Instead of going out and getting a big bat or someone who can possibly be a starter, what do the Mets do? They pick up infielder Anderson Hernandez from the Washington Nationals for Minor League infielder Greg Veloz.
Hernandez, if you recall, was a Met prospect turned backup player on the Major League roster who provided very little offense but a good amount of speed. In 2007, he played in four games, had three at-bats and had a hit and a strikeout.
Granted, he had been doing a lot better with the Nationals as their second baseman. He was batting. 251 with 25 runs, nine doubles, two triples, a home run and 43 RBI. Compare that with a .138 average, six runs, a double, a triple, a home run and three RBI in parts of three seasons with the Mets. So, he’s gotten better, probably because he’s gotten more playing time in 77 games with the Nats.
This acquisition might be an indication of how badly Luis Castillo was hurt when he slipped in the Mets dugout in Wednesday’s game against the Cardinals. There still hasn’t been an official announcement about the status of his injury, so there is concern there. Or, in a better scenario, perhaps it’s a prelude to the release of Angel Berroa, but probably not. With the team looking more like an emergency room than a Major League roster, they can use all the bodies they can get.
Hernandez is like Castillo-lite, with less experience. Will it really help the team? Is this just a way to plug a hole until the end of the season or is this a move that the Mets are making to look more toward next season? What are your thoughts on this trade?
1 Comment
I think you could make the case for AHern as a halfway-decent backup middle infielder, especially if you’re looking for defense in that role. He plays both 2B and SS very well. But assuming that Reyes is OK for 2010, I think I’d rather have Cora in that backup role. If the Mets are trying to cut corners financially in 2010, maybe they’d rather have AHern than Cora.