2010 Mets Origins

by James Kannengieser on Apr 7, 2010 2:00 PM EDT

I've been meaning to post this for reference and was reminded by Lookout Landing. How did the current Mets get here?

Draft

Daniel Murphy (2006)
Jon Niese (2005)
Mike Pelfrey (2005)
David Wright (2001)

Free Agency

Rod Barajas (2010)
Jason Bay (2010)
Henry Blanco (2010)
Carlos Beltran (2005)
Luis Castillo (re-signed 2008; initially acquired via 2007 trade)
Frank Catalanotto (2010)
Alex Cora (re-signed 2010)
Kelvim Escobar (2010)
Pedro Feliciano (2006)
Mike Jacobs (2010)
Fernando Nieve (2009)
Oliver Perez (re-signed 2009; initially acquired via 2006 trade)
Francisco Rodriguez (2009)
Fernando Tatis (re-signed 2010)

International Free Agency

Ryota Igarashi (2010)
Jenrry Mejia (2007)
Jose Reyes (1999)
Hisanori Takahashi (2010)
Ruben Tejada (2006)

Trade

Jeff Francoeur (2009)
Sean Green (2009)
John Maine (2006)
Gary Matthews Jr. (2010)
Angel Pagan (2008)
Johan Santana (2008)

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Is that Bobby Valentine's dog?

Reyes, Thole, Wright, Beltran, Bay, Davis, Martinez, Tejada...

by Stephen Schmidt on Apr 7, 2010 2:04 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I know we traded for Pagan from the cubs

but didn’t we initially draft him?

in billionaire russian playboys we trust.

by Gina on Apr 7, 2010 2:06 PM EDT reply actions

Yes, yes we did.

He made his ML debut with the Cubs.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Apr 7, 2010 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

it’s kind of funny, would anyone be shocked if the reason Pagan was benched in favor of GMjr was because 3-4 years ago he wasn’t, or we decided he wasn’t, good enough therefor he’s not good enough now? Kind of like how 4-5 years ago Jacobs was good enough, therefor he’s good now.

in billionaire russian playboys we trust.

by Gina on Apr 7, 2010 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Would it surprise me? Absolutely not.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Apr 7, 2010 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Unsurprising, but

Bay wasn’t good enough then, but I guess he is now.

by theflicker on Apr 7, 2010 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes,

I watched him play in Bingo but I would call him a trade just like Burnitz I would still consider a trade and Bay as a FA not a trade. Also, personally, I consider Castillo and Ollie aquired via trade as I would consider re-signing Wright or Reyes in the future as still home grown rather than free agents.

by Sokojoe on Apr 7, 2010 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

makes sense

by Jack Str on Apr 8, 2010 1:37 AM EDT up reply actions

That's some fine drafting there, Lou.

If there's ever a riot at Citi Field and Oliver Perez was the starter, I started the riot.

by meigs1414 on Apr 7, 2010 2:07 PM EDT reply actions

Nieve was claimed of waivers, wasn't him?

In lobby campaign for Chris Carter.

by Michkin on Apr 7, 2010 2:08 PM EDT reply actions

Luis Castillo (re-signed 2008)

Ugh.

"I only wanted a few things out of life -- a wife, children, to play baseball and to hunt deer." - Turk Wendell

by Rey-O on Apr 7, 2010 2:10 PM EDT reply actions

That reminds me: When is bring-your-dog-to-the-Mets-game day?

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Apr 7, 2010 2:10 PM EDT reply actions

April 24th

but tickerts pricy at 50 bucks combined for you and your dog

by Sokojoe on Apr 7, 2010 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Here's hoping for next year...

grumblegrumblegrumblehighticketpricesgrumblegrumblegrumble

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Apr 7, 2010 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions

saw that

shea and i will probably be there anyway.

by Rob Castellano on Apr 7, 2010 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd have listed Castillo in the trade catergory, even though he was retained via free agency.

Reyes, Thole, Wright, Beltran, Bay, Davis, Martinez, Tejada...

by Stephen Schmidt on Apr 7, 2010 2:10 PM EDT reply actions

Perez as well

Reyes, Thole, Wright, Beltran, Bay, Davis, Martinez, Tejada...

by Stephen Schmidt on Apr 7, 2010 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep

I think Trade&Re-Signed should be it’s own category.

by Dan Lewis on Apr 7, 2010 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I was coming here to comment on the same thing

I know he and Perez technically hit the open market, but the fact is that they were brought here in trades and have never worn a different uniform since.

2009 Did Not Happen

by cjmulrain on Apr 7, 2010 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions

How many players did the Mets draft that are in the Majors, only having 5 on team is sad

by Sir Tmac on Apr 7, 2010 2:36 PM EDT reply actions

well we really didn't have much minor league depth

when Omar took over, and we’ve traded a lot of guys who would have graduated, plus we’ve probably focused more on IFA to some detriment to the draft. I think if you looked at the total players we drafted or signed in IFA that are somewhere in the majors, and consider the general thin history of our minors, it’s probably really not that bad.

in billionaire russian playboys we trust.

by Gina on Apr 7, 2010 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

We had enough to bring in Delgado, LoDuca, Putz, Santana, and Castillo

It’s almost as if Omar’s “plan” is to use the draft and IFA as means to acquire expensive veterans, which has been my biggest gripe with him. If he’s using the farm as trade chips, focus on guys that are underpaid, and save the big money deals for free agents.

