Kevin Mench Anyone?

vance_the_cubs_fan · November 7, 2005

It appears that the Rangers are interested in shopping Mench and the Cubs have been metioned as a destination.

In the meantime, the Rangers will explore how they can improve their team by trade. That will likely mean listening to what teams are willing to offer for Mench. Mench, who is eligible for salary arbitration this winter, is expected to see his salary jump from $376,000 to approximately $2 million. He is also under the Rangers control (or the control of whoever acquires him) for three more seasons.

A number of teams, including Kansas City, the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh, have all inquired about Mench, who recently switched agents.

Mench is 27 years old, but is likely not the impact bat we crave for RF. In 2005, he hit 264/328/469 with 25 HR's. From 2002-2004, he hit 276/337/496.

Unlike most Rangers in 2005, his road splits aren't significantly different than his home splits. So, should we be interested in Mench and how much should we pay to get him?

CuseCubFan69 · November 7, 2005

With those kinds of numbers how is his defense? If he is average or below I have no interest in him as a starter in any way.

David · November 7, 2005

It appears that the Rangers are interested in shopping Mench and the Cubs have been metioned as a destination.

Link

In the meantime, the Rangers will explore how they can improve their team by trade. That will likely mean listening to what teams are willing to offer for Mench. Mench, who is eligible for salary arbitration this winter, is expected to see his salary jump from $376,000 to approximately $2 million. He is also under the Rangers control (or the control of whoever acquires him) for three more seasons.

A number of teams, including Kansas City, the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh, have all inquired about Mench, who recently switched agents.

Mench is 27 years old, but is likely not the impact bat we crave for RF. In 2005, he hit 264/328/469 with 25 HR's. From 2002-2004, he hit 276/337/496.

Unlike most Rangers in 2005, his road splits aren't significantly different than his home splits. So, should we be interested in Mench and how much should we pay to get him?

Already being discussed in the Walker to the Indians thread...just an FYI..

I guess it could use its own thread, though.

USSoccer · November 7, 2005

I would give Walker and their choice of a potential Rule 5 pitcher.

MeatampPotatoesMan · November 7, 2005

he has solid plate discipline, but hasn't hit for average...yet. if that falls in line, we might be looking at a cheap .875-.900 OPS player. that's obviously not a sure thing though.

if we did get Mench, who makes the league minimum, we'd have a ton of money to spend elsewhere (SS, 2B, CF, rotation, pen). i don't endorse that, but hey, i guess it's nice to see hendry interested in a guy with plate discipline. :?

...or he could be a solid bench option.

Edited November 7, 2005 by Meat&PotatoesMan

HoopsCubs · November 7, 2005

It appears that the Rangers are interested in shopping Mench and the Cubs have been metioned as a destination.

Link

In the meantime, the Rangers will explore how they can improve their team by trade. That will likely mean listening to what teams are willing to offer for Mench. Mench, who is eligible for salary arbitration this winter, is expected to see his salary jump from $376,000 to approximately $2 million. He is also under the Rangers control (or the control of whoever acquires him) for three more seasons.

A number of teams, including Kansas City, the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh, have all inquired about Mench, who recently switched agents.

Mench is 27 years old, but is likely not the impact bat we crave for RF. In 2005, he hit 264/328/469 with 25 HR's. From 2002-2004, he hit 276/337/496.

Unlike most Rangers in 2005, his road splits aren't significantly different than his home splits. So, should we be interested in Mench and how much should we pay to get him?

Vance,

I would pass on Mench. I'd rather sign Reggie Sanders (for example), despite his age, than give up talent to get Mench.

Hoops

CuseCubFan69 · November 7, 2005

I wouldn't mind this guy as a 4th OF but not as a starter and not for an even up trade for Walker.

USSoccer · November 7, 2005

I wouldn't mind this guy as a 4th OF but not as a starter and not for an even up trade for Walker.

Compare him to Austin Kearns. What would we have to pay to get Kearns? I'd say Walker + Mitre would be fair. Also, it cures JH the temptation of using Walker to get Soriano.

CuseCubFan69 · November 7, 2005

I wouldn't mind this guy as a 4th OF but not as a starter and not for an even up trade for Walker.

Compare him to Austin Kearns. What would we have to pay to get Kearns? I'd say Walker + Mitre would be fair. Also, it cures JH the temptation of using Walker to get Soriano.

How old is Kearns? I don't see Mench as a 30 HR guy and as I said if he can't play defense I have no interest in him with his marginal numbers in that small park that he plays in. If I have to think about possible bad decisions that Hendry and/or Baker are going to make I have to say the problem isn't the team but the people in charge of the team.

vance_the_cubs_fan · November 7, 2005

What if we could get Mench for Mitre and Leicester? Both pitchers are out of options and likely are no longer in the Cubs immediate plans. We could end up losing both pitchers to a waiver claim at the end of spring training.

While I doubt Mitre and Leicester are near enough to get the Rangers to bite, it surely isn't a bad offer if the Rangers can get Mitre to work consistently in the zone.

Mench isn't a horrible option, but I'll agree he isn't the best. I'd rather have Giles for rightfield, but trading for Mench would give us insurance in the case we can't sign or trade for a bigger name.

wade · November 7, 2005

It's not a dealbreaker, but he is yet another right handed bat. Trading Todd Walker for him would give up the one current player the Cubs have signed that's a decent hitter from the left side.

Also, it looks like Mench can play right, but has mostly played LF so far in his career. I think he's arby eligible, so it's not like the Cubs will free salary or anything. In short, I'd probably pass.

