3:29pm: Cuddyer’s contract is a two-year, $21MM pact, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports (Twitter link). Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets that he’ll earn $8.5MM in 2015 and $12.5MM in 2016. Essentially, by turning down the qualifying offer, Cuddyer guaranteed himself an additional $5.7MM and a second year.
2:40pm: The Mets announced that they have signed free agent outfielder Michael Cuddyer to a two-year contract.
Cuddyer, a client of Excel Sports Management’s Casey Close, was the surprise recipient of a qualifying offer last week that caused many to believe that he would be the first to accept the offer. However, Colorado’s decision to extend the QO appears to have been a wise one, as they’ll now net a draft pick at the end of next year’s first round for their loss. The Mets, on the other hand, will forfeit the 15th pick in next year’s draft in order to bring Cuddyer to Queens.
Cuddyer, 36 in March, has long been rumored to be a target of the Mets, although last week’s QO from the Rockies was said at the time to kill their interest in 35-year-old free agent. Clearly, that was either posturing on the Mets’ behalf or something in their thinking changed. He’ll join the Mets’ outfield alongside Juan Lagares and Curtis Granderson and add some punch to the middle of manager Terry Collins’ order.
The signing also allows the Mets to play Cuddyer at first base against left-handed pitching, should the team wish to platoon Lucas Duda, who is a career .212/.292/.317 hitter against southpaws. Cuddyer, on the other hand, has feasted on left-handed pitching in his career, hitting them at a .291/.378/.504 clip. Cuddyer also has extensive experience at first base.
Cuddyer is coming off a strong three-year stretch with the Rockies, and while many will point to Coors Field as a large reason for his gaudy numbers, he hit well away from the Denver launching pad as well. Cuddyer hit .307/.362/.505 as a Rockie and batted .286/.332/.463 on the road during that time. He took home the NL Batting Title in 2013 and batted .331/.385/.543 over the past two seasons. However, a trio of DL stints limited him to 49 games in 2014. Cuddyer had a hamstring strain in each of his legs and also suffered a fracture in his shoulder suffered in a dive for a ball while playing away from his natural position at third base.
From a financial standpoint, Cuddyer’s $8.5MM 2015 salary would appear to eat up a significant portion of the payroll that the Mets have moving forward. ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin noted last month that if the team made a free agent signing that pushed the payroll north of $100MM, a corresponding trade could be made to offset the increase. The Mets could move some salary by trading a veteran such as Bartolo Colon, Daniel Murphy or Jon Niese. Colon may not bring a huge return, given his $11MM salary, but moving either Murphy or Niese would likely return some legitimate talent while simultaneously dropping the club’s payroll. Murphy is projected by MLBTR contibutor Matt Swartz to earn $8.3MM, while Niese is guaranteed a $7MM salary.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Wow!
The Horror
I guess he rejected the QO.
THE METS!! really
Can’t believe someone signed him even after the QO.
My guess is that this means that the Mets have their eyes on another player or two with QO’s attached as well. Once your first pick is gone anyways the pain is a lot less and they’ll probably have a more reasonable price tag than someone who doesn’t come with the same baggage.
I said the same thing but no one seems like a match. The only guys I could even remotely see are Hanley for SS (which is a reach) and Robertson. I really doubt they would sign another SP and Cruz, VMart, Martin, Melky, and Sandoval don’t make sense
Well that came quickly. Surprised with the draft pick. Nice job Colorado, stealing a draft pick.
Colorado doesn’t get 15th just so were clear
I don’t think anyone insinuated they did.
You expect the Mets to pounce on a bigger FA who rejected his QO? Its still a 1st round comp pick for a 36 y/o… 😐
The chances the Rockies get 15th is 0
Edited my comment before I saw this and the original comment i posted was wrong
but its still a comp pick for a 36 y/o who didnt have a guaranteed spot in Colorado… and the Mets could definetly use a young guy from the draft at 15 as opposed to a 36 y/o who wont be around when it’s time for them to compete.
Yup, nothing wrong with what I’ll guess will be around 40th overall next year.
You keep correcting people on something they haven’t even said.
Colorado gets a comp pick after the first round. The Mets lose their first round pick. These are both true.
I did originally say it though. Typing too fast, and I acknowledged it above.
As explained by many others. The Mets lose the pick and the Rockies get a compensation round pick
The Mets have the pitching to make up for it.
This. The Rockies get a pick in-between the first and second rounds.
Nor do the Mets now………just so we’re clear.
Why?
Because he’s a good right handed hitter who can play 1B, LF, and RF. He’s essentially exactly what the Mets need.
That’s worth their 15th overall pick? Are the Mets THAT close to contention?
Actually they are. It’s arguable that if they get a SS and one more bullpen arm they can challenge in the NL. They finished 2nd in the division last year after being written off.
And 2 games up from 4th place.
Also 2 games from .500, a positive run differential, and the addition of Matt Harvey returning from injury this season…Cuddyer’s addition and *any* progress from d’Arnaud/Lagares/Wheeler/Niese/Gee/from the farm or anything of a bounceback from Wright/Grandy could add additional wins over what I already belive could be an 85-win team. I’m not crazy on the contract, irrespective of dollars, but asking for one or two of these guys to bounce back/progress isn’t asking much. They don’t have serious regression candidates, save for I suppose deGrom, and have many potential areas for breakthroughs across the team. They don’t need all of them to break correctly to be a contender, and building an 84-86 win team with the potential for more is kinda the definition of a contender these days.
Look at these two world series teams is all.
Mets fans are so adorable!
So a 79 win team (82 pythag wins) with a top 5 farm system that’s adding Matt Harvey can’t contend? They were the worst offense in the league versus LHP last year, and Cuddyer destroys LHP.
The Mets were extremely lucky last season.
So explain to me exactly how a team who is several games under their pythag. record is “lucky”. Not sure if you know what that number represents to almost everybody else in the baseball world but it’s like…. the exact opposite of lucky, and I’m leaving out that they were missing one of the best pitchers on the planet for the entire season.
How is a team with the 2nd lowest BABIP in the NL and a W-L worse than their pW-L “lucky?” Seriously, in what way were they lucky at all?
OK, I could see this is he had been healthy last year. But…man, this is a make or break move for a team that can ill afford big mistakes. Trust me, I’m no Mets hater, my grandfather was a huge Mets fan and tried his hardest to mold me into one. I would expect the Mets to go after more certainty, not more questions.
and 17 games behind first.
Not with the Pitching people want Cruz, Tolo, I am content with two additions to the everyday line up and a Surplus of young players.
I’d be scratching my head too if I was a Mets fan. But FWIW if the Mets sign one of the bigger name free agents this off season you realistically could attribute Cuddyer to their 2nd round pick…which may be closer to acceptable. Still a shocker though.
The Mets are probably going to sign other QO players as well, making this move in the greater scheme of the off-season a solid one. If this is their only QO move, then the Mets have found a way to be less smart than I thought (and not for the first time).
Cuddyer can play a lot of positions but none of them especially well anymore and that was said as he was signing his deal with the Rockies plus can he stay healthy
He can stand in all 3 of those positions……..I’m not sure I would say he plays any of them well or even ok. As far as his bat, the BABIP regression monster is coming soon.
Alright cool, but his defensive situation? Cuddyer + Granderson in the corners might not be productive?
Granderson in LF would be fairly productive, defensively speaking.
Stunned! I thought he was going to accept the QO for sure!
Yeah, Mets. Give up your 15th overall pick for a 36 year old outfielder.
Somebody tell the Mets they’re not the Yanks
Lol. Mets don’t sign anybody= they’re cheap losers. They sign somebody= “they’re not the Yanks.”
No this is a good signing by the Mets to be honest. Better than the Granderson signing. I’m a yankee fan so I just want to make jokes on the yankees expense.
That joke wasn’t at the Yankees expense at all…
Maybe he’s trying to take the tried and true jab at the Yankees team age? That’s about the only way I could see it being at the Yankees expense, though mentioning the 15th overall pick doesn’t really mesh with that idea…
Agreed.
So everyone got that wrong in the MLBT free agent contest….
Nope, 180 got it correct.
I had picked the Mets, then switched it to Rockies when they gave him the QO. I regret this.
Same
WOW, they gave up a draft pick and topped 15 MM for Cuddyer?
