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Mets Jeff Francoeur, seeking playing time, open to trade
NEW YORK — Benched to make room for a 21-year-old rookie, marginalized as a platoon player, Mets outfielder Jeff Francoeur has told the club through his representatives that he is interested in being traded to a team that would play him more, both sides confirmed yesterday.
“We want to play every day,” Francoeur’s agent Molly Fletcher said yesterday. “We prefer to play in New York. But if we’re not going to play every day in New York, we absolutely welcome the opportunity to play every day somewhere else.”
The Mets are aware of Francoeur’s position, a team official indicated. Eligible for arbitration, Francoeur is a candidate to be non-tendered by the team and cut loose at season’s end. He is playing on a one-year, $5 million contract. With Fernando Martinez called up to play ahead of him this past weekend, the writing is on the wall.
In a telephone interview, Fletcher indicated she would monitor Francoeur’s playing time over the next week, interested in whether or not manager Jerry Manuel follows through on his amended plan to let Francoeur face right-handed pitchers, a group he historically struggles against and is hitting just .217 against this season.
“Talk to me is just that: It’s talk,” Fletcher said. “What matters is what happens and is he in right field every day. And that’s what we’re watching.”
After hitting a game-winning home run the night before against the Phillies, Francoeur met with Manuel on Sunday morning in Philadelphia. He told Manuel he wanted to start against some right-handers this week. Manuel told reporters that day he would consider finding a fit in the next six games.
But with two left-handers scheduled to pitch in these next two series, Manuel explained two days later, Francoeur would remain on the bench against righties. So Martinez started yesterday against Colorado right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez while Francoeur sat.
“I think with the lefties coming in,” Manuel said, “it gives us a chance to get him those at-bats and to get him out there.”
This is the second time this season Francoeur has lost his starting position in right field.
The first came after the All-Star break, when center fielder Carlos Beltran returned and Angel Pagan, the team’s leading hitter, shifted to right. Francoeur started mostly against left-handers, against whom he is hitting .319 this year.
When left fielder Jason Bay sustained a concussion in late July, Francoeur moved back into the lineup. He did not show consistent improvement. His on-base percentage is below .300. With the club spiraling out of contention, Martinez and infielder Ruben Tejada were called up Saturday to inject life into the lineup.
This second benching was tougher to swallow. Francoeur avoided lashing out, but his distaste was apparent.
“I show up and if my name’s in the lineup, I’m playing,” Francoeur said Saturday night. “That’s pretty much all I have to say.”
His career path is filled with streaks and slumps.
This year has been difficult: His .679 OPS is the second-lowest of his career. But he felt heartened by a trio of home runs that aided the club the past three weeks. That’s all he can do, his agent said.
“I want him to continue to make it very difficult for them to not play him every day,” Fletcher said. “And the only way to do that, like in anything in sports, is execute when you’re at the plate and in the field.”
“We want to play every day,” Francoeur’s agent Molly Fletcher said yesterday. “We prefer to play in New York. But if we’re not going to play every day in New York, we absolutely welcome the opportunity to play every day somewhere else.”
The Mets are aware of Francoeur’s position, a team official indicated. Eligible for arbitration, Francoeur is a candidate to be non-tendered by the team and cut loose at season’s end. He is playing on a one-year, $5 million contract. With Fernando Martinez called up to play ahead of him this past weekend, the writing is on the wall.
In a telephone interview, Fletcher indicated she would monitor Francoeur’s playing time over the next week, interested in whether or not manager Jerry Manuel follows through on his amended plan to let Francoeur face right-handed pitchers, a group he historically struggles against and is hitting just .217 against this season.
“Talk to me is just that: It’s talk,” Fletcher said. “What matters is what happens and is he in right field every day. And that’s what we’re watching.”
After hitting a game-winning home run the night before against the Phillies, Francoeur met with Manuel on Sunday morning in Philadelphia. He told Manuel he wanted to start against some right-handers this week. Manuel told reporters that day he would consider finding a fit in the next six games.
But with two left-handers scheduled to pitch in these next two series, Manuel explained two days later, Francoeur would remain on the bench against righties. So Martinez started yesterday against Colorado right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez while Francoeur sat.
“I think with the lefties coming in,” Manuel said, “it gives us a chance to get him those at-bats and to get him out there.”
This is the second time this season Francoeur has lost his starting position in right field.
The first came after the All-Star break, when center fielder Carlos Beltran returned and Angel Pagan, the team’s leading hitter, shifted to right. Francoeur started mostly against left-handers, against whom he is hitting .319 this year.
When left fielder Jason Bay sustained a concussion in late July, Francoeur moved back into the lineup. He did not show consistent improvement. His on-base percentage is below .300. With the club spiraling out of contention, Martinez and infielder Ruben Tejada were called up Saturday to inject life into the lineup.
This second benching was tougher to swallow. Francoeur avoided lashing out, but his distaste was apparent.
“I show up and if my name’s in the lineup, I’m playing,” Francoeur said Saturday night. “That’s pretty much all I have to say.”
His career path is filled with streaks and slumps.
This year has been difficult: His .679 OPS is the second-lowest of his career. But he felt heartened by a trio of home runs that aided the club the past three weeks. That’s all he can do, his agent said.
“I want him to continue to make it very difficult for them to not play him every day,” Fletcher said. “And the only way to do that, like in anything in sports, is execute when you’re at the plate and in the field.”
I hope he goes somewhere and gets back on track. I wish him the best of luck, no matter what he does imma still be a big fan of his.
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