We should go after Dariel Alvarez

[Rio40]

We would have to offer him a lot of years on a contract bc he may not be ready to hit ML pitchers at the moment. He's not a guy that is going to step right into a ML lineup. I am all for signing him but he needs some more time to develop.

[Marty Mcfly]

Better options were Cespedes and Chapman, they didn't even try to get either.

[5+7=DYNASTY!!!]

Better options were Cespedes and Chapman, they didn't even try to get either.

100% agree. Back in 2010 I stated over and over how offering Wagner arbitration and going after Chapman would be a huge step forward in the Mets rebuilding process. Imagine our core today had the Mets done just that.

[numbers-king]

Better options were Cespedes and Chapman, they didn't even try to get either.

I bet you're fantastic questioning quarterbacks on Mondays. Most had no idea how good either would be. Cubans in MLB have a very long bust list.

It's real difficult to see two guys have success and say, "oh those idiots screwed up not picking those guys up."

[YoungStuna]

It was clear that Chapman was a great talent though. He was young and dominating the WBC with filthy stuff. I badly wanted him on the Mets and his contract was far from lucrative.

[numbers-king]

It was clear that Chapman was a great talent though. He was young and dominating the WBC with filthy stuff. I badly wanted him on the Mets and his contract was far from lucrative.

Which team employs you? And yes there were plenty of questions about Chapman. If his contract was far from lucrative why were the Reds able to outspend the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, and every other big market team to get him. If he were a can't miss, he never would have ended up there. The scouting reports read terrible arm action that would lead to injury, inconsistant command, and there were age questions.

[YoungStuna]

Which team employs you? And yes there were plenty of questions about Chapman. If his contract was far from lucrative why were the Reds able to outspend the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, and every other big market team to get him. If he were a can't miss, he never would have ended up there. The scouting reports read terrible arm action that would lead to injury, inconsistant command, and there were age questions.

They were smart to take the gamble and it's paid off dearly. Small market teams have to know when to get aggressive to get an edge on the big market teams that might overlook these talents.

Granted, Alvarez from what I've read is not of the same quality of Chapman and Cespedes, but he won't get as much money and is probably a notch behind based on his power numbers last year.

[numbers-king]

Blah blah blah. Atleast you admit it was a gamble. If it hadn't worked out you wouldn't be tooting the horn.

Do you want me to list the number of these gambles that have failed? The Reds were lucky because most low budget teams cannot afford to take these shots and fail.

Paying anything more than a 3-4 million a year for Alvarez would be a terrible gamble too but some team out there will be dumb enough to throw him 7-8m for sure. Alvarez's overall skill-set isn't even in the same ballpark as Cespedes' when he was signed.

[YoungStuna]

Blah blah blah. Atleast you admit it was a gamble. If it hadn't worked out you wouldn't be tooting the horn.

Do you want me to list the number of these gambles that have failed? The Reds were lucky because most low budget teams cannot afford to take these shots and fail.

Paying anything more than a 3-4 million a year for Alvarez would be a terrible gamble too but some team out there will be dumb enough to throw him 7-8m for sure. Alvarez's overall skill-set isn't even in the same ballpark as Cespedes' when he was signed.

I think he will get a 5/$30M type of deal instead of the 4/$36M that Cespedes got. This is just speculation though, I don't know how strong his market is.

If Alvarez spends the next two seasons in Cuba and mashes the way he did this past season, he would command a deal similiar to Cespedes imo.

It's known that Alvarez has power, a strong arm, and is 24. We'll see if the Mets are in on him. They will probably puss out like always.

[Claymation]

Blah blah blah. Atleast you admit it was a gamble. If it hadn't worked out you wouldn't be tooting the horn.

Do you want me to list the number of these gambles that have failed? The Reds were lucky because most low budget teams cannot afford to take these shots and fail.

Paying anything more than a 3-4 million a year for Alvarez would be a terrible gamble too but some team out there will be dumb enough to throw him 7-8m for sure. Alvarez's overall skill-set isn't even in the same ballpark as Cespedes' when he was signed.

Every draft pick is a gamble, every IFA signing is a gamble. Hell even signing a Free Agent is a gamble.

And yes Alvarez is a gamble, but considering the dearth of outfield prospects in the upper minors and on the major league roster, It's a move I would make.

You are right, 7-8 million is a steep price to pay for a slightly above average ball player.

[acerimusdux]

Paying anything more than a 3-4 million a year for Alvarez would be a terrible gamble too but some team out there will be dumb enough to throw him 7-8m for sure. Alvarez's overall skill-set isn't even in the same ballpark as Cespedes' when he was signed.

I don't think he'll cost more than $5M a year, but I also think he'll need to spend at least a season in the minors, and maybe two.

[Marty Mcfly]

100% agree. Back in 2010 I stated over and over how offering Wagner arbitration and going after Chapman would be a huge step forward in the Mets rebuilding process. Imagine our core today had the Mets done just that.

Instead they just sold Wags for $3M.

[Marty Mcfly]

I bet you're fantastic questioning quarterbacks on Mondays. Most had no idea how good either would be. Cubans in MLB have a very long bust list.

It's real difficult to see two guys have success and say, "oh those idiots screwed up not picking those guys up."

In said they should go after both of them at the time. You might be happy watching the Mets do nothing year after year, I'm not.

[YoungStuna]

Every draft pick is a gamble, every IFA signing is a gamble. Hell even signing a Free Agent is a gamble.

And yes Alvarez is a gamble, but considering the dearth of outfield prospects in the upper minors and on the major league roster, It's a move I would make.

You are right, 7-8 million is a steep price to pay for a slightly above average ball player.

This. But again I don't think he will cost that much.

[Marty Mcfly]

This. But again I don't think he will cost that much.

Whatever he costs will be too much for the Mets. There's no way they're gonna spend that big, they won't even sign a MLB FA to a major-league contract. It's almost 2013, and a 74 win team hasn't even signed an entry-level MLB FA.