The Mets remain engaged with agent Scott Boras about free-agent shortstop Stephen Drew, but a source familiar with the process tells Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com that Drew is more of a "possibility" than a "probability" for them. Team officials are divided about how valuable Drew would be to the Mets.
The Mets would be more willing to consider a one- or two-year deal for Drew at the right price but don't want to go to three years or beyond. Andy Martino of the Daily News (on Twitter) gets the sense that the Mets have a strong reluctance towards offering anything more than one year. However, Rubin writes that if Drew were to accept a shorter-term deal, the feeling is that it would be with the Red Sox. Because of that, some Mets officials are wary that Boras is using them to drive up the price in Boston. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes recently explored possible destinations for the 14th-ranked player on MLBTR's 2014 Top 50 Free Agents list including the Astros, Yankees, Twins, Royals, and Marlins, in addition to the Mets and Red Sox.
A team insider tells Rubin that he doesn't think the Mets would need to shed payroll in order to free available space for Drew. It also helps that their first-round pick is protected. The Mets have already forfeited their second-round draft choice for signing Curtis Granderson, so inking Drew would cost them their third-round selection and its assigned slot-value, something, according to Rubin, they are not totally averse to considering.
The club has made it known that they're comfortable with using Ruben Tejada at shortstop, a revelation that was surprising given his recent history with the Mets. The Mets always recognized that he has talent, but his work ethic and motivation was repeatedly called into question in 2013.
I get the sense that Drew really doesn’t want to play for the Mets on a short deal, meaning his remaining option is Boston. However, they don’t seem to keen on giving him much more than a small, one year offer either. Really not sure how this is going to play out.
I know this isn’t the case but it kind of reminds me of the “Jason Bay would rather play in Beirut than Queens” line Gammons dropped while he was a free agent
I’ve got to agree with you. if that ESPN source above is true and Drew can get 2y in the area even of what he turned down BP wise of the qualifying offer.. Say 11-12mAAV.. I don’t see anyone else coming forward.. Boston isn’t going to block Garin Cecchini with a 3y deal and I doubt 2y for Drew.
Could Boras be holding out to see if the Yankees are going to see how Jeter holds up early in ST? An early ST injury? Dangerous play if he’s taking that path.
I think the Mets should sign Drew 2/25 at most maybe a bit higher. The different source rumors really don’t help on whether are not he’ll sign with the Mets or the Red Sox. We’re going to have to wait and see. There’s no real way of telling who he will sign with until it happens. Although, being a Mets fan, I’d like the Mets to sign Drew for the right price. To me, the draft pick isn’t so important. I wouldn’t go 3 years with Drew, either. They can really have a contending lineup with Drew as their 2 or even leadoff. It would push Murphy to the 5 spot and they would have more depth behind Wright and Granderson. Or even possibly have Murphy bat 4th and Granderson would be more comfortable at 5th. Either way it provides much more depth in the lineup.
Plus it makes them a lot stronger defensively. If they keep Ike (which I’m in favor of) the only weak link defensively is Murphy, who would be helped by Drew’s presence.
Ike’s been below average defensively since the ankle injury.
Agreed. Also, it’s probably not a good idea to go into the season with only one player capable of playing shortstop. If Tejada gets injured, who replaces him? Having depth up the middle is critical if the Mets plan on contending this season.
I actually enjoyed Tovar for the time he played.
I worked in the Eastern League last year. I only saw Tovar in limited play but I was impressed. I kind of would like to keep in the minors so that he can continue to refine his game
Agreed. He should start in AAA. Sign Drew and have Tejada as backup. One of them gets hurt and Tovar should be called up. I really liked his range and arm. His bat seems to have potential. I really liked the way he played.
I said this in another comment but I don’t like Drew on a 1 or 2 year deal. The Mets aren’t contending in 2014 so signing Drew has no short term benefit, and effectively ends any chance of Tejada becoming a long term solution. A 2 year deal is worse because not only does it take Tejada out of the equation, but it also eliminates all of the SS that are in the deep 2015 FA class as long term options.
