There is no question that since 2006, it has been extremely painful to be a Mets fan. After a relatively quick rise to the top of the National League through the first two years of the Omar Minaya regime, nothing has seemed to go right since. Of course it started with the historic September collapse of 2007 and was followed by a series of decisions that drove the organization to where it is now.
Many blame the decisions on the former General Manager, and rightly so. We can all site many moves that didn't pan out and I don't need to rehash it. Because of whats happened in the last three seasons in particular, a common sense opinion is that the team needs to rebuild. Day by day, the chances of the Mets re-signing Jose Reyes are getting glimmer and glimmer and with it go any hope of the team contending in 2012.
The thing is, the Mets will never completely rebuild. Though a logical story, Adam Rubin suggested that it may make sense to trade David Wright and start from scratch. Without Reyes, the Mets payroll stands to be about $85 million as is. If Sandy Alderson means it when he says the 2012 payroll will be between $100 and $110 million, that means $25 million more will be spent towards next year's team. Angel Pagan is a strong non-tender candidate. Mike Pelfrey is a small possibility. If both are non-tendered, thats another $10 million that will be used towards next year's team. So, trade David Wright and that frees another $15.25 million for next year. As much as a lot of fans want, Alderson is not going to put a team together with a $60-$80 million dollar payroll. No matter what fans say, money is going to be spent one way or another. Odds are there will be few to no long-term contracts, but money will be spent.
I understand the "New York fan mentality." It is: If you're on a team thats not good, you have to get out of here. And that may be the correct message. But I don't see a ton of answers on the free agent market, even on the low end. The Mets will have Major League players, and I mean proven veterans getting paid well, on their team next year. And if you don't believe me, I'll point it out when they are acquired via trade or free agency.
Mets fans can only control whether they want to go to the games or not. They can't influence how much money the team spends. I am not advocating the Mets go on a rediculous, irrational spending spree, but I am saying veteran players will be brought in for next year. Whether its a closer, which is very likely, or another starter, or a veteran middle infielder, or an centerfielder or a catcher- some money will be spent. If it were left up to baseball fans, no player would get paid anything close to what they get today thanks to the owners and the MLBPA. Its reality and whether its Chris Capuano seeming like a bargain for $4.5 million or its Oliver Perez cashing a $12 million check to not be on the team, payroll dollars are going to be spent. As fans we have to realize theres nothing we can do about it.
Many blame the decisions on the former General Manager, and rightly so. We can all site many moves that didn't pan out and I don't need to rehash it. Because of whats happened in the last three seasons in particular, a common sense opinion is that the team needs to rebuild. Day by day, the chances of the Mets re-signing Jose Reyes are getting glimmer and glimmer and with it go any hope of the team contending in 2012.
The thing is, the Mets will never completely rebuild. Though a logical story, Adam Rubin suggested that it may make sense to trade David Wright and start from scratch. Without Reyes, the Mets payroll stands to be about $85 million as is. If Sandy Alderson means it when he says the 2012 payroll will be between $100 and $110 million, that means $25 million more will be spent towards next year's team. Angel Pagan is a strong non-tender candidate. Mike Pelfrey is a small possibility. If both are non-tendered, thats another $10 million that will be used towards next year's team. So, trade David Wright and that frees another $15.25 million for next year. As much as a lot of fans want, Alderson is not going to put a team together with a $60-$80 million dollar payroll. No matter what fans say, money is going to be spent one way or another. Odds are there will be few to no long-term contracts, but money will be spent.
I understand the "New York fan mentality." It is: If you're on a team thats not good, you have to get out of here. And that may be the correct message. But I don't see a ton of answers on the free agent market, even on the low end. The Mets will have Major League players, and I mean proven veterans getting paid well, on their team next year. And if you don't believe me, I'll point it out when they are acquired via trade or free agency.
Mets fans can only control whether they want to go to the games or not. They can't influence how much money the team spends. I am not advocating the Mets go on a rediculous, irrational spending spree, but I am saying veteran players will be brought in for next year. Whether its a closer, which is very likely, or another starter, or a veteran middle infielder, or an centerfielder or a catcher- some money will be spent. If it were left up to baseball fans, no player would get paid anything close to what they get today thanks to the owners and the MLBPA. Its reality and whether its Chris Capuano seeming like a bargain for $4.5 million or its Oliver Perez cashing a $12 million check to not be on the team, payroll dollars are going to be spent. As fans we have to realize theres nothing we can do about it.
RSS Feed