Definitely topped the 15m overall, but very unlikely they topped the AAV…. probably got around 10.5-12m per year over 2 years.
10.5 million AAV same as his last contract
I wonder if he took like $22M/2 just to get out of Colorado?
To go to the Mets?
Passan is saying it is under $25M. So yes to the Mets.
You were saying? It is 2 years, $21M.
He’s injury prone and 36 years old, He jumped at the chance to play an extra year for lots of money by the sounds of it.
He liked Colorado supposedly. He’s a major reason why Morneau signed with the Rockies last year.
Cant believe the Mets would give up a pick to get him. Rockies are really happy I bet
Yup. They already have a plethora of outfielders. Really lucked out offering a QO to someone who didnt deserve it.
Wow, really? Well, good for Cuddyer, if nothing else.
Wow, I truly am shocked by this.
Not a bad signing, but with how big that OF is I am surprised they took the risk on him. It is a lot of ground to cover, but if he can stay healthy he is a high average guy who can provide solid leadership to some young guys.
Well, they’re making that outfield smaller this year.
Still, I do not know the exact defensive metrics, but I do not think he would do well defensively in any ballpark. They did not sign him for his defense though. If he stays healthy; he will hit. Could work out well.
Given his lefty numbers, he’ll likely platoon with Duda at 1B, and then cover RF vs righties.
that is when he’s not injured
Also, they can rotate Duda around and Cuddyer can play both corners and the OF. He is a good signing.
He will play some outfield and platoon at first with Duda against tough lefties. It’s a very good move and shows the Mets are ready to go for it in 2015.
Lagares will cover the ground. Cuddyer just has to catch what is hit at him.
Surprised doesn’t begin to describe my reaction.
The Mets must think that they can make a run at the playoffs by 2016.
Of all players you lose your draft pick to (and an early one), it’s Cuddyer?
Forfeiting the 15th pick in next year’s draft in order to bring Cuddyer to Queens just doesn’t sound smart!
It’s the Mets
If they sign someone better then that player is linked to the 15th pick and Cuddyer is a 2nd rounder.
It’s actually brilliant. He is the type of all around player they need and they went for it. Draft picks are fine and I’m not a fan of giving them up, either…but you can’t let that cripple the development of a team that’s ready to win. And, in case you haven’t been watching, the Mets are ready.
So as of now then, the batting order looks something like this:
LF Granderson
2B Murphy
3B Wright
1B Duda
RF Cuddyer
C d’Arnaud
CF Lagares
SS Flores/Tejada
eh…. at least the rotation looks impressive.
Second base and SS are very much subject to change. First base could as well.
First base won’t change. Lucas Duda.
Duda hit the third most homers in the NL and is cheap; it’s hard to see him going anywhere.
That’s a pretty strong lineup. Everyone on there except Lagares and Tejada project to hit above average offense. Wright, Duda, and Cuddyer have all shown they can hit very well and d’Arnaud and Flores crushed it in AAA and have shown glimpses in the Majors. It’s really not a bad lineup. Defense is another story.
I hope there is a signing like this everyday until the winter meetings.
This is the worst. Really?! Giving up a pick for him?!
It’s either giving up a pick for him or giving up significant talent for 1 year of cespedes
or signing like a million other free agent outfields that will produce similarly without draft pick considerations….Aoki comes to mind.
Cuddyer fits what the mets need. Aoki is not as productive as him, not even close.
Wow…just…quality job by the Rockies. Must have known that the Mets were hard after Cuddyer.
The Mets sure are a wild card team! (FYI I do not mean they will be making the playoffs)
What the what
Mets gonna Met. Seriously, I thought he was lock to accept the QO, plus I didn’t think a team was silly enough to sign him AFTER the QO.
Pretty sure nobody got that one right in the contest.
Apparently, 180 people (on here) got it right – and also got the gift of Ramirez re-signing with the Brewers before the contest started.
How many of the 180 people simply weren’t paying attention when Cuddyer was offered the QO?
I picked him to go to the Mets, then he got a QO and switched it to the Rockies. Well.. dang.
Not a bad signing, but definitely not a fan of losing the draft pick for Michael Cuddyer. I hope the Mets subsequent moves exemplify the same win now mentality that this move does, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to end up disappointed.
Why?