The Mets are still in rebuild mode. I think they should be looking for long term options everywhere. The only two cases I would consider Drew is if: 1) the Mets see him as a long term solution (which I don’t) and can get him for 3-4 years at a discounted rate or, 2) they can get him on a 1 year deal with the intention of flipping him at the deadline for prospects
I don’t think there was any indication that the Mets view him as a long term solution, that’s already been pretty much decided. No power, no speed, average range and arm, while not being a spectacular base runner either.
Nothing against the guy, but he’s definitely more suited to your middle IF utility role rather than a starters.
He was regarded by the organization as the reason they were OK letting Reyes go, so there was indication that the Mets saw him as a long term solution. Also, the guy you just described was Daniel Murphy. I’m pretty content with him as a player so why would I let that deter me from giving Tejada a chance?
Because murphy has better base running skills and more power.
He was regarded by the organization as the reason they were ok with letting reyes go because they had no money and they had to sell something to the fans. Looks like you bought it.
I didn’t need the Mets to say it for me to buy it. Murphy is also considered a above average 2B offensively. Ruben Tejada has a career line of .287/.345/.345. If you compare that to MLB short stops in 2013 it would be second in average, first in OBP, and seventh in slugging.
I understand that you don’t think that is sustainable, and to an extent I would agree with you, but if the Mets only want to go one year with Drew, and will go a max of 2 then he is clearly a band-aid solution. Why would you take the bat out of Tejada’s hand and not let him prove himself unless you have a proven long-term solution?
EDIT: Early morning issues. Sorry, I said that was his career line. That is his line for 2011 and 2012 combined
I agree with you regarding Drew, I’m not a fan and really don’t want him either. Id live with Tejada for the year and am open to see if he surprises, but I have my serious doubts about his long term prospects.
That’s basically all I’m saying. People forget that this kid was 23 last year. He hit .202/.259/.260, which is pretty bad, but considering most 23 year olds would be in AA he could probably be considered above average offensively.
While I doubt his long term prospects, I like his odds of being the starting SS in 2016 and 2017 a lot more than Drew’s. If you agree with that, and agree that 2014 is a lost season, then the only benefit Drew gives you is in 2015. It just doesn’t seem worth the investment, or worth cutting Tejada’s chances
I also think Tejada could be very important in that lineup. You cite that he has no tools but forget his contact rate. The fact of the matter is that the Mets lineup consists of a lot of guys who have a bad contact rate and decent power (ie-Duda, Young, Granderson). Unless there are guys getting on base in front of them, these guys are virtually useless
Also, you know who is a player with power, speed, good range, and a good arm? Chris Young. The fact of the matter is that you don’t need outstanding tools to get on base and getting on base and scoring runs is the name of the game.
Mets arent contending in’14. Gotta wait until Harvey is back and more talent throughout the roster. Mets ought to pony up for Drew. They have the money and need the talent.
I agree. They most likely won’t contend, although you never know. I do expect them, however, to do better than last year with ML experience now in Wheeler, TDA, Lagares and veteran leadership in the pitching staff with Bartolo. They really do need Drew, too, if they want to be better than last year.
TBH. Losing Harvey for the year is a huge blow.
I’d rather have a bag of balls sitting there than Ruben Tejada. Just give Drew like a 2 year/25 mil deal or something.
“t also helps that the Mets’ first-round pick is protected and the second rounder is already in the Yankees’ possession.”
This is inaccurate. The Mets forfeited their second round pick when they signed Granderson, but the Yankees received a pick in the compensation round, not the Mets’ pick.
Do any sports writers even bother to learn anything about the game they cover anymore? The Mets’ 2nd round pick isn’t “in the Yankees’ possession” because of signing Granderson. They simply lose that pick. It goes nowhere. It would have netted NY a supplemental round pick, but thanks to their signing Ellsbury, McCann and Beltran they not only lost their first round pick but both supplemental picks they might have gotten for Cano and Granderson.
The Yankees don’t have their own 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rounder. They have two supplement picks from Granderson and Cano while the Mets lost their second round pick.
I believe the language states that the Yankees lose their “highest” picks for signing McCann Ellsbury & Beltran which would mean they’d lose their own 1st rounder and two supplemental/compensation picks before they’d lose their 2nd and 3rd rounder.
