With Winter Storm Ion pummeling the eastern half of the United States, let's warm ourselves on the Hot Stove with the latest National League news and notes:
- The Mets expect to begin Spring Training next month with Ike Davis still in the fold, reports Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. The Brewers and Pirates have been the clubs most linked to Davis and the Mets are willing to re-engage in trade talks with them or any other team. The Orioles have also shown interest in the 26-year-old first baseman, but they turned down the Mets' request of pitching prospect Eduardo Rodriguez and are notably not mentioned in Rubin's article.
- The Mets are open to adding more depth at catcher, but have no interest in a reunion with John Buck, tweets the New York Post's Mike Puma.
- International free agency has been key to the Cardinals' having the game's best farm system, according to Derrick Goold of the St.Louis Post-Dispatch. The club's top position and pitching prospects (Oscar Taveras and Carlos Martinez, respectively) were both signed as international free agents, Goold notes.
Why don’t they like John Buck? Prefect mentor for Travis D’
Mets lineup should me like this next year
Tejada SS
Murphy 2B
Wright 3 B
Grandy LF
Young RF
Davis 1B
Travis D Aruand C
Laures CF
Pitcher
Colon
Wheeler
Niese
Gee
Montero/ Meaja
I would like the mets to trade Davis so we don’t have 3 strikes outs in a row with Young, Davis, and Grandy but what can they do?
Tejada is not a lead off hitter but who else can be it? Tejada is a singles hitter who works pitchers so guess ether him or laugues
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Buch won’t get more than 4 Million!
I was thinking maybe the mets get him for a 1 year 2 million deal?
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That’s not why. Buck started on the Mets last year and it would be awkward to have d’Arnaud starting with him around. Remember, they waited for Buck’s wife to have their child before calling up d’Arnaud. Buck can probably find a starting gig somewhere and Recker will probably put up similar or better production for a fraction of the cost.
Buck, despite being an all-or-nothing hitter, was third in RBI for the Mets. You’re not likely to get that from Recker. Buck was acquired with d’Arnaud, and he knew then that Travis was the future starting catcher and his own job was to mentor him till he was ready to take over the job.
Meh. Recker had numbers than Buck(SSS I admit). RBI doesn’t really mean anything.
Sandy could ask a reasonable price for Davis’ contract.
They’re passing the buck to Travis D Arnaud.
I doubt Tejada will bat any higher than 7th or 8th unless he goes on a tear to start the season. Him leading off is a laughable idea considering his career OBP and seeming lack of speed. And I wouldn’t say that he ‘works pitchers’; he doesn’t walk often and is league average in pitches per plate appearance.
The league’s average OBP for leadoff hitters last year was .333. Tejada’s career OBP is .323. And that’s w/last year’s dreadful stats dragging it down. Ideally you’d want better, but 10 points off the league average isn’t horrendous.
True, but publicly and organizationally, they’ve been stressing OBP and walks. You’re right, it’s not horrendous, but I can’t imagine Collins putting him in the leadoff spot (or Alderson supporting that decision), especially considering how much both guys bashed Tejada last year.
I’m not expecting it myself (at least not initially). Though unless they start Eric Young, their candidates are Murphy (not the prototype either, but his OBP is up there b/c of his average) or Lagares (doesn’t seem to be his strong suit either). Tejada would have to play himself into the spot. It’s a possibility.
What about his SLG? That’s well below average for a leadoff hitter. Also Tejada’s career OBP is slightly inflated by his 2011 season. He’s never going to walk at that rate again.
Even though Buck said he hasn’t ruled out the Mets, I can’t imagine he would want to return unless he was guaranteed more playing time than a backup. d’Arnaud is going to play everyday even if he’s terrible, therefore Buck would be better off on a team that would give him more playing time.
The only teams I’ve heard mentioned as possible candidates to offer Buck a starting job were the Phillies and Twins. That was before Philly extended Ruiz, and supposedly the Twins are planning on going with rookie Josmil Pinto as their starting catcher. Maybe that’s posturing to get the price down (like the Mets’ announced plans to go with Tejada instead of Drew), but I doubt that very much. Pinto looked great in his cup of coffee with the Twins last year.
Would the Mets trade Ike Davis for Zach Britton?
No I don’t think so.. I think the best the mets can get is like a jeff Locke caliber player
Umm I think Jeff Locke is better than Britton but that’s just me.
Who’s the mets opening day starter? Anyone know colon?
Tejada at
Leadoff anyone agreed? If not who else could be a lead off hitter? Lagures strikeout too much!
Bench bench should be like is
Duda LF, RF, 1ST
Recker C
Young JR OF and 2B
Satin 1ST Second Thrid
Den Decker OF
Mets have no defensive replacement for tejada! Maybe tovar?
Colon probably although I am not adverse to seeing Wheeler pitch opening day. I think it would be great for the team to show him they are confident in his ability and that he is THE man this year. I think he was affected by Harvey’s success last year, despite what he says.
I’d also think the bench might consist of Flores also, but it’s a tough call right now. It’s hard to say who would lead off because there really is no one that SHOULD. If tejada and lagares are both opening day starters, I would think it would be one of them.
First up, Wheeler hasn’t earned the Opening Day start – on the squad as currently constructed, both Colón and Niese deserve it over him. I’m all for him dominating in 2014 to earn a shot at Opening Day starter in 2015 but not yet.
Flores shouldn’t play on the bench since he should be playing everyday. At this point in his development, a bench role could severely hamper his growth.
Neither Lagares nor Tejada look like lead-off hitters but Tejada at the very least has put up decent OBP figures. Maybe we could lead Tejada off against lefties. Lagares hasn’t OBP’d over .300 yet – it’s a bit premature to pencil him in as the lead-off hitter.
Colon for sure will be the opening day starter.
Still holding out hope that Tejada is not the starting SS. They need to sign Drew and bat he or Murphy leadoff vs. RHP.
and Tejada against lefties
Lagares, Den Dekker*
Pirates, Orioles, Brewers should call the Padres about Kyle Blanks if they need a 1B. He would cost less than what the mets are asking for Ike Davis and has outfield experience.
Orioles get blanks, Pares get Jason Gurka
Brewers get blanks, padres get Jed Bradley
Pirates get blanks, padres get Andrew Oliver
I know Ike Davis has had his struggles lately, but Blanks’s entire major league career has been a struggle. I’m amazed that San Diego hasn’t non-tendered him.
He also isn’t the greatest defensive 1B in the world. The Pirates would not be interested because they are looking for left-handed hitting first basemen only.
Why would the Mets give up on a guy like Davis when they literally have nothing to lose by playing him. They won’t sniff the playoffs next season anyway.
Too cheap…smh.
I find it facinating that Oscar Taveras could have been drafted out of a Canadian high school, but instead he moved back to the Dominican so that he could be an International Free Agent.