Were Mets Moves a Diversion?
OK, who out there is a conspiracy theorist?
Here’s the case: within hours of losing superstar shortstop Jose Reyes, Mets GM Sandy Alderson schedules a press conference to announce the signings of two ho-hum relievers and a similarly unexciting trade with the San Francisco Giants. Coincidence?
Telling reaction: when asked about Reyes’ departure, Alderson answers with a condescending reprimand reminding the journalist that the press conference is about the Mets’ trade of Angel Pagan and has nothing to do with Jose Reyes. A nice attempt to be cute, but glaringly defensive.
So what say you? Was this flurry of mediocre activity a knee-jerk reaction suggested by the Wilpon puppet-masters — who in previous years, made similar demands to Omar Minaya that led to the signings of Jason Bay and Francisco Rodriguez (for example)?
Or, is it possible that this was a well-planned splash by Alderson, who had these deals in place and ready to announce at “just the right time” to create a diversion from the inevitable Reyes news?
Or, do you not believe at all in such conspiracy theories, and believe instead that it was mere coincidence that the Mets had three separate player personnel announcements immediately after losing Reyes?
Separately, these moves would barely be a blip on the radar screen of the winter meetings. But clumped all together, it was enough to at least distract Mets fans for a moment from their frustration over the loss of Reyes. Or is that a silly idea?
BTW, it was also strangely ironic that an inane Mark Buehrle – to – the – Mets rumor sprang up just hours before the Marlins-Reyes press conference; was that planted by a “source” from the Mets front office?
Post your thoughts in the comments.
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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.
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I DO like that they’ve been active in trade talks…..with almost everyone on the roster “being discussed” (according to the press, anyway).
I’m not enamored with what’s been coming up – in terms of who they’ve signed or are targeting – per these same snippets. You can take ‘em or leave ‘em, though —- considering “anything goes” in terms of a “story” during the Winter Meetings.
I still can’t believe how Reyes’ contract was structured with the Marlins. He’ll be making $10MM in 2012 and 2013 – less than what he made here last year; and a mere $500k more than what we’ll be paying Frank Francisco ($6MM) and Jon Rauch ($3.5MM) next year.
Maybe, in lieu of “setting aside $10MM to reconstruct the bullpen — they should have attempted to negotiate with Reyes.
They’ll be just as bad either way, IMHO.
That Reyes’ deal is largely back-loaded…..is a pretty big slap in the face to Met fans; considering Santana and Bay are off the books, post 2013.
Paying jose 10 and with the deals the mets did, they would have stayed within their budget, become a better team and took a step in the right direction.
I don’t think the wilpons are capable of conspiring so my conclusión is that alderson only wanted reyes on his own terms: (he gets paid if he plays), which at least shows courage to follow a project.
Ha! The diversion worked! You took it hook, line, and sinker!
….and this time, I couldn’t care less who goes!
This is totally unsurprising. Team loses big star, tries to show they are still relevant/doing things to make the team the best they can given the resources they have or are willing to spend. But, it’s Sandy Alderson and the Mets, so we have to put this big sneaky gloss on it.
Also, how exactly getting a closer, losing your CF and getting two relievers, at least one reasonably seen as a useful part, is “mediocre activity” is unclear to me.
Of course, maybe the Mets can do what they did in the past, and spend this money and more on one overpriced part (like Bay).
What W. said about the structure of the Reyes deal is striking though they still would have to beat the Marlins’ offer. And, bottom line, did Reyes actually want to stay on a losing team? I still remain dubious that the Mets had a chance. It might underline how screwed up the team is financially and so on, but we know that.
I don’t buy it.
Even if true, I’m too much of a cynic to believe that these things happen (people often believe cynics ARE conspiracy types, but that really is an oxymoron since it would require me to trust that they are capable of plotting together…but I digress). Instead, I think it is entirely reasonable that Alderson was waiting for the Reyes thing to resolve itself before diverting the money set out for him elsewhere i.e. the bullpen. I’m not even sure why there is a debate here. This is the most obvious and simplest answer (perhaps I’m not a cynic, but instead an occam’s razor-ist).
bottom line alderson who is a very smart baseball mind didnt think he was worth it…if we were talking about an albert puhols type player im sure they would have pressed harder…in 9 yrs..reyes best yrs was when he was young surrounded by alot of talent…now he is supp to get paid like a star, choke in sept, and breakdown like his history suggests? not to mention…in yr 6 does he still get those infield hits? does he walk more when legs fail to get bunt hits? i dont think that in his 15th yr in the league he changes…
alderson is smart all right — smart enough to pull the wool over YOUR eyes!
a formal offer was never made because the wilponzis were terrified that Jose might just accept even a low-ball offer and they couldn’t even afford that.
face it gentlemen this is all about cutting payroll to the bare minimum. they’ll have it down to $60M by this time next winter
In fayct, the Mets are LIKE a bawx a’chokluts……you just nevah know whut you gunna gey-ut.
As to a “fire sale,” well, the Marlins should be a model there. Not seeing evidence of it myself.
Or are you pointing that out as a good thing for the Mets to emulate? i’m thinking no since you don’t “see” the fire sale everyone else does. hard to figure you, son.
People here don’t seem to LIKE that. See the sneering at “five to six years” for them to be in contention. So, no, that doesn’t seem to work for the NYM. They continuously had to have some chance to compete, an off year something to shrug off, not accepted as a 2-4 year plan.
This at times resulted in dubious choices to “win now.” See, e.g., Bay. I see them not doing that when they are structurally a mess a good thing myself. Others see this as loser talk, but I see it as reality.
So, maybe, the Marlins do have something to teach — sometimes, it takes a few years to get back and if you rush it, you have year after year of “almost.”
If the latter, it would have been easier be an A’s fan, as you’d feel smarter and less embarrassed about it.
Gary alleged the Mets will have a fire sale. Well, if that is so, the team Reyes went to would be a model there, since they had one after each WS win. I then said I didn’t see evidence of a true fire sale.
Why this is confusing is unclear. But, then, it was mentioned that the Marlins won the WS twice, apparently suggesting they did better. Does that mean we should emulate them?
But, that didn’t work for the Mets as a policy, in part because people like you remind us that we aren’t a small market team, so a few years of being out of it can’t be acceptable. So, like an older house, it was patched up here & there, never giving a total re-haul ala Marlins. As I said, maybe the Marlins had something to tell us about the need of waiting to fix things up.
I don’t know why you assume I’m trying to be a martyr or need to be “embarrassed” or something. Confusion, yes.
Uh, yeah. The entire point of playing a 162-game season is to go to the World Series. If it isn’t, then what am I missing?
And as for “waiting to fix things”, again, I’m confused. The Marlins didn’t “wait” to fix anything — they’ve been building their farm system and developing young players for at least a decade. Their main issue was an inability to afford to keep them once they became stars (i.e., Miggy Cabrera).
The Mets went to the WS once, the playoffs a few times, missed the playoffs by a game a couple times and were in the hunt a few times. At no time, did they have some sort of fire sale that made it clear they would be out of competition for a few years. What are you saying in confusion now? That just going to the WS twice and nothing else would be obviously better? That is, two moments of glory surrounded by years of a lull?
>Uh, yeah. The entire point of playing a 162-game season is to go to the World Series. If it isn’t, then what am I missing?>
That having a chance each year is for some people better than having a couple moments of glory and then having to wait a few years to have a shot after they have a WS, fire sale, start again, repeat.
>And as for “waiting to fix things”, again, I’m confused. The Marlins didn’t “wait” to fix anything — they’ve been building their farm system and developing young players for at least a decade.
They spent the time to do this even if some would try to rush things by giving up on prospects for people who can win right away or for some other short term gain. They thought in the long term.
>Their main issue was an inability to afford to keep them once they became stars (i.e., Miggy Cabrera).
I didn’t say the two situations were the same in all respects but at the moment, the Mets have money limitations too.
now we get to hear reyes play the respect card…i love hearing that card esp from the players that dont do a damn thing till there walk yr….reyes they respected u by not trading u at deadline, and by letting u wimp out and take u out of lineup to win the batting title…the mets have done plenty for u..and reyes was the main culprit in the september failures..so why should we sign him to that deal?
“During the 162-game schedule era, which began in 1961, only 13 shortstops have averaged 140-plus games per season from ages 29 to 34. Not surprisingly, none of them had the extensive injury history that Reyes has had prior to their age-29 seasons.”
yeah jose, now u see why someone as smart as alderson did what he did….not to mention, why pay him more than david wright? jose reyes sulks, and is not the media face (talking to reporters) that david is…and im not even a huge wright fan either…i think he should be more vocal instead of tryn to be a quiet jeter…
good riddence jose
i have watched jose play baseball…there is a differ between “exciting” and winning. I never said alderson is the greatest. but at least he isnt making the same mistakes as in the past. signing bay, ollie just to sign someone. he has a plan and is sticking to it. he didnt lose wilpons money. he is executing a plan as best he can. I hope to god the wilpons sell the team but it isnt happening…so at this pt in time alderson is the best option we have. He did pretty good getting wheeler this past yr. when almost every source said no way he gets a top prospect for beltran.
to go into a steroid rant…come on…i guess u knew braun was on it too? so what about cashman? he had roided out guys on his team…considering our 86 team was on god knows what. youre the pot calling the kettle black on that one.
Gooden and Straw were pretty exciting players as well that WON a champ in NY. my arguement was yeah jose is exciting but u sound like a mkting rep. you want exciting. i want winners. i want a guy to stand in front of reporters when we lose and take acocuntability. reyes never did any of that.
there is alot to be said for guys like tebow that you hearform all coaches get the best out of his teamates. reyes never got the best out of anyone..we just hoped he wasnt hurt or was in a happy go lucky mood that day. reyes is not a leader in my book. i would love to hear any stories about reyes taking the reins of the team. instead we have this…..
http://www.csnbayarea.com/sportsnetBayArea/search/v/40197102/7-13-jose-reyes-and-his-sunglasses-address-the-media.htm (it looks bright in there)
he signs with the marlins for more money then god and all he does is bash mets at press conf…
but hey he was very exciting as the mets continued to suck…
in short, you become the Oakland A’s.
how many World Series have they gone to since Billy Beane took over?
Give me Scott Hatteberg any day of the week over Reyes. So much more interesting to watch a singles hitter who can’t run or play defense take four balls and walk to first base, then wait for a steroid-enhanced freak hit a ball over the fence. Now THAT’S baseball!
Two ideas for that rental bat: Beltran… or Manny. Manny’s as high-risk as they get, so we’d better have a back-up plan, but he’ll cost nothing.
I’d rather have Beltran, but someone out there has gotta offer him real money, right?
CB15 If you can get 8-9 a year then it wouldnt work, but its worth a phone call. 5 million a year is a no brainer and I would go a lil higher plus we could trade you again for another prospect
I hope you mean $8-9 million PER season, my man. I ain’t signin’ no $4 million dollar deal.
CB15