The New York Mets have scouted Detroit Tigers first baseman/outfielder Marcus Thames so much this spring that they could be accused of stalking according to the Boston Glove.Hmm...I've never heard of that newspaper before.
Either way, say the Mets trade away a guy like Scott Schoeneweis for Thames, which I don't see happening, who takes the hit and loses his spot on the bench?
Ramon Castro or Raul Casanova (if Castro starts on the DL) - Safe. You always need a backup.
Damion Easley - Safe. Can play all the infield positions.
Marlon Anderson - Safe. Way too valuable as a pinch hitter.
Endy Chavez - Safe. He'll see a lot of time filling in for Carlos Beltran and Ryan Church.
Ruben Gotay - Goner. He'd be the odd man out here, so if this deal does come to fruition, maybe the Mets can toss Gotay in and get something back in return, you never know.
Still, I don't see the Thames deal going down, at least not with the Mets, but it's just something to keep your eye on.