I don't know much about his contract status, but I saw the numbers he put up last year and I've always been a Payton fan. And damn did his numbers impress me. The Rocks seem to be going young...aren't they always and they have always been rumored as being very interested in Aaron Rowand. The Sox have a lot of depth with ML ready prospects in Borchard and Reed (We could debate on that, plus we have Willie).

 

According to ESPN and the Rocky Mountain Newspaper Payton and the Rocks are having trouble agreeing to a one year deal. Payton can play both left and center and is good defensively and if I recall has a pretty good arm.

 

Check out last years stats (Realize they are Coors inflated):

157 Games

.302 AVG

.354 OBP

.866 OPS

28 HRS (Holy F*cksticks)

89 RBI

43 BB

77 K

 

Here are his road splits (Since we know Coors is about as easy as it gets)

.281 AVG

.330 OBP

.813 OPS

15 Homers (2 more then he hit at home)

39 RBI

18 BB

41 K

 

To me this would be a pretty good pickup. If the Rocks are worried and considering non tendering him then the Sox could come on in and offer up Rowand and maybe add Jose to the mix (Who do the Rocks have to play shortstop now...plus Jose would provide a ton of pop, which is supposedly the reason the Rocks dumped Uribe). Don't know if the Rocks would add payroll though.

 

Either way I think it would be an interesting move. If the Sox want to move Maggs then you at least have Payton and Lee in the outfield and if they move others you still have Payton who should be still pretty affordable and is a very solid all around player.

Is Clint Barmes any good? He's the other Colorado Rockies shortstop. He's still very young.

Never heard of him so I got no idea.

Yeah he could be sum1 we could look at if he's non-tendered. I found this article on ESPN that's got a little bit more infor on him and otha non tenders.

Rogers Article

Basically Rogers says what I do. I think a Rowand for Payton deal would be fair, considering the Rocks have had interest in him. Especially if the Rocks don't want him. Obviously since they are in cost cutting mode, Jose wouldn't be an option for him. Still Payton would be a nice pickup, especially since at least one of our current outfielders will be gone and at 3.5 mill its a pretty good deal, imo.

Stay farrrrrrr away from Payton

And just dont give any reasons for saying that....

Wasn't he a cancer in NY?? And do i have to give a reason for an opinion in every post?

Wasn't he a cancer in NY?? And do i have to give a reason for an opinion in every post? 

Couldn't hurt.

Wasn't he a cancer in NY?? And do i have to give a reason for an opinion in every post? 

Well, let's see. His first and only full season in New York he hit .291 17 61 with 30 walks and 60 K's(488 ABs). That is an OBP of .330. That year was also 2000, and the Mets went to the World Series that year. The next year he only played 100 games, and the next he played 87 for them and was then traded to Colorado.

 

Cancer? Possibly. But he puts up good numbers, and if you put up good numbers and the team wins, there is no cancer. Winning cures everything.

Well, let's see.  His first and only full season in New York he hit .291 17 61 with 30 walks and 60 K's(488 ABs).  That is an OBP of .330.  That year was also 2000, and the Mets went to the World Series that year.  The next year he only played 100 games, and the next he played 87 for them and was then traded to Colorado.

 

Cancer?  Possibly.  But he puts up good numbers, and if you put up good numbers and the team wins, there is no cancer.  Winning cures everything.

His numbers ain't bad. I think he's somewhat Injury Prone (Not that Rowand isn't) But i think he was a cancer in 2000 when the Mets went to the series. . I heard he might be non tendered by the Rockies. But still we need a leadoff guy and the best place for him is either Second Base or CF on this team.

It's pretty sad when I have to long, yearn, and hope for guys like Jay Payton. But what the hell - he's better than what we will trot out in CF or at 2B next year, so hey, go for it.

 

After all, we are only able to afford the table scraps. At least Payton is a drumstick - a table scrap with a little meat left on it. The "poor" and "destitute" would gladly take that. How sad.

 

Payton is a solid player and he's at the age that you can expect his production to increase over the next few years. He could probably be signed for 3-4 years relatively cheaply right now. He could turn into a real bargain.