A lot of the offseason hubbub so far has suggested that the Mets will pursue free-agent second basemen, assuming, of course, they can find a taker for Luis Castillo.
That’s fine, I suppose, though I wonder if signing Orlando Hudson to a multi-year deal would be more akin to repeating the Luis Castillo mistake than undoing it.
There’s also talk the Mets could pursue Chone Figgins partly because of his ability to play second base, but though Figgins is a tremendous defensive third baseman, he hasn’t played more than nine games at second in a season since 2005 and even back then, in a small sample, he wasn’t overwhelmingly good at it.
And paying Figgins the rate he deserves as a Gold Glove-caliber third baseman just to move him to a corner outfield position, where his bat would be below-average, would be a blisteringly bad decision. He’s a good player, but a lot of his value is wrapped up in his versatility and strong defense at third. Planting him in left field absorbs most of that value.
The most baffling thing, I think, is that I have yet to see a single journalist link the Mets to Felipe Lopez. Maybe I’m missing something, but Lopez was actually better than Hudson this year and is two and a half years younger.
He’s been inconsistent across his career, which could scare the Mets off, but his only really terrible year at the plate came in 2007, when his BABIP was .036 below his career average. That means he was probably a bit unlucky.
I’m not advocating Lopez for the Mets, I’m just noting how surprising it is that his name hasn’t come up. If they actually can part with Castillo and Lopez’s demands are lower than Hudson’s, he seems — on the surface, at least — like a smarter pickup.
Tedquarters 
I think your right, if the mets trade castillo trying to get Orlando Hudson then would be the equivalent of the Castillo signing a few years ago, same mistake.
Hudson of a big year would demand a similar contract to Castillo and now older may pose the same problems as castillo does. Unless the mets can pull of getting Hudson for a cheaper price at 2 years 3rd option they should do it.
If not just keep Castillo, he wasn’t that bad this year, right?
Felipe Lopez is not the answer. There are reasons why he keeps getting moved.
I’m sure there are. What are they?
Game on the line…who do you want at the plate or in the field:
A) Luis Castillo
B) Orlando Hudson
C) Felipe Lopez
D) Alex Cora (because A, B or C are on the DL)
In 2010, probably Hudson, even if Lopez was better offensively and arguably better defensively in 2009.
Problem is, teams don’t just choose between who they want at the plate with the game on the line. There’s money involved, and years, and if Hudson’s going to cost more money for more years, it’s not nearly as clear-cut a decision.
I don’t disagree. I think Hudson has gotten this reputation of a “gamer” and fans think we’re paying for this mysterious set of intangibles. I’m not quite sure what they are, but it seems like teams like the Phillies, Twins, Cardinals & Braves always have it, and the Mets never do.
Perception seems to be that Hudson would qualify as one of those types of players, which Matt Cerone has implied the Mets should seek over the past few years.
I won’t say that Lopez isn’t a “gamer”, as, other than hitting 23 HR for Cincy a few years ago, and bouncing around the majors a little, I know very little of Lopez, especially since he’s spent his whole career playing in small markets (Tor, Cin, Was & Mil).
Can’t argue with a .383 OPB & .810 OPS from 2B though. Also 2 years younger, and a switch hitter.
Lopez is most notable for looking exactly like this dude I went to high school with. Also for sharing his name with the overhyped St. John’s guard.