Home » Latest Mets News » Jeff Francoeur Requests Trade
6
August 10, 2010 Latest Mets News Joe Janish

Jeff Francoeur Requests Trade

Two days after Fernando Martinez was promoted to — presumably — take playing time away from Jeff Francoeur, Francoeur’s representatives have let the Mets know he is open to a trade.

From Andy McCullough’s article in the Star-Ledger:

“We want to play every day,” Francoeur’s agent Molly Fletcher said yesterday. “We prefer to play in New York. But if we’re not going to play every day in New York, we absolutely welcome the opportunity to play every day somewhere else.”

As much as I like Francoeur, he’s in no position to request a trade. In fact, I’m not even sure he’s in a position to request room service. His current, horrendous slump has put him in this predicament. Two game-winning homeruns are not enough to negate 15 hits in his last 88 at-bats.

I doubt anyone is banging down the Mets’ door begging for Francoeur, and his request for a trade makes it that much more difficult for the team to get anything of value in return. If he and his agents were smart they would keep quiet and wait to be non-tendered in the offseason — at which point Francoeur will have the opportunity to market his wares to 29 other teams.

Tags:

Joe Janish began MetsToday in 2005 to provide the unique perspective of a high-level player and coach -- he earned NCAA D-1 All-American honors as a catcher and coached several players who went on to play pro ball. As a result his posts often include mechanical evaluations, scout-like analysis, and opinions that go beyond the numbers. Follow Joe's baseball tips on Twitter at @onbaseball and at the On Baseball Google Plus page.
Related Articles
  1. Paul August 10, 2010 at 10:40 pm
    Frenchy could probably be an everyday player for the Long Island Ducks… kind of a big pay cut, though.
  2. Barry August 10, 2010 at 11:00 pm
    You said: “If he and his agents were smart they would keep quiet and wait to be non-tendered in the offseason — at which point Francoeur will have the opportunity to market his wares to 29 other teams.”

    You couldn’t be more wrong. He wants the opportunity to play so he can showcase himself for a better deal next year. If he hardly plays, it’s less likely that he would go on a hitting streak. If he plays, he may break out.

    Keeping quiet is definitely NOT smart, if “smart” means looking out for himself.

    • Joe Janish August 11, 2010 at 12:53 am
      Hmm, you have a point there. I guess I was looking at it from the standpoint of other teams being turned off by someone who is making waves / appearing to be selfish. But in this day and age I suppose things like doing what’s best for the team are secondary and of no consequence.
  3. gary s. August 10, 2010 at 11:42 pm
    one more idiot who can’t play a lick..if there was a real manager on this team, francouer would rot on the bench the rest of the year with his .230 avg and .290 oba.
  4. Seth August 11, 2010 at 12:02 am
    Anyone else find it weird how she keeps saying “we?” You’re his agent, you’re not playing anywhere. I understand that if you’re an agent, part of your job is to think of yourself as part of Jeff Francoeur, Inc, but you have to also recognize that referring to your client that way just makes you sound like you think you control a creepy half-man bad-ball-chasing Franceourbot.
  5. CatchDog August 11, 2010 at 8:37 am
    And actually, FrenchFry will be marketing himself to 28 other teams. He’ll never play for the team that represents Fulton County, GA again.