Mets deal for Francoeur: Does anyone else's head hurt?

July 10, 11:19 PMNew York Mets ExaminerAndrew Mees

Previous

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the New York Mets Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

There's already a number seven in New York, Jeff.

With an anemic offense starving for a jolt, the Amazin's pulled the trigger on a deal early this evening that sent outfielder Ryan Church to the Atlanta Braves for outfielder Jeff Francoeur.  The only problem is, it really provides no jolt at all.

In fact, the move makes little if any sense whatsoever.  General Manager Omar Minaya is attempting to spin the transaction by pointing to Francoeur's age (25, five years younger than Church), outfield defense (hands down one of the best outfield arms in the game) and durability (played in at least 155 games in each of his three full seasons). 

But Ryan Church was already an above-average defensive outfielder,  so this move was made for offense.  So why, exactly, did they deal for a guy who's offensive numbers have fallen off a cliff over the past year and a half? 

The differences are staggering.  One of the game's budding superstars in 2007, Francoeur went from a 20-homer, 100 RBI slugger to a .240 hitter with a .294 on-base percentage, due in large part to his reputation as one of the most undisciplined hitters in baseball.  He walked only 39 times last season, and his homers plummeted from 19 in 2007 to 11 in 2008. 

What makes matters worse, he's been no better in 2009.  He has walked twelve times in the seasons first 82 games.  He currently sports a .282 on-base percentage.  As for the "power" he brings to the lineup, he currently has five homers, as many as David Wright, whose power production has been widely criticized. 

To quote the cinematic classic "Super Troopers", desperation is a stinky cologne.  Omar Minaya is banking solely on the fact that a change of scenery will break Francoeur out of his extended funk.  But there's a reason why the Braves decided to part ways with the home-grown outfielder, and trade him to one of their biggest rivals in their own division.  It's the same reason why the Mets sent Church the other way.  Both of these players have reached their ceilings, and niether will be the player their new clubs think they can be.  This move was made simply to make a move, to show the fans the club is trying to stay afloat.  But in reality, it's done nothing at all.