Mets Land Powell

Finally, the Mets make a move!

The Mets have signed catcher [Landon Powell] to a minor-league contract, and invited him to spring training.

The 30-year-old Powell has a chance to turn 31 in March. In bits of three MLB seasons, he’s hit 10 homers in 406 plate appearances, so he has some power. However, his batting average is .207, OBP .284, and OPS .612. He has stolen one base — not an unusual total for a catcher with a 6’3″, 265-lb. frame.

Powell, a switch-hitter, spent last year in AAA, playing 79 games for Oklahoma City in the PCL. He hit .251 with 8 HR and a .729 OPS in 279 plate appearances. He was also walked intentionally 7 times.

Most pundits are predicting that Powell will start the 2013 season in 2013 as Travis d’Arnaud’s backup. However, I believe he’ll give [Anthony Recker] strong competition for the backup backstop job for the Mets.



Ok, so... real nice job Sandy.  Think we could get a couple more of these "Mendoza line" players in before the season starts?  

Wasn't he one of the players in Moneyball (the book)?  I remember the one catcher Brown who Beane drafted despite his unathletic look, but I seem to remember Powell also.  Could be wrong though...

thomasam,  That was Boog Powell who has a crab shack outside Camden Yards, selling those Maryland crab cakes.

Seriously thomasam  this guy was drafted by the A's in '04'.  He doesn't hit much and defensively he is below average, but he must have a gun.  He is throwing out basestealers at a 40% clip, league avg. is 27 %.  Convert him to a pitcher and put him in the BP.

Yeah, seriously.  I thought I remembered his name from the book although he's really done nothing of note since then.

He looks like the AAA catcher at best case scenerio, but who knows.  Who can say they were excited when the Mets signed RA Dickey? 

We brought back Pedro too: http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/
21594420/mets-bring-back-feliciano-
settle-with-ike-davis

Delmon Young signs for $750K?  Really?

Hmm, get this... The Mets are reportedly trying to work out a way to sign Michael Bourn! (and also already in discussion with his greedball agent Scott Bora$) This is what's being reported, I'm not making this up... Here's the catch though. The Mets have the 11th overall pick in the upcoming draft this year, they had the 10th overall pick until the Pirates failed to sign their 1st rounder last year. Only the top ten picks are protected. The Mets are seeking a ruling from MLB that since they were forced out of the top ten by the Pirates failing to sign their pick, that NY's upcoming pick at #11 should still be protected. We'll see if the ruling turns out in our favor or not soon, but if it does and the pick is protected then the Mets will go after Bourn. Don't get too excited though as his agent is still Scott Boras and he likely will still make a bidding war play out.

A return of Scott Hairston now out of the picture, just signed a 2 yr/$6mil contract with the Cubs.

Could it be?

"ichael Bourn has become a “realistic” option for New York, according to the New York Post.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson “has softened his position” and “seems more willing” to give up the team’s top draft choice as compensation to the Atlanta Braves, the Post reported."

And a funny from Alderson

Last week, Alderson jokingly compared his offseason[ to the Manti Te’o saga]: “I am in discussions with several outfielders. I met them on the Internet.”

 

Mets just signed Shaun Marcum to a 1 year deal

Bourn is looking more and more like a real possibility now. Division rival Braves just agreed to a trade for Justin Upton... So now the Braves will have both Uptons in their outfield along with Heyward.

There sure are a lot of dominoes falling suddenly.  Within 24 hours the Upton, Hairston and 5th starter questions are all done.  I was reading that article about Bourn and the draft pick situation and it does look very promising.  Lots of teams involved it seems but there's a lot of reasons to think it might happen it seems...

So it appears now that the Braves got their outfield set that the Mets main competition for Bourn is from Texas and Seattle. Either of those 2 teams could outbid us if they want to.

Sure looks like that.  It really depends on where he wants to play more than anything else it seems.  Both teams seem to have plenty of resources available to sign him for sure.

I don't know about you guys but i feel Bourne is a waste of money. He's not the impact player we need, yes he has speed and we have a need for a good defensive outfielder but he doesn't hit for power and won't make that big of an impact. I do like the Shaun Marcum signing and Pedro Feliciano back could workout if he gets over his shoulder woes.

They definitely need some power, but there are a two things holding them back from getting a big bat in the OF:  a lack of available players and spending restrictions.  They still will need a CF though for not only this year but the next few.   I saw it written somewhere that Bourn was given credit for saving 60 runs in 2012 vs. an average CF.  That's huge here, and considering the CFs they've had since Beltran moved to RF and how bad OF defense has been, that's huge.

That enormous hole in LF will be filled at some point, but why force the issue if there's nothing really available at a reasonable price in terms of money or prospects? 

I agree about Bourne to an extent. but he's pretty legit leadoff hitter and centerfielder. The Mets right now have ZERO legitimate starting outfielders, I don't see any prospects in our farm that are READY or ALMOST READY either. Free agent market is dry, Mets will be in terrible trouble defensively if they just ride it out with what they have now in the outfield.  3 years to Bourne is not that long of a contract... I think the Mets should sign him, the addition will make a difference.

The latest is that the Mets, in agreement with the MLBPA, are trying to convince Selig that they should only have to surrender their 2nd round pick instead of their 1st rounder if they sign Bourn. Most predict the Mets will not win this argument because the rules in the CBA are clearly stated.

It's also reported that at this point Texas has "bowed out" of the bidding for Bourn and the main competition for his services is coming from the Mariners. It may take a 4-5 year to sign him, Mets are still "very interested" and reportedly trying to work out a deal that is backloaded.