i think the mets overpaid for franco. the guy's 47 and isn't getting any younger. he's getting weaker and slowing down every year. he didn't do much with the braves last year and isn't going to do much this year or next with the mets.
he's getting weaker and slowing down every year. he didn't do much with the braves last year and isn't going to do much this year or next with the mets. I checked the stats and, yes, he didn't do much for the Braves last year. His batting was barely above average (105 OPS+), his fielding at 1B was below average, and he only appeared in 102 games last year. And he is getting worse and worse every year. His OPS+ has gone from 117, to 112, to 105 over the last 3 years. However, he's only going to be making $1.1million a year. That's about 1.3% of the total Mets payroll. It's also about average for what a veteran player in MLB would make in his position (regardless of age). Do I think he's going to positively contribute to the Mets? Probably not, but I don't think he's going to be some sort of sinkhole from the bench. Nobody should be pointing at this contract and saying it's a reason for the Mets failure. If they signed 6 or 7 guys like this (something the Pirates and Devil Rays used to do all the time), then there is something wrong. Or if they signed him for $3million/year, then it's a bad idea. But to add a single veteran player for this small (it's relative) amount of money, it's barely worth complaining about. This is one of those rare times where I support throwing a million dollars at "veteran leadership".
"Franco hit .275 last season with nine homers and 42 RBIs in 233 at-bats for the Braves, and he was surprised when they didn't offer him arbitration after four-plus years in Atlanta." I agree that "veteran leadership" could definately be a valuable commodity. I also agree too that if the Mets fail to materialize somthing next year that nobody can point the finger at Julio.
Okay. If you were 47 and you were able to sign a 2 year 2.2 million contract, you would. You know it. He's a contender still. Forget age. It's performance. There are guys out there who are in their mid 20's who will never be the play he is/was. I think it's great. Leave the guy alone.
Okay. If you were 47 and you were able to sign a 2 year 2.2 million contract, you would. You know it. He's a contender still. Forget age. It's performance. There are guys out there who are in their mid 20's who will never be the play he is/was. I think it's great. Leave the guy alone. I agree and I would play for half that amount. Of course I'd need a pinch runner in case some fool walked me.
Hell, I'd play for free, but the player's association would have none of it. The minimum salary would be a hell of a raise.
