Would You Be Happy With Holliday, Marquis, and Molina?
By Mike Silva ~ December 10th, 2009. Filed under: Offseason Speculation.
We had an interesting question posed by a caller on last night’s show. Could Mets fans be happy if the team acquired Matt Holliday, Jason Marquis, and Bengie Molina? I believe the answer is yes.
Everyone seems to agree that Bengie Molina will eventually don Mets orange and blue. Anything under a three year deal for Molina is fine with me so I don’t believe we need to go through “paralysis by analysis” on the topic again. Where they go from there depends on market conditions and how much money they really have to spend. NYBD has reported all along the Mets will at least attempt to go after one of the big three free agents. Jon Heyman of SI even predicted last night that he believes Holliday will eventually wind up with the Mets. It’s no secret that Holliday has wanted New York, although it’s the Bronx that has been his first choice. Holliday is the perfect bat for this lineup that n longer has the power of Carlos Delgado.
The real question: are the Mets improved with Holliday and a second tier pitcher like Jason Marquis? I have been hard on Marquis in the past and believe he isn’t worth the money for the expected production. Howard Megdal pointed out earlier this offseason the Mets may be better giving Nelson Figueroa a shot. The only difference between the two local boys is Figueroa never has been given a chance to start for a full season. If the Mets can nab Marquis for a reasonable two year deal than perhaps my mind changes, but it appears more likely he will receive something comparable to Randy Wolf’s 3 year $30 million dollar deal. The Mets need a pitcher and if bringing in Marquis means Holliday I am all for it.
Adding another layer of complexity is the Phillies pursuit of Roy Halladay. That derby is heating up and I believe the Phils are the “team to beat” in that race. Even if Cole Hamels goes north the thought of Cliff Lee/Halladay should scare the bejeezus out of Omar Minaya. Do the Mets have the resources, and more importantly, the guts to sign Holliday and Lackey? Can they sign Holliday and try to pry Halladay from Toronto. The former is far more likely, but would go against everything reported and how the Mets historically operate.
Regardless, it’s becoming more important for the Mets, if they want to contend for a playoff spot in 2010, to ante up and make one of the big free agent catches part of their roster.
December 10th, 2009 at 8:20 am
No,
If Holliday is the big contract, I would like to see the Mets add Sheets, Bedard, Mike Jacobs and Delgado. Then I would be happy..
December 10th, 2009 at 8:25 am
No. The Mets need a #2 starter AND a 3-4-5 bat. That’s where their off-season success begins and ends. Anything more than that can be considered a bonus.
December 10th, 2009 at 10:12 am
the mets should not compare themselves to the phillies
rem this is a 4th pl team here
December 11th, 2009 at 6:10 am
You’re right! Give Nelson Figueroa a shot at the starting rotation. He did everything the Mets asked him to do in 2009. He was DFA’d after being called up in May to be in the bullpen for a four-game series in San Francisco. Stayed in the bullpen. Never pitched. Sent back to Buffalo on his birthday. He was called up in early August, had a horrible start but relieved two days later in the second inning when Niese got hurt and pitched 4.1 innings of shut out ball against the Albert Pujols Cardinals. Also hit a 2-RBI triple, the turning point in the game. After taking Santana’s spot in the rotation in mid-August, in 8 starts his ERA was 3.38. Take away one bad start, and in 7 of the 8 games he had a 2.23 ERA. Averaged 6+ innings per start, over 100 pitches per game. Did Pelfrey? Perez? Maine? Niese? No. Figgy was 2-6, but in his 6 losses, the Mets scored a total of 11 runs. The Mets were never out of a game he started once he became part of the rotation. Never. Figueroa was the only Mets pitcher to throw a complete game shut out at Citi Field. He had more September strikeouts than any Mets pitcher. Yeah, he’s 35 but why should age matter if you get batters out? There are pitchers older than he is who are doing quite well. Figgy can pitch, starting and in short and long relief. He’s proven that. And he wants to play for the Mets. He’s on the 40-man roster, so, Jeff Wilpon, sign him to a well-deserved one year contract with performance bonuses and a 2011 option and let’s see what happens. Give him a shot at the 2010 starting rotation.
December 22nd, 2009 at 3:40 am
I agree, sign Figueroa. He wants to be a MET, and the Mets can surely use him.