Source Reveals Surprise Reason for Justin Turner's Non-Tender

If you had had your fill of baseball news and rumors by dinner time last night, you missed what I happen to considered the biggest news of the day.  Its comes by way of ESPN NY's Adam Rubin who reported the following about Justin Turner via a source within the Mets organization:

Turner's propensity for not running hard irked the front office, which had finally seen enough.

I want to make sure I have this right... The Mets, an organization who let a clubhouse cancer like Jordany Valdespin linger around for what felt like forever, cut a utility infielder and all-around feel good guy for lack of hustle?!? I simply don't buy it.

Turner is not without his critics amongst Mets fans, but I suspect much of that is due to over exposure and an addiction to pieing people.  With the skills of a quality bench player, he has served as Terry Collins' go to guy over the past few years.  Does it make any sense that Collins, a manager that has criticized a player's work ethic (See: Ruben Tejada) in the past, would repetitively turn to Turner over the course of multiple seasons if he had issues with hustling?

What's equally alarming is that the organization has taken to bashing its former players.  You'll recall they criticized RA Dickey soon after his departure last winter.  Its bad business and don't think for a moment that other players won't take notice.  The Mets have enough against them when it comes to recruitment of players, particularly a lack of money and general organization direction, they should know better than to have something like make headlines.

Jose Bautista On The Mets..Yes, Please!

Ben Nicholson-Smith of SportsNet Canada reported yesterday that the Toronto Blue Jays could be open to trading any one of a number of players on their current major league roster, to include right-fielder Jose Bautista.  Guess who's in the market for a right-fielder?  You guessed it, the New York Mets.

Bautista is an interesting offseason option for the Mets' front office.  He remains under contract for the next three seasons, set to make $14 million in both 2014 and 2015, and finally has a team option for the same in 2016.  The front office would probably say that's a lot of money to allocate to an outfielder who will be thirty-three when he arrives for spring training next year.  To be honest they may be right, but having the option to make only a two year commitment should things go south, should be appealing to Alderson and Co.

If a trade were to go down, Bautista would instantly become the team's best offensive outfielder and arguably the best bat on the roster.  That said, he does have injury concerns, having played only 118 games last season and just 92 the year before that.  If he did make it through a full season, he would threaten to hit forty home runs and drive in well over one hundred runs.  The Mets haven't seen that type of production from an outfielder since Carlos Beltran's 2006 campaign.

The other perk to Bautista over some other potential outfield trade options (think CarGo or Stanton) is the Mets would have to part with much less to get him.  The two teams also have a history together (RA Dickey/Travis d'Arnaud).  Plus, JP Riccardi has worked within the Blue Jays system.

So sure, Baustista represents a considerable risk for the Mets.  He may come in and struggle to stay on the field just like the aforementioned Beltran did, but he would be a short term risk.  If things go well, the Mets could pick up the option year on his contract.  If they don't, the Mets can walk away or look to trade a power hitting outfielder in the last year of the deal (Alderson is good at this).

On the surface I like the idea.  I think its a good fit for the Mets provided they don't have to give up too too much in the trade.  I think he allows the team to make a quality addition who will help the team now, but also won't tie up payroll very long.  I think that would be ideal, but its still early and other options could come available as the winter moves on.

That's my two cents.  What do you think?  Is Bautista a viable option for the Mets or would you prefer they look elsewhere?

Side Note:  Bautista follows me on Twitter (no clue why), you should too at @RobPatterson83.

Matt Harvey Surgery Decision Could Come Today

Photo Courtesy Of @Lets86It

The day has finally arrived for Matt Harvey to get the all important second opinion on the right elbow that ended his season three weeks ago.  The question at hand is how unstable the UCL tear has cause the elbow to become.  If Dr. James Andrews deems the joint unstable, then surgery is imminent for the twenty-four year old ace.  If not, then Harvey could chose to rehab the injury and prepare for spring training next season.

In speaking with several people, it seems as though its not a matter of if he needs surgery, its more a matter of when.  There is a realistic shot that he can pitch on the arm for now, however he could lose velocity.

Mets fans will recall that RA Dickey pitched without a UCL, which is ultimately what caused him to adopt the knuckleball.  That's not to insinuate that Harvey will have to go that round, but there is a drastic difference between a pitcher who throws 97-98 mph and one who throws 94-95 mph.  These are the decisions facing Harvey this afternoon.

The Mets likely prefer that he have the surgery now.  Its highly unlikely that the Mets will be World Series in 2014, but if things go according the plan that could change in 2015 and beyond.  Therefore, the front office would like to have Harvey back in the fold by that time frame, as opposed to having his future in doubt. We shall see though..hopefully today.