Today, Janish wrote that the Mets should say no to Raul Ibanez, and compares him to another player in the Mets recent past:
For those who are more literary than visionary, Raul Ibanez is Shawn Green. In other words, a guy who once was a strong all-around player with a slugging lefthanded bat, who has declined drastically in all phases of the game in the past few years due to age. Bat speed - gone. Power - gone. Fielding ability - gone. Baserunning - gone. Yet the Mariners want two prospects for Ibanez, and are supposedly holding out for Jonathan Niese. My answer to the Ms is “NFW”.Bingo. He's a shell of what he once was, and for the asking price, the Mets shouldn't even begin to think about this deal. He'd be a nice fill-in, but not something I would depend on.
Janish goes on to say that if the Mariners will accept a lesser deal, for a fringe "prospect" player, to jump at the chance. Again, I agree. He's worth a flier, that's for sure. I think he'd be beneficial to the team this season, but for the price the M's want, I'd balk.
Is it too crazy for the Mets to sit back and not make a deal? Is that ever at all possible? I really can't fathom Omar Minaya sitting back and watching the deadline approach and not pick up the phone and make a deal. Maybe that's what is best for the team right now, though. They're in first place with the players they have, and have been without a true corner outfielder for the majority of the year.
IF (big if) Ryan Church can come back healthy, and have Endy Chavez and Fernando Tatis split time in left field, I'd be more than happy with that. I don't think Tatis can keep it all up on his own, so if his time is cut in half or so, his hot streak and ability might carry further into the season.
So in conclusion: No to Ibanez, unless it's on the cheap. Church needs to come back healthy. Tatis and Chavez will be just fine in left.
And that's that.