Ike, Duda, Niese, etc., are all on the table… So, get used to it
The Mets won’t shop either Ike Davis or Lucas Duda aggressively this winter, “but will be open to the right deal for either,” according to one club source, Andy Martino reports in this morning’s Daily News.
Yesterday, ESPN New York reported that the Mets will consider trading Davis this offseason, according to a ‘baseball source.’
Later in the day, Martino added, “The Mets are debating whether to make Davis or Duda the first baseman of the future,” according to team insiders.
“There is not a guy in that clubhouse who can’t get traded,” Terry Collins told reporters yesterday afternoon.
Earlier this week, Collins said Duda will continue to play first base against left-handed pitching during the remainder of the season.
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com:
In talking to people connected to the team, and others with knowledge of their thinking, I believe Davis, Duda, Jon Niese and other young players are very much on the table. Now, that doesn’t mean they’ll all get moved. Frankly, it doesn’t mean any of them will get moved. But, the point is, the organization seems to know it needs more, better talent, and the only way to do that is to trade something for something. This is the right way to think about it, and I’m glad they’re not being conservative, because the team just isn’t strong and deep enough to sit tight. Plus, if they do sit tight, I can’t fathom how they sell these guys on us going in to next season…
In regards to Davis, I heard nothing yesterday from team insiders to suggest there are concerns about Ike’s work ethic, which is not to say it isn’t true… It’s just, no one said anything to me. Instead, I did pick up worry about his inability to hit left-handed pitching, which, when coupled with his streakiness, laid back personality, and value on the trade market, and given the team’s other needs, decision-makers are open to the idea of moving him and going with Duda at first base instead. The thing is, I don’t think they’re all sold on Duda either. There were teams, like Oakland, who expressed interest in Davis last winter. So, there will be interest, but I’m not sold that the Mets are yet sold on what they want to do and why…
The point is, moves need to be made and every option (short of trading Matt Harvey) should be on the table… and, based on the above reports, and based on what I’m hearing, they are. As such, prepare yourselves for a lot of these sort of random, vague, suggestive rumors, none of which may come to fruition, but (because the Mets seem to want to explore their options) all of which will probably have some kernel of truth.
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