams are some good guys they could add and be effective. I would especially like to see madson and howell signed to 2 year deals. Typically guys do better the year after they are back from tommy john, thats why 2 year deal for madson.
How about Frenchy? Signed, every KC Royals fan on the planet.
Hey don’t forget Kirk Nieuwenhuis! He was a lot of fun early in the season.
I know he’s hurt and shut down now, but I would love to see him back and in business again! So hopefully, he gets himself healthy and make the necessary adjustments with his hitting so he can get back on track! Heck, even his “New York” Groove!
As for free agency… Mets have no money. Besides as the Orioles proved, you didn’t need to sign high priced help to be successful. Braves proved that as well, I don’t think they signed anybody last free agency and they are in the playoffs.
Mets need to improve their pitching and their pitchers to stay healthy.
Only problem with Kirk, like a lot of our left handed rookies……they can’t hit lefties. His splits and K% are not very good unfortunately. (And this is coming from a guy whose a Capt Kirk fan, I like his style of play)
Mets outfield for 2013:
Bay/Duda platoon in LF until Bay is moved or cut at mid- season.
Grady Sizemore/ Jordanny Valdespin in CF.
Juan Rivera RF.
That’s more or less the bang the Mets are going to get for their buck.
( Actually it’s more of a pop than a bang! )
as someone who watches every Met and Yankee game, Bay , Duda, Valdespin is one bad trio. bay can not hit, Duda has no outfield fielding ability and Valdespin has made numerous base running mistakes in only a couple of dozen games this year
You think Valdy is bad on the basepaths, you should see him at 2nd base!
I actually like this. I was thinking something like Swisher and Ichiro. Might be a bit of wishful thinking with Swisher but they really need a bat to protect Wright if they are going to justify extending him. Ichiro would be cheap, could lead off, and may be able to take advantage of Citi Field. Not to mention it would be nice to have a respected player on the field everyday
I have posted this a couple times. I don’t want Justin or BJ Upton. They are both loose cannons who will be ruined by the Mets. They are both hit or miss every season and the Mets will make them guaranteed misses
how is Justin Upton a loose cannon ?
mets need impact trades to bring back org