Fielder will be 26 in 2010.  He's averaged 4.73 WAR over the past three seasons ($20M+ a season production).  In 07 and 09 he went for over a 1.000 OPS.  He can't field worth a crap out there but he absolutly mashes the ball.  He is due to make $10.5M in 2010 after which you figure he gets a big extension (or probably shortly after you acquire him).

Gonzalez will be 28 in 2010.  He's averaged 4.33 WAR over the past three seasons.  His .958 OPS this season was his first over .900 in his career.  I think he is a little bit better in the field than UZR gives him credit for.  $4.75M next year followed by $5.5M in 2011.

So who would you trade for?  Prefer one over the other?  Neither?  Both have their pros and cons.  Assuming Matt Holliday and Jason Bay (don't know why I'm putting him in this class) get signed by other teams -- not really a stretch -- the Mets could feel pressured to make a move for a big bat via the trade market and these are the two most obvious choices.  We could have either of these guys if we want them -- we've got plenty in the farm plus a few ML trade assets if we needed.  But is now the time to make that kind of a trade?

When you have an elite player on the market, and I do consider them both elite who are under 29 , IMO you can give up the farm and it still be a good trade..Especially when you are a high budget team who is more or less still in a win now mode..

Especially Prince who is two years younger, Prince is just a tiny bit older then some of the prospects in baseball right now and he is a top 5 first baseman..So your trading unknowns for a guy just a tiny bit older ..

Id take either of them, honestly you can't go wrong if you landed either..especially since they are both Lefties and Citifield plays better to Lefties and we have a glaring hole at first..

Though I'm a bigger fan of Prince since he is a bit of a nut and would bring an edge to the team

The farm for A-Gone.

A kings ransom for Prince.

Morneau is another guy you can throw into the conversation.  He signed a 6 yr/$80M deal in '08.  One would figure that Joe Mauer is about to get expensive, and the Twins may have to move their first baseman.

 Well the plus side of trading for either is Ike davis is marketable now and you'd almost have to include him anyway since you'd be occupying his position for a while if you get Agon or Fielder signed. Which you'd better be able to do.

 OTOH it will still cost a lot more than Davis and is 1st base the place to play those chips when your best hitting prospect at this point is a 1st baseman? Perhaps Fmart and others would be better served getting a pitcher? I'd still only go that route for a Felix Herndandez though and not Halladay. Doing it for a 34 year old you'd have to resign until he's 40 makes no sense.

 But if I had a straight choice between Agon and Fielder: Boy oh boy it's tough. Agon has the defense and is in better shape. But Fielder has an edge and X factor I'm not sure I see in Gonzalez. All things being equal as far as money and prospects though I guess I lean towards the better all around guy with no weight issues. But I really like Fielder's energy and think he could be a fan favorite at Citi.

 I dont believe Fielder will be available. The Brewers need to keep Braun and Fielder as part of their core and I see neither going on the market unless the Brewers are knocked out of the park. Gonzalez may or may not be dealt but if he is then I say go for it. As attractive as it sounds the Mets have alot of holes and should they trade their limited prospects for a 1st baseman when so much is needed?  I feel there is no need to rush into anything as players will come on the market that are not even being mentioned now. Why not see what develops. Maybe the Mets could get well in a deal that could net them pieces to fill more than one of these holes.

Realistically, both the Padres and especially the Brewers are going to demand major-league ready starting pitching back in a trade for either player... a commodity that we just do not have unless you are willing to include Pelfrey and Maine or both as well as a number of prospects.

The Mets major problem is starting pitching. Not necessarily aces but front line starters who can go more than 6 innings a game, keep the game close, and minimize the need to extend the bullpen. Getting Fielder or Gonzalez means nothing if the starting pitching can't keep you in the game.

Depends on the price.

With John Lackey, Jon Garland, Randy Wolf and the like on the FA market I have absolutley no qualms about dealing Pelfrey and Maine (who I like but have no value right now) then i do it.

A-Gone is a game changer and he'll be around for 10 years or so.

I do it, and I do it yesterday.

metfanindc4life wrote:

Realistically, both the Padres and especially the Brewers are going to demand major-league ready starting pitching back in a trade for either player... a commodity that we just do not have unless you are willing to include Pelfrey and Maine or both as well as a number of prospects.

 

The Mets major problem is starting pitching. Not necessarily aces but front line starters who can go more than 6 innings a game, keep the game close, and minimize the need to extend the bullpen. Getting Fielder or Gonzalez means nothing if the starting pitching can't keep you in the game.

Those aren't the players the padres would be looking at.  I would assume FMart would be the centerpiece.  Add 2 or 3 other prospects and you get their attention...

mari06t6 wrote:

With John Lackey, Jon Garland, Randy Wolf and the like on the FA market I have absolutley no qualms about dealing Pelfrey and Maine (who I like but have no value right now) then i do it.

A-Gone is a game changer and he'll be around for 10 years or so.

I do it, and I do it yesterday.

 

metfanindc4life wrote:

Realistically, both the Padres and especially the Brewers are going to demand major-league ready starting pitching back in a trade for either player... a commodity that we just do not have unless you are willing to include Pelfrey and Maine or both as well as a number of prospects.

 

The Mets major problem is starting pitching. Not necessarily aces but front line starters who can go more than 6 innings a game, keep the game close, and minimize the need to extend the bullpen. Getting Fielder or Gonzalez means nothing if the starting pitching can't keep you in the game.

 

I would rather have Fielder but I wouldnt trade 5 prospects for either guy.  You cant wipe out the farm and eliminate payroll flexibility for any one player.

nictonjr wrote:

Those aren't the players the padres would be looking at.  I would assume FMart would be the centerpiece.  Add 2 or 3 other prospects and you get their attention...

 

mari06t6 wrote:

With John Lackey, Jon Garland, Randy Wolf and the like on the FA market I have absolutley no qualms about dealing Pelfrey and Maine (who I like but have no value right now) then i do it.

A-Gone is a game changer and he'll be around for 10 years or so.

I do it, and I do it yesterday.

 

metfanindc4life wrote:

Realistically, both the Padres and especially the Brewers are going to demand major-league ready starting pitching back in a trade for either player... a commodity that we just do not have unless you are willing to include Pelfrey and Maine or both as well as a number of prospects.

 

The Mets major problem is starting pitching. Not necessarily aces but front line starters who can go more than 6 innings a game, keep the game close, and minimize the need to extend the bullpen. Getting Fielder or Gonzalez means nothing if the starting pitching can't keep you in the game.

 

 

I think at this point Davis and Holt/Meija would be the centerpieces. Fmart can't stay on a baseball field and has done nothing exceptional at the professional level in 3 years. He's young but his stock isn't as high as it was a year ago.

 No one has ever been as high on Pelfrey or Maine as the Mets organization and their fans. Pelfrey would have some value as part of a bigger package but not as it's focal point. 

metdude wrote:

 

nictonjr wrote:

Those aren't the players the padres would be looking at.  I would assume FMart would be the centerpiece.  Add 2 or 3 other prospects and you get their attention...

 

mari06t6 wrote:

With John Lackey, Jon Garland, Randy Wolf and the like on the FA market I have absolutley no qualms about dealing Pelfrey and Maine (who I like but have no value right now) then i do it.

A-Gone is a game changer and he'll be around for 10 years or so.

I do it, and I do it yesterday.

 

metfanindc4life wrote:

Realistically, both the Padres and especially the Brewers are going to demand major-league ready starting pitching back in a trade for either player... a commodity that we just do not have unless you are willing to include Pelfrey and Maine or both as well as a number of prospects.

 

The Mets major problem is starting pitching. Not necessarily aces but front line starters who can go more than 6 innings a game, keep the game close, and minimize the need to extend the bullpen. Getting Fielder or Gonzalez means nothing if the starting pitching can't keep you in the game.

 

 

I think at this point Davis and Holt/Meija would be the centerpieces. Fmart can't stay on a baseball field and has done nothing exceptional at the professional level in 3 years. He's young but his stock isn't as high as it was a year ago.

 

No one has ever been as high on Pelfrey or Maine as the Mets organization and their fans. Pelfrey would have some value as part of a bigger package but not as it's focal point.

This seems to be a common misconception.

What Fernando did as a 17-year-old in A ball was nothing short of exceptional, and an .877 OPS as a 20-year-old in AAA is nothing to sneeze at either.

He does need to prove that he can stay healthy and maintain those numbers over longer periods of time, but it'd be pretty foolish to suggest that Fernando is all hype...

The kid has produced when healthy, he just needs to actually stay healthy.  If he can do that, and the if seems to get bigger by the day, there's no reason to think that he can't be very, very good.

The Mets have already had a fat first baseman who ate his way out of the league.

Pass.

mari06t6 wrote:

With John Lackey, Jon Garland, Randy Wolf and the like on the FA market I have absolutley no qualms about dealing Pelfrey and Maine (who I like but have no value right now) then i do it.

A-Gone is a game changer and he'll be around for 10 years or so.

I do it, and I do it yesterday.

 

metfanindc4life wrote:

Realistically, both the Padres and especially the Brewers are going to demand major-league ready starting pitching back in a trade for either player... a commodity that we just do not have unless you are willing to include Pelfrey and Maine or both as well as a number of prospects.

 

The Mets major problem is starting pitching. Not necessarily aces but front line starters who can go more than 6 innings a game, keep the game close, and minimize the need to extend the bullpen. Getting Fielder or Gonzalez means nothing if the starting pitching can't keep you in the game.

 

Lets talk economics. I would LOVE to have Gonzalez as a Met (who wouldn't?) but not for just 2 years. You said Gonzalez will be around for "10 years or so". So any trade has to include a contract extension and that's going to be Teixeira type years and money. You think the Wilpons are going to shell out big money on free agents when they've got Santana's contract to pay for and the raises for Reyes, Wright etc. to account for after that?

Yes, we can replace Pelf and Maine on the FA market but a lot of these guys are not going to settle for one-year contracts this offseason (I can see the players union screaming collusion now). I don't think spending $$ on multi-year contracts on average/mediocre pitchers when possibly the likes of Beckett, Cliff Lee, Halladay, Matt Cain, Ted Lilly, Brandon Webb, etc. could be available in 2011 is a great idea.

Given the choice I'd go with A-Gone over Fielder.   Comparing the two, A-Gone is in obviously better shape, and frankly, Prince strikes me as kind of a strange bird.  Having said that, I wouldn't go for him.  A-Gone would have to require an absolute king's ransom.  The Padres would almost certainly ask for a young major-league ready blue chipper (F-Mart may hall just a bit short of that),  preferably for them a pitcher, that would headline the package.  So, I think the Mets would have to gut the farm pretty much, and I'm not eager to see us drop back to the upper 20's in the rankings there.

If we could do a deal along the lines of Murphy, F-Mart, Meija, and Pelfrey/Maine then you have to do it.

Yes acquiring A-Gone means signing him to a contract befitting his production.

And what he has done in a lineup devoid of any protection in a very pitcher friendly park is exactly what the Mets need in their lineup for the next decade.

Reyes and Wrights salaries will be going up from this point on, but Beltrans salary will be coming off the books soon (replace him with Angel Pagan or an All glove CF'er), along with Castillos  (Havens should be ready to go by then.  We still have our protected 1st round pick this year, Brad Holt

We are still a big market team, and can afford to sign top notch players thru their prime years.

Hopefully we can keep Ike Davis and not have to include him in the package for A-Gone and he steps into Right Field when we let Frenchy walk. (Hopefully he drives in 90-100+ runs again and earns himself Type A status (not out of the realm of possibility)

Potential 2011 Starting Lineup

SS Reyes (Somewhat expensive but worth it)

2B Havens Affordable

3B Wright (Expensive but worth it)

1B Gonzalez (Expensive but worth it)

RF Davis Affordable

LF Pagan Affordable

CF Endy Chavez-esque CF'er Affordable

C Platoon Thole/C Affordable

Adrian Gonzalez, hands down.

Based very heavily on his '10 & '11 contracts of $4.75 and $5.5M respectively ($10.25M combined.... exmp; He's been worth a combined $44M over the last 2 years, per fangraphs). That contract, given his top 10 offensive MLB production , is HUGE! for a team $ flexibility.... and that's why I'd be willing to give up...

 Ike Davis, Bobby Parnell, R. Tejada (or W. Flores if pressed), A. Pagan, and Bradley Holt.

The Mets would still have the money to sign the best all around LF in baseball: Matt Holliday--- 6/108.

What an offensive upgrade, huh? Adrian Gonzalez & Matt Holliday!

1. Reyes

2. Lopez

3. Beltran

4. Holliday

5. Gonzalez

6. Wright

What a line up.