Mets Trade Eddie Kunz To Padres For Allan Dykstra

by Eric Simon on Mar 29, 2011 1:53 PM EDT

The Mets have traded ruff-riding RHP Eddie Kunz to the Padres for first baseman Allan Dykstra. Kunz was a first-round pick of the Mets in 2007, a sandwich selection awarded as compensation when Roberto Hernandez signed with the Pirates. Kunz looked like a reliable ground ball righty early on but now he looks like a washout whose claim to fame around these parts was a blog post he wrote from the Arizona Fall League back in October 2008 in which he described his previous outing as "ruff."

Dykstra was a first-round pick of the Padres in the 2008 draft, taken 23rd overall. He has 189 walks and 232 strike outs in 1,038 minor league plate appearances and has shown a little bit of pop. He's only 23 and his plate discipline is enviable, but he hasn't hit for average yet and, as a first baseman, he has nowhere else to tumble on the defensive spectrum. Unless, of course, he can find a way to tumble upwards (or, rather, leftwards).

Kunz had zero tools and Dykstra appears to have at least one, so this looks like a nothing-for-something trade from the Mets' perspective.

As Sandy Alderson and Paul DePodesta both arrived in New York via the Padres' organization, you have to figure one or the other is a Dykstra fan.

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Hmmm interesting maybe

Freedom is a road seldom traveled by the multitudes...

by Major on Mar 29, 2011 2:01 PM EDT reply actions

Good trade

Kunz was basically worthless, so even if Dykstra never does anything we don’t miss out on much.

by Stephen Schmidt on Mar 29, 2011 2:07 PM EDT reply actions

I have Eddie Kunz's autograph

not a lot more to say on that guy

"I bet you'd lobby her, you horny 15 year old!" -Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Double-Bobby-Jones/137806699125

metsguy234

by metsguy234 on Mar 29, 2011 2:07 PM EDT reply actions

And at tax time

you list that on the liabilities schedule?

"Never throw a slider to The Glider."

- Ed Charles, No. 5

"Who has more fun than people?"

- Ralph Kiner

by The Glider on Mar 29, 2011 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions

re: Dykstra

if he can play anything like Pops he’ll be a welcome addition (although hopefully he can invest better than Pops)

"I bet you'd lobby her, you horny 15 year old!" -Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Double-Bobby-Jones/137806699125

metsguy234

by metsguy234 on Mar 29, 2011 2:08 PM EDT reply actions

He's not related to Lenny Dykstra

by Stephen Schmidt on Mar 29, 2011 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

how the shit can that be

isn’t that like a bizarrely uncommon last name?

"I bet you'd lobby her, you horny 15 year old!" -Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Double-Bobby-Jones/137806699125

metsguy234

by metsguy234 on Mar 29, 2011 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions

No

It really isn’t

by Stephen Schmidt on Mar 29, 2011 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it's a Dutch name

But maybe I only think that because it sounds like the word “dike.”

http://wakeforestsports.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/dykstra_allan00.html

by hotspur on Mar 29, 2011 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions

No, it's because it sounds like this dude

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edsger_W._Dijkstra

Enjoy your brains while they’re young, kids.

by hotspur on Mar 29, 2011 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions

ironically

Lenny Dykstra’s son was JUST traded a few days ago, from the Brewers to the Nats for Nyjer Morgan. His name is Cutter Dykstra

"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 Mar 29, 2011 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

oh, thats why I was confused

I knew I heard that Dykstra was Lenny kid, but it was a different trade.

Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all

by Rickfansince76 on Mar 29, 2011 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

It's that time of the year

when all the Dykstras are shuffled.

"..."

by Thaddeus Ballpheasant on Mar 29, 2011 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Good trade. I the the second to last line sums it best: Kunz has nothing, Dykstra at least has something (seriously good patience).

by nmigliore on Mar 29, 2011 2:11 PM EDT reply actions

I can'

Oh pissing blimey there's jam coming out of the walls!
"Luis Hernandez is the kind of player so beloved by Omar Minaya that it’s a miracle he isn’t stuck with an option giving him $3 million if he has 11 at-bats." -JF

by TWilliAM on Mar 29, 2011 2:24 PM EDT reply actions

Ahem

I can’t believe the Mets traded their closer of the future. #nymediahype

by TWilliAM on Mar 29, 2011 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Kunz

He was still a Met? Damn video games, I trade him or release him right away in The Show, so I always forget he is..er, was..on the sqaud.

by CCE718 on Mar 29, 2011 2:27 PM EDT reply actions

We're not entirely sure he can hit for average and plays a corner right now

Ladies and Gentlemen, another second base option.

But seriously, I like this trade a lot. Dykstra is an interesting prospect with some upside. He is also not Eddie Kunz.

by Jeffrey Paternostro on Mar 29, 2011 2:37 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs

Nooo!!!

