In the Bronx, Jason Giambi has struggled with a batting slump even the sparkliest of thongs might not be able to fix. Meanwhile, Flushing's Carlos Delgado can't even get credit for the rare home run that leaps off his bat. Deserved or not, the two first basemen have been burdened with a lot of blame for their team's sluggish starts and that's got people wondering what's next for their teams at that position. For a lot of people the answer is Mark Teixeira. The Yankees won't pick up Giambi's $22 million option and the Mets will likely pass on Delgado at $16 million, which, the Newark Star-Ledger reports, sets up quite well for Scott Boras's new favorite client to pull his way on the free agency market.
He'll be on the market and available to all who like power, plate discipline and spiffy defense from their first basemen. Both New York teams are sure to be interested, and they'll have the means to get him. The Yankees have about $82 million coming off their payroll after this season, the Mets about $49 million.No shortage of pros there but what about the cons? For starters, let's remember that Giambi was 30 when the Yankees signed him to a long-term deal coinciding with his decline phase.
Teixeira isn't Giambi, of course, but he'll be looking for a deal in the seven year range and would doubtlessly slow down before it's over. Such a move runs counter to the Yankees stated desire to build from within, even if they do seem inclined to deviate from that course on occasion. The Mets, on the other hand, just gave a ton of money to Johan Santana and will need to replace Pedro Martinez, Moises Alou, and Billy Wagner in the next year or two. That's not a period you want to enter hamstrung with too many long-term contracts.
Another reason the Yankees might want to pass is the makeup of their own roster. Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Alex Rodriguez signed for a while the Yankees may need to move someone to first base pretty soon. With the other holes that would open, the Yankees may be better off holding their money and spreading it around over the next few years.
Good as Teixeira is and bad as the two New Yorkers have been, first base is hardly a position with a scarcity of productive players. If you're going to spend in the neighborhood of $150 million for one, he should be a unique talent you can't find elsewhere. A glance at the list of first basemen doesn't bear that out, something both teams should keep in mind when they prepare their bids.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Yeah, trade Delgado to the Braves for the Kid we need youth. Go Mets.
Posted at 8:09PM on May 20th 2008 by Bernie
2. I hope they both pass and Tex comes back home to Baltimore!
Posted at 9:50PM on May 20th 2008 by fofalex
3.
JUST AS A YHOUGHT WHY IS ANDERSON BATTING SECOND. HE CANT HIT. RANDOLPH IS NUTS. THIS TEAM NEEDS A WHITEWASHING. DEL GADO HEILMAN AND RANDOLPH MUST GO. GET A SECOND BASEMAN GET A FIRST BASEMAN. / GET A NEW MANAGER. THIS REGIME SUCKS. COULDENT HIT GLAVINE AND COULDENT HIT A JOURNEYMAN PITCHER IN THE SECOND GAME. THEY DID SO WELL AGAINST THE YANKEES. WONG IS ONE OF THE BEST.. WHY THE COLLAPSE IN ATLANTA. ITS ALL ATTITUDE .. THEY QUIT BEFORE THE SERIES IN ATLANTA, THEY SUCK
Posted at 12:21PM on May 21st 2008 by LEW
4. THE METS HAVE TO DUMP DELGADO HEILMAN AND ANY OTHER GARBAGE THEY HAVE, GO GET E SECOND BASEMAN AND A FIRST BASEMAN. THSY NEED A NEW MANAGER, WILLIE IS TO SOFT. A LOU PINIELLA TYPE. WHO WILL GET ON THE CASESMOF THE LAZY METS. THE QUITTERS, THIS IS S BUNCH OF LAZY GARBAGE. EXCEPT FOR CHURCH. AN SSCHNEIDER AND WAGNER.
Posted at 12:51PM on May 21st 2008 by LEW
5. YES ITS ALL OVER WILLIE. YOUR A CLASS ACT. YOUCANT MANAGE THIS TEAM OF QUITTERS. M METS MANBAGEMENT. HEILMAN DELGADO. CASTILLO. ALOU. OUT GET THEM OUT\ CANT WIN WITH HAS BEENS AND OLD BROKEN DOWN PLAYERS. GO GET A FIRST BASEMAN A SECOND BASEMAN. AND MAYBENCUONSIDER A BLOCKBUSTER DEAL AND TRADE REYES. HES A LAZY BUM.. A WASTE.
Posted at 7:19PM on May 23rd 2008 by LEW