And so it begins
Guys it just means the mets aren’t done they were gonna forfeit the pick anyways so my as well sign him plus its only 2 years smart play mets
Don’t understand this from the Mets pov. But I guess they think they’re close to contending. At this point might as well go out and sign another QO guy since you lost your first rounder. Maybe Hanley? Or panda?
That’s the only defense that would make some sense. Though it doesn’t justify signing Cuddyer, it would at least explain losing the pick.
Where would Panda play? And Hanley’s a no. Mets don’t have 3B open for him.
That’s a stunner.
where did they get this kind of money?
Hotdog sales
Their Shake Shack stand.
There’s always money in the banana stand.
How do the Pirates get one of those “Shake Shacks”?
Mr. Met has been going around doing Birthday parties for some extra revenue.
Mrs. Met too. 🙂
Whats next, Scherzer accepts the QO?
That would be great!!!
please tell me this isn’t confirmed
Since the announcement came from the Mets themselves I’m pretty sure its real.
Not worth the 15th overall pick in the draft. Good player but not worth it.
It will be worth it if they sign another QO player. (Hanley?)
Yes, that’s the only thing I can think of that makes this really a good thing: that the Mets are planning to give up #15 anyway, which means they intend to be aggressive this offseason. I think that’s the really big news here.
Wrong.
This is good news for Mets fans. Cuddyer is exactly the kind of player the Mets needed…and they went for him even though they lose a draft pick. Shows they are going all-in for 2015.
Are you being serious or sarcastic?
Now we know what Ruben Amaro Jr.’s online name is…
-C
If I was a Mets fan. I surely hope they would be signing other FA who have QO.
Right. I would hate to blow the draft pick over Cuddyer.
That’s what I hope for them, too. Might as well start bidding on other FA’s who have gotten QOs.
Meet the mets, greet the mets.
Sweet Braves just moved up a spot for their first pick.
I believe the Braves lost the tie-breaker with the Mets so they were already ahead of the Mets with their first pick.
Mets had 15 and the Braves had 16 for 2015 draft.
The Rockies must’ve known Cuddyer was bolting to go play with Wright. They’re friends and it took all but 5 minutes for him to sign.
That’s a relief – heard rumors this morning on ESPN1500 that the Twins were a possibility. Been there, done that.
I’m sure both the Rockies and Mets are ecstatic by Cuddyer’s decision!
Man! This is CRAZY!! The mets are probably planning on another signing maybe Hanley next?
They are not signing Hanley.
How is the order of the compensatory picks at the end of the round determined? Worst record to best? Order of the forfeited picks? And what if a team has more than one?
I believe it’s worst to best record.
What if a team has more than one? Do the teams get all their picks back to back, or does each team, worst-to-best record, pick one and then the cycle continues until all the picks are finished?
Could they look at Robertson of the Yanks as a closer? Already lost the first
Forfeited their draft pick, Mets aren’t done Id imagine
They gave up 1 high pick. Might as well keep going at this point.
I’d hope not, since losing their 15 pick they might as well grab another free agent with a QO attached.
Would imagine either Hanley, David Robertson, Melky or V-Mart to play 1st.
Victor Martinez has a better chance of taking the qualifying offer than he does going to the N.L to play 1B.
What about David Robertson? I heard he plays a mean 1B.
They might as well sign Russel Martin to play SS.
He’ll knock down or block anything hit directly at him. Just don’t make him move.
LOL as a Tigers fan, you do NOT want V-Mart playing 1B. Its scary.
Plus I forgot about Duda over at 1B. Doesn’t make much sense, my bad.
They earn the 40th or so after they sign another QO player. The Mets simply forfeit the 15th pick and everyone else moves up.
Worked out great for the Rockies. Well played by Cuddyer (and his agent) too to not jump on the QO and instead manage to find a deal before the deadline; I think Cuddyer fully realized that it would have been very risky to reject the QO and go searching for a deal after the deadline (and I assume he had no intentions of doing that).
Go after a SS now and get Andrew Miller
I’m not so sure about this. He’s coming off an injury plagued season and is 36. Not really the move I was expecting from the Mets at this stage
Watch the Mets have a trade for Tulo in place and this was an under the table deal to bolster their package.
