With the Braves' Mark Teixeira in town this weekend, I thought it would be a good time to remind everyone that the switch-hitting Gold Glover will be a free agent this offseason and should be at the top of the Mets' wish list. Not a bad upgrade from Carlos Delgado, and wouldn't it be a nice change to see Teixeira making the type of plays he made Saturday for the Mets instead?
He's the perfect choice for a team that wants to focus on pitching and defense, but he's also a major offensive force. Sure, Teixeira won't come cheap -- he's a Boras client after all -- but the Mets don't have to worry about that. The only problem is that Teixeira seems to favor the AL -- he mentioned on Friday that he's "still learning this league" -- and that points to either his hometown Orioles or the Yankees.
Teixeira's favorite player growing up was Don Mattingly. But when the bidding war for his services gets underway, I wouldn't be surprised if he says good things about Keith Hernandez, too.
As another part of the Sunday baseball package -- I was keeping the space warm for Ken Davidoff this weekend -- I couldn't resist a chance to skewer Joe Smith for his brain cramp last Tuesday at Wrigley. You can find the rest of the Short Hops (the week that was in MLB) if you click here.
Comments (2)
Of course, Delgado must've read this before the game. (grin)
Teixeira has to be the top off-season free agent from the Mets. As you outpoint, though, he does seem to favor the AL. Say it ain't so.
The Mets' POV, that is!