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Fight the Power, Sign a Slugger!

By Saul Sparber on November 23, 2009 at 12:45 pm  

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Classically, any modern competitive baseball team has at least three guys who can hit for moderate power.  Look at the previous years when the Mets have been competitive:  a healthy Delgado, Wright, and Beltran would put up 30 Home Runs each and knock in over 100 runs.  Complimented with Reyes’s crafty baserunning, and a series of hitting stints from Xavier Nady, Sean Green, Endy Chavez, Fernando Tatis, and Ryan Church, the Mets fielded competitive teams in 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Take a look at 2009.  Easily, one can blame the injury bug for this year, but for the sake of comparisons, look at the power numbers.  Our home runs were led by Daniel Murphy, with a whopping… 12.  Four were tied for second with 10, followed by Fernando Tatis with 8.  The team totaled 95 home runs, last in the Major Leagues.  The new fences may have had something to do with the lack of power production:  Only 3 of Beltran’s 10 homers were hit at home; but as for the other 8+ home run hitters, they either hit an equal amount or more home runs at Citi than away at other parks.  Ultimately, the Mets need a legitimate power hitter somewhere in their lineup.  The big holes in the lineup are clear:  Catcher, First Base, and Left Field.

As for a catcher, Bengie Molina is the only Type-A free agent.  Though he hit a career-high 20 Home Runs and batted .265, he’ll be turning 35, he’s right-handed and his defense has depreciated since winning back-to-back Gold Gloves in 2002/2003.  A possible fit for the Mets is Miguel Olivo:  although he’s a righty and has injury history, his arm is a rocket and he hit 23 Home Runs for the Royals in 2009.  Another righty, Rod Barajas hit 19 home runs while batting only .226.  It’ll be surprising to see who the Mets pick up as their backstop, if anyone.  The first base free agent market is essentially desolate, with no Type-A free agents.  A left-handed hitter, Adam LaRoche hit 24 homers for the Pirates and Braves in 2009 and could be an option if he’s willing to take a one-year deal.  LaRoche just ended a 3-year/$15.25 MM contract.

Left Field is obviously where the Mets could prosper the most in their search for power.  Both Matt Holliday and Jason Bay are great fits, both being right-handed, National League-experienced, top-tier power-hitters.  Holliday edges out Bay in age (29 to 31) and is a Scott Boras client, so presumably he’ll get the larger contract.  Either player would make a good fit in Queens.

If the Mets can fill one of these three positions with a player that can hit for power, they can fill the other two in with players with other specialties.  Trading isn’t the best solution for one of these players – if the Mets are going to make a big move, it might as well be for Roy Halladay.  Yes, the contract extension he would want is immense, but having the best 1-2 punch in the MLB would be rather exciting.  Holliday and Bay look like the most potent options, especially if the Mets can sign one of the two and have enough to go after a pitcher like Joel Piniero, Jason Marquis, or Randy Wolf.


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  • The power is a factor of the injuries though, excepting David Wright. Assuming Wright is a fluke year, and 2010 isn't that bleak.

    Wright 25
    Beltran 25
    Murphy 20 (hit 12 in what, 80-85% of a full season, give him a minor improvement over his rookie year.)
    Reyes 10
    Francoeur 10

    That's right about, as a low estimate, where they were in 2009 as a team. Now add in pinch hitters (they should sign some guys with power, no Tatis or Sheffield type guys) a catcher who no matter what improved over Schneder for another 5-10, and that leaves you with LF, which I agree, they need to sign a slugger who's going to hit 30+. Suddenly things don't look bleak, and the Mets aren't, and shouldn't be, a team that's trying to out-slug anybody. They should be the aggressive, base stealing, pitcher-bothering, team that brings them the most success. With the ability to pop one out occasionally.

    With Wright's power drought and everyone else being a rookie*, pathetic, or Luis Castillo, pitchers pitched to the Mets with no fear. And no one off the bench provided that fear either. This is why Holliday or Bay transforms the offense significantly. Sure, I like Crawford too, but he should be looked at as a RF upgrade, if the Mets want to go that way.
  • I absolutely agree, it's just hard to fill all the holes the Mets have when signing a Holliday or Bay. I assume the Mets will pick a catcher up because I'm not sure the they have full faith in platooning Santos and Thole yet. They need to pick up some sort of reliever to replace Putz unless they feel someone in the farm is ready to come up. I don't think they're going to go with Santana, Pelfrey, Maine, Perez, Redding as the rotation, so they'll probably pick up a starter. And it's hard to do all that when spending a significant portion of the budget on Holliday or Bay. Confusing, yes, but also exciting.
  • Well, the budget is one of those points up to debate.

    Personally, I despise the idea of Santos being with the Mets in 2010. I think he had a good couple of weeks. And I think that was his career year. I don't think he's a guy worth keeping around, and in my perception, his baserunning and defense were less than adequate. I think the Mets need to sign two catchers, but really anything is an improvement, so it's not like we need to find the Mike Piazza in the Rough. Jose Molina with the Yanks will probably be let go, and is a solid backup/defensive guy. Barajas, Olivo, seem reasonable. I don't like Bengie on the same team with Francoeur especially.

    The budget, rookieness of Murphy, and lack of good replacement options are why he should be the 1B next year. Relievers are so hit and miss and dime a dozen that while I'm sure the Mets get a new guy or two, I don't seem the signing anyone big time. This also depends on what they feel about Parnell, who I happen to really like and wish he'd been used in a regular spot last year, rather than bouncing all over. I think he may have pitching in just about every possible situation last year.

    I don't think the Mets absolutely need a front line, Lackey/Halladay pitcher. There are other options, cheaper options, solid, consistent options. I want a guy that we don't dread starting 30+ times, is healthy and young enough to do so, and will be consistent enough that the team feels they have a chance to win when he's the starter.
  • bb
    please check your text if you want to be taken seriously. 'defence has depreciated' - what is the meaning of this? Do you mean his defence has deteriorated?
  • One can argue that his defenSe has done both: the value of his defense has certainly lowered, which is what I was implying. Needless to say, you're correct as well, but I meant what I said.
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