TODAY: Acquiring Zobrist is a “long shot” for the Mets, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports on Twitter.
YESTERDAY: There are no active talks between the Athletics and Mets regarding utilityman Ben Zobrist, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports on Twitter. A prior report suggested that talks had reached the stage of discussing prospects, but Rosenthal’s report indicates that any such conversations have been put on the back burner.
All said, it’s unclear whether New York will be a serious participant in the lively Zobrist market. He makes a great deal of sense for their club, in particular, given his relatively low salary, high on-base bat, and capability of playing both the corner outfield as well as second and third.
But some reports have suggested that the team is headed more towards a less impactful upgrade, with Zobrist (like other premium targets) carrying a steep price tag. New York is said to be willing to move some of its better-regarded position prospects, but is uninterested in parting with outfielder Michael Conforto and shortstop Amed Rosario.
Translation: Beane asked for Conforto, Mets said “nahhhhhh”.
Well it seems they like Flores at 2B, they have Rosales at SS long term possibly and they still have Wright for the next decade or so, so maybe Dilson Herrera and a Dillon Gee-type, maybe a prospect of the same stature (back-end starter) for Zobrist? I think Herrera should at least interest Billy Beane.
Adam Rossles is not on the Mets and if were would be a bench player.
Wright has been out most of the season due to complications with spinal stenosis….so it is unclear if/when he’ll come back and how affective he can be for the Mets.
im a met fan. wright hasnt been good in YEARS. and 2006 was almost 10 years ago now. i didnt count on him coming into this year, and now i count on him more to be a hitting instructor than a dependable cog in the lineup.
the mets dont need zobrist. why? so we can hit him cleanup and just pretend we got someone? a savior? hes not a cleanup hitter, it would just be a mask for our problems.
we need a real bat. a slugger. zobrist is a nice addition to a team that needs a piece. not THE piece.
Mets will do………nothing major at the deadline. Maybe they will trade for Wil Middlebrooks……or Juan Uribe…..
at best…
Jon Niese and cash to St. Louis for Greg Garcia
Cards need a starter, Mets need a shortstop
Niese is available, Garcia doesn’t have a clear place in the organization
Eddie Coleman, Mets reporter to WFAN, heard that the hold up was over money, but that the deal would not have any major prospects (Montero/Reynolds/Nimmo).
The Mets can’t even spend $2 million?
Maybe they can give back Major League Talent to get deal done.
Zobrist is not enough on his own. I would rather hang on to Conforto, Rosario, Nimmo, and Cecchini for ’16 and beyond than trade for a rental.
Those 4 for Zobrist is a massive overpay. 2 of them (Nimmo/Cecchini and Montero) should be enough. Can Mets sign Zobrist during offseason?
I know. I’m saying those 4 are the ones I’d keep and not offer up in a rental for one player who really wouldn’t be enough to turn the offense around on his own. If they want him that bad, sign him in the offseason. They are set up for 2016 and beyond to improve
Montero is going nowhere. Just like Wheeler, he’s injured. Injured players almost never get traded. Aside from that, Montero is a huge question mark.
To what end? There is no guarantee that Zobrist would put the Mets in the playoffs this year, but there is also no guarantee that any of those guys will help in 2016 and beyond. You might be too young to remember when Bill Pulsipher, Bobby Jones, and Jason Isringhausen were supposed to be a Hall of Fame trio to match up with the Braves Hall of Fame trio? Most prospects will never have a higher value than before they see the big leagues. The trick is to not trade the one that turns into deGrom. Yes, most people didn’t expect the Mets to be in the hunt until next year, but they are. I say go for it, because you never know what will happen in the future to someone’s elbow or regression or what have you. You gotta grab it when it’s in front of you.
I’m 33 so I remember before those guys. I would rather stay the course than watch them throw away their future for rentals that won’t put us over the top
The average fan overvalues prospects to an extreme level these days. I suspect it’s down to a couple of factors: 1.) the enormous increase in the availability of information on amateurs and minor leaguers, and 2.) the incredible early performance of some recent, high-profile prospects (e.g., Machado, Bryant, Harper, Correa, Pederson, etc.).
This is true, but regardless, the Mets offense as constituted – is so bad that adding Ben Zobrist doesn’t make them a playoff team. It’s a 2 month rental, I don’t trade those guys unless there’s something else coming back. Maybe like Reddick
Mets need to get Tulo from Riockies, One young Gun does it!
No, it doesn’t. No matter how many times you suggest it.
Why would the mets do that? One of those “young guns” can fetch a cheaper hitter. Tulu is on the wrong side of 30, very well played, has said that he does not want to be traded and its not like a Tulu for one of the pitchers is gonna happen, it would take multiple prospects for tulu.
Unfortunately it seems like Zobrist would be the “big” move the Mets make at the deadline, the problem is it should be the minor move they make. Zobrist on his own doesn’t put us in the playoffs but Zobrist and an outfielder? Now we’re talking.
As much as I would love a monster bat it’s unlikely, so why not get 2-3 “solid” bats. Guys that aren’t AAA caliber. I’m tired of trotting out Campbell, Kirk, Mayberry etc.
They shouldn’t be mortgaging the future just to have a chance this year. They’ve been built for sustained success and their young core could be together for four or five years without even breaking the bank. There’s little reason to do a major philosophy change now. If they trade for Zobrist, that should definitely be their ‘big’ move.
While I agree the big 4 probably shouldn’t be touched there are still quality prospects that can be moved and should be moved. There are no guarantees for the future in regards to health and performance so you can’t let an opportunity like they have right now go to waste.
Aside from prospects, guys like Murphy, Mejia, Lagares, NIese, Montero should all be considered in trade talks. You can improve the team without completely gutting the farm or moving the blue chip guys.
If the Mets want an impact player, they could trade Syndergaart, Matz, Conforto, Nimmo, and Familia to the Jays for Bautista and Dickey. It gives the Jays their two starters they need that are controlled for six years, plus their new left fielder, plus their bullpen upgrade. Instant win for both teams.
Please explain why the Mets would make a deal like that. Trade their entire farm for 2 players well over 30? Fans would revolt over that move.
I think Ashley was being facetious.
I think the best course of action would be to trade one of the starters for an impact bat. You are going to have to pay them big at some point anyway, you don’t need all of these starters for the playoffs, Niese makes a fine bottom of the order pitcher, Wheeler is still in the organization, Tommy Juhn surgery is rampant, and with a bat (or 2??) the MEts have a legit shot at making it deep into October.
Therefore, I propose trying to acquire Justin Upton….and if the rumors are true (and they may not be), Paul Goldschmidt. I can live with losing Harvey in either deal, and Goldschmidt is more valuable than ANY of the Mets starters. Mejia could also be moved now that Parnell is back.
Forget all of this Zobrist garbage talk. Acquire one, and perhaps two big bats, take a hit on the pitching knowing that you are still very well off in the pitching category for years to come, and proceed (again, assuming other GMs would be willing partners here).
Paul Goldschmidt is one of the best players in baseball and has four more years of very reasonable control left. You’d have to *start* the conversation at Harvey.
But you’re undercutting your own point. You say that the Mets don’t need all of these starters and then immediately mention that one is out with TJ and that TJ is ‘rampant’. That’s precisely why they do need more starters. Pitchers are more fragile than hitters.
I would trade Harvey plus any day of the week for Goldshmidt.
And I am not undercutting my point at all. The more power pitchers you have, the greater the likelihood of TJ surgery. To keep these pitchers at the expense of bats in order to protect against TJ surgery makes no sense.
I would definitely trade Harvey for Goldschmidt…but it’d take 2 or 3 other pretty significant pieces too because that guy is Top 5 in the league…is young…and has a team friendly contract.
No, you are undercutting your point. Your point is: ‘pitchers are fragile’. Your solution: ‘trade away pitchers’. It makes no sense. Pitchers are fragile, so you should be stockpiling them, not getting rid of them.
First and foremost, Zorbist is hitting .250-.260. Secondly, when Beane starts the talks with, well you are going to pick up the rest of the $2.5 million left on his salary today, it’s a no-brainer for Alderson to say, thanks but no thanks. Not sure what Beane was asking for but if the Mets picked up the rest of the salary for a .250 utility player and then asked to trade away a name, whether bat or pitcher, then I would even say, thanks, see you later!
$2.5M for Zobrist is dirt cheap. So he doesn’t have to start the conversation with that, he starts it with, “I want X Player, and you’re paying the salary as well.”
It’s almost like (gasp) batting average isn’t everything!! Learn a little about baseball, why don’t ya.
Zobrist’s 114 OPS+/117 wRC+ would be basically tied with Granderson and Duda for best on the team.
Which Means he’s terrible too !
OPS+ and wRC+ are relative to a league average hitter, 100 being league average. Zobrist is 14 or 17% better than the average hitter. He’s in line with his career numbers.
Mets need to sit tight. Too early to start giving away pieces that will help this team win for the 5 years. Trade Niese, Murphy, Colon and anyone else that won’t be a core player on 2 years.
Finally, someone level-headed (even though I think Bart and Murphy are pretty much untradeable at this point).
You guys are 100% right and so many people are losing their minds over all this.
Seems this will be a quiet deadline. Prices are too high.
I think what the teams that are selling are trying to evaluate is if the players/prospects being acquired will have more value then the pick that would be associated with the QO being declined. Yes these are rentals and of course a team should give up much for a rental but the the compensation pick seems a better value then what some teams are offering.
Other thing to point out is that acquiring a rental player does not seem to give that team an edge on signing him in FA even with the small window the team has after the world series to negotiate him without other teams being involved. If a player is 10 days from FA, he’ll want to test the waters even if they want to stay; they can drive the price up and see how offers compare.
Would the Mets be interested in Brock Holt? Maybe they mightn’t trade Conforto for a rental, but would they consider doing so for Brock Holt? He is a similar player with less offensive value, but he can play 7 positions and has a lot of control left.
Why would the Red Sox do that deal when they have so many OF options and an oft-injured Pedroia?
It would be selling high on Holt. Also, you can never have too many prospects 🙂
Not sure the Mets would do that. They’re pretty high on Conforto. Rather than trade him for Holt, a better move would just be to call up Conforto.
edit: interesting idea, though
Yeah I think you are right. It seems as though he is as untouchable as it gets.
Parity and the addition of the 2nd wild card has caused trades to stall, as most teams are still theoretically in it. It will come down to the wire, and since the Mets aren’t trading for any of the marquee guys, it will be down to July 30/31st and possibly only hours left.