Maybe Cuddyer and Tulo will also be nice enough to stagger their DL trips so one of them is in the lineup every night.
This is true.
Could be like a game of tag, Your on the DL! haha your on the DL!
Will they wear a Cuddyer or Tulo jersey when they play?
That would be awesome……….. for the Rockies.
Welp, 0/1 in the prediction contest. Bad news for me. Good news for the Mets however…at least for their road games.
In Jeff Bridich we trust!
Love this time of year.
All teams should be happy…that are below the Mets (#15) in the draft. You just moved up a slot!
I was on a walk when this news alert hit my phone, and I spent the last 10 minutes trying to figure out why the Mets would do this. Yes, he fills a need, but at the cost of the 15th pick? Are they really that close to contention?
I guess getting Harvey back is huge assuming he’s the Harvey of 2013, but where are the impact players on this roster? Lots of nice players along with a rehabbing David Wright, but no, this still makes no sense now that I think about it.
I have to think this means Alderson is feeling the heat.
If everything goes right with their starting pitching then they can compete, not optimistic about that happening. Mets fans shouldn’t be thrilled about losing the 15th pick for this guy imo.
Would you have dealt Cecchini for Cuddy at 2/20?
This guy gets it. The Mets have the 4th best farm system in the game (Law) but needed a righty RF – and Cuddyer’s old but has hit .330 the past two seasons when healthy. He’s also a great clubhouse presence. Cuddyer is an upgrade over EYj and Chris Young and we know what we’re getting. And he only needs to be a ~1.5 WAR player to earn his salary.
Ok…. who brought the beer? This party is starting early…
He will fill the spot between Harvey and Wright on the trainers tables
Grandyman has to get his turns too
Oh yeah……..
Where is Bobby Parnell going to sit?
On a milk crate in the corner.
Right next to Jon Neise
This move only makes sense if they are planning on making a couple more moves to put themselves truly into contention. Giving up the 15th pick for two years of Cuddyer makes no sense…unless they are going to do more than that.
I wonder if this is a sign of things to come with the rest of the QO’s out there. You’ve gotta wonder if others care about losing a pick as much as they did last season. The compensatory pick cost many teams the chance at Nelson Cruz, for example.
really don’t know what the mets were doing here i can’t see them bringing in a big free agent because they don’t spend, so unless they go after the fringe qo guys like santana, liriano, and cruz this really doesn’t make much sense. This won’t push them over the top in the nl, they are still behind nationals, cardinals, dodgers, pirates, and giants. This had better be a precursor to another move.
Good move. They picked up a veteran OF to avoid having Alderson draft another bust.
…who’s been a bust that he’s drafted?
Well that was unexpected…
Surprised the Mets were willing to give up their first rounder on a 36 year old injury prone player but then, this is the Mets, we should only be surprised when they stop surprising us.
Very soon
Sooooo….who called this one right in their Free Agent Prediction?
a surprisingly large number of people, actually…myself not included
Yeah, I didn’t guess it either, mostly because I made my predictions after it came out that Cuddyer was being given a QO and I thought, “Yep, he is staying a Rockie.” Looks like there is egg on my face now.
Speechless. You give up a draft pick for two years of this guy? Alderson better be making a huge move for a SS, and soon.
Can now pursue Hanley Ramirez for SS, Liriano, and VMART amongst other QO players without “losing as much”.
VMart isn’t going to the NL, no team has a place to play him.
True. Poor example unless someone thinks he can play 1B again. My overall point – other QO players to the Mets – makes sense.
The question is, will it make sense (and cents . . . a whole lotta cents) for those other QO players?
Why would they sign VMart?
Sorry poor choice on one name. My point remains on getting other QO players…
Why would they sign Hanley?
Good for the Mets. This doesn’t make them immediate contenders but if they add a couple more bats they could be dangerous. They have great young starting pitching at controlled costs, and some other solid pieces. Hopefully for their fans sake, they aren’t done yet.
I picked him to go to the Mets in the contest, but when the Rockies made him a qualifying offer I changed my vote. Dang it!
So did I, I’d be 2/2 right now although I still don’t think I would of won regardless.
same here. should have stuck with it
In other news, the Mets have just added 10 new medical staff positions
They’re coming in the Tulo trade, at least a couple.
