Brad Emaus Returned To Blue Jays
In case you missed it, Rule 5 pick and Opening Day second baseman Brad Emaus was returned to the Toronto Blue Jays; he will report to AAA Las Vegas.
For those unaware, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.
I find it mildly surprising that the Mets didn’t work out some kind of a deal to keep Emaus, considering how high J.P. Ricciardi was on the infielder and how much time was invested in Emaus during the spring. But, I don’t know who the Mets could have offered to the Jays in return. They can’t really afford to give up any of their minor league pitchers, and their position players of value are similarly too young to send away.
What is interesting is that the Jays have phenom Brett Lawrie tending 2B in Vegas now (and hitting .390), and it is only a matter of time before he is in Toronto. So I imagine that Emaus will return to his more “natural” position of third base — a position where he will have to hit for more power than he has shown (both this spring and in his minor league career).
With Emaus gone, my guess is that Justin Turner and/or Dan Murphy will have to make it happen at second base this year — though, former MLB starter Russ Adams looms in Buffalo as the next viable option. Dreamy Mets fans like to discuss Ruben Tejada and Jordany Valdespin, but both are slated to play shortstop in preparation to compete for the absence of Jose Reyes either later this year or next spring. Josh Satin has made some noise, but it’s questionable whether he can make the jump from AA. Reese Havens? He’s yet to play in a game after offseason rib surgery.
What do you think? Should the Mets have found a way to keep Emaus, particularly since he doesn’t seem to have a future with the Blue Jays? Are you confident that there is someone already in the organization to play the position now and/or in the very near future — or do they need to acquire someone?
Murphy and Turner are probably both useful utility players.
It could be possible that the loser of the Tejada/Valdespin competition for SS is shifted to 2B.
Alderson let Riccardi take a shot, it failed and now it is time to move on.
Emaus was the poster boy of this new brilliant regime! We heard all about his OBP and the genius of Alderson,DePo, Riccardi stealing him from the bluejays and all the numbers nuts were saying he was gonna be the next Jeff Kent. So now after two weeks the experiment fails and it’s no big deal? WHATEVER. Where’s Luis Castillo?
It reminds me of the days of Stearns and Foster hitting 3-4 in the lineup in the early 80s. With Foster followed by Brooks, so then it was Foster – Brooks; though, you may be too young to know what I’m talking about.
Just think, next year the Mets won’t have a legitimate shortstop either.
My hope is we do go into full rebuild mode & Wally Backman is appointed manager; to mentor. teach & mold a group of players into a winner starting next year (or sooner). I think this fan base would accept that & believe in it.
1. Brett Lawrie is playing 3B not 2B. Look at the box scores, not the stats pages.
2. Russ Adams didn’t make it with the Blue Jays a few years ago either.
Steve
So that brings up a more interesting point: if Emaus continues playing 2B for Las Vegas, they’ll have two players out of position, since Lawrie played most of the 240+ games in his pro career at 2B. But who knows, maybe both are more suited to their new positions. And maybe they’ll be playing those two positions for Toronto before the end of 2011.
As for Adams, what is your point? He did “make it” in that he played 139 games for the Jays in 2005. He wasn’t great, but he was their starting shortstop for most of that season. He’s since proved to be competent if unspectacular defensively at 2B and has improved his offense in the minors since then.
Angel Pagan didn’t “make it” with the Cubs. RA Dickey didn’t “make it” with several MLB clubs. Both have done OK with the Mets.
I didn’t say the Mets should bring up Adams now, but he seems to be the next logical choice if the current tandem fails.
Hu’s nice for late-inning defense, but really, in a close game, is it worth the downside that, (a) we’re probably down to our second catcher as our last pinch-hitter, and (b) if the opposition ties it, now Hu has to hit? Hu’s ability to turn the occasional DP also doesn’t excite me the way Endy’s ability to routinely steal doubles did.
The Mets probably need to keep Hu around because if Reyes is indeed traded, there needs to be insurance in the event that Tejada continues to look overmatched at the plate in Buffalo. Because take a look at the organization: there are NO SHORTSTOPS anywhere close to MLB-ready. Hu would at least be able to provide strong defense — probably stronger than Tejada at this point in both players’ careers.
Also, Hu is DePodesta’s “guy” as much as Emaus was Ricciardi’s “guy”. Therefore, longer leash.
I am not saying that they shouldn’t resign Reyes, but for all the talent there are still times when he has me shaking my head.
Emaus could yet make the Jays playing second because Aaron Hill is not quite the lock that he was a year or so ago. After missing most of last year with a concussion he had a so-so spring training where he didn’t hit well and then started the season slowly as well. The Jays option on Hill for the last year of his deal was declined and now he’s on a shelf with a hamstring injury. Hill must have a good year to stay in the Jays plan and it hasn’t gone well so far so getting Emaus back is good insurance for the Jays.