That’s not the way the latest CBA is written. They changed that with the one that took effect in 2012, so now a team that signs multiple free agents who received Qualifying Offers can lose supplemental picks. They changed that specifically because teams like Boston were so good at forgoing signing their own free agents and stockpiling the supplemental picks while signing free agents from other teams. The rules weren’t working as intended so they changed it.
The Yankees don’t have their own 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rounder. They have two supplement picks from Granderson and Cano while the Mets lost their second round pick.
The Yankees lost their picks in rounds 1-3 due to signing McCann, Ellsbury, and Beltran. They get two supplement picks from losing Cano and Granderson.
The Yankees lost their picks in rounds 1-3 due to signing McCann, Ellsbury, and Beltran. They get two supplement picks from losing Cano and Granderson.
The Yankees lost their picks in rounds 1-3 due to signing McCann, Ellsbury, and Beltran. They get two supplement picks from losing Cano and Granderson.
The Yankees lose their highest picks so by signing Ells and Beltran they lose the compensatory picks they would have received for Cano and Grandy.
you can’t lose supplemental picks.
Under the new system you can.
The Yankees lost their picks in rounds 1-3 due to signing McCann, Ellsbury, and Beltran. They get two supplement picks from losing Cano and Granderson.
Let New York have him. I have 100 % trust in Bogaerts. Signing Drew would just give less of an opportunity to Him and Middlebrooks. I’d rather have the draft pick any way.
I think the Mets have Boras and Drew right where they want them.
Good for them.
The impressive thing about the Mets this off-season, they have spent money!
Should be interesting to see how it works out!
The Mets’ second round pick did not go to the Yankees, it just disappeared as did the slot money by order of the new CBA. Now the compensation pick in between rounds one and two would’ve gone to the Yankees also disappeared since the Yankees signed too many qualifying offer free agents.
The Yankees also lost that pick due to signing too many qualifying offer free agents.
Are you sure about that? I didn’t think you can “lose” compensation picks.
That’s apparently the case in the new CBA. The only protected picks are 1-10 and ones that were awarded for not signing a pick the previous year. Comp picks are fair game.
According to Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal’s explanation, that’s how the new CBA works. The Yankees lost their first round pick plus the picks they would’ve recieved for Granderson and Cano when they signed Ellsbury, McCann, and Beltran. If they were to sign any more comp FAs, their second Rousey pick would be te next to go. But those comp picks simply disappear off the board and the former teams receive their own comp picks.
Something is wrong with mets Front Office, no one is in the same page. ether you want Stephen Drew or you don’t.. if i was Stephen Drew i would be sick and tired of hearing the mets Front Office, acting like 5 years olds, not knowing what they want, funny thing is Stephen Drew would not cost them much.
They look to be on the same page. And Drew isn’t hearing anything from the Mets. I don’t think you understand the situation at all.
It doesn’t matter what Stephen Drew thinks, he has no leverage over the Mets.
The Mets front office hasn’t been on the same page since Nelson Doubleday sold his share of the team. And we all know why.
They aren’t acting like little kids. It is good if they are all of different views. Drew is not a slam dunk, and I could make a case for them signing or passing on him.
I’d offer Drew a 2 year deal with an incentive for a 3rd year, or even a 3 year deal if pressed. He is only 30 years old and the Mets only current potential help for SS are in the lower level A leagues and very well might not be big league ready by 2016.
I agree, 30 year olds sometimes regress, but not enough that a 3 year deal to a 30 year old is bad. 5+ is where it starts to hurt.
Wow lots of down votes, but the only person who actually responds agrees.
Offer him 3/35 and platoon him with Tejeda (Drew hits RHP’ers, Tejeda is ok vs LHP’ers). When the time comes, one of Drew or Tejeda could be traded.
Drew waits till June 15 to sign a deal than take a 1 yr deal at that stadium which is not likely to help him in free agency next year.
Bogaerts will get his chance regardless of whether Drew stays or not. It’s Middlebrooks who will be odd man out. Drew was actually a better overall player than Middlebrooks by far last season.
I’d love to see Drew back on another one year deal. It would preserve depth. They can have Middlebrooks on call at Pawtucket and Garin Cecchini could be used at several other positions since he’s more athletic.
