Mets Should Pass On Everything The Dodgers Are Selling

Slowly but surely the hot stove is starting to heat up.  One of today's bigger revelations was that the Los Angeles Dodgers well listed to trade offers on Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford.  All three would likely be considerable upgrades over whomever they would stand to replace in the Mets outfield, but the Mets should still steer well clear of this trap waiting to happen.

At age 31, Either is poised to enter the third year of a six year/$95.5MM contract.  Despite rumors cited by MetsBlog's Matt Cerrone that the Dodgers will pay up to one quarter of Ethier's remaining contract, the Mets should still be mindful of his declining numbers.  The Mets should be hesitant to pay what would still be $13MM a season to player who has average just 16 home runs since signing his big contract, and has seen his batting average drop 20 points over that time.  The two time former all star will not benefit from a permanent shift to Citi Field and should not be the BIG trade the Mets have spoke of this winter.

Remember all the talk of Carl Crawford money when it came to retaining Jose Reyes?  Well, he still has four years remaining on that monster contract that will average $20.5MM a year.  Like it or not, the Mets just aren't playing in that end of the swimming pool just yet.  Added to that is the fact that Crawford has missed more games than he's played in over the past two seasons.  Crawford is well removed his prime, and at 32 years old he is the definition of  player who depends on his legs that just doesn't have it anymore.

Finally there is the best player in the group, Matt Kemp.  He is the player that fans salivate over, but thats because they're stuck on his highlight reel.  Kemp has six years left on an eight year/$160MM deal that he received after a 39 home run season in 2011.  The problem is, he has only his 29 home runs since.  Over that time he has missed 145 games to injury, to include three hamstring injuries and as shoulder injury.  Although I wouldn't go as far as saying he has entered his declined, the Mets need to acquire players who can stay on the field, especially when Kemp would represent at least half of the $30MM to $40MM budget this winter. 

At the end of the day, I think Ethier is the most likely player to end up in Queens, but I remain convinced that none will be a quality addition.  What makes it worse is that the Mets may have to give up quality talent in any case to make it happen.  There are other options, cheaper options, and basically just better options that will come available this winter.  The Dodgers are shopping each of these guys because they know they've buried themselves in these contracts.  Does that sound familiar?  The Mets just waited out their bad deals, they don't need to import them from other cities now.

Baxter and Carson Claimed Off Waivers

Mets utility man, Mike Baxter, was claimed by the Los Angeles Dodgers yesterday afternoon.  The twenty-eight year old, who the Mets claimed off waivers from the Padres in July 2011, is the victim of the roster crunch necessary to add various minor leaguers to the 40-man roster prior to the Rule 5 draft this winter.    For all intensive purposes Baxter was an okay player, but he hit only .189 in 2013 and simply wasn't worth protecting.  He will be fondly remembered by Mets fans because of his sprawling catch in the seventh inning of Johan Santana's June 2012 no-hitter, which resulted in a shoulder injury that cost him nearly two months.

Also claimed yesterday was Robert Carson, who is on his way to the Los Angeles Angels.  Carson probably won't be as fondly remembered by the Mets faithful after a short by terrible 2013 campaign.  Carson appeared in only fourteen games, but gave up nine home runs and walked seven in round an earned run average north of eight.  As a result, he became expendable due to others in the organization who will soon force their way into the team's bullpen.

There will be more moves coming, as thirty-six players still sit on the 40-man roster.  The Mets have until November 20th to add players like Jacob deGrom, Cory Vaughn and Steven Matz to the 40-man roster.  Otherwise they can be selected by other teams during the Rule 5 draft.

Yasiel Puig..The New Jordany Valdespin?

Photo By Ride The Pine

There were some tense..probably not absolutely necessary moments during the fourth inning of last night's Game 4 of the National League Championship Series.  Cardinal's pitcher, Lance Lynn, buzzed young Dodger's stud, Yasiel Puig, with an inside pitch in what was likely retaliation for Puig's antics one night prior. 

In case you've been living under a rock, late in Game 3 Puig lined a ball down the right field line that he originally thought would leave the park.  He threw his hands into the air and watched the ball's flight.  Then promptly realized the ball would stay in the yard right before it caromed off the outfield wall.  Puig ended up with a stand up triple, pumping his fists in excitement when he got there.  Personally, I didn't have a problem with it (minus not running out of the box), but the St. Louis Cardinals did.  This initiated much debate yesterday that raged far and wide on the internet about celebratory antics.

If some of this sounds familiar to Mets fans, its because our own resident bonehead, Jordany Valdespin, was guilty of similar nonsense multiple times this season.  Actions, which go against the unwritten rules of baseball, often cause reactions, leading to harsh words, players getting hit by pitches and sometimes..brawls.  Puig's actions in Game 3 were likely unecessary, but they do provide good theater for the series moving forward.  Once again, I have no problem with them.

That leads me to ask myself why I didn't take offense with Puig's showboating when I certainly took offense to Valdespin's during the season.  The only answer I'm able to come up with is that Puig has the talent to back those actions up.  All Puig did this season was almost single handedly turn the Dodgers season around.  He's an absolute stud in all facets of the game and will be a household name for years to come.  Valdespin is none of those things.

Simply put..its a double standard.  Puig isn't the next Jordany Valdespin because he's actually really good at baseball.  Where Spins actions are a detriment to his team, Puig's are a motivator.  I would go as far as saying that Puig is probably the most exciting player I've seen since Jose Reyes and we all know how many team's took exception to Reyes "antics".  But that was okay by us, because Jose Reyes was really good at baseball, just like Yasiel Puig.

Mets Will Steer Clear Of Matt Kemp

Two more outfielders seem as though they'll be available for the right price via the trade market this winter according to Nick Carfardo of the Boston Globe, who states the Los Angeles Dodgers will but both Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp on the block.  I'll save a debate for or against Andre Ethier for another time and go ahead and say that there is absolutely no way the New York Mets will entertain the acquisition of Matt Kemp this offseason.  Nor should they...

With the Dodgers set to compete for the NL Pennant this week, Kemp finds himself a member of the walking wounded yet again.  Out of the post season due to an ankle injury, Kemp has already had shoulder surgery since his season ended.  Despite what will be his second surgery on the injured wing, he is expected the be ready for spring training next season.  However, 2013 was the second consecutive season in which Kemp missed major time due to injury, appearing in just 73 games.

Injury concern aside for the moment, the 28 year old Kemp is scheduled to make $21.5 million each season through the 2019 season and will take quite a haul (talent wise) to acquire from the Dodgers.  He would instantly become the highest paid player on the Mets and consume nearly half of the teams potential budget this offseason.  That's not a play I would expect Sandy Alderson to make in a million years.

Sometimes fans need to take their blinders off when it comes to players like Kemp.  Yes, he is an excellent offensive talent with 30 home run and 100-plus RBI potential, but the injuries have come at an alarming rate in reach years.  Two separate trips to the disabled list in 2012 for hamstring injuries, along with four more in 2013 for an ankle ailment.  Scary stuff if your considering making him part of your outfield plans for the foreseeable future.

I don't need a comment from the team, or a report from an outside media source.  The Mets need to gamble somewhere this winter, but Matt Kemp is not the type of gamble they need.  He is not worth the commitment in talent the organization would have to send to Los Angeles to get him, or the financial liability he represents long term.  Simply put, there is no way the Mets will be in on Matt Kemp.