July 03, 2007

Mets Should Go After Conine

As we approach the Trade Deadline this season, I will be trying to come out with one trade idea that could potentially make the Mets a better team. Periodically I have proposed a trade idea every couple of days, but with the deadline looming I’m going to be stepping it up a notch. Enough talking, here’s the latest that I’ve come up with:

The Mets are in need of Ruben Gotay starting second base, just look at his numbers compared to Jose Valentin’s and Damion Easley’s:

Ruben Gotay: .310 BA, 3 HR, 12 RBI; 1 SB
Jose Valentin: .261 BA, 3 HR; 17 RBI
Damion Easley: .255 BA, 8 HR; 20 RBI

Gotay has put up those numbers all while having about 100 less at bats.

My proposal isn’t to trade for a second baseman, but instead to trade away one of the second baseman and another utility player.

Julio Franco has been nothing short of a player coach this year and has become a sort of dead weight on the bench. If you’re interested, here’s his numbers:

Julio Franco: .188 BA, 1 HR, 8 RBI; 2 SB

The Mets simply have to get rid of him and one of the utility second basemen, but for whom? Well how about the Reds’ Jeff Conine?

Conine is having a solid year for the Reds and could be unloaded in the “fire sale” the Reds are said to be having this season. Here’s Conine’s numbers:

Jeff Conine: .276 BA, 4 HR, 24 RBI; 3 SB

Conine has played first, third and the outfield for the Reds this season and with the two players I’m proposing the Mets unload, they could cover his ground while not costing the Reds as much as Conine ($1.7M vs. $850M and $1.1M). Now of course the Mets would have to eat up a portion of Franco’s contract to bring it well below a million, maybe half. It may seem like a lot of money to pay a player to play for another team, but it’s a small price to pay to have Gotay on second and Conine backing them up.

Reds Get: Julio Franco and Damion Easley
Mets Get: Jeff Conine

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