I wouldn’t bring any Rox staff over. They weren’t doing a very good job. They are experienced though.
Doesn’t Tulo have his own personal medic that Rockies hired just for him? Thought I read that somewhere,I could be wrong.
Seeing as though they would like to contend, any chance they offer a good deal to the Sox for Alexei Ramirez? Keep in mind the Sox don’t have to move him as they don’t need to clear payroll space.
I would suggest Rafael Montero and Wilmer Flores. Gives the Sox a young middle infielder and SP who can start right away.
Mets fans always throw out the parts that other teams won’t want in such a deal.
Don’t see why that’s not close to a fair offer. Maybe you can enlighten me. 2 recent top 100 prospects with a decent showing in their cup of coffees.
I’m not saying those two are bad prospects. The fact is that from the White Sox perspective they aren’t trading their better trade chips for those two. They’d want Wheeler/Syndegaard, or likely no deal. It’s just wishful thinking on your end.
I read an article where the Chicago beat writer said the Sox were very high on Montero.
For where Alexei is right now salary wise and his production plus the shortage of SSs available…it’s going to take more than some interesting pieces to pry him away. Not an arm and a leg but still.
Flores and Montero definitely have value. Good value
Not enough value for Alexei that’s the point
probably need something more, but it’s certainly not far off. Maybe a younger upside guy in the low minors.
The White Sox want cost controlled near major league ready players. That doesnt mean sacrificing on talent either. Somebody will have to make a very good offer to pry him away from the White Sox. They probably dont want to trade him in the first place and absolutely have no reason to do it either.
They’re not getting someone like Wheeler, deGrom or Syndergaard for Alexei Ramirez. He’s a really good player and all, but he’s not a stud.
You find me a player with good health like Alexei has with good value(WAR compared to how much he’s earning), his overall production(outperformed all but 7 SSs) for anywhere near the ballpark…good luck
It would take a very nice package for them to think about it. Tim Anderson isnt ready to take over. By the end of Alexei’s contract he might be. But not right now.
Yeah I was trying to think of possible replacements. In-house they have Semien or Sanchez that could possibly take over but I’m not really crazy about having two really young middle infielders. Maybe sign Cabrera to a 3-4 year deal and trade him when Anderson is ready?
I’ve heard Drew thrown out there. I’m not a big fan of that. I’d rather just go with Alexei for 2 more years and then let Anderson take over.
Oh yeah I think that is what will happen, but if they get a great offer for Alexei he’s probably gone. Then just sign a veteran stop gap. Cabrera also wouldn’t cost a draft pick and be moved for prospects potentially later on (a year or two).
Well, it’s an interesting signing, however where is he going to play since Granderson played RF most of the year?
Won’t Granderson just move to left?
Granderson will move to left. Cuddyer doesn’t play left because he’s deaf in his left ear.
If they continue spending on QO free agents, maybe they’ll go out and sign sandoval and one of the big arms. The added rotation depth would allow them to package some of their younger arms for an additional big bat. Just thinking outside the box here, but with a few more moves to finish out the lineup this could be a playoff team next year.
Lets be realistic, the Mets just signed Cuddyer to a 2 year 21MM deal. This does not mean they are going to give out 2 100MM+ contracts this off season. Not to mention they already committed to David Wright at 3B
you’re 100% correct….you are thinking outside the box if you think the Cuddyer deal will spawn a rage of signings leading to playoff contention
Don’t be naive. No one gives up the number 15 pick just for Cuddyer. In the age of sabermetric and analytic GM’s, This signing give them the added push to sign another QO player – Alderson isn’t done yet. They’re already talking to the Rox about getting Tulo. Does it mean they’re getting him? Of course not, but they’re going through a path to make them better.
Look at their roster, they’re not as far away from being an 82-88 win team as you might think.
Don’t forget, this is a New York team that was in the top 5 in payroll as recently as 2010. When they decide to go all in, they’ll have the money to make a splash.
Yea, I heavily doubt that Cuddyer is their only move, particularly because of the QO that we’ve all been talking about…I just found your seemingly-immediate connection between Cuddyer and playoffs talk to be slightly amusing, but hey, I’m a Phillies fan and the Mets will be better than us this year, maybe playoffs are coming…
Sandoval? They already have an up-and-coming fellow by the name of David Wright manning the hot corner. And Pablo wouldn’t sign somewhere to be a first baseman.
Sandoval isn’t the best example. Somehow I forgot about Wright. You’re right about him not fitting the Mets needs, but I think he’d be a good fit for that ballpark. The point was more to say that this opens the door to look at at least one QO free agent.
Perhaps if they move some pitching for a SS, they could sign a guy like Liriano?
The Mets were in Cuddyer need of a good bat
i see what u did there
Lose a draft pick (15th overall) for Cuddyer. that makes so sense for a team like the Mets, who at best, will finish 3rd, but more likely to finish last
Who do you want them to draft with the 15th pick?
What does that matter? They gave up the 15th pick for a to be 36 year old DH to play OF
Pretty sure he played in the NL last couple years.
Duh…the point is he shouldnt be playing OF at this point. That’s what I was saying. He shouldnt be playing defense let alone the outfield.
Oh, he can also platoon with Duda a 1st-base. His bat alone will make up for his “defense.”
Someone age 20-23 who is cost-controlled for 5-6 years on the cheap. Not a 36 y.o coming off injury/Coors Field for 10M annually.
Meh rather have Cuddyer, Mets farm is stacked.
As a Met fan I Like the move. He can play right and left field. He can also play 1st base. Also he is a great clubhouse person and now you give the young kids in the minors time to develop.
The Mets are an up coming team with excellent young pitching and a top 10 minor league system to make trades for pieces that they need. Now I hope they can get Alexi Ramirez, or Asdrubal and Sergio Romero
The Mets already have a glutton of 2B. They won’t want Cabrera. I would think Tulo is their #1 target with Alexei Ramirez a solid plan B.
Signing Tulo would be extremely risky. Mets would have to say bye bye to their current strength of young cost controlled starting pitching for an extremely talented, but injury prone Tulo.
I want no part of Tulo. Too much to give up for a guy that is always hurt and whose numbers would likely suffer outside of Coors.
I don’t want Tolo I’d rather sign Asdrubal, Romero
I would make Ramirez plan A…Tulo looks great when healthy, but he just doesn’t have the durability to justify a huge financial & prospect commitment. Ramirez would cost considerably less in terms of prospects and he’s got some pretty serious pop for a SS. I think Alexi is a FA next year though, right?
He has a $10 mil club option for 2016. Which, by all accounts, is a great deal.
The Met can kiss that excellent young pitching and a top 10 minor league system good bye if they are serious about trading for Tulo.
if they want to make the right move trade for Castro NOW!
would be a better fit than Tulo for them I would think.
Great deal for the Mets monetarily for the talent they acquired. Hope he stays healthy. Losing the 15th pick hurts, but a bat like Cuddyer’s is worth it imo.
Hmm….this is extremely health dependant, which is a little scary with Cuddyer. But this is a good signing. Duda needs someone to platoon with. And we need another OF option. Interesting Cuddyer chose to take a 2 year 21 million dollar deal over a 1 yr 15.3.
Great signing! The Mets have a great farm system, so a draft pick isn’t the end of the world. The team needs a veteran like Cuddyer who can take 1B against lefties. With Lagares in CF and a shorter RF wall, he won’t need to expend too much energy in RF.
well, I was close…i had Alex Rios going to the Mets in my prediction contest…should have went with Cuddyer…really thought he would accept the 15 mil to play in Coors again
Rios was probably a good guess. But who knows how much Scott Boras is asking for his services. That and you have to watch him walk to 1st base after he grounds out when your team isnt in contention. That’s always fun.
yea and i saw 4 homers this year? FOUR? man i knew his power numbers were down but wow. I didn’t think that would be too attractive to Citi Field but at the same time I thought he was still a better option than Cuddyer because of age/defense
Thought the Mets were a good fit, considering that Duda platoon, but that was before the QO to Cuddyer. Seems a bit much given the contract and the draft pick. Smooth moves by the Rockies
it’s pretty amazing to me that a team in the NYC market has to trade payroll in order to fit in a contract for a 36 year old outfielder. He’s a solid player, but….
Yeah, I don’t get this one from either side, business wise. Giving up the 15th pick doesn’t make a ton of sense for a player that is slightly above replacement level. And rejecting the QO makes NO sense to me. 15.3 million for one year and then free agency next. Unless he knows this is going to be his last contract or something, I don’t understand giving up the Big one year deal. His 2016 free agent contract would have had to be less than 6 to break even on this deal. I understand the connection to David Wright, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he had influence in the mets doing this too. But strictly business, it’s a little strange
Hmmm, I’ve got no real issues with this one. A bit surprised, definitely. 2/21 is too high IMO, especially at his age and health history, but maybe a change of scenery will revitalize him.
left field/first base?
RF/1B – Cuddyer’s deaf in his left ear.
I think this is a good signing for both teams
The Rockies get a draft pick to help them rebuild and don’t have to pay Cuddyer 15mil while spending a lot of time on the DL
The Mets get a much needed big RH bat to add to their lineup. I think the Mets are 1 bat away from contention. Maybe they sign Cabrera?
Cabrera’s not much of an upgrade over Flores. Tulo, otoh
I don’t want Tolo let the Yanks deal with old big time names past there prime
Good signing for both teams. Met’s don’t really need the draft pick THAT much, they’ve built a very good farm system.
He’s a good hitter for the Mets if he plays, will probably split time between RF and playing lefties at 1B.
Well played Rockies. Well played!!!
Rockies made out like bandits here.
This is wonderful news!
O’S fan from northern NJ living in a family full of METS fans who believed and I mean BELIEVED that their METS where not going to spend a dime this off season. So it is a double shock to my family 1st they spent money and even BIGGER SHOCK they where the fist team to make a move this offseason…..WOW !!!!!!!!!!!
I think QO is spite. Binding a player to a franchise he doesn’t want to be with and crippling his negotiating power by costing a prospective team a number one pick is just wrong. I know baseball is a business but QO is hurting the player chance fair employment.
Cuddyer essentially is betting against himself. To give up the QO he is saying he won’t be worth $5.7M next year in 2016. He’s either not fully recovered from the shoulder ailment or he doesn’t think he will be good after 2015. Whatever his reasoning I wouldn’t expect him to be very productive with the Mets. If Cuddyer thought he would have a good year then he accepts the QO, has a good year and either gets another QO or gets traded midseason (then couldn’t be offered the QO) or doesn’t get the QO and can sign a one year deal for more than $5.7M. Very curious.
it is a little odd, especially since the mets backloaded the contract–presumably so they could flip him for the right offer later this year or in the off season. Might be he just wasn’t going to want to play for more than two years, and took the guaranteed longer money. that stadium isn’t exactly the best place to put up big numbers
Not entirely. Apparently getting to play with his buddy Wright is a big deal for them. Plus, the Mets are closer to being competitive than the Rockies. And maybe he just likes the city of New York. But yes, I agree that he probably won’t be as productive in Citi Field.
Is Cuddyer at 36 years old really worth that money AND forfeiting the 15th pick??? LOL
a pick u won’t see in 5 years
And that’s why they’re the Mets.
An odd signing from this FO. As a Mets fan, I’d love to see him healthy and hitting .300 but it’s a lot of money and a draft pick. There are rumors, though, that it may be related to Tulowitzki.
The only way I end up liking this move is if the Mets sign another QO free agent. They have the upper hand now. For the most part, the other teams who have no first round concern (i.e.- protected picks) are likely to be sellers and not buyers
I’m confused by this on both sides. On the one side: seems odd the Mets were willing to give up the 15th rounder. On the other: does Cuddyer really not believe he could have gotten a deal for more than $5.7M in 2016? He really must want out of Colorado. Not that I’d say the Mets are the best team, but they are definitely closer to contention
sigh Seattle you had one job nice Jack -_-
I think he had a good chance of topping $5.7m in another season.
Sandy Alderson really surrendered the 15th overall pick to sign a 36 year old Michael Cuddyer. rofl
Why do mets jump the gun so early?? Last year they did the same by signing Chris young and later on Baltimore signed nelson for just 750k more and got such good production from him.
What was the QO the Rockies made?. I assume a QO is an offer made to players after they have been released by a team. The QO is made by the team that released the player, right?. Also, what is the amount of the QO the Rockies offered to MC?
Cuddyer is a solid signing for the Mets.