I’m sort of OK but not thrilled with the Mets getting Shawn Green, which is widely reported but not yet confirmed. Obviously, Green is expensive (he’s owed $9.5 million next year plus a $2 million buyout for 2008, and for that kind of money you might as well just suck it up and get someone like Abreu).
Money aside, he’s really no better than Xavier Nady at best at this stage, although he’s a little more patient at the plate. And who knows? By October, Lastings Milledge could be on a tear – he’s that kind of talent. But there’s also a substantial risk that Milledge could be in a .210-with-no-walks type of funk, and when combined with Floyd’s health you can’t risk going into October with nothing but Milledge, Chavez, Tucker and Ledee as your corner OF options. Hopefully, the D-backs are eating a good chunk of Green’s 2007 salary, so this deal doesn’t constrict the Mets’ financial flexibility. If the money’s not a problem, the deal is OK.
3 thoughts on “Green to the Mets?”
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The Mets get Green when they could have gone after Abreu AND Cory Lidle, who they probably need more than Green or Abreu right now.
Was it because the two teams are in the same division?
Omar Minaya has access to a wallet that won’t stop bleeding cash.
Why do big money teams insist on only going after expensive .280/11hr hitters as they come down towards the playoffs? Do they honestly not have another player in their own system who can give them that kind of production?
Green to the Mets, Abreu to the Yanks, Javy Lopez to the Sox; The whole thing reminds me of people who insist on spending $50 for underwear and $100 for Jeans when Hanes and Wranglers will do the exact same thing for far less money.
I honestly don’t get it. If someone can explain it without using bullshit words like “intangibles” or “experienced” that would be great. After all, we are talking about players hitting frickin .280 and may even reach 15 homeruns; we’re not talking about what they did five years ago.
Javy Lopez has been a disaster. He’s terrible. This being said the Sox needed a catcher that wasn’t a pure minor leaguer (let’s face it, just because someone makes AAA doesn’t mean they are one step away from the majors). The O’s are picking up the bulk of the contract and he will likely be cut (thank goodness) when Varitek gets back. Not that any of this matters.
For contending teams that have a chance to win you just can’t take the risk on a guy like Milledge dropping fly balls, getting thrown out by 20 feet or swinging at sliders 2 feet out of the strike zone in games that mean something. Green may not be half the player that he used to be but he is more likely to make a heads up play, take an extra base, move a guy along or get a big hit in a clutch situation than a rookie with few big league games under his belt. Generally other teams are picking up portions of the contract in these situations.