Mets pursuit of Ibanez

July 28, 2008   ·   Paul Raymond   ·   Jump to comments

The New York Mets are still in a frantic search for a power-hitting outfielder. Rumors continue to swirl around Boston Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez, but the team has really had their sights set on Seattle Mariners lefty Raul Ibanez. Ibanez doesn’t completely fit the teams need as they need a right-handed hitter, but still they see him as the best fit out of all options.

Ken Davidoff of Newsday.com says that despite reports the Mets aren’t planning on making a run at Ramirez. On the other hand, the Mets have the most interest in Ibanez. The problem in acquiring him is the Mariners price tag. According to some reports, the Mariners want Mets top pitching prospect Jon Niese in return. The Mets aren’t willing to give up that much for just Ibanez, and I can’t blame them. Its to high of a price for someone who doesn’t even completely fit the teams need. After Niese, the Mets have no top tier prospects that really interest Seattle. Davidoff says “the Mets’ farm system lacks the depth to offer up the sort of second-tier prospects the Yankees, for instance, gave to Pittsburgh in return for Damaso Marte and Xavier Nady.”

While the price may be a little high, I think this is a deal the Mets should really consider. Some say that they don’t need a left handed outfielder, but who else do they have that is a lefty in that lineup other then Delgado. Most of their true talent is switch hitting or on the right side of the plate. Ibanez ould give them an even more rounded lineup and actually an extra right handed hitter in Fernando Tatis off the bench for late game scenarios. Unfortunately the Johan Santana trade stripped their upper minor leagues bare.

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