CuseCubFan69 · November 7, 2005

What if we could get Mench for Mitre and Leicester? Both pitchers are out of options and likely are no longer in the Cubs immediate plans. We could end up losing both pitchers to a waiver claim at the end of spring training.

While I doubt Mitre and Leicester are near enough to get the Rangers to bite, it surely isn't a bad offer if the Rangers can get Mitre to work consistently in the zone.

Mench isn't a horrible option, but I'll agree he isn't the best. I'd rather have Giles for rightfield, but trading for Mench would give us insurance in the case we can't sign or trade for a bigger name.

I'd trade for him under those circumstances Vance but he just seems to be a Murton type player with a little more power and a little less OBP. One thing I would do is find out what pitchers are coveted by the teams that have impact bats first and go from there. If Mitre or Leicester have drawn interest from the Phils I would give them the first shot.

JeffH · November 7, 2005

I'd rather have Giles for rightfield, but trading for Mench would give us insurance in the case we can't sign or trade for a bigger name.

This is a tactic I'd like to see the Cubs employ. Fill the spot, then go looking for something better. It might take away the stink of absolute desperation.

vance_the_cubs_fan · November 7, 2005

The Cubs also could overwhelm the Rangers will volume of players who likely will have to be exposed to waivers. Mitre, Leicester, Wellemeyer- all are out of options and all might not make the Opening Day roster. Add to these some of the rule V casualties and you might get the Rangers to bite based on volume alone. Much depends on how budget concious the Rangers are.

CuseCubFan69 · November 7, 2005

I'd rather have Giles for rightfield, but trading for Mench would give us insurance in the case we can't sign or trade for a bigger name.

This is a tactic I'd like to see the Cubs employ. Fill the spot, then go looking for something better. It might take away the stink of absolute desperation.

Sammy really tied Hendry's hands last year IMO. I don't think he'll wait so long to fill the spot and I agree it would be wonderful to have a bat like Mench as the 4th OF.

MeatampPotatoesMan · November 7, 2005

The Cubs also could overwhelm the Rangers will volume of players who likely will have to be exposed to waivers. Mitre, Leicester, Wellemeyer- all are out of options and all might not make the Opening Day roster. Add to these some of the rule V casualties and you might get the Rangers to bite based on volume alone. Much depends on how budget concious the Rangers are.

offer them a bunch of junk and they'll bite? they do have their own 40 man roster, you know.

WrigleyinEngland · November 7, 2005

Do you think that trading T walk for a poss 4th OF ( we may already have that with Patterson or Murton depending on production) is value?. I agree with the ideas of Mitre or Leicester due to there options. I think Walker coupled with Hill or J williams could net us something very good.

vance_the_cubs_fan · November 7, 2005

The Cubs also could overwhelm the Rangers will volume of players who likely will have to be exposed to waivers. Mitre, Leicester, Wellemeyer- all are out of options and all might not make the Opening Day roster. Add to these some of the rule V casualties and you might get the Rangers to bite based on volume alone. Much depends on how budget concious the Rangers are.

offer them a bunch of junk and they'll bite? they do have their own 40 man roster, you know.

I agree it is doubtful they would bite. I think a lot depends on how badly they need to move Mench and what other teams are offering. Mitre would be an excellent starting point. He's shown enough promise to interest teams, but he's likely going to be a casualty at the end of spring training. Waiting until then to deal him likely lowers his value.

JeffH · November 7, 2005

For Mench, they can have Patterson plus: one from the out-of-options crowd (Mitre, Wellemeyer, Leicester) OR one from the Rule 5 eligible bunch (Brownlie, Marmol, Marshall, Nolasco, Ryu).

Mizzou · November 7, 2005

I don't see anything special about Mench. Surely with the money we have to spend, we can do better than this for right field.

Transmogrified Tiger · November 7, 2005

FWIW, Mench had a real low BABIP this year, .263. Of course he was at .275 last year, so he may be a guy who never has a high BABIP.

CubfaninCA · November 7, 2005

A .874 ops in 2004 caught my attention. Most likely the Cubs would have to give up either Williams or Hill. Not a bad option.

CuseCubFan69 · November 7, 2005

A .874 ops in 2004 caught my attention. Most likely the Cubs would have to give up either Williams or Hill. Not a bad option.

For this guy...really? I don't see trading a decent 3-5 guy like Williams for a possible 4th OF guy.

Transmogrified Tiger · November 7, 2005

A .874 ops in 2004 caught my attention. Most likely the Cubs would have to give up either Williams or Hill. Not a bad option.

That OPS is largely SLG-driven though, only a .336 OBP. However, it's not out of the question to see him with a BABIP around .290, which gives him a .290/.350/.500ish line. Solid, but I'd like to aim higher than Mench to start out with. Unless of course you acquire Mench, then use him or Murton as a chip in getting a better OF.

CuseCubFan69 · November 7, 2005

A .874 ops in 2004 caught my attention. Most likely the Cubs would have to give up either Williams or Hill. Not a bad option.

That OPS is largely SLG-driven though, only a .336 OBP. However, it's not out of the question to see him with a BABIP around .290, which gives him a .290/.350/.500ish line. Solid, but I'd like to aim higher than Mench to start out with. Unless of course you acquire Mench, then use him or Murton as a chip in getting a better OF.

Do you see Mench as a better player than Murton? Could the Cubs sign and trade Mench in a bigger deal?

Kevin Mench Anyone?

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