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

AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 453 posts (10/03/10)
3rd Place- 2011 AAOP Contest

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Mar 29, 2011 2:55 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Would dykstra be on the mets top 50 prospect list

I think he is

by Netsfan310 on Mar 29, 2011 2:58 PM EDT reply actions

Dykstra has a reconstructed hip, is slow, not great defensively, probably only a 1Bman, and has been a disappointing bat. This is a case of Sandy thinking his mistake is better than Omar’s. We can’t expect much from either player, but between the 2 positions I would have gone for the pitcher. Don’t see the need for Dykstra.

by dougdilg on Mar 29, 2011 3:05 PM EDT reply actions

There is a good chance

The Ks completly eat up Dykstra at higher levels and he washes out. He showed some power and patience in not a great offensive environment last year, but obviously needs to hit a ton for the bat to play at first, because he can’t play anywhere else.

They got him for Kunz, whose control and command have completely collapsed at this point, had never walked less than 4 per 9 over extended time at any level to begin with, doesn’t even really get Ks or groundballs any more, and is a year older than Dykstra.

I’ll take Dykstra.

by Jeffrey Paternostro on Mar 29, 2011 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

i'm with you

they both look like they’ll never be major leaguers, but i’d rather have power arms than another mediocre corner player. can’t see this being a big deal either way though, and i doubt we’ll regret this trade

"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 Mar 29, 2011 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Meh

Kunz really has no skills though. Look at his stats in AA…he’s got no control and even if he somehow finds it, he always had trouble against lefties. At the best, he’s a middle reliever/ROOGY and not the closer or setup man people wrongly thought he would turn into.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Mar 29, 2011 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Scouting Report

Dykstra made BA’s 31st team last year, same year Duda made it. Here’s the scouting report from then:

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2010/269446.html

by dougdilg on Mar 29, 2011 3:07 PM EDT reply actions

Eddie Kunz was worthless

so I guess this is an upgrade?

by BurleighGrimes on Mar 29, 2011 3:16 PM EDT reply actions

A slight upgrade

but an upgrade nonetheless. At least Dykstra’s got potential to make it as a high OBP/power guy and the Mets seem to do well with developing college bats.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Mar 29, 2011 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions

dykstra's not good

but i’m shocked that the mets were able to get anything of value for kunz the way he was throwing last season/this spring.

by Rob Castellano on Mar 29, 2011 3:17 PM EDT reply actions

It's unlikely he'll ever amount to much at this point

I’m guessing the main point of this move is to help out the B-Mets offense this year.

by psiogen on Mar 29, 2011 3:36 PM EDT reply actions

Since his dad is "Nails"

can we call this guy “Thumbtacks” to designate him as a lesser Dykstra?

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Mar 29, 2011 3:53 PM EDT reply actions

Hes not Nails' kid

by SFloridaMetsFan on Mar 29, 2011 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Wrong Dykstra

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

AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 453 posts (10/03/10)
3rd Place- 2011 AAOP Contest

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Mar 29, 2011 3:58 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

ah damn

i’m gonna call him thumbtacks anyway

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Mar 29, 2011 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions

by default

this kid can give you better investment advice

I.M. Forme
"When you get yourself into trouble is when you feel you have to do something, and then you get yourself in trouble." --Omar Minaya

by itsmetsforme on Mar 29, 2011 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions

thus making him a pale imitation of Nails

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Mar 29, 2011 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I like it.

"And that's why anybody who invested with Lenny Dykstra should really call that number. Lawyers are standing by."

by BobbyV_Incognito on Mar 29, 2011 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions

That's Ruff

by Stephen Schmidt on Mar 29, 2011 4:01 PM EDT reply actions

might just need

a minor league 1b

by jdon on Mar 29, 2011 4:10 PM EDT reply actions

Odds he becomes Heath Bell 2.0?

Performance wouldn’t signal it, but we are the Mets, so…

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

AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 453 posts (10/03/10)
3rd Place- 2011 AAOP Contest

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Mar 29, 2011 4:43 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Even with us being the Mets

I’d put it at like 5-10%. There’s always the chance something clicks, but it’d be a pretty radical change if it did.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Mar 29, 2011 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Bell was good in the minors at least.

Kunz hasn’t mastered minor league levels that Acosta has.

by FrancoTAU on Mar 30, 2011 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions

But I just heard Dykstra's son was traded to someone?

You are telling me there are two Dykstra’s that aren’t related at all?

"You can spend minutes, hours, days weeks or even months overanalyzing a situation; trying to put the pieces together, justifying what would’ve, could’ve happened – or you can just leave the pieces on the floor and move the **** on."
-Tupac Amaru Shakur

by NetsMets4Life on Mar 29, 2011 5:10 PM EDT reply actions

Cutter Dykstra to Nats. Nyjer Morgan to Brewers

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

AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 453 posts (10/03/10)
3rd Place- 2011 AAOP Contest

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Mar 29, 2011 5:31 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Possibly 3.

B-Ref also lists a James Dykstra, drafted by the Rockies in the 50th round last June. All they list is that he’s a righty who was picked out a JUCO in Arizona. Apparently, he did not sign.

"And that's why anybody who invested with Lenny Dykstra should really call that number. Lawyers are standing by."

by BobbyV_Incognito on Mar 29, 2011 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions