What Might Jose Reyes Return in a Trade?

by Eno Sarris on Jun 9, 2011 10:00 AM EDT in New York Mets Rumors 2012

There will only be about a million of these articles between now and the trade deadline. That's fine, even if Jose Reyes is about the most exciting player in baseball. What we will attempt to do here is find a more scientific approach to determining the return the Mets might receive if they decide to trade their fleet-of-foot shortstop.

The problem with merely surveying other rosters and minor league systems in order to identify possible trade partners and trade targets is that we have no access here. We have no idea if the Giants would trade Madison Bumgarner, or even Zack Wheeler. It's all conjecture. And everyone's been guilty of it on some level.

But, if we take a more reasoned approach, we can really narrow down what might be a reasonable package. First, we can determine how much value (and surplus value) Reyes has now. Then we can use that value to determine what sort of quality of prospect might be required to trade for a player of that value. Then we can actually find a few players that are that type of prospect in the organizations that are currently competitive and seeking an upgrade at shortstop. Then we can compare the possible return to the picks we would receive if Reyes were to walk.

Because right now, someone in the Mets organization has a pretty good idea if Reyes is returning or not. And judging from the owners' comments, the outlook is cloudy. If that die has been cast, we might as well think about the best way forward from here. Even if it's one of the more depressing things about this season.

In order to find Reyes' surplus value, we have to find his rest-of-season WAR and subtract his salary.

For those purposes, we will take his ZIPS rest-of-season wOBA, subtract out .315 for league average, divide by 1.15, and multiply by expected plate appearances. That will give us his offensive runs above average over the rest of the year. For Reyes, FanGraphs has his RoS wOBA at .359. He's currently at .395, but that .359 number is not bad. It would be Reyes' third-best total of his career, and even using that as his RoS production, Reyes would end up with his career-best wOBA. Take .359, subtract .315, divide by 1.15 and multiply by another 400 plate appearances, and you get 15.30 batting runs above average.

Defense is tougher. Reyes is showing his best UZR/150 since 2006, but UZR has him at scratch. Three-year UZRs are the best way to use that statistic anyway, so let's call him a scratch defender at a tough position. Zero. There's defensive runs above average.

Then we add those two numbers together, and then add the projected position adjustment and a replacement level adjustment (+20 runs per 600 PA, so over ~400 PA, +13 runs), divide by 10, and bam, you have projected WAR. Check the FanGraphs library here for more on this if you like. Basiically, we have 15.3 + 0 + 4.86 (positional adjustment) + 13 (replacement level) = 33.16. That means Reyes is likely to pull in 3.3 WAR the rest of the way. If we want to create a range, let's say 3.0 to 3.5 depending on the value of his defense and his health.

Reyes is under contract for this season at $11 million. That mean's he's still owed $7.06 million for this year. At $4.5 million per WAR, he's 'worth' from $13.5 to $14.85 million over the rest of the season. So we have his surplus value - $6.44 to $7.79 million.

But we also have to add the expected value of the Type A free agent compensation picks. According to research by Victor Wang, those picks are worth $5.5 million. So even an enthusiastic trade partner would be looking at about $13.3 million in surplus value that they need to match.

Once again, Wang comes to the rescue. He valued a Baseball America top 51-75 hitter as being worth $14.2 million, and a top 26-50 pitcher as being worth about $15.9 million.

What prospects in those ranges belong to the Giants, Reds or Brewers? Those are the win-now teams with a most visible need at shortstop. Billy Hamilton, a speedy shortstop in the Reds organization, was ranked #50. Zach Wheeler, the Giants' best pitching prospect, came in at #55 on that same list. Devin Mesoraco, the Reds quality catching prospect, was rated #64. Yonder Alonso, their former first baseman turned outfielder, was #73. So it's true - the Brewers do not have the prospects to get Reyes.

There are some tasty names on this list nonetheless. They've been developed further, and have a better chance of succeeding, than the picks Jose Reyes would return in next year's draft if he were to leave. But they aren't elite prospects. And the Mets won't be getting multiple prospects of this quality, either. Pick one name.

Would you rather have Wheeler, and his double-digit strikeout rate in High-A? Or Billy Hamilton, the shortstop with 80 speed, no power, 8.8% walk rate and 28.3% strikeout rate in High-A? Both seem more likely to be centerpieces than Yonder Alonso, despite the outfielder's plate discipline (9.1% BB, 14.9% K in Triple-A) and modest power (.191 ISO), if only because the Mets have a reasonable crew of young outfielders coming up in the system. Devin Mesoraco has great patience (11.3% BB at Triple-A) and power (.223 ISO) but has a spotty history, and catching prospects seem to have the worst attrition rates.

And yet it still comes down to the question: will Jose Reyes be back? Because if he isn't going to be re-signed, $14 million of prospects is worth much more than $5.5 million in draft picks. That's the simplest math so far.

Thanks to DRaysBay for reminding me of Victor Wang's research.

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Comments

What I've been saying all along and what I pray happens is to keep Jose

If we cannot get a kings ransom for this man then NYM must play out the season and try to re-sign him in the off-season. Worst case scenario is we’ll get a 1st rd pick & a sandwich pick for him and move on. If we trade him now, it’s 0% he’s back

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by Kendrick Jay on Jun 9, 2011 10:12 AM EDT reply actions

No pick is worth the price we will pay by losing Jose.

One day, this team is going to kill me.

by fxcarden on Jun 9, 2011 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions

I floated Mesoraco

and Ismael Guillon (flamethrowing high upside low minors arm) as a reasonable package about a month ago.

I do think you have to consider that those three wins have a lot more marginal value to the Reds and Giants than just a flat MORP number. If they, say, take them from 87 wins to 90, their chances of making the playoffs spikes up and thus has more value in terms of back end revenue for the team.

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by Jeffrey Paternostro on Jun 9, 2011 10:12 AM EDT reply actions

yeah

i agree with a lot of what you said. first, i wouldn’t be surprised to see sandy target one of cincinnati’s catching prospects (mesoraco or grandal) as our long-term catching situation is so down right now. though catchers are so damn risky so i waver on that…

also, i’ll second your overall sentiment that there is a lot more at play here that these numbers just cannot reflect. beyond just the greater value that is likely placed on those potentially playoff-clinching victories, there is jose’s value which is unique to the mets that cannot be quantified in surplus value figures, what i’ll call goodwill (in the accounting sense that expresses the value of an entity over and above the value of its assets). and we could go on.

this is an…interesting excercise (i was going to say fun but anything regarding trading reyes is the opposite of fun) but i don’t know how much meaning it ultimately has.

by Rob Castellano on Jun 9, 2011 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Plus

Not only do we need to conside the surplus value of Reyes to the Mets but also the value of the Mets to Reyes. He’s already signed one deal at a home town discount, whether this makes him more or less likely (either he loves it here that much or now feels like he needs to get his money since he didn’t before) I can’t tell, but it certainly impacts how valuable having him here set up to re-sign would be. Or if he REALLY likes the Mets he can just say “Hey Sandy, deal me for some help, rebuild here while I help another team for a bit. I’ll be back in about 6 months.” That probably breaks a few rules but I can dream, can’t I?

by revans on Jun 9, 2011 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

There's a reason why there are rules against tampering

But I know, the trade-and-resign arrangement is my perfect fantasy too. Let Reyes have some fantasy-camp fun with a playoff run in another uniform for three months, and then shout “PSYCH!” and bring him and the prospects back for 2012.

by anonymous on Jun 9, 2011 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Especially if we have a protected pick

That would be the ultimate win. Two or three top prospects, high draft pick and the best shortstop in baseball

by Evan_S on Jun 9, 2011 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree

about the marginal value. didn’t say so explicitly, but that’s why I actually focused on packages that were worth slightly more than Reyes’ surplus value alone.

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by Eno Sarris on Jun 9, 2011 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Your intution

was spot on. I think that’s the best deal. Mesoraco-plus.

All depends on whether or not the team has made a decision about re-signing Reyes already.

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by Eno Sarris on Jun 9, 2011 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Answer: Not Enough

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by Russ on Jun 9, 2011 10:18 AM EDT reply actions 10 recs

That's fucking logic

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by Aidan Gibson on Jun 9, 2011 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions

RE-SIGN

Trade & then re-sign?

by MDMETSFAN on Jun 9, 2011 10:25 AM EDT reply actions

Sandy said that is not going to happen.

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by Michkin on Jun 9, 2011 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions

If I was Jose and was traded then made an offer by the Mets

I would laugh. It’s about being loyal. Keep him and try to re-sign at the end of the yr. I don’t see to many teams if one that would give a 7 yr deal.

by TheKid08 on Jun 9, 2011 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Well

he said it’s unlikely. Unlikely is unlikely but it’s not a 0% chance, especially considering you’d have to imagine Sandy wouldn’t want to tip his hand if he was interested in dealing him at the deadline and resigning him in the offseason.

Still, I imagine it’d be tough to pull off, especially not having that exclusive window after the WS to negotiate with him.

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by Steve Schreiber on Jun 9, 2011 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

The Mets shouldn’t be in a position where they are considering trading Jose to Cincy or Milwaukee. Those teams are supposed to be trading guys to us for prospects.

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by Dash Williams on Jun 9, 2011 10:28 AM EDT reply actions

Why?

Right now, they’re contenders and “we’re” not.

Just because “we” have an NYC zipcode doesn’t mean the other 29 teams are “our” personal farm system: we don’t think like Yankee fans.

Oh, the butcher and the baker and the people on the street: wheredotheygo?!?!? Right here: http://myentireteam.wordpress.com/

by CharlieH on Jun 9, 2011 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

PS

KEEP. JOSE. REYES.

Oh, the butcher and the baker and the people on the street: wheredotheygo?!?!? Right here: http://myentireteam.wordpress.com/

by CharlieH on Jun 9, 2011 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Dash is right

We do have an NYC zip code, and that should mean that we have the revenue to keep our best players. It is the smaller market teams who typically need to move elite players for prospects. We may not be in a position to that now, but we should be. Being that we’re not, we should be transitioning into such a model.

__________________________________________________
"He who gets the best players usually wins" - Bobby Bowden

by Russ on Jun 9, 2011 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Not as long as Wilponzis are running this team.

They want to hold onto this team even if that means punishing MLB, The Fans, Met players, with a payroll around $100 Million. That’s just a joke. Boston, Yankees, and PHillies give out multi $100 millon contract a yr for 1 player, They will drag this out for yrs with a low payroll until they lose enough money to sell. It sucks for us fans.

by TheKid08 on Jun 9, 2011 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions

uh

…

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by Cory Braiterman on Jun 9, 2011 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Shelby Miller

by Airfeet on Jun 9, 2011 11:18 AM EDT reply actions

Not enough

And I doubt that St. Louis will trade for Reyes because they probably can’t afford to ink both Pujols and Jose.

__________________________________________________
"He who gets the best players usually wins" - Bobby Bowden

by Russ on Jun 9, 2011 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions

That's actually pretty interesting

In theory, St. Louis might be a team I would trade him to since that means he’ll probably hit free agency. Still, I’m gonna cry if he ever wears another uniform while he’s still a valuable player

by Evan_S on Jun 9, 2011 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

or we can sign pujols and stick him in left

and hope bay gets into a cab accident

I believe in one Dickey, Maker of knuckles and balls

by HotChipWillBreakYourLegs on Jun 9, 2011 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions

I like Reyes better

Obviously Pujols has been the best player in baseball since Bonds retired, but if I had a choice to sign Reyes to a $120 million contract or Pujols to a $250 million contract, I’d take Reyes. Also, Reyes’ dreads>>

by Evan_S on Jun 9, 2011 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

To a team like the Giants or Reds

The marginal value of the 3~ extra wins that Reyes will provide is much more valuable than just a set $/WAR. These teams are fringe playoff teams currently and an extra 3 wins probably is the difference between playing in October and watching in October. To me, this should provide even more value for Reyes in a potential trade that really can’t be factored.

bottom line, KEEP JOSE!

by theamato on Jun 9, 2011 11:43 AM EDT reply actions

Do these calculations account for ticket sales?

I’m guessing the team will not be doing as well without Reyes, no matter whom we get in return. Would ticket sales drop even further and hold at low levels for a number of year?
How about SNY ratings?
Not signing him may have a cost that exceeds difference between his projected salary and wage(s) of projected replacement(s),

by popshobby on Jun 9, 2011 11:50 AM EDT reply actions

ah yes

the negative value for the Mets. Good point, although there hasn’t been much work on it. I did tend towards trying to get more value than just his surplus value alone. Mesoraco plus a live arm is ‘worth’ about $20 million to Reyes’ $13.

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by Eno Sarris on Jun 9, 2011 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Missing some key information...

Eno, I think you should include: Increased Ticket Sales (this season), increased package sales for the following season due to success, Increased chance to make the playoffs, Increased chance to win the world series, Increased advertising…. The list goes on…

Clearly, there are a lot of variables that increase for the team recieving Jose and decrease for the Mets in loosing him that need to be accounted for. I spoke to one person who believes that teams value brought in by these types of deals in excess of $30M, and I’d buy that number.

Also, Billy Hamilton isn’t the type of cornerstone the player the Mets should be recieving.

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by JD Sussman on Jun 9, 2011 11:57 AM EDT reply actions

I agree about Billy Hamilton

And a flaw in this work is that we don’t have a BA top 100 for right now.

But how much is Reyes going to add to the Giants’ ticket sales? I went to a Tuesday night laugher the other day, BumG v Volstad. Full park. Turned out awesome and terrible, as the team tied it up and then lost Posey, but I digress. I’m not buying that $30 million number for two teams that were in the playoffs last year. I might go to $20 million, which just means that you add a secondary prospect to the names above. Would have happened anyway, Reyes isn’t going straight up for Hamilton or Wheeler. Still not the amazing packages that people might want for such an amazing player.

The fact remains that he’s only signed for the rest of this year, even if it’s at a 50% of market deal.

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by Eno Sarris on Jun 9, 2011 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Continuing the exercise: Hypothetically, if we agreed to pay Reyes' salary

That would make Reyes worth the full $13.5 to $14.85 value plus $11 in draft picks, or, about $25 total. This gets you a top 11-25 hitter or basically any pitcher, according to Wang’s research.

That adds the following possible trade candidates

Shelby Miller RHP – Cardinals
Brandon Belt LHP – Giants
Madison Bumgarner 1B – Giants

The Giants may need both Belt and Bumgarner this year as part of their postseason plan. Shelby Miller could be okay but isn’t super exciting as his stuff is just so-so and is already looking less prodigious at AA.

p.s. I don’t really think any of Reyes’ potential suitors will need or want us to cover his salary but it’s fun to look at the reasonable what if scenarios.

by TheBigStapler on Jun 9, 2011 12:52 PM EDT reply actions

I do like that

thanks!

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by Eno Sarris on Jun 9, 2011 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Hamilton

is viewed pretty much as a 2B. Toolsy and fast make the likes of Kevin Goldstein all sweaty and weak, but will he hit past rookie ball? Yonder is really a 1B. Isn’t Ike pretty much penciled in for the next half decade?

I’d also be shocked if Cards would trade Miller or SF, Bumgarner or even Belt.

by ol Pete on Jun 9, 2011 1:00 PM EDT reply actions

Would Anyone Here, There Or Anywhere....

…. be championing the return of Reyes if he wasn’t having such a great season (so far)? How many of the people that have posted at this site wanted Reyes gone before 2011?

I thought, for years, that Reyes was one of the best shortstops in baseball, and I continue to think that, though I don’t know if there’s really much competition in baseball at the shortstop position. Reyes has to be easily within the top-10.

I always laughed when I read or heard anyone saying he should be traded. Now, is he worth a huge contract, which the Mets would have to give him in order for Reyes to forgo free agency. Will the Mets be willing— and, more importantly— able to do that?

I guess what I am trying to find out, and will be surprised to read, is if people will admit to being on the Reyes bandwagon now when they weren’t before, due to the season he’s having. Remember: Honesty is the best policy.

"We praise or blame as one or the other affords more opportunity for exhibiting our power of judgment." Friedrich Nietzsche, "Human,All Too Human" (1878)

by wgarrett on Jun 9, 2011 1:10 PM EDT reply actions

don't blame me

i’m the jackass that said i’d rather lose with wright and reyes than win without them…

by Rob Castellano on Jun 9, 2011 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think you'll find many people around AA who ever set foot off the Reyes bandwagon

As far as I can recall, aside from the occasional “contrarian” arguing for the sake of argument and the sporadic debate about whether he’s the best SS or merely one of the best, consensus around here has been hugely on his side from day one.

by anonymous on Jun 9, 2011 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

I searched through my history on this site, and I have never said a bad word about Jose on this site that wasn't clearly in jest

I’ve been for Reyes as a life long Mets for as long as I can remember.

by Evan_S on Jun 9, 2011 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

people make jokes all the time on here

I cant remember anyone actually wanting to get rid of him.

As for Reyes rank among current SS. Coming into this season, he was top 2-3 in every offensive statistical category since 2006, when the other SS of note came into this league. Its pretty much HanRam first in every category, then some combo of Reyes/Jeter/Tulo second and third. Reyes would probably be tied with HanRam in terms of overall value without the time missed in 09 and recovering from thyroid issues last year, despite that he is 2nd in value.

Jose is a top 3 SS in the majors and has always played that well, and I personally would have always taken him over any other SS (bias? of course, but he is way more awesome than Tulo or HanRam) and expect more out of him the rest of his career than the other 2

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by astromets on Jun 9, 2011 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Before the season

I believe I wrote a piece saying he could be Barry Larkin with more speed, even with the occasional injury problem. That’s pretty laudatory, right?

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by Eno Sarris on Jun 9, 2011 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions

raise

i’ll take your larkin comp and do you one better, a story i wrote back in february titled ‘Jose Reyes v. Barry Larkin’.

and as long as we’re reminiscing, everybody point at this june ‘09 story by buster olney titled ’Mets must face possibility that Reyes has peaked’ and laugh derisively.

by Rob Castellano on Jun 9, 2011 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Buster Olney - F

I LIKE IKE!

by astromets on Jun 9, 2011 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

goddangit Rob!

My piece was three days later! Sorry, I read everything on here usually. Great minds and all that. Sorry bro. I did go into other comps like Furcal, but jeez. And I know you did a Reyes trade piece.

Oh well, now you know how both Rob and I feel haha.

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by Eno Sarris on Jun 9, 2011 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Hmmm

Have you even gotten on the Reyes bandwagon with us? Just saying “within the top 10”? I guess that’s getting a foothold up onto the bandwagon. I first said top ten at SS his second month in the bigs. I took a seat on this bandwagon and it would take more than a few injuries and the promise of a few decent prospects to drag me off.

by revans on Jun 9, 2011 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

before I read I thought I would give my opinion

as an everyday player, who leads off and plays SS, and who is playing at an MVP level – he deserves more back in a trade than anyone I can remember ever being traded, even Matt Holliday.

I LIKE IKE!

by astromets on Jun 9, 2011 1:25 PM EDT reply actions

wow did you disagree

lets hope people we are trying to trade with determine that is what he is worth, because Sandy would get lynched if he gave up Jose Reyes for just one of those guys. Or maybe hopefully that is what they determine and Sandy is smart and resigns Reyes immediately!

Still, a lot of the added value you give comes from the draft picks and it is possible the trading team puts more/less value in those picks, as I think I have read type A compensation is worth around 10 mil before in another article. Still, IMO, any team who trades for Reyes has to not only include the value saved by not having to give up draft picks and WAR, but also the value Reyes brings to getting people to fill the seats and buy more merchandise for years to come and the increased chances in the playoffs.

Also, Jose already has 3.5 WAR in less than half a season.

I LIKE IKE!

by astromets on Jun 9, 2011 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I am sure you make very good points

but this is still to depressing to think about.

by Kepler on Jun 9, 2011 2:33 PM EDT reply actions

no way they trade him

Let’s face it . Alderson and the wilpons realize that if they trade their future hall of famer for anything less than another cooperstown candidate, that they will never again be able to show their faces at citi feild. They are going to make an offer and let reyes turn it down(2 draft picks) and avoid the full wrath of the fans. It sucks that fred has put us in this position.

by bob c on Jun 9, 2011 2:49 PM EDT reply actions

Honest question:

Why is Bumgarner such a target of interest? Looking at his MiLB and MLB stats, I don’t see what’s so intriguing. They look fairly pedestrian.

