The Mets acquired Chin-lung Hu today from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for southpaw Michael Antonini.
Let’s take a quick look at each:
Antonini:
The good – lefty, 7.0 K/9 : 2.1 BB/9
The meh – doesn’t throw hard, is hittable (9.2 H/9), and isn’t great at preventing homeruns (.9 HR/9),
Hu:
The good – BA’s #55 Prospect prior to 2008 season, makes a lot of contact with a good average, provides up the middle depth, and can steal some bags
The meh – doesn’t walk, little power, and turns 27 in Feb
My take:
I think I’m the only person on the planet who thinks Luis Castillo should start at 2B. Tejada belongs in AAA. Murphy needs to earn his burn. Hu provides some depth at 2B/SS, but his skill set doesn’t appear much different than what Castillo can provide, especially since Luis will walk more. Whoever plays 2B will probably bat 8th (Paulino 7th? yikes), so defense should take priority. Organizational depth is important with the tenuous 2B/SS crop they have behind Reyes.
Antonini is probably destined to be a LOOGY. He only has 44 IP at AAA, so I’m inclined to think he’ll need another full season there. He’ll turn 26 in August and one would think he will probably get a chance to start if he produces in AAA.
What do you guys think?
December 29th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
Hu will probably get a good chance to be the 25th man since he is out of options (I believe). I truly think that, unless Castillo has a really good spring, Emaus or Murphy will be your Opening Day second baseman.