Writings on baseball by Matt Barnard and Dan Stein.

 
Rey Sanchez to the Mets for a year
I've not seen terms disclosed yet, but this looks like a pretty good signing for the Mets, who are well on their way to a pretty solid offseason (despite the inexcusable loss of Alfonzo). Rey Sanchez, as it's been documented in many places, is what Rey Ordonez should have been...a tremendous defensive shortstop (and second baseman, in Sanchez's case) who can't hit a lick and has no secondary offensive skills. That said, his defense is good enough to keep him in the major leagues and is considerably better than what the Mets got from Rey Ordonez last season, at far less cost. If Jose Reyes proves to be ready at some point this year, he can serve as a mentor as he enters the majors. As much as I like this signing, I still don't understand why they didn't sign Jose Hernandez. How competitive can the market be for him? Can anyone see him signing a deal for more than $4-5 million a year? Chances are you could sign him to something like a 2 year, $10 million contract, use him at short this year until you're comfortable with Jose Reyes and then move him to third, where he'd be fine. How is this guy not yet signed? He was the best shortstop in the National League last year pretty conclusively. With none of the great AL shortstops crossing the pond, he's likely to be again if he stays in the NL. While teams are probably (and legitimately, to some degree) concerned about strikeout totals, it's difficult for me to believe that a player of his caliber and versatility seems to have so few suitors. Where are the Dodgers, who could desperately use a bat? The Mets would be a substantially better team with Hernandez at third as well, it remains to be seen whether or not they choose to go that route (or perhaps sign Bill Mueller). I'd like to see it happen.
posted by VZW Watcher at 6:42 PM -