Make Eric Byrnes Angel Pagan's Backup

by Sam Page on Jan 19, 2010 6:15 AM EST

When the idea of adding Eric Byrnes as the Mets fourth outfielder first started floating around, I was understandably horrified. When the Diamondbacks cut Byrnes, effectively swallowing his $11 million salary, adding him suddenly became a great idea. Byrnes is a below-average hitter, but an excellent defensive outfielder (+11 UZR/150 in CF), and just 3 years removed from the 4-WAR season that earned him his eventually burdensome contract. Byrnes is often noted for his "all-out" style of play, which is a fancy of way of saying he's the grission king. He's a versatile player, who could replace the injury-prone Angel Pagan in the outfield, or the allergy-prone Kevin Burkhardt on the broadcasting team. Seriously, the Eric Byrnes show would likely be ten-times more entertaining than any of the current programming on SNY, including the Mets games:

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Apparently he has a clear preference to play for the Giants.

So, any other team would have to trade for him in one week. After that, if nobody trades for him, he’ll be released and he can choose where to play.
USS Mariner post
Fanpost at BtB

by Michkin on Jan 19, 2010 6:48 AM EST reply actions

saw that BtB post

and had similar thoughts about bringing byrnes in on the cheap to backup pagan. my only problem w/ it is that it probably eliminates the need for endy which frankly is unacceptable.

by Rob Castellano on Jan 19, 2010 11:18 AM EST up reply actions

wut

no.

by firejerrymanuel on Jan 19, 2010 7:58 AM EST reply actions

Put me down as

I don’t care how good his D is, I don’t want that grissiony douche anywhere near the Mets,

by dtro on Jan 19, 2010 8:39 AM EST reply actions

For league minimum as a 5th outfielder

Sure, why not?

You don't cheer for the Mets. You drink for the Mets.

by Kevin H on Jan 19, 2010 9:02 AM EST reply actions

For me

he is very, very close to the line where his character (negative, IMO) outweighs his talent (which is average). Though this didn’t happen with Sheff so maybe I’m worrying for nothing.

by deadspy3 on Jan 19, 2010 9:47 AM EST reply actions

ok sure

I would not have a problem with him backing up Pagan on the real cheap.

I feel he would be better off on the West Coast,but would like him on the Mets. He used to be one of my favorite players, so why not.

by Coolpapabell on Jan 19, 2010 10:24 AM EST reply actions

don't know what Sam is thinking in this case...

the Mets need Byrnes (another injury reclamation) like a hole in their heads. If there were no viable FAs available that would be another story, but there are still plenty of FA OF options to choose from that will not break the bank.

To me, Gabe Gross looks like the best option at this point… he’s a plus OFer and he won’t expect to play regularly but he’s definitely RF insurance and has also played some CF in the event Pagan goes down before Beltran comes back…

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Jan 19, 2010 12:01 PM EST reply actions

Gabe Gross for starting RF on opening day.

by EtSuKe on Jan 20, 2010 7:35 PM EST up reply actions

You guys is crazy

For nothing, Byrnes would be a bargain, absolutely worth adding. Plus defense, some offensive upside. His component offensive numbers are fine, his BABIP is just scary low the last couple years. But that span is still under 500 PAs. No reason not to take a shot at Byrnes for league min, if he’d be willing to come to NY. No need to guarantee him PAs, it’d just force Pagan and Francoeur to earn their playing time.

"All energy flows according to the whims of the great magnet

What a fool I was to defy him"

-HST

by Mark Himmelstein on Jan 19, 2010 1:21 PM EST reply actions

Dude get your head out of those spreadsheets

and look at the fact that he is annoying as hell.

Seriously, though, would getting Byrnes for cheap as a 4th/5th OF be smart? Probably. But Jerry will just fall in love with his ridiculous dives and falling-down throws and play him too much.

by dtro on Jan 19, 2010 2:10 PM EST up reply actions

That would be a legit concern

If he didn’t actually project roughly as well as Pagan or Francoeur to begin with. I mean, maybe you’re right, maybe he’d play awful and Pagan would be awesome but Jerry would love him cause he knows how to bunt or something, but I still think its worth a shot. The opposite is just as likely to happen. If Beltran were healthy it would probably be a luxury and fairly unnecessary, but when there’s a big gaping hole in the roster for at least a month, depth only helps.

"All energy flows according to the whims of the great magnet

What a fool I was to defy him"

-HST

by Mark Himmelstein on Jan 19, 2010 4:04 PM EST up reply actions

wow Sam Page

way to immediately steal my idea. http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/1/15/1253824/eric-byrnes-dfad#29031450

you sir, Mr. Samuel Skirt Page, are the grisson grimace.

As for Byrnes, he can pretty much sign with whomever he wants and someone is going to take a chance on him as a starter despite his injuries. The west coast does make the most sense and I could see the Angels jettisoning Juan Rivera for a starter and snagging Brynes. While the Mets have shown interest in Byrnes in the past, the Mets only chance would be if the interest is mutual.

Byrnes might be willing to give up play time to get his show on SNY though. I’ll give him that.

by MetsMaster on Jan 19, 2010 2:30 PM EST reply actions

For what it's worth

I never clicked on that fanshot

by Sam Page on Jan 19, 2010 3:08 PM EST up reply actions

Grimace

by James Kannengieser on Jan 19, 2010 5:55 PM EST up reply actions

I'll let it go

since James was so kind to post this picture.

by MetsMaster on Jan 21, 2010 12:16 AM EST up reply actions

huh?

going to get a chance as a starter?! is this 2006? the DBacks let him go b/c they felt he couldn’t get it done anymore… you don’t release players you owe $11M to if they have good baseball in them. Two bad wheels says he probably can’t run well anymore which makes him a part time player at best.

Will someone take a shot at him for the ML minimum to be a role player? sure. is he guaranteed to make a squad? not at all.

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Jan 20, 2010 12:04 AM EST up reply actions

Well Arizona also has a bunch of young outfielders and really no need for him

or his 11 million. I imagine there’s a few teams with of holes, other than us, who would give him a starting job for league minimum. or at least more than he’s likely to get here.

"We have a plan, and our plan, I like our plan'

it's Omar's world, we're just livin in it.

by Gina on Jan 20, 2010 12:28 AM EST up reply actions