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by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jun 9, 2011 2:58 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Honest question:

Why is Bumgarner such a target of interest? Looking at his MiLB and MLB stats, I don’t see what’s so intriguing. They look fairly pedestrian.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
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by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jun 9, 2011 3:00 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

bumgarner

just take a look at the message the sponsor of his BR page left for the answer:

‘1.13 ERA in September 2010 as the Giants chased down an NL West Title. Epic performance in Game 4 of the 2010 World Series.’

factor in that he’s still only 21 and left-handed and you can see why people have gone a little nuts. make no mistake, he’s a really valuable commodity but i do think he’s gotten a little overhyped, largely because of the playoff stuff.

however, beyond that, as a minor leaguer he posted a career 2.00 ERA with an 8.00 K/9 and a sub 2 BB/9. pretty damn good numbers, definitely not pedestrian.

i wouldn’t trade reyes for him but i certainly wouldn’t be upset if he was in our rotation.

by Rob Castellano on Jun 9, 2011 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Most of the minors domination came when he had plus velocity though

And granted it has ticked back up a bit since 2009. He is a nice, cost-controlled mid-rotation arm, but he’s not the uber prospect he was 3 years ago. He does have the advantage of being ML-ready, something I think the Mets need to consider if they are going to make a Reyes trade (and why I prefer Mesoraco over Grandal)

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by Jeffrey Paternostro on Jun 9, 2011 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Average FB velo this year is 92, hitting 94 often

For a LHP, that is definitely still plus velocity, unless I’m missing something.

The only reason he’s not an “uber prospect” is because he’s not a prospect anymore, and has lived up to the billing and then some, the same way so many other recent Giants pitchers have.

I think a case could easily be made that Mad Bum is a top 5 NL lefty.

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by hairball on Jun 10, 2011 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Tim Lincecum = 2.2 FG WAR so far this season

Madison Bumgarner = 2.1, good for 14th best in all of MLB.

Frankly, Mad Bum is not getting hyped enough. He’s having a phenomenal season, and showing incredible poise and a steady hand.

"Bruce Wayne is the Brian Wilson of Gotham." -DrDC

by hairball on Jun 10, 2011 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions

By "incredible poise" I meant "in spite of his 2-8 record"

for more, see here: http://www.baycityball.com/2011/06/10/giants-can%e2%80%99t-score-lose/

"Bruce Wayne is the Brian Wilson of Gotham." -DrDC

by hairball on Jun 10, 2011 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Honest question:

Why is Bumgarner such a target of interest? Looking at his MiLB and MLB stats, I don’t see what’s so intriguing. They look fairly pedestrian.

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

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3rd Place- 2011 AAOP Contest

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jun 9, 2011 3:09 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Keith

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

by Steve Schreiber on Jun 9, 2011 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow...Keith

"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 Jun 9, 2011 3:10 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Keith

"The Mets can't even do well in the Arab League."

by hnymustprtzl on Jun 9, 2011 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Keith

Now, kids, being eaten by a crocodile is just like going to sleep; in giant blender.

by meigs1414 on Jun 9, 2011 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Keith

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

by Steve Schreiber on Jun 9, 2011 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions

What about Tejada?

The conversation about Reyes has to include something about Tejada.

If they keep Reyes, do they trade Tejada? Does he play second next year? Does Murph? Turner? Havens? Castillo?

The one “good thing” that hurts Reyes’ chances of staying is that Tejada is hitting over .300 and playing absolutely sick defense. There’s no comparison that Reyes is a better player than Tejada, but I’m sure Mets management is thinking Tejada will become Reyes with more power (eventually) and less speed. He’s 21.

by tfinnz on Jun 9, 2011 4:13 PM EDT reply actions

I hope this is a joke

Forecasting that Tejada is even going to be an acceptable hitter at the major-league level still seems pretty premature — the idea that he’s some kind of drop-in Reyes replacement because of his batting average (!) in 70 PA is pure fantasy.

by anonymous on Jun 9, 2011 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Alls I'm saying

If I were Met management, I’d find it easier to justify trading Reyes now rather than if Tejada was batting. 215.

Also, SSS aside, Tejada would be great as part of a Beltran trade for say a super prospect, a load of prospects, something like that.

by tfinnz on Jun 9, 2011 7:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Ruben Tejada is just the kind of guy you want to have for depth

in case (gahfuhbid) Reyes is out for an extended period of time in future years. I think he’ll at least be a replacement level shortstop with some nice upside. Most of the decent hitting shortstops in our system are crap defenders that profile for other positions better.

by TheBigStapler on Jun 9, 2011 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions