If for wildly different
reasons, the Mets’ signing of Todd Frazier should bring cheers from the
baseball establishment as well as Cubs’ and White Sox fans. Here’s why.
Player agents and their
clients have been grumbling all offseason about possible collusion among team
owners. Frazier is reported to have
signed a two-year deal worth $17 million.
For those so inclined, this may be the start of something big. MLB.com certainly makes it seem that way, but
then again if someone acquired the rights to Adolf Hitler, the online story
would note how the onetime Führer
would bring “a veteran presence” to his new team.
Cubs’ fans hate the
Mets (think 1969), so they’ll love this move because it’s bad. It’s bad because, as any White Sox fan could
attest, Todd Frazier swings a mostly-broken bat, as attested by a batting
average that’s gone down each of the past three seasons. The soon-to-be 32-year old Frazier hit .213
last year with the Sox and Yankees, with 27 homeruns and 76 RBIs; somehow, despite
lunging at anything outside, the “ToddFather” managed a .344 on-base percentage. What’s not to love…to hate?
According to the
MLB.com story, the Mets are expected to have an infield that includes 32-year
old Asdrubal Cabrera and 35-year old Adrian Gonzalez to go with Frazier;
depending on who they get for second base, the Mets could sport a geriatric
infield at four out of five positions.
With Jay Bruce (30) and Yoenis Cespedes (32), the New York outfield also
can be expected to creak in the wind.
Oh, and the Mets signed 32-year old Anthony Swarzak for their bullpen.
I’d give anything to be
32 again; heck, I’d take 35 with no complaints.
You’re still a relative baby in your 30s, provided you’re not a
professional athlete. But the
thirtysomethings on the Mets are athletes, unless they’ve stopped and don’t
know it yet. In recent years, that was
the problem with the White Sox (with Adam Dunn, James Shields, Adam LaRoche….).
So, Mets’ fans, don’t
say I didn’t warn you, and don’t be surprised by those howls of laughter coming
out of the stands at Wrigley Field when your team comes to visit.
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