Soriano to the Mets?!

potatoman · 03-05-2006, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Alright, here's a new one. I can't really verify the source, but it still seems ripe for discussion.

Word is that the Mets could send Xavier Nady, John Maine, and Jeff Keppinger to the Nationals for Alfonso Soriano, Bill Bray, and Jason Bergmann. Let's discuss.

Could the Mets do without Nady? Absolutely. Wright doesn't need much time off, and Franco can spell Delgado. I'm of the opinion that Victor Diaz does not need a platoon partner in right field. Nady would be more useful for Washington. He could handle right field for three months while Jose Guillen is out, and Matt LeCroy could spend more time backing up Brian Schneider than Nick Johnson. Plus, Nady could take over first base in 2007 if Johnson leaves via free agency.

I'm not sure that John Maine figures into the Mets' rotation plans. He didn't make their depth chart, which goes eight-deep on starting pitchers. Maine already has Triple A experience and could probably manage a mid-4 ERA pitching half his games in RFK. That'd be a more adequate replacement for Brian Lawrence than some sort of Drese/Rauch experiment.

Jeff Keppinger has most certainly been passed by Anderson Hernandez on the Mets' 2B depth chart, and so the Mets wouldn't really need him even if they let Soriano walk after 2006. Keppinger is probably best served as a utility man anyway, and he'd get a decent opportunity backing up Jose Vidro. Brendan Harris might already fill this role for the Nats, but he's no sure thing.

To recap: the Nationals would receive a borderline backup in Nady, a back-rotation starter in Maine, and a utility infielder in Keppinger. It's quantity over quality, but Bowden is between a rock and a hard place here with Soriano.

Speaking of which, Soriano would fit nicely into the Latino core Omar Minaya is building. I don't know whether the Mets would try to keep him long-term, but even a player with his flaws is a good pickup for the cost outlined here.

College product Bill Bray isn't too far off from being a Major League setup man. I'm not so sure Bowden would need to give him up in this deal. It seems to tip the scales too far towards the Mets.

Likewise with Bergmann, who had a nice year last year and figured to slot into the Nats' big league bullpen. That's two valuable relievers going to New York, and it seems like too much.

Admittedly the Nationals are giving up a lot of value for some questionable prospects. On the other hand, Bowden's trade for Soriano is Exhibit A that he is capable of making trades that do not favor the his team at all.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2006/0...ded_soria.html

Hmmm...

Skipaway · 03-05-2006, 12:37 PM

Word.

Cubsgnrlmngr · 03-05-2006, 12:40 PM

I'd do it I were the Nationals.

bigdgp2 · 03-05-2006, 12:43 PM

If the Mets get Alfonso Soriano, they are a going to win the World Series!!!!!1

Eckstein 4 Prez · 03-05-2006, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cubsgnrlmngr

I'd do it I were the Nationals.

Yeah, I don't think this is all that bad of a deal for Washington. I don't know how Nady is in the field, but he had an OPS+ of 106 last year playing in an extreme pitcher's park. Soriano is one of the worst fielders on the face of the earth, and had an OPS+ of 110 last year playing in an extreme hitters' park. In addition, the Nationals would be getting someone who is actually willing to play the outfield. Granted, the numbers for beyond last year obviously favor Soriano, but he's also three years older than Nady.

If the Nats have to give up those pitching prospects as well, I like the deal a little less for them, as I don't see Maine or Keppinger being anything all that special. Still, this is certainly not a lopsided trade in favor of the Mets. It looks like Bowden may have found his intellectual equal. Or, to put it another way, having traded his dollar for a few pennies, it looks as though he's found someone else willing to swap pennies with him.

(God, that trade with the Rangers really was one of the worst deals I've seen in a while. Someone should stop Bowden before he hurts himself.)

HanKDanK · 03-05-2006, 01:06 PM

I read this in newsday the other day and it sounded more like Omar would be interested in getting Vidro back than Soriano.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseba...=ny-mets-print

Skipaway · 03-05-2006, 01:11 PM

Newsday is a better source than Word, isn't it?

molarmite · 03-05-2006, 01:46 PM

Looks like no Soriano to the Twins, that's really a shame.

UngratefulDead · 03-05-2006, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eckstein 4 Prez

I don't know how Nady is in the field, but he had an OPS+ of 106 last year playing in an extreme pitcher's park. Soriano is one of the worst fielders on the face of the earth, and had an OPS+ of 110 last year playing in an extreme hitters' park.

Isn't OPS+ park-adjusted?

Slackker · 03-05-2006, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UngratefulDead

Isn't OPS+ park-adjusted?

Yes, it is.. but that doesn't help the argument as much.

Eckstein 4 Prez · 03-05-2006, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UngratefulDead

Isn't OPS+ park-adjusted?

D'oh! Sure is.... what the hell was I thinking?

The deal still seems pretty close to a wash to me as originally reported in the rumor. I'm not surprised to see that the Mets seem more interested in Vidro - they should just keep negotiating and I'm sure before long Bowden will give him up for shockingly little.

UngratefulDead · 03-05-2006, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eckstein 4 Prez

The deal still seems pretty close to a wash to me as originally reported in the rumor. I'm not surprised to see that the Mets seem more interested in Vidro - they should just keep negotiating and I'm sure before long Bowden will give him up for shockingly little.

Yeah, that's the trouble with trading for a new second baseman before you deal your old one.

JDOldSchool · 03-05-2006, 05:04 PM

If OPS+ is park adjusted, how in the hell was Soriano a 110 last year when he was almost entirely useless on the road?

TotalEnd98 · 03-05-2006, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDOldSchool

If OPS+ is park adjusted, how in the hell was Soriano a 110 last year when he was almost entirely useless on the road?

Because he was .315/.355/.656 at home.

JDOldSchool · 03-05-2006, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TotalEnd98

Because he was .315/.355/.656 at home.

Which shows that he was a product of his home park being one of the easiest places to hit a baseball in the entire world.

Eckstein 4 Prez · 03-05-2006, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDOldSchool

Which shows that he was a product of his home park being one of the easiest places to hit a baseball in the entire world.

Right, but don't make the mistake of simply throwing out his home stats. That slugging percentage is pretty decent even adjusted.

UngratefulDead · 03-05-2006, 06:49 PM

And he's a second baseman, albeit a terrible one.

boilermaker · 03-05-2006, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eckstein 4 Prez

God, that trade with the Rangers really was one of the worst deals I've seen in a while.

You mean one of the best.

JDOldSchool · 03-05-2006, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eckstein 4 Prez

Right, but don't make the mistake of simply throwing out his home stats. That slugging percentage is pretty decent even adjusted.

It's not just that he's better at home. He's a hall of fame player in Arlington but below replacement on the road. That's such a drastic difference that I just can't justify calling him a good player. I suppose an OPS+ of 110 is accurate for telling what he did, but it's a terrible way to project what he will do in the future because the park inflated his numbers to ridiculous levels.

rem · 03-05-2006, 10:21 PM

EQA's of .296 and .300 in his last two years with the Yanks indicate that there is some hope.

03-05-2006, 12:37 PM	#2
Skipaway Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Where you live Posts: 11,017	Word. __________________ Jonathan Haidt: Moral reasoning is really just a servant masquerading as a high priest.

03-05-2006, 12:40 PM	#3
Cubsgnrlmngr Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 249	I'd do it I were the Nationals. __________________ Chicago Cubs NGBL If you don't know who Kirby Puckett was or of his face escapes you're memory at the moment. Check this short video out about one of the most clutch baseball players in the history of the MLB. R.I.P. Kirby Puckett

03-05-2006, 12:43 PM	#4
bigdgp2 All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 606	If the Mets get Alfonso Soriano, they are a going to win the World Series!!!!!1 __________________ https://challenge.ootpdevelopments.c...lawlsopher.jpg

03-05-2006, 01:06 PM	#6
HanKDanK Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 40	I read this in newsday the other day and it sounded more like Omar would be interested in getting Vidro back than Soriano. http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseba...=ny-mets-print __________________ "If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me."

03-05-2006, 01:11 PM	#7
Skipaway Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Where you live Posts: 11,017	Newsday is a better source than Word, isn't it? __________________ Jonathan Haidt: Moral reasoning is really just a servant masquerading as a high priest.

03-05-2006, 01:46 PM	#8
molarmite Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 4,927	Looks like no Soriano to the Twins, that's really a shame. __________________ From the wise mind of Davey Eckstein "Now all you need is a signature. A quote or initial, perhaps." [

03-05-2006, 05:04 PM	#13
JDOldSchool Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4,023	If OPS+ is park adjusted, how in the hell was Soriano a 110 last year when he was almost entirely useless on the road?

03-05-2006, 06:49 PM	#17
UngratefulDead Banned Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 3,415	And he's a second baseman, albeit a terrible one.

03-05-2006, 10:21 PM	#20
rem Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: College Park, Md. Posts: 5,024	EQA's of .296 and .300 in his last two years with the Yanks indicate that there is some hope. __________________ OTBA: Washington Filibusters CLBR: Minnesota Twins 2005 Winner of LL's Pick the Loser Contest! - 15-0