Say Hey To The New Devil Rey! [merged threads]

[Max Power]

From Lee's ATM report:

The Mets traded SS Rey Ordonez to the Devil Rays for 2 players to be named later.

Good luck Lou. Maybe with a DH, he won't be all that bad?

[Doc Pontoon]

Rey Ordonez traded to Tampa Bay for two PTBNLs. It's a great deal for the Hellfishes if the two PTBNLs are Greg Vaughn and Wilson Alvarez. Even so, I'm certain that they've finally taken a step towards their first championship, in 2016.

[Fatwater Fewl]

Ordonez. Who gets his bats custom made from the spaces between the atoms of the finest ash.

Think Pinella will get tossed a few times this year?

[Fatwater Fewl]

Yep, I'd let the pitchers hit and use a DH in place of Ordonez.

[satchel]

Originally posted by Fatwater Fewl
Yep, I'd let the pitchers hit and use a DH in place of Ordonez.

too bad Buzz isn't around much any more, he's always willing to step in and defend Ordonez's honor.

Okay, this isn't the blockbuster trade of the year, but it's significant that the Mets are finally willing to give up on this guy. But after his miserable defensive performace this year, I guess they couldn't fool themselves that he had value.

What the heck do the Rays plan to do with him? "veteran leadership" for all the AA players on their 25-man roster?

[Skip]

Originally posted by Fatwater Fewl
Yep, I'd let the pitchers hit and use a DH in place of Ordonez.

I realize this is (mostly) tongue-in-cheek, but I've never thought of this before. Is the DH specifically for the pitcher, or just the designated hitter for anyone in the line up?

Remember, as Dr. Berman from Bristol University says, "There's no such thing as a stupid question, only stupid people asking questions."

[KCBOOMER]

The Mets are still picking up $4.25M of Rey's $6.25M contract.

As for Rays, what were they thinking?? Is their shortstop situation so dire they need this guy?

[sweaver]

You can DH for anybody in the lineup, supposedly, it's just that the pitcher is usually the weakest hitter.

Ordonez may be the challenge to this rule.

[JamesI]

Originally posted by Fatwater Fewl
Yep, I'd let the pitchers hit and use a DH in place of Ordonez.

If allowed, I would do this. Most pitchers are probably better than Rey with the bat.

[Max Power]

I think you can only DH for a pitcher:

Rule 6.10:
Any League may elect to use the Designated Hitter Rule. (a) In the event of inter league competition between clubs of Leagues using the Designated Hitter Rule and clubs of Leagues not using the Designated Hitter Rule, the rule will be used as follows: 1. In World Series or exhibition games, the rule will be used or not used as is the practice of the home team. 2. In All Star games, the rule will only be used if both teams and both Leagues so agree. (b) The Rule provides as follows: A hitter may be designated to bat for the starting pitcher and all subsequent pitchers in any game without otherwise affecting the status of the pitcher(s) in the game. A Designated Hitter for the pitcher must be selected prior to the game and must be included in the lineup cards presented to the Umpire in Chief. The designated hitter named in the starting lineup must come to bat at least one time, unless the opposing club changes pitchers. It is not mandatory that a club designate a hitter for the pitcher, but failure to do so prior to the game precludes the use of a Designated Hitter for that game. Pinch hitters for a Designated Hitter may be used. Any substitute hitter for a Designated Hitter becomes the Designated Hitter. A replaced Designated Hitter shall not re enter the game in any capacity. The Designated Hitter may be used defensively, continuing to bat in the same position in the batting order, but the pitcher must then bat in the place of the substituted defensive player, unless more than one substitution is made, and the manager then must designate their spots in the batting order. A runner may be substituted for the Designated Hitter and the runner assumes the role of Designated Hitter. A Designated Hitter may not pinch run. A Designated Hitter is "locked" into the batting order. No multiple substitutions may be made that will alter the batting rotation of the Designated Hitter. Once the game pitcher is switched from the mound to a defensive position this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game. Once a pinch hitter bats for any player in the batting order and then enters the game to pitch, this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game. Once the game pitcher bats for the Designated Hitter this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game. (The game pitcher may only pinch hit for the Designated Hitter). Once a Designated Hitter assumes a defensive position this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game. A substitute for the Designated Hitter need not be announced until it is the Designated Hitter's turn to bat.

[Fuzzy Bear]

The Mets got rid of Rey. Great!

Just exactly WHO are they NOW going to play at SS?

Their best bet, IMO, may have been Alfonzo, who I always believed could have handled the position.

I don't recall any prospects at SS in the Met system.

This may be a case of dumping a player before a solution is found. Ordonez is lousy, but the Mets haven't found anyone better, have they?

[mentos]

I don't recall any prospects at SS in the Met system.

They have one of the best in Jose Reyes.

The NY media is particularly breathless about him.

http://www.nypost.com/sports/mets/51735.htm

[Max Power]

Reyes probably needs, based on his Winter League performance so far, at least 3 months of AAA before they can play him.

Look for the Mets to pick up a bush leaguer glove guy to play at SS - - someone like a John McDonald type - - to fill in..............

[Sadaharu Oh]

Originally posted by KCBOOMER
The Mets are still picking up $4.25M of Rey's $6.25M contract.

As for Rays, what were they thinking?? Is their shortstop situation so dire they need this guy?

This trade is being made fun of everywhere, but I see a sound reasoning behind it. It is based upon the notion that the Ordonez is a very good defender. I'm not saying he is or isn't, I just don't know. Anyway, assume that he is for a moment.....

What the the Rays trying to do in the next year or two? Play for the division? Sign FAs to make a run at the Yanks? Of course not. Their only goal *should* be do develop their young players so that they are good once they can achieve such larger goals. Part of the half being developed is pitching, and if the pitchers are going to develop both stuff and confidence, then they need infielders who can field well, especially on that turf.

In steps a good defensive shortstop (maybe). As I see it, they are paying what ends up being an extra 975K not towards Ordonez, but in the end, towards Kennedy, Brazleton, etc. They are taking the view that having a strong defender at the main defensive position is important to their development.

Now, is Ordonez the right guy for that job? I can't say. I'm not aware of the latest defensive data. Could they have signed someone as good defensively for the minimum? I also can't say. But let's not pretend. It makes *zero* difference how much the next shortstop hits next year. There isn't any point in paying more for, say, Jose Hernandez for a year. No one will matter, likely, until BJ Upton comes around.

So why not get someone that will help their pitchers? That's probably what the Rays were thinking. Sacrificing a few wins from the bat in '03 isn't much of a price to pay. And if Ordonez's defense is good enough, then Tampa is probably the *only* place where he can make a positive contribution.

[LeGrandOrange]

Whether he is an improvement on Chris Gomez is debatable. I think it's a wise move for Tampa, believe it or not...Gomez was really just a fluke, at least you know you're going to get a Belanger clone with Rey. Who gives a damn if he can't hit, you only need so many great hitters.

That said, I'm pretty sure the fans of RCAP got an erection from this deal because he is going to look a lot worse in the AL given that his SS comps are all #3 hitters as opposed to #8 hitters. And now that Perez is gone, he's the new whipping boy for sabermetricians in the AL.

But I digress. Good trade given what you have to work with.
And yes, I would rather have him over Gomez. He's just boring.