DavidGordonsFoot {l Wrote}:I'm with you. Did you see Adam Rubin's article on ESPNNY last week? Good breakdown of all the issues the team is facing. His second bullet point is the starting outfield and I couldn't agree more. Especially the corners.
I'm OK with them giving Nieuwenhuis another shot at center. And I think Valdespin has promise and should start the year in left, even though I expect a sophomore slump.
But the Mets can't have three projects in the outfield. They need a veteran out there, and none of the options from 2012 fit the bill.
Duda is not an outfielder. The increase in K/AB ratio and decrease in doubles despite having 100 more ABs in 2012 is alarming. He was a question mark even before he broke his wrist. I'd be more patient with him if he projected to be a 30 HR hitter, but there's been no indication that Duda is capable of hitting that many bombs.
Baxter is a great story being from Whitestone and all, but he has no pop and lacks speed on the basepaths to make up for it.
Hairston is not an everyday player and wants a multi-year deal. He had the second best year of his career at age 32 and is not likely to repeat that performance.
Torres was a disaster here and shouldn't be re-signed.
I would love to see the Mets swing a deal for Justin Upton. I know there are question marks about his character, but he's only 25 and is under contract for the next 3 years for $38.5 million. Would Dickey and Wilmer Flores be enough to get AZ to bite?
First would love that deal from the Mets POV but don't think AZ would bite. I'm just not sure what they're doing, dealing one of the best prospect arms in the league in Bauer.
Really think Baxter/Valdespin/Hairston are all bench players at best. Like all 3 for things they bring but they shouldn't be starting.
I have no problem letting Kirk play CF.
With Duda, what Duda are you going to get? The 2011 (.292/.370/.482) or the 2012 (.239/.329/.389)? Cause if you're getting the 2012 Duda, you can't live with his D in RF. Extrapolating 2011 over 600 ABs gives you .292/20 homeruns/40 doubles/100 RBI. That would be pretty good in the middle of the order.
Sounds like trade talks for Dickey have started to heat up with Blue Jays, Texas, & Angels the front runners.