Drew indirectly makes it so that they have a backup for every infield position with just Middlebrooks on the bench. If Pedroia or Drew go down Bogaerts can shift to either position. If Bogearts or Napoli go down, Middlebrooks can fill in at either position This rotation also makes it so that each of these should be able to get a decent amount of ABs
I disagree with the assessment that it is surprising the Mets are content with having Ruben Tejada start at short stop. An inflated free agency market and ridiculous prices on the trading market are going to do that, especially when the in-house option was productive in 2011 and 2012.
Tejada’s terrible 2013 cannot be ignored, and it is disheartening that it is being blamed on his lack of effort, conditioning, etc. But at the same time, if Tejada applies himself (which all accounts suggest he is at this point), then maybe he returns to the player he was the previous two years and the Mets don’t have to spend 20+ million dollars on a player who is injury prone and overrated in a weak short stop market.
Drew’s ceiling is higher than Tejada, but it is not so much higher than it would warrant a three year contract. If Sandy can get Drew on a 1 or 2 year contract at a reasonable price, I’m all for it. But I wouldn’t be disappointed or surprised if Tejada ends up the starting short stop.
Tejada’s ceiling is higher than Drew’s. Tejada still has promise, but unfortunately his work ethic seems to be a big issue in his progression. The Mets saw Tejada as a long term solution to replacing Reyes. Of course, he was never going to be near the status of Reyes, but he was believed to be a more than adequate everyday player at SS. Drew’s best days are likely over, although he is the better SS at this time. A part of me wonders if this Drew talk is serious from the Mets or being used as motivation for Tejada. Tejada is the only player on the roster that Sandy Alderson has publicly expressed disapproval of.
Nick Franklin or Brad Miller can be a descent shortstop just like Neil Walker and Isn Desmond are at second base if Franklin, Murphy, or Turner can play shortstop.
I agree with this 100%. I also have tried to point out that Tejada is 24 years old. A lot of his issues are with maturity. He is only a kid so no one should be shocked that he is immature. At the beginning of the offseason I really wanted the Mets to sign Rafael Furcal as competition for Tejada in hopes that Tejada would respond and take the job from Furcal.
Tejada’s true talent cieling is what, 3 wins based on good defense and a good OBP? He offers no power and no speed and will never have positive value with the bat. And his defense seemed to take a big step back last year. I don’t think he’s a player worth waiting for at any price. There is a very real chance he would lose the starting job by May. I’d much rather take Drew on a 3 year deal than hope a low talent player can “turn it around”. And I don’t want to risk the development of the young pitching by having an error machine up the middle.
Tejada’s true talent cieling is what, 3 wins based on good defense and a good OBP? He offers no power and no speed and will never have positive value with the bat. And his defense seemed to take a big step back last year. I don’t think he’s a player worth waiting for at any price. There is a very real chance he would lose the starting job by May. I’d much rather take Drew on a 3 year deal than hope a low talent player can “turn it around”. And I don’t want to risk the development of the young pitching by having an error machine up the middle.
I agree with your 1st 2 paragraphs but agree with Pope on your 3rd paragraph.
I know no one would agree with me here, but I’m only interested in Drew if they can get him for a cheap, discounted price, and a longer deal. Personally, I don’t think the Mets will contend this year so I would much rather give Tejada a chance to develop and turn into the long term solution than have Drew take the ABs on a 1 year deal and leave them with the same hole in 2015. I think a 2 year deal would be even worse because the Mets would end up losing out on the 2015 free agent SS class, which is pretty deep.
I don’t want this, but if the Mets do end up getting Drew I would rather see it be a $32M/4 or $27M/3 then a $22/2
Drew to the Mets is not happening.
Drew going to Seattle is more likely than signing w/ the Mets. Brad Miller or Nick Franklin is other option via trade by giving up Parnell & Ike Davis (replaced by Justin Smoak who will benefit playing in the NL).
It is happening! The Mets need a SS and Drew is an excellent all around SS. Red Sox fans were surprised how good he is. No brainer signing for the Mets, they are posturing.
