Above may lie a cute little alliteration, but believe me my friends, there is nothing remotely cute about this latest Mets transaction. Nothing whatsoever. Well…how do you do my fellow Mets fans? In case you missed yesterday’s latest Mets tragedy, the team shipped reliever Brian Stokes over to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for disgruntled outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. Come on…are you kidding? Somebody kill me now.
Matthews big walk year in 2006 with the Texas Rangers – a season which saw him produce a .313-.371-.495 line – allowed him to score a big 5 year 50 million dollar contract with the Angels. And what do you know? Like so many before him, Matthews proved his walk year was nothing more than a fluke, and over the past 3 seasons with the Halos, Matthews has hit a combined .248 to go along with a .708 OPS. Worthy of maybe an AAA player, maybe a backup guy at best. Not to mention his defense is absolute trash, he posted a very poor -14.5 UZR in the outfield last season. Last season, the dude was eventually benched because his play was so horrible. I remember a Matthews interview after a postseason defeat in which he pretty much said to the media, "Thanks for the opportunity and the tubby contract Anaheim, now deal me to a team that’ll let me play every day." So let’s recap…no bat, no glove, and now in New York no place to play once Beltran returns from his surgery…
…are you kidding me Omar?! Where is the upside in this deal?! What are the Mets getting out of this?! Even though Anaheim agreed to pick up 21.5 million of the 23.5 million left on Matthews’ contract, so what?! I’d rather pay a little more money for a reliable reliever in Stokes, who really seems to have turned a corner in his career since arriving with the Mets in the National League, than have a guy that seriously has no tools. He brings nothing to the table. I don’t understand why Angel Pagan, the superior bat, glove, legs – albeit he is brain-dead once he gets on the basepaths – and personality, than have this one hit wonder Matthews on my team. Pagan was the superior choice all around to keep Beltran’s spot warm. Matthews is absolutely worthless to me, and now once Beltran does return, we’ll have a nice little cancer in the clubhouse that no other team would want, whining and complaining that he’s not seeing enough playing time, playing time he doesn’t deserve to receive in the big leagues.
And so, once again Omar takes yet ANOTHER gamble on a guy who he’s hoping will rebound all around with a change of scenery. I don’t get it, I just don’t get it. Matthews has showed absolutely zero promise since his final season with the Rangers, it’s almost as if he’s taking it easy because what does he care? He’s already netted his 50 million, he’ll make more than any of us ever will, he’s set for life. That’s about all I can say about this deal friends, we weakened our bullpen, lost a decent reliever, and in exchange we got an eventual backup outfielder who can’t hit, run, field, or be a nice guy. The money comparison between Matthews’ salary over the next 2 seasons and the amount of money Stokes would be receiving is so small, it’s irrelevant. We’re the New York Mets for God sakes, not a penny pinching small market club. Overall assessment: deal makes no sense to me; we’re giving away value, and getting garbage in return.
What do the owners think about this offseason aside from Jason Bay’s acquisition? Do they legitimately believe this team’s front office has done well? Do they legitimately believe they can topple the Phillies and win the NL East crown, especially now that Philly has Roy Halladay in tow for the long run? It’s not hard to see why Bengie Molina accepted a lesser deal and didn’t come to the Mets. Why should he, I wouldn’t, head for the hills buddy! The team is undeniably poorly run, and the fact that the Wilpons just sit back, take no action against all of Omar’s lousy moves this offseason, twiddling their thumbs while reaping in the cash makes me sick to my stomach. Do they care at all for any of us fans, longing and yearning for that long-overdue championship?
Or is it all about the money for themselves, and their country clubs, and their private jets, and their fancy steak dinners. What’s it about Fred, what’s most important to you? Because from where I’m sitting, you don’t have to be an overindulgent tycoon to see that your team is no winner!
Thoughts/gripes about the Matthews trade, Omar, and the Wilpons? Leave them below. Vent away my suffering Mets fans, vent away.
