Mike Silva's New York Baseball Digest » Blog Archive » David Wright Deserves to Go to Philly and Win

David Wright Deserves to Go to Philly and Win


By Mike Silva ~ December 24th, 2011. Filed under: New York Mets.

The picture of David Wright and Jose Reyes celebrating with cigars after the 2006 NL East division championship seems like eons ago. In actuality it’s been just five years since both were young centerpieces of a team that was about to take over the town. An unfortunate Game 7 loss to the Cardinals sent the franchise in a death spiral that has culminated with the embarrassing financial drama of the Wilpons. Reyes is gone and it now appears that David Wright may be on the way out.

Through all this drama David Wright has been a company man. He gives reporters drab quotes that would be the worst in baseball if not for the shortstop across town; but to his credit is always accessible. He continues to be the face of the franchise, whenever there is a charity even or public appearance, Wright is the individual that represents the Mets. He has been public about his desire to stay here through the bad times because he wants to be here when it turns around. He is the antithesis of the selfish modern player that uses money and influence to force a team into caving into their personal demands.

It looks like Wright will be about 32 years old when the Mets finally can be considered serious playoff contenders. Even though I don’t think this team is as bad as the prognosticators say, it’s still at best an 85-win team if everything goes reasonably well. How often does a team stay healthy? How often can you go through a season without adding reinforcements? Since the former rarely happens, and the latter may be impossible because of the Wilpons finances, it very well could mean that 85 wins will turn into 75 or worse.

For as noble as it is for Wright to stay on the ship through rocky waters, he deserves better. As Howard Megdal pointed out at Capital New York, “Among third basemen through age 28, David Wright is seventh all-time in OPS+ with 134. That’s not seventh all-time among Mets third basemen—that’s seventh among all third basemen in M.L.B. history. The only six ahead of him are Eddie Mathews, Frank (Home Run) Baker, Wade Boggs, George Brett, Chipper Jones and Mike Schmidt. That’s five Hall of Famers and in Jones, a clear sixth. The man just behind Wright, Ron Santo, just got elected to the Hall of Fame as well.” That kind of player shouldn’t be in the negative situation that is the New York Mets. Better days are ahead, but the Mets have replaced the Knicks as the most dysfunctional franchise in New York- maybe all of sports. This is an ownership group that is pimping out Mr. Met to survive their financial crisis. Do you think it’s beyond the realm of possibility to deal their franchise player to save money and survive?

That brings me to the trade rumors. David Wright has been rumored to be available since the beginning of the offseason. It was a shock to me that our report about the Rockies interest in Wright was met with such skepticism and derision. Wright’s $15 million dollar salary and $16 million dollar option clearly has become too expensive for the team to swallow. When you add in the combined $40 million annual owed to Jason Bay and Johan Santana, you could see what the problem is and why trading Wright is the only solution.

Yesterday, a wild internet rumor made the rounds that Wright was close to being traded to Philadelphia. Some of the names mentioned were outfielder Domonic Brown and pitching prospect Phillippe Aumont. To date,  Brown has struggled at the big league level (.236/7 HRs/32 RBI in 280 plate appearances), but the 23-year old has a career minor league OPS of .834 and has hit as many as 20 home runs and stolen as many as 23 bases. Aumont was acquired from Seattle in the Cliff Lee trade. The former 11th pick of the 2007 draft has not lived up to expectations (11-26, 4.21), however he is still only 22 and showed some potential coming out of the bullpen in Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Not the ideal package for Wright, but his contract that allows him to opt-out if traded, coupled with the Mets financial situation, gives Sandy Alderson little leverage.

Philadelphia is the kind of team that Wright can come in and do his thing. Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, and the duo of Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay are the faces of the franchise. He won’t have to worry about a legacy of failure or carrying the water for boneheaded ownership. He can finally do what he does best – just play baseball. David Wright is the perfect leader by example. He plays every day, plays hard, and wants to win. He doesn’t, however, thrive in the role of being the center of attention. He puts far too much pressure on himself to excel, thus leading to the exact opposite result.

Who know if there is merit to this David Wright rumor? According to Jon Heyman this “ain’t happenin’.” All I know is the whispers about Wright’s availability continues to grow louder with each passing hot stove day. Perhaps he makes it to Opening Day, but I have my doubts that Wright will be manning third base for the Mets by the trade deadline.

A trade will be a dark day for Mets fans, but it will be the best day of Wright’s career since that ’06 division clinching celebration- especially if it’s to the Phillies. He will be off this negative ship and smack in the middle of a pennant race. He will feel the energy of Citizens Bank Park, which surprisingly has become one of the best home crowds in all of baseball. The cozy confines of CBP also will help his offensive numbers, giving him a great opportunity to cash in when he becomes a free agent; perhaps as soon as 2013.

If I were David Wright I would hope this wild internet trade rumor is accurate. He deserves to win and Philly is a perfect fit.

Mike Silva is a freelance writer and radio host since March of 2007. This website is his own personal "digest" of New York Baseball He's also hosts NYBD Radio on Blog Talk Radio and 1240 AM WGBB. Check out his sports media commentary at www.sportsmediawatchdog.com. Check out his official website, www.mikesilvamedia.com
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16 Responses to David Wright Deserves to Go to Philly and Win

  1. LongTimeFan
    December 24th, 2011 at 10:06 am

    Mike, you’re one of the people who appears to write for attention seeking, or page view purposes. Here you write David Wright deserves to go to Philly while knowing that David Wright has made it perfectly clear he wants to stay with the Mets.

    And there’s no truth to the latest Philly rumor, as you readily acknowledge, yet you opt to stir up trouble giving Mets fans and David more heartache. It’s Christmas Eve, it’s a slow news day, I understand that but give it a rest.

  2. Tommy2cat
    December 24th, 2011 at 10:11 am

    Mike – I hear Philly is a really nice town with a lot of historical attributes. Broad Street houses 3 stadiums right in a row. I’m sure you could find an apartment nearby. You should have amply time to rehabilitate your credibility in Philly.

    What happened to you?

  3. NYM
    December 24th, 2011 at 10:37 am

    I still think he makes it to opening day as a Met barring the Mets being absolutely blown away with a great offer. And trading him to the Phils for the packages discussed in the fake rumors yesterday or trading him to the Rocks in that joke of an offer talked about here would not be close to that.

    If he gets traded, I don’t think it will be to the Phillies….especially not now. Maybe there is the chance that if the Mets were way way out mid-year they’d send him there, but I think the Phils need to have something go right in their farm system in order to be able to put together an offer thats enticing enough…they don’t have very many prospects. Either that or maybe if Wright struggles and there aren’t many teams interested other than the Phils , they’d send him there. Or maybe if it was some three-way trade…but still I think the Mets would be very leery of sending him to Philly.

    And the recent rumors from the legit source on the Rockies, Renck who was one of the first to report the Rockies initial interest, is that they are no longer interested. That they like their 3b prospect Arendo a lot after his winterball performance, that they have some concerns about Wright’s back, and that they’d rather add a pitcher than a hitter now. Of course things could change again (maybe the fact that Wright’s contract is only 1 yr would be good for the Rocks if they thought Arendo would be ready in ’13)..but just b/c there was some rumors months ago that the Rockies might want Wright doesn’t mean right now there is a strong chance of him being dealt there. Or that we should take every offer put together by a blogger or twitter user with questionable sources as the 100% truth.

  4. NYM
    December 24th, 2011 at 10:39 am

    Though of course if the Rocks could get Wright for the package discussed here, they’d probably do it even if they aren’t as interested in him as they were previously. I just don’t see the Mets being that stupid.

  5. philasucks
    December 24th, 2011 at 11:24 am

    Ain’t gonna happen.

  6. Jason A
    December 24th, 2011 at 11:26 am

    Everyone doggin’ Mike gives the Wilpons way too much credit. And why do the Wilpons have any credibility left? Point to one proclamation from the Wilpons post-Madoff that has proven to be true. They’re obviously desperate and operating at the slimmest of margins. I would be shocked of the Mets *weren’t* trying to trade Wright as his contract is the only one that can be moved.

  7. RonOK
    December 24th, 2011 at 11:59 am

    Mike, I have come to the realization that the Mets will need to move David Wright — I just don’t see it being to the Phillies … and even if it were to them, the haul would have to be significantly greater than Domonic Brown Phillippe Aumont.

    Also, as currently constructed, there is no way that the Mets could win 85 games in 2012 …. they are destined for last place in the East and my bet is that they will struggle to get tom70 wins …. the entire team is a question mark …

    C: Thole & Nickeas
    1B: Ike’s ankle
    2B: Is it Murphy? Will he get killed turning a DP?
    SS: Tejada?
    3B: no issue
    LF: Bay? can moving the fences in really save him?
    CF: Big question mark
    RF: Duda can hit but what about his defense?

    Starters: Johan is a huge ?, Niese may get traded for prospects that will not help the 2012 club, Pelfrey sucks, Gee and Dickey are OK but hardly top notch starters

    Bullpen: New yes, but how much has it really improved?

    Bench: Do the Mets have a bench yet?

    This collection of players reminds me of the 1960′s sitcom F-Troop.

    No way they get close to 85 wins ….

    That said — have a great holiday weekend. Talk with you soon.

  8. Mike Silva
    December 24th, 2011 at 2:57 pm

    Tommy and Long Time Fan

    I am pained by having to right this kind of stuff. You have to realize the Wilpons are not going to go away and will trade David Wright if it means survival. I am sorry I am angering you, but doesn’t this guy deserve better… that was the main point of my piece.

  9. Jo
    December 24th, 2011 at 3:11 pm

    Wright is the center of this team. I hope he stays but how could you blame him if he leaves. No one will goto games this year, another 70mm+ in losses this year. Bankruptcy and a forced sale by MLB shortly. Good times. Merry Christmas !

  10. Stu B
    December 24th, 2011 at 4:31 pm

    Mike, you’re right to be pained to write this about Wright! LOL.

  11. Jonas
    December 24th, 2011 at 6:45 pm

    Let the Mike Silva/Mets bashing continue. Deserves to go to Philly? Seriously? How many different ways can you infuriate the Mets fans that read your site?

  12. Dave
    December 24th, 2011 at 9:11 pm

    The author and this so-called article are an absolute joke!! Other than Ike Davis, David Wright is the only thing on this so-called baseball team that’s worth watching. He must stay in NY!!!

  13. bleacherbum58
    December 24th, 2011 at 9:14 pm

    Mike, reference to your article was posted on Phillies Team website. Can’t believe Mets would let Wright go for Brown and Aumont? Phillies didn’t have the money for Ramirez, so where are they going to get the money for Wright (16 million)? Wright may be a perfect fit on the field, but as far as budget, Phillies would have to unload Polanco (6.25 million) and Blanton (8.5 million)… to where? Thanks for the kudos regarding CBP!!! Wright belongs in a Mets uniform, but Phillies would love to have him if they can find the money.

  14. Edgy DC
    December 24th, 2011 at 10:37 pm

    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

  15. Piazza
    December 24th, 2011 at 11:03 pm

    Mike, thanks for bumming me out on Christmas Eve, I appreciate it a lot.

    I completely, 100% disagree with the sentiment of this article. If I was Wright, I would hate the Phillies, the team that snuck into the postseason while my team collapsed around me (and all I did is have a 1.100 OPS in September to stop it). He grew up a Mets fan, he isn’t unaccustomed to losing. This is his team, his franchise, and I think he will stick through it, good or bad. The Mets won’t be bad forever, the Wilpons won’t be around forever.

    Imagine how much worse baseball would be, if franchise players demanded trades every time a team went through a rough patch. Larkin wouldn’t have been a Red, Steve Rogers an Expo, or Tony Gwynn a Padre.

    I agree he deserves to win- with the New York Mets, and he will get through this just as everyone else did.

    All I asked for Christmas this year is new ownership, and maybe our dreams will come true.

  16. Chuck
    December 26th, 2011 at 8:38 am

    LOL,

    And people thought the Rockies rumor was funny.

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