I think the Red Sox only want to go one year with Drew, but he wants at least 2. So when the sox offer him this “take it or leave it” one year deal that’s being reported, the mets should counter with a decent 2-year, say 12mil/year. With the Mets, Drew is pretty much guaranteed the starting job and who knows what is future with the sox would be.
The Mets can’t afford to roll the dice on Tejada, there’s too many question marks with Chris Young, if Lagaras can hit consistently, if D’arnaud is all he’s hyped up to be, the situation at first base, the bullpen. Make this deal happen with Drew, please.
Joe, that’s why a trade between the Mets & Mariners may work out well by acquiring Nick Franklin or Brad Miller that can replace Tejada nicely in the Big Apple after Cano left the Yankees to play in Seattle. Sandy Alderson & Trader Jack Z ought to pull off the deal.
What deal? What do the Mets have that would cause Seattle to decide to trade Miller or Franklin (who can’t play SS anyway)? Miller is as good as Drew, why would Seattle trade him to sign a more expensive and older option?
Miller is as good as Drew? LOLOLOLOLOL that’s really funny. In Boston, we hear from the “pink hats” , that’s the type of comment.
I don’t know why you think it’s the funny of an idea. In half a season, Miller had a 2.0 rWAR, compared to Drew’s 3.1 in 3/4 of a season. Going from Miller’s small sample size, I don’t think it’s that much of a stretch to put him in the same conversation as Drew.
Plus there’s the much larger question of dollars, and given Miller’s meager salary and the fact that Drew figures to make $10-15MM next year, there’s very few teams in baseball who wouldn’t rather have Miller than Drew.
I respect your sabermetric view, but Miller is an unproven kid who hasn’t done anything in MLB. I live in Seattle and saw him a bunch this year. Drew is a proven major league SS, works counts, has pop in his bat. His nickname was “dirt”. He’s a grinder. No comparison, sorry.
Respectfully disagree. Miller did plenty when he was in the majors last year. Again, yes, it’s a small sample, but he played as good as Drew the whole time he was up.
Miller hit 8 HR last year, an average of a HR every 38.25 ABs. Drew’s rate was 34 ABs and his career is a HR every 39 ABs. Not too sure you can say he has much more ‘pop’ than Miller. Plus, Drew’s career OPS+ is 98 while Miller’s half season was 110. There is definitely a comparison, and I would imagine that there’s only a handful of teams out there that would want Drew over Miller, all things included.
Also, his nickname and nebulous status as a ‘grinder’ (he misses huge chunks of games due to injury, so I don’t know what your criteria is for that) are both irrelevant.
We will always have a gap with the sabermetrics and reality. Miller had 2 games where he hit 2 HR and 5 RBI. In his other 72 games, 4 HR and 25 RBI. Hes 23 and a better prospect than Franklin, but saying he’s better than Steven Drew defies logic.
Well if you believe the Stephen Drew of 2013 is what you’re going to get than maybe you’re right, but how soon do we forget that Drew wasn’t very good in 2011 and 2012.
You put him in a weaker lineup in a less hitter friendly stadium and those numbers will drop…
It’s not exactly rolling the dice. It’s not like they have championship aspirations that they will be putting on the line
Let’s look at it another way. Based on Stephen Drew’s injury history, Tejada is likely going to start 25% of the time regardless of whether or not Drew is signed or not. There are better things to throw money at. Trade for a decent shortstop that you’ll have control of for several years and be done with it.
That’s much easier said than done and the price in prospects is going to be high. In the Mets situation, paying money for a shortstop is smarter than paying prospects for one.
What injury history you talking about, he had that 1 ankle injury. Tejeda and Drew could platoon since Drew does not hit LHP’ers well and Tejeda does not hit RHP’ers. If Tejeda ever gets his act together, the Mets could trade Drew, its not like a 3/35 million deal is untradable especially when the guy was ranked 8th among all SS in WAR last year.
With trades you have to give up something of equal value, and its not like the Mets are that rich in talent.
There are better shortstops out there for next years offseason or through trade. What’s the point of giving Drew at least two years when he doesn’t hit or field as well as everyone thinks he does. The guy should’ve taken the qualifying offer from Boston because that’s the most money he’s going to get on a yearly basis.
Players are looking for the most money, not necessarily the most money on a yearly basis. I saw him play most every game last year. He killed RHP’ers, came up with clutch hits, and played very good defense. He was easily the best SS the Red Sox had in 10 years since Nomar at his peak. His biggest weakness is he does not hit LHP well, but LHP’ers are less than 30% of his AB.
The Mets could platoon him or Tejeda and then deal one of them when the time is right to fill other holes.
I think Cherington could do everyone a favor here by publicly declaring that the Sox are either NOT going to offer Drew a deal, or will offer him nothing more than a 1 year, $10MM deal. That way, Drew knows what his option is with respect to Boston, the Mets don’t feel like negotiations are an effort to play them, and Boston has a line drawn firmly in the sand. Moreover, it helps Boston by encouraging a deal between Drew and the Mets, where we obtain a supplementary round draft pick, regardless of what pick the Mets have to surrender. Seems like a win, all around.
That might be tampering. A general statement like “we’re not adding any more MI’s” would be better.
How would that be tampering when Drew isn’t under contract to anybody?
Correct me if I’m wrong, but tampering under the CBA has a specific definition, where one has to interfere with the rightful property (player/contract) of another team, in order to commit tampering. Since Drew is an F/A, he is not the property of any team, and cannot be the subject of “tampering.”
If the Mets do not sign Stephen Drew but ends up in Seattle, the Mets can acquire Nick Franklin by moving Murphy or Turner to shortstop if he can play the position too.
Mets acquire Nick Franklin, Brandon Maurer or Blake Beaven, Justin Smoak or Stefan Romero, and Tyler Pike for Bobby Parnell & Ike Davis. Parnell would be a valuable setup man or closer as the other goes to Farquhar for the Mariners. Davis can play first base moving Morrison to the outfield w/ Saunders, and possibly Dominic Brown (if traded w/ Cliff Lee to Seattle). Change of scenery would benefit for both Davis & Smoak. Mets should go after Neshek or Tanaka.
If Morrison plays the OF, then its gonna be Corey Hart playing 1st with Smoak in the DH spot or vice-versa.
Or Hart DH and Davis at first base.
OK, 1) Turner is not on the Mets. 2) Hart will most likely be playing 1st 3)Where are you getting Brown and Lee from 4) The Mets will not go after Neshek or Tanaka 5) There has been no indication that Drew has even talked to Seattle 6) Murphy had to work hard to get his defense up to par at 2nd, no way he’s playing SS 7) Franklin can’t hit in the major leagues 8) Why would the Mets give up their closer and be in more bullpen trouble
Edit: 9) Stop replying on every comment trying to convince that Franklin can be the Mets 2B and can move Murphy or Turner(who they cut) to SS.
Unless there’s one still out there in free agency. Forgot Murphy is no longer on the team as most sites have not updated the roster/depth.
Um.. Murphy is on the team. Turner isn’t.
Thanks for the correction. What players will the Mets trade to the Mariners w/ Ike Davis along which players in exchange should it happen besides Nick Franklin or Brad Miller?
Wait, what, um, yeah… So… What?
Um…ok, Turner was cut and there is absolutely zero chance of Murphy ever playing shortstop in his entire life.
Why would the Mets trade the one reliable bullpen piece they have?
And you’re banking on a LOT of what-ifs, none of which are likely to happen.
“The club has made it known that they’re comfortable with using Ruben Tejada at shortstop, a revelation that was surprising given his recent history with the Mets.”
-The only thing surprising about this is how the Mets can tell such an obvious lie and expect someone to believe it!
4 years 28 mill is what I would offer. Or 4/32
The Mets FO is divided so the solution should be sign Drew and only let him play defense and dress someone up like him to bat for him since they can’t DH him
1 year at 10 (which should be based on plate appearances/games played) with a club option for a second that becomes vested with a specific number of games played/plate appearances or a player buyout of 1 million. More than generous. There is no way I give Drew a guaranteed contract with his injury history.
You must be confusing him with his brother. He had that one ankle injury in a collision. Before that he had 4 straight seasons averaging 146 games
Drew’s case is a prime example of Boras giving one of his clients bad advice. The market for him was very limited this offseason and turning down a qualifying offer was very foolish. He’s had one mostly healthy season in the last three and will start ’14 on the wrong side of 30.
He was the 8th best SS in MLB last year. Its not like he is looking for a 5 or 10 yr deal, just 3-4 years. His one serious injury was from a collision, so it’s not like he is like his brother JD. I am pretty sure when all is said in done Drew will get a decent deal that is better than a QO in terms of total dollars. He may need to wait until June 15 to get it though, or a serious injury to someone in ST.
if you look at the FA class for SS next offseason, you will understand that he’ll get a better deal now, than if he waits another year, especially he is likely to be worse than anything in 2014
There have been recent reports that Tejada is taking the game a lot more seriously now. Only the Mets FO knows whether that is propaganda or reality. If it is reality I say let Drew be someone else’s problem. In 2011 and 2012 Tejada hit .287/.345/.345. He will be making less than $1M next year. I’m not expecting him to repeat 2011 and 2012 but I also don’t expect to see Drew repeating his .253/.333/.443 line away from Fenway (although his career line is similar). In any case, I don’t think that Drew is $10M+ more valuable than Tejada, because that is what he will demand. I think that money would be better allocated in other places such as bullpen. I always like the idea of signing a late inning reliever that could be moved at the deadline
They also thought Tejada was taking the game more seriously in 2013. In 2012 he didn’t show up to Spring Training like most of the younger players did. Usually if you’re a rookie/2nd year those players get to ST a little earlier. Tejada waited until one of the last days. He didn’t wait in 2013, yet he still lacked effort and a willingness to come back. He was out,I believe(could be wrong), for about 2 months with a strained quad.
Right. I take that comment with a grain of salt. Really, the only people who know Tejada’s current work ethic are Ruben Tejada and the Mets’ organization (to an extent).
One of the things that I feel like no one takes into account is that he is only 24. This is clearly a maturity issue so the optimist in me sees it as something that will go away as he gets older.
Well Tejada is going to fat camp this winter so we know he won’t show up to ST out of shape again.
There is a really good reason that the Mets should sign Drew. It would push Tejada. Sign Drew for 2 years and show Tejada that he needs to push it and grind 110% to get his job back. It’ll help both players. That is something the Mets FO should look into.
Mejia for Gregorious
It would probably take more then Mejia, too many injury questions. Mets could probably do something like Gee or maybe even Montero though.
At this point though, I’d rather give money for a SS than trade away a top pitching prospect for an unproven MLB bat shortstop.
Mejia and montero for gregorious and Anthony Meo
If I’m the Mets, I sit this one out. Give Tejada another chance; don’t forget he spent most of 2012 hitting at or above .300. Wait until next offseason, you’ll be getting 7.25 off the books with Chris Young, and the SS market is significantly deeper. I’d say make a bid at Jed Lowrie or Asdrubal Cabrera next year. The A’s have Addison Russell coming up in 2015 and the Indians have Francisco Lindor coming up this year, both #1 prospects and both shortstops. This would mean much less competition for the FA shortstops and therefore less money for far more production than they’d get from Drew.
EDIT: Hardy and Hanley are both also FAs next year, although I have mixed feelings about Hardy (who I’d imagine would resign with the O’s anyway) and I really can’t see the Mets outbidding teams like the Dodgers and Yankees for Hanley.
The Mets won’t pay what it takes for Cabrera, and Lowrie is an awful defensive SS and brittle. Hanley is also too expensive for them and Hardy is Ok if you hate OBP.
The way I see the whole Drew situation is simple. No team (Mets and Sox included) will sign him until deep into ST. If and or when an injury occurs is when a team will get desperate to scoop up Drew. Much the same as I now viw both Morales and Cruz. All 3 will be waiting (maybe and probably hoping) for an injury to a starter on any clubs roster so they can sign and step in.
If Drew is going to sign a 1 yr deal anywhere it won’t be with the Mets (due to Park) or Red Sox (since 1 DL stint or slump could have him finish the season on the bench).
I think its very possible Drew prepares to wait it out until June 15 and then hope injury or non-performance has any number of teams willing to give him 3 years w/o losing a pick.