[Thremp]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Melky is fine in CF. Jones would be a pretty significant downgrade for the team to sign. His value over Melky is extremely marginal (if at all) in pure terms of on the field ability. If you take into account that you could sign someone that could play 1B better than a drooler at 1B. ZOMG.


[/ QUOTE ]

Player Career OPS+ 2007 OPS+
Andruw 113 88
Melky 90 89

If Melky is very good defensively, you make sense. But Andruw Jones is reputationaly one of the best defensive centerfielders of all time, and Melky rates badly in some defensive systems. Melky could improve as a hitter, even though he hasn't over the last two years and wasn't unlucky this year. Andruw could bounce back, esp, since he was very unlucky this year.

The key is that Andruw needs a one year deal. If he signs a longer term deal he's going to lose a lot of money because of the horrific year he just had (no one is giving him even a Torii Hunter deal right now). How would you feel about paying Andruw $20M for one year with an option on a 4 year extension? My bet is that Cashman could get creative here. And Andruw will likely show up for work much lighter, and in the best shape of his life.

[/ QUOTE ]

I wouldn't mind that at all. But giving Jones a deal like Hunter would be idiotic IMO. Take a peek at which direction both players are heading in their careers. Jones is 30 and Melky could still go either direction atm. IIRC both now and going forward are average CFers with Jones declining much more rapidly than Melky.