Thoughts on Jason Bay to the Mets

The Mets nabbed their prime Leftfield target this offseason, Jason Bay, for what seems like a reasonable price (around $16 million a year for four years, plus a vesting option for a fifth year).

Positives in this deal: Mets needed a power hitting outfielder, Jason Bay is a .520 career slugger. The Mets didn't overpay really, and Jason Bay's played in a big market so New York shouldn't phase him. He's averaged 154 games played over the last 5 seasons, and the Mets badly needed a player who would stay healthy.

Negatives: Mets didn't have much competition, so did they really need to include this 5th year vesting option that supposedly vests easily? Did they bid against themselves again? He's already 31, so he will be 35 or 36 when this deal ends. He's a poor fielder, and the outfield in Citifield's huge. Matt Holliday would have cost around $10 million more, and would probably be a better value.

Final Thought: Hard to argue against an outfielder with a .900 career OPS. And the Mets with a plus defender in Rightfield (Francoeur and/or Fernando Martinez) and the best centerfielder in the game should be able to overcome his shortcomings in left. And maybe some of his homers in Citifield turn back into doubles, but worse things have happened.

Thoughts on a Bad Trade

Ryan Church was traded for Jeff Francoeur last night. I only have a few thoughts on this:

Omar Minaya must hate Church as much as much as Jerry Manuel does.

Omar Minaya makes some very good moves (signed K-rod, Beltran, Pedro, Sheffield, traded for Johan) and some very bad ones (traded away Heath Bell, Matt Lindstrom, Ryan Church, signed/traded for Luis Castillo). This one was terrible, the next one is bound to be close to how he got Johan Santana for Carlos Gomez. He's going to get a win. (Halladay for spare prospects?).

Why would anyone want Jeff Francoeur?

The Mets are now officially missing the should-be starters in RF, CF, SS, 2B (not officially hurt, but can't play every day, and he'll be on the DL soon), 1B.

If Jeff Francoeur suddenly learns plate discipline (obviously he's "young" at 25, and as he ages, he will learn plate discipline. Because that's something you learn with age, at least according to Minaya. Minaya's a very, very smart man. Not.)

The best argument in favor of Francoeur was that he plays a lot of games. Seriously, he's always healthy. But just because the Braves made the mistake of playing him everyday, doesn't mean the Mets have to do the same.

In case Omar Minaya didn't notice, 8 of the top 11 league leaders in walks are under the age of 31. It appears the correlations are not in his favor.

Yes, Church is a no-power corner outfielder. But Jeff Francoeur is an SI cover jinx. And no one can overcome that. Not even Mr. Met.