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January 13, 2012 11-12 Offseason Joe Janish

F-Mart Ironic Untouchable Exercise

On the heels of Fernando Martinez‘s exile to Houston, let’s play a little game inspired by F-Mart’s “untouchable” status of the past few years:

1. Instead of releasing F-Mart, would you have traded him for Manny Ramirez?

2. Instead of releasing F-Mart, would you have traded him for Johan Santana?

3. Instead of releasing F-Mart, would you have traded him for Jason Bay?

Mind you, in participating in this exercise, you must assume you are operating in the moment — i.e., TODAY. This is not an exercise in “what might have been”, etc. Rather, pretend you had the power to trade Fernando Martinez as he is today for one of those three players as they are right now.

Game on …

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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  1. wohjr January 13, 2012 at 12:48 pm
    Not for Bay, he’s a mope. Yes for the other two, especially manny– I mean why not?
  2. Anthony Marte January 13, 2012 at 1:17 pm
    Well, can we consider contracts i this instance? Depending on how much money I have available, I probably wouldn’t go for Santana (20-something million for a pitcher coming off shoulder surgery???).

    Bay I would because, despite the contract, a change of scenery would really help him. Manny I would because there is no real risk there. He might give you some pop, especially if you can slot him into DH and keep him out of the outfield.

    All three of these guys have more upside than F-Mart, in my opinion. Arthritic knees in his early twenties? He’s not going anywhere…

  3. Joe January 13, 2012 at 1:33 pm
    I don’t think the Mets should have picked up Bay for the extended time/cost, so if anything similar was done but required trading F-Mart, I wouldn’t do it.

    Manny I might think about it, but I would probably have been wary about picking him up. Saving a prospect when there still was more reason to be optimistic would probably have served as a check.

    I would have traded him if it was needed to get Santana, especially if in return it cost a bit less / one less yr.

    • JoeJP January 14, 2012 at 2:58 pm
      The test actually was “one of those three players as they are right now” … if I (lol) had to pay for Santana, no, I wouldn’t want him “as he is right now,” and would be left with the argo. considerations for Manny. But, since he carries so much baggage “right now,” I’d say no there.

      I think Scott Hairston gives you something right now, so I very well might trade him for F-Mart. I think putting him on waivers was okay, so if you are just going to let him go, sure, get something of some actual value back.

      I’m with Anthony Marte there.

  4. Ryan January 13, 2012 at 2:32 pm
    Trade him for ham radio parts. Get SOMETHING for your investment.
  5. argonbunnies January 13, 2012 at 7:06 pm
    Obviously Bay’s $16mil and Santana’s $24mil could be better spent elsewhere, so obviously not on those.

    Manny’s last deal with Tampa proved he’s willing to play for peanuts to re-establish himself, so that’s no risk, high reward. So obviously yes on that one.

    In fact, I would have favored bringing in Manny over Hairston. If Manny outperformed Bay, we could cut Bay and replace him with a better hitter than Hairston. Otherwise, we have Manny as a genuinely scary pinch-hitter. I’m sure the risk of winding up a back-up would make Manny look elsewhere, but if his choice is that or Japan, he might opt for the Mets.

    • argonbunnies January 15, 2012 at 4:50 pm
      Trade Bay for Burnett, sign Manny for LF, move Pelf.
  6. Joe Janish January 14, 2012 at 12:32 am
    Would you trade F-Mart for Scott Hairston?
    • Anthony Marte January 14, 2012 at 7:57 am
      Joe, yes, Hairston has more power and his knees aren’t completely shot. Its still trading up. I would try to get more for him but yeah, I’d do that.
  7. mic January 15, 2012 at 5:58 am
    Fmart is 23. Millz is 26. Hairston is 31.

    Still alot of time before comparisons are set. One Comparison that CAN be made is these 2012 Mets are not much different from the 1995 crew. all the more reason Fmart SHOULD be here, either on the field or DL.

    Given the bad press on Wilmer, why not trade him ..(for)?

    As for Schwinden and several others…I think its just time before they are cut.

    Worthy of its own Joe Janish spot?
    http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AvprEnEVj2PliQsWG8zvKdsRvLYF?slug=jp-passan_trade_yankees_mariners_pineda_montero_011312