Mets Reportedly Bring Back Alou, Easley

by Alex Nelson on Oct 31, 2007 4:15 PM EDT

According to Adam Rubin's blog, the Mets have set a 4:15 conference call to discuss Moises Alou and Damion Easley. The former had a $7.5 million team option for 2008, and the latter was a free agent.

Details to come later.

Update [4:56pm by Blackfish]: The details are in, and they have indeed picked up Alou's option and signed Easley to a one-year, $950,000 contract.

The Alou option was really a no-brainer given his great semi-season. As for Easley, he's coming off a pretty severe ankle injury, and he's getting up there in age at 38. That said, the cost isn't prohibitive, and the team won't be relying on him for much.

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I don't get...

... why picking up the Alou option is a "no-brainer."

80 games of Alou - if we're lucky - plus 80 games of Gomez/Endy equals below-league average production from left field.

That math was the case in 2007, and it will be again in 2008.

by haplo53 on Nov 1, 2007 10:06 AM EDT reply actions

Alou

His option cost the Mets $6.5 million ($7.5 million minus the $1 million buyout they would have owed him if they didn't pick up the option), which for a half season of his 2007 production is still a very reasonable price.

The problem, as you pointed out, is that they need a better backup plan/platoon partner than Endy/Gomez provided last year. Lefty complements including Geoff Jenkins and Brad Wilkerson are free agents, so the Mets may consider looking to one of them. Endy is a fourth/fifth outfielder type and Gomez needs quite a bit of time in Triple-A, and neither is suitable to start in a corner outfield position for any extended period of time.

by Eric Simon on Nov 1, 2007 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Jenkins is enticing...

I always liked him, but like Alou, injuries have hurt him... although he is no Alou at the plate.

I wonder if he would be interested in some kind of a time share with Alou, being that he has always played on crappy teams.

Also, if for some reason they did trade Milledge for pitching, starting platooning Jenkins in RF may be a decent way of breaking Gomez into the bigs.

Yes? No?

by SQUAD on Nov 2, 2007 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Gomez

I don't think he has any business being in the big leagues next year. He needs time in the minors to work on his approach at the plate so the Mets can see if he will ever hit enough to be a major league outfielder.

by Eric Simon on Nov 2, 2007 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Perhaps...

... but the problem with finding platoon guys is that not many guys who've started forever necessarily want to accept part-time duty. This is where Omar has to do his job, and do it exceedingly well.

As with Duque, the Mets CANNOT find themselves in a situation where they're counting on Alou to stay healthy. Alou's injury and the lack of suitable back-ups helped torpedo the Mets in June, the same thing happened with Duque in September, and the same thing will happen with both next year - unless Omar constructs his team in a way that neither of those players are cornerstone pieces.

by haplo53 on Nov 1, 2007 10:44 AM EDT reply actions

I know I'm going to get killed for this

...but really, I'd be ok with them doing something like bringing back Shawn Green as a platoon guy/part time replacement for Alou. As long as he never faces a left-handed pitcher, he's a solid guy to have. But more than likely Willie would use him incorrectly, and I'd be mad. Better to just let him go and hopefully get a sandwich pick and the next David Wright. :)

by Mikeybags84 on Nov 1, 2007 5:46 PM EDT reply actions