Just as Americans largely learn world geography based upon countries we invade, a useful byproduct of the terrible Jason Bay contract has been to educate Mets fans about the bad contracts around the league. Instead of coveting free agents like Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder-who, after all, would come without the tactical advantage of trading Jason Bay- Mets fans have instead spent nights dreaming of Carlos Zambrano, Vernon Wells and the reincarnated contract of Darren Dreifort.
So naturally, it caught my eye when I saw Buster Olney on Twitter this morning say the the White Sox want to dump the salary of reliever Matt Thornton, owed $5.5 million in 2012, $5.5 million in 2013 and a $1 million buyout of a 2014 option. So that’s $12 million.
Thornton isn’t being shopped for ineffectiveness. His 2.8 walks per nine, 10.8 strikeouts per nine, and 2.90 ERA over the past three seasons would instantly make him the best reliever on the Mets by a wide margin.
The Jason Bay Trade Machine within all of us immediately went into overdrive, producing a Thornton/Jake Peavy for Bay deal. Peavy is owed $17 million in 2012, with a $4 million buyout of his 2013 option. So that’s a total of $33 million between Peavy and Thornton.
That isn’t far off from what Bay is owed- $16 million in 2012, $16 million in 2013, and a $3 million buyout of his 2014 option. (That option automatically vests if Bay collects 600 plate appearances in 2013, or 500 in both 2012 and 2013.)
But let’s assume for the moment that no team plays Bay that much. There’s another question: why would the White Sox make this deal?
I think the Mets would need to kick in a prospect or two to make it worth Chicago’s time. And that’s not a terrible idea, since Peavy and Thornton instantly makes the 2012 pitching staff better, while opening left field for Lucas Duda, a better defensive fit for him than right field.
Still, in terms of long-term building for the Mets, it means giving up a prospect or two for short-term help. It probably doesn’t add up.
That’s for the best, really. Now we all have an excuse to look up the contract terms of Alfonso Soriano. Jason Bay has made us all more knowledgeable baseball fans.
5 Comments
So yea I’m sure the Sox would like to dump 2 solid players for one who has been statistically useless, and some B- prospect at best. The Sox are trying to get younger not worse. If they trade Thorton, there is no indication they would want to move Peavy with him, or at all. If they did, they would get a better haul than this, maybe Duda, plus Harvey could get that done, but still I don’t think so.
Peavy coming back to the national league wouldn’t be the worst thing for a one-time, now worn-down, ace. Plus, with the mets STILL spacious park he’d have a little more room for error. Question is whether the ChiSox would be willing to take on a less Adam Dunnish version of Adam Dunn.
Interesting thought, Peavy could be a good replacement for Capuano and Young and hold strong until either Mejia, Wheeler, Familia or Harvey are ready!
This trade is heavily one sided for the Mets.. If the only reason to trade Thornton is salary relief why would Bay be an option ever? Waste of a post
The real news of the day is that Nick Evans will be catching for the Pirates next season.
BTW, Evans signed a minor league deal. Can’t even sit in the Pittsburgh dugout. Anyone who can’t sit in the Pittsburgh dugout….well…