The Seattle Mariners are considering releasing first baseman Richie Sexson. There seems to be one ideal landing place: Shea Stadium.
Sexson, in the final year of a four-year $48 million contract, would make a good platoon partner with Carlos Delgado, the current Mets' first baseman.
Delgado, like Sexson, is in the final year of his contract. The Mets do hold an option on Delgado for 2009, but it's widely expected the Mets will decline the option and buy him out for $4 million.
Delgado hasn't been particularly effective against lefties or righties, but he has produced more against right handed pitching:
Today's Must Reads
Delgado vs. LHP in 08: .229/.273/.398
Delgado vs. RHP in 08: .241/.327/.417
Sexson is the opposite as he has done more against lefties, and his split is much more pronounced than Delgado's.
Sexson vs. LHP in 08: .356/.420/.578
Sexson vs. RHP in 08: .175/.266/.313
The Mets could play Sexson against left-handers and Delgado against right-handers. They'd get the best out of both players and ideally improve their offense along the way.
While Shea Stadium is a pitchers' park like Seattle's Safeco Field is, it's worth noting that Sexson has hit significantly better away from Seattle this year.
Sexson at home in 08: .179/.248/.245
Sexson on the road in 08: .248/.347/.495
With both players in the final year of their current contracts, the Mets should gamble on Sexson and hope that a platoon with Delgado gives the lineup some juice. There isn't a lot of downside. If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. Neither player would be long-term solutions anyway.
comments (5) write a comment »
write a new comment
2 months ago
nice comparison of their stats.
My problem with the move would be that Sexon is 34 years old and in that final year of the contract. He is a band-aid. A booster not a fixer.
Now the mets are certainly not out of the race by any means, so they may still be able to make a solid run into the post season.
However i heard something from Peter Gammons on ESPN compairing the Mets to other teams which underwent similar collapses as the Mets underwent in '07.
All of the teams he said, needed to be dismantled and rebuilt. The lingering effects were just to great.
Lets hope the Mets can pull themselves out of the hangover, and at least make the playoffs.
from 2 months ago
That Sexson is in the final year of his contract is part of the attraction. If he doesn't pan out, then he's not our problem moving forward.
2 months ago
I disagree with the first comment. He is a band-aid. The Mets do not need anymore than that. My worst fear would be for the Mets to go after another veteran first basemen and sign him. I would much rather take Sexson for the rest of the year and then let both veterans go and hand the ball off to Mike Carp next year.
2 months ago
I agree. I don't think anyone is taking Sexson at this point. You can't bat .200 and expect someone to use you for any playoff run, regardless of your history. If I am a GM, I would be worried that he has a nagging injury, I see his stats and have seen a decent decline in them over four years, and ( like guys like Bret Boone ), you have to question if his decline correlates with illegal substances being banned from the game.
He just doesn't have anything that is better than Delgado. Understood it is a platoon, but why are you bringing over someone who is only going to play lefties ( which would be 25%-30 of games ). You run the risk of having these guys lose their routine by playing them 3-4 games a week. And if they both suck, Minaya will get fired for that fiasco alone.
I could see this happening if the Mariners took $3-4 million for the rest of the season, but I highly doubt the Mets would bite. His struggles are really apparent, and I question if this decline could be one of his last.
2 months ago
Sorry for the last comment. Your article is really good and has some insight. I appreciate you writing it. Just wasn't sure how far this plan could go.
write a new comment