Sizeless

With the lack of affordable outfield options available to the Mets, desperation was sure to crawl through the door. Mark down 12-20-2012 (palindrome) as the day that desperation finally made its way onto the Citi Field stoop, as they are once again looking at that ever popular "low-risk high-reward" road.

Take a look at this tweet from somebody that might be in the know about things like this:

Heard the #Mets are very interested in Grady Sizemore. He's coming off microfracture surgery, but I would def take a shot w him.

— Kevin Burkhardt (@KBurkhardtSNY) December 20, 2012

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I … would not.

Look, Grady Sizemore was once very good. Bordered on superstar at one point. He's entering the prime age of his career. The only way the Mets could get somebody like this from another team at this point is if said player was injured for four straight seasons. Grady Sizemore, because of various injuries, has played in 210 games in four seasons, and hasn't played in a major league game since 2011. The Mets have specialized in signing players that have played sparingly, if at all, in the previous season or two. Kelvim Escobar. Taylor Buchholz. Chris Young. On. And on. And on. Young has continued his injury problems, and when he pitched he hasn't been overwhelmed. Buchholz isn't the best example because he struggled with anxiety. Escobar got free money from the Mets as he never pitched again.

Tell me why Grady Sizemore is going to be any different. Because he was better than the other three players when at his best? Wonderful! His last four seasons have been dreadful. Here are the highlights since 2009: 210 games, .234 avg, ,314 OBP, .413 SLG, averages a strikeout per game. Even Moises Alou was hitting over .300 through all of his injury problems. He gave a high reward when he played. But his risk was high because he signed what turned out to be a two year deal. So even that wasn't your "low-risk high-reward" signing.

Sizemore, I hope, wouldn't get more than a minor league deal if he came here. But he's coming off microfracture surgery so he's not resuming baseball related activities until June. So 2013 sounds like a wash. Now, if you're going to reap any sort of reward for Grady Sizemore, you're going to have to sign him to a two year deal. Would you sign a guy who has played 210 games in four seasons and is coming off microfracture surgery to a two-year deal? This is no longer low-risk, high-reward. You're either signing up for medium risk, or medium reward. And this is why I maintain that that wretched "low-risk high-reward" term needs to be buried forever. Just because you spend minimum money on a guy doesn't make it okay when it becomes a complete waste of money. Is it okay to buy an acre of scorched earth just because it cost fifty bucks? You're still out fifty bucks.