Reyes, Thole, Wright, Beltran, Bay, Davis, Martinez, Tejada...

by Stephen Schmidt on Apr 7, 2010 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions

it's not probably

i’ve actually heard omar comment on this, that it was an organizational strategy to shift focus from the draft to the IFA process. he didn’t have to say it but it was clearly in an attempt to acquire a similar level of talent for less money, which clearly does not work as IFA’s have a much lower success rate.

despite all the talk about the mets thousands of organizational flaws it’s the #1 biggest (and most unknown by fans) reason why i think we’re in the predicament that we’re in. the bottom line is that if you want prolonged success in baseball (and you’re not the yankees) you have to make good picks/be willing to spend money in the draft.

by Rob Castellano on Apr 7, 2010 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions

IFA's have a much lower success rate, but the raw quantity of high end prospects you can get on the cheap makes it the way to go in my book.

I’ve never been a big fan of giving 3 million dollar deals to 16 year olds, but signing a bunch of guys like Urbina, Mejia, Familia, Rodriguez, Flores, Marte, and Tejada Fernando, and Guerra (and likely about 40 failures) end up costing less than signing one Mike Pelfrey via the draft (as well as not taking up a 40 man spot and using options early).

The other major perk of the international kids is that so few of them are being abused at a young age. They don’t have high school and college coaches forcing them to throw ridiculous amounts of pitches, or teaching them improper mechanics on breaking pitches. Getting these kids signed young and working with your organization is definitely a plus.

Reyes, Thole, Wright, Beltran, Bay, Davis, Martinez, Tejada...

by Stephen Schmidt on Apr 7, 2010 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree, to an extent that if you're money is tight it might make more sense to go

that route, but it doesn’t make any sense for an organization who shouldn’t have a financial problem to be doing it, because like you said of the much lower success rate, not to mention the huge time difference in ETA, an IFA signed in the same year as you draft a college back could take 3-4 or more, years longer to arrive.

in billionaire russian playboys we trust.

by Gina on Apr 7, 2010 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions

And the problem is also

when most teams are following the model of spending on both, we’re still going to end up producing fewer quality players over the long run, since most teams will have all those guys you named + a better crop of college guys coming up with them.

in billionaire russian playboys we trust.

by Gina on Apr 7, 2010 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions

The Mets are in a unique position there though

They are the only team in the majors that has DSL and VSL teams, academies in both countries, and affiliates at every level of the minor leagues. Thats one extremely positive thing about the Minaya regime that will be here years after he is gone. The Mets have the ability to literally have about 75-100 extra prospects under contract and still get them the playing time amd development they need. Moreso than any other team in the majors, the Mets are actually built to attempt to develop IFA’s.

Reyes, Thole, Wright, Beltran, Bay, Davis, Martinez, Tejada...

by Stephen Schmidt on Apr 7, 2010 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

That said I wish they'd spend more on the draft as well, although they'll never be among the biggest spenders if they continue to sign type A's (which I'm fine with)

Reyes, Thole, Wright, Beltran, Bay, Davis, Martinez, Tejada...

by Stephen Schmidt on Apr 7, 2010 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

but doesn't the amount of money it takes to build and sustain that

or at least the start up costs off-set a lot of the money saved by bringing in droves of cheaper guys? And I’d wonder about what would happen with that if/when Omar is let go, since it seems to be his pet project.

in billionaire russian playboys we trust.

by Gina on Apr 7, 2010 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Since he got here, we've built state of the art academies in both countries.

A new GM may not have built them, but I’d assume since we already built them a good GM will make use of them (and likely do it well). I’m actually in favor of using some of our funds in this manor, as the long term benefits to the franchise should far outweigh the short term losses to the farm.

Reyes, Thole, Wright, Beltran, Bay, Davis, Martinez, Tejada...

by Stephen Schmidt on Apr 7, 2010 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I would wonder if a new gm would be able to use them is more my question

if he doesn’t have the same knowledge of the system that Omar does, or members of Omar’s “regime” do. Or if the apparent 12 person front office that’s been here most of the decade is kept and Omar is replaced if they don’t have much familiarity with it how would that affect it.

in billionaire russian playboys we trust.

by Gina on Apr 7, 2010 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think it's really rocket science.

Tey’re two complexes similar to St. Lucie, and pretty much every team is attempting to buildone in some foriegn country. If a guy can’t understand how to make use of tools like those, he really shouldn’t be a major league GM. It’s not like the new guy is being asked to be able to understand how to determine a player’s UZR, he’d be asked to run a complex with a bunch of baseball fields, training facilities, and dorms.

Reyes, Thole, Wright, Beltran, Bay, Davis, Martinez, Tejada...

by Stephen Schmidt on Apr 7, 2010 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow..lots of typos there

Reyes, Thole, Wright, Beltran, Bay, Davis, Martinez, Tejada...

by Stephen Schmidt on Apr 7, 2010 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions

One day I swear I'll learn to combine all my thoughts in one post

but also there’s the fact that as far as I know even now it’s not like we’re dominating the IFA market compared to other teams. We might be around the top of the league in it but we’re no where near dominating it to the point we would have to be to make up for the lack of resources devoted to the draft.

in billionaire russian playboys we trust.

by Gina on Apr 7, 2010 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Off the top of my head:

Joe Smith, Aaron Heilman, Heath Bell, Matt Lindstrom, Lastings Milledge, Brian Bannister, Jesus Flores, Phil Humber, Carlos Gomez, Yusmeiro Petit, Ty Wigginton, Endy Chavez (IFA but debuted as a Royal), Mike Carp.

Omar & Jerry are conspiring to drive me to drink. That, or they're just honestly totally incompetent.

by BobbyV_Incognito on Apr 7, 2010 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions