The Mets announced this morning that they have placed Michael Cuddyer on the disabled list and selected the contract of top outfield prospect Michael Conforto.
Mets fans have been clamoring for a Conforto promotion for quite some time as they’ve watched the big league offense struggle tremendously to score runs in support of an excellent young pitching staff. Conforto, the 10th overall pick in the 2014 draft, has been moved through the minor leagues at a very cautious rate — perhaps unnecessarily cautious in the eyes of many. He started out in short-season Class-A despite being one of the top college hitters in the 2014 draft, and he’s only reached Double-A as a result of the slow-paced track on which he has been placed.
Conforto has, however, hit at every level and should provide a boost to the Mets’ lineup. He’s currently batting .312/.396/.503 with five homers, 12 doubles and three triples in 197 plate appearances at Double-A Binghmaton. Baseball America rated him as the game’s No. 14 prospect in the game on their midseason update, while ESPN’s Keith Law ranked Conforto 12th, writing that he has a chance to be the type of hitter who posts .400 OBPs and hits 20-plus homers in the Majors.
The 53 runs scored by the Mets this month is tied for 29th in all of Major League Baseball, and outfield production has been a problem for the team all season. The Mets have seen their offensive output hindered by injuries to David Wright, Travis d’Arnaud and Daniel Murphy, as those three hitters — three of the team’s most potent bats — have spent large amounts of time on the disabled list. Murphy has been limited to 73 games, while d’Arnaud and Wright have barely played at all. Lucas Duda, expected to be one of the team’s most productive bats, has seen his offense tank since early June.
The result has been a collective .233/.298/.357 batting line for the Mets on the season. That translates to a wRC+ of 85, which ranks 28th in all of baseball. Conforto, then, doesn’t need to hit like a superstar in order to bolster the lineup; producing even like an average or above-average regular, as teammate Curtis Granderson has done, would be a notable boost to the team’s postseason chances.
The Mets remain on the hunt for offensive upgrades via the trade market, with recent reports indicating that adding an outfield bat that is controlled beyond the 2015 season is a priority for the team. A fast start for Conforto could shift that focus elsewhere, but for the time being, the promotion was the quickest fix available.
If Conforto’s in the Majors to stay, he’ll accrue 74 days of big league service time this year, leaving him well short of Super Two designation. That would place him on pace to be eligible for arbitration following the 2018 season and eligible for free agency upon completion of the 2021 campaign.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Hