Jim Duquette On WFAN

This afternoon former Mets GM Jim Duquette called into WFAN to speak with Joe and Evan.

Duquette, now with Sirius XM Radio on MLB Home Plate, recently said he had heard in passing that the Mets were moving their instructional league from Pt. St. Lucie to the Dominican Republic due to a cost savings of near $300K.

Some topics Duquette touched upon: Many scouts have a bias, “there are a level of scouts out there, how many, I'm not sure...” that rate players lower than they should. They don't like the Mets or Yankees. Duquette believes it's an anti NY sentiment. He noticed this anti NY bias when Bobby Valentine was manager of the Mets, and doesn't believe it's anything directed at Omar.

Thoughts on Omar: feels GM needs to evaluated by the way team has played on the field. Does not believe Omar should lose his job this year, but if the Mets do as poorly next year, he should lose his job.

About moving team to Dominican Republic for instructional league: believes there is a value in the instructional league, whether the Mets are doing it for cost cutting reasons or not. Many teams are starting to do the same thing as the Mets, so it's not just the Mets.

Believes the Mets can fix their problems quickly. Their minor league system is weak, but not as weak as reported. The Mets have five or six guys of value in their lower minor leagues, but are in the middle of the pack compared to other teams in terms of talent.

On the Wilpon's rumored to be selling team – is skeptical of stories. Perfect reason to bring attention to the book recently written by Erin Arvedlund, author of "Too Good to Be True,". Mets and SNY are stand alone companies that have ability to make money. Hard to believe they would sell either out right.

Billy Wagner trade – in general would have been better to hold onto Wagner, where they would have gotten two draft picks which might be better than the players to be named later.

On off-season potential to sign free agents: The Mets are “boxed in” in many areas due to lack of flexibility. Possibly be able to get a 1B or a corner OF, but not much.

Thoughts of Daniel Murphy: " An everyday 1B? Tough sell for me." Duquette was skeptical of him as an everyday LF. He is much better at 1B. Likes his approach at plate, but too little power. Duquette was asked if he was upset that Omar has had more money to build the team than he did: doesn't bother Duquette. Situations change and it did in this particular era. They were pushing the threshhold when he was GM, had to get beneath it when he took over for Steve Phillips. Finally Duquette was asked the question that has been asked for five years: Scott Kazmir.

Duquette answered like the company man by saying that it was an organizational decision. Kazmir turned out like he thought, but the player they got back, Victor Zambrano, wasn't what he thought he would be.

The interview was real interesting and I strongly urge all to listen: Jim Duquette On WFAN