Not too often do I post something that is a continuation of what I discussed the day before. But, when I earlier posted about some FA infielders that the Mets could have gotten for non guaranteed contracts that could overachieve, the Mets signed free agent SS Ronny Cedeno to a 1 year, $1.2 million contract for the 2012 season. Can he play SS? Yes, but he has no use to the Mets bench unless Ruben Tejada gets hurt. (And Tejada is a better defensive SS anyway.) The Mets now have somebody who can play everyday at SS if Tejada gets hurt. When you have a five man bench, you need versatility and players that can do more than one thing.
Cedeno will not be used as a pinch hitter until the Mets use all other options. And remember, back-up catcher Mike Nickeas will be held back in case the catcher gets hurt and is not a threat offensively. So, a four men bench is becoming a three men bench. Last year the Mets had a bench spot wasted with Chin Lung Hu. He could not hit at all and it was obvious Terry Collins had no confidence in using him to hit. Hopefully he will have more confidence in using Cedeno, cause I wouldn't. The Mets will have another back-up infielder on their roster, whether its Justin Turner, Jordany Valdespin, Reese Havens or somebody they pick up from now until spring training. So, the team has options to serve as a defensive replacement for 2B Daniel Murphy without the use of Cedeno. And quite frankly, I'd like to see any of them at the plate before I see Ronny Cedeno.
Ryan Theriot would have provided depth in a couple of different places for the Mets. He could PH as well as start at SS or 2B without the Mets giving up anything offensively. Perhaps he was looking for more than the Mets could give. Same could be said about Wilson. Its not like Cedeno is Rey Ordonez; Theriot and especially Wilson could do what he can defensively.
I suggested some other options that may be worth taking a chance on. Willie Aybar and Aaron Miles are much better hitters but are not what Cedeno is defensively. SS such as Adam Everett, Julio Lugo, Eric Bruntlett, Christian Guzman (if he is retired it doesn't mean he will never want to play again) and Alfredo Amezaga can all do what Cedeno can do defensively for a non guaranteed contract. None of those before mentioned are attractive options, I know, but thats what you are getting with Cedeno.
Maybe the Mets could consider a trade. Not a major one, but one that could move one of their extra arms in the bullpen like Manny Acosta and get a solid back-up infielder like Robert Andino from Baltimore. JJ Hardy is playing everyday over there and the Orioles have some depth in middle infielders. Andino did well for the Orioles last year hitting .265 with 5 HR and 36 RBI. And he will not make very much for 2012, probably less than Cedeno. I'm sure other teams may have expendable back-up infielders that can similarly be had. But, now that its over, hopefully Cedeno can provide a little more than Chin Lung Hu, and not be a waste of a contract like DJ Carrasco is.
Cedeno will not be used as a pinch hitter until the Mets use all other options. And remember, back-up catcher Mike Nickeas will be held back in case the catcher gets hurt and is not a threat offensively. So, a four men bench is becoming a three men bench. Last year the Mets had a bench spot wasted with Chin Lung Hu. He could not hit at all and it was obvious Terry Collins had no confidence in using him to hit. Hopefully he will have more confidence in using Cedeno, cause I wouldn't. The Mets will have another back-up infielder on their roster, whether its Justin Turner, Jordany Valdespin, Reese Havens or somebody they pick up from now until spring training. So, the team has options to serve as a defensive replacement for 2B Daniel Murphy without the use of Cedeno. And quite frankly, I'd like to see any of them at the plate before I see Ronny Cedeno.
Ryan Theriot would have provided depth in a couple of different places for the Mets. He could PH as well as start at SS or 2B without the Mets giving up anything offensively. Perhaps he was looking for more than the Mets could give. Same could be said about Wilson. Its not like Cedeno is Rey Ordonez; Theriot and especially Wilson could do what he can defensively.
I suggested some other options that may be worth taking a chance on. Willie Aybar and Aaron Miles are much better hitters but are not what Cedeno is defensively. SS such as Adam Everett, Julio Lugo, Eric Bruntlett, Christian Guzman (if he is retired it doesn't mean he will never want to play again) and Alfredo Amezaga can all do what Cedeno can do defensively for a non guaranteed contract. None of those before mentioned are attractive options, I know, but thats what you are getting with Cedeno.
Maybe the Mets could consider a trade. Not a major one, but one that could move one of their extra arms in the bullpen like Manny Acosta and get a solid back-up infielder like Robert Andino from Baltimore. JJ Hardy is playing everyday over there and the Orioles have some depth in middle infielders. Andino did well for the Orioles last year hitting .265 with 5 HR and 36 RBI. And he will not make very much for 2012, probably less than Cedeno. I'm sure other teams may have expendable back-up infielders that can similarly be had. But, now that its over, hopefully Cedeno can provide a little more than Chin Lung Hu, and not be a waste of a contract like DJ Carrasco is.
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