Mets have interest in long term deal for Michael Bourn

[Marty Mcfly]

I think everyone knows he is going to be overpaid, it's just you don't want to give a guy with his skillset 5 years at 30 years old.

Especially on a backloaded deal.

He'll be become untradeable and possibly an albatross at that point.

We've talked about this before speed is much more regressive tool than for example power.

I'd frontload deals to a small extent, not backload but I'm not Freddie Coupon.

I know speed is more regressive but 30 is not that old. You were talking about soon to be 32 year old Hart coming off knee surgeries. It's pick your poison.

5 years is too many, I'll agree with you there, 4 and a team option - ok.

Look at Bay to many, inc me he looked a safe option was he? nope.

Got to improve this team team faster than the speed we are going. How many more prime years of DW @ $20M a pop do you want to waste?

Ya think they told DW 'Hey look David come 2015/16 we'll be ready to roll'???

[Marty Mcfly]

The Mets haven't learned their damn lesson if they are seriously considering signing this guy longterm. You have money coming off the books and the minute that happens you are willing to screw yourself again. If they were signing a guy like Stanton who is young then I have no problem with it but this just further confuses me and other fans as to what the hell they are doing. Five years for a guy who just turned 30 this season and depends on his speed is just plain dumb.

We have one bad contract, with one year left. Let's not over-dramamtize the situation now.

We will never compete without fixing this OF and there's not much in the farm, and we've seen Dud, we've seen KN - MDD K's like Adam Dunn, they're not good options.

[numbers-king]

I'd frontload deals to a small extent, not backload

And that's why you're not in business. Frontloading ANYTHING is stupid and terrible money management if you are the one spending it. Ofcourse you are the player, then that's what you want. If you're the one spending it though, and you have a choice, ALWAYS backload.

[Marty Mcfly]

And that's why you're not in business. Frontloading ANYTHING is stupid and terrible money management, unless ofcourse you are the player, then that's what you want.

I understand the financial aspect, i'm speaking from a pure baseball perspective.

[numbers-king]

The only reason to not frontload is if you were in a bidding war with another team. Nobody is knocking down Bourne's door and unlike Adam LaRoche, Bourn just lost his fall-back option (1 year deal with the Braves). He will get a 1-year deal from NOBODY who has their pick unprotected. Of course, he could go back to Braves and become a bench role player and destroy his value. I doubt Boras lets him do that.

[NY_Heartbreak]

Frontloading deals is much worse for the employer when the employee can leave whenever he or she chooses. It's not the same when there is an enforceable contract involved. In fact, for a player who is late 20's, early 30's, a frontloaded contract may be better if that player seeks another contract later, after the one in question.

It's good for the team because it is paying roughly what the player is worth during the years he's at his best, and the player is easier to trade later in his career when his production falls off. Also, if the player does in fact seek a later deal, which in this case Bourne most likely will, then there is an incentive for the 8player to perform at a profit maximizing level.

[Metsfan1963]

If they had signed that guy Reyes to a back loaded contract, then ....

Don't think Mets will give Bourn any where near 6 years $106 million.

[metswon69]

I'd frontload deals to a small extent, not backload but I'm not Freddie Coupon.

I know speed is more regressive but 30 is not that old. You were talking about soon to be 32 year old Hart coming off knee surgeries. It's pick your poison.

5 years is too many, I'll agree with you there, 4 and a team option - ok.

Look at Bay to many, inc me he looked a safe option was he? nope.

Got to improve this team team faster than the speed we are going. How many more prime years of DW @ $20M a pop do you want to waste?

Ya think they told DW 'Hey look David come 2015/16 we'll be ready to roll'???

Well now Hart will probably be a bargain next year considering he is out for the first 3-4 months of this season.

And i never didn't say solely Hart. There were other guys i liked and it's not that given Bourn a contract is the issue.

For 3 years (maybe 4 with a team option) its a good deal especially if they can make that 11th pick protected.

My problem is gonna be what he is like at 34-35 years old with a backloaded contract.

Like i said speed doesn't age well and Bourn's game is built solely on it.

[GottaBelieve]

I've been on the sign Bourn bandwagon so I like this development. If he can be had for a reasonable 3 year deal with a 4th year option, I do it.

People can say all they want about the guy not "putting the team over the top". That doesn't change the fact that you still have an entire mountain to climb before you start worrying about the summit.

He's a solid CFer, plain and simple. Very good on defense (something this team desperately needs), good speed (even if it drops off a little in the coming years) and a good hitter. In my mind, he's worth the 11th pick of the draft even if it isn't protected, but I realize the team probably won't do that. I'll just hope it does get protected and they sign the guy.

[Marty Mcfly]

Don't think Mets will give Bourn any where near 6 years $106 million.

4/60 tops.

[Marty Mcfly]

I've been on the sign Bourn bandwagon so I like this development. If he can be had for a reasonable 3 year deal with a 4th year option, I do it.

People can say all they want about the guy not "putting the team over the top". That doesn't change the fact that you still have an entire mountain to climb before you start worrying about the summit.

He's a solid CFer, plain and simple. Very good on defense (something this team desperately needs), good speed (even if it drops off a little in the coming years) and a good hitter. In my mind, he's worth the 11th pick of the draft even if it isn't protected, but I realize the team probably won't do that. I'll just hope it does get protected and they sign the guy.

Perfectly stated.

[erickench]

I wouldn't sign him. Not for what he's asking. His 30 years old and his OBP isn't too good for a leadoff hitter. I would go with Cowgill

[CaptainWright]

The fact that he is a Scott Boras client scares me. I doubt he would settle for anything less than a 5-yr $70-75million unless he is still jobless when spring training starts.

[lvlheaded]

I don't get the people who say "he won't put us over the top". Of course he won't, there is not a ingle player in baseball right now that puts us over the top this year. But next year when we have all that pitching, wouldn't you think a guy like Ellsbury or Cory Hart is gonna be more likely to come here if they see other, viable players on the roster? Would you rather go play with David Wright, Ike Davis, and Michael Bourn, or Wright, Ike, and Collin Cowgill?

Part of what the Mets have to do is rebuild their credibility with not only the fans, but around the league. By going out and getting Bourn, for the right deal mind you, is a step toward that.

Bourn fills 2 huge needs right now, a ML outfielder and a top of the order guy. If he has a good year, Ike continues to improve, Tejada continues to improve, Murphy continues to improve, the pitching is what it's advertised as, and Wright is right, he helps make them a more viable team this year, and a more attractive place next year.

I like it if they can pull it off without losing the pick. 4 yrs 60 mil is the absolute max I'd pay though

[metswon69]

The fact that he is a Scott Boras client scares me. I doubt he would settle for anything less than a 5-yr $70-75million unless he is still jobless when spring training starts.

At that point he would be likely to take a 1 year deal to re-establish value for next year.

I think if the Mets hold firm with him they can get him for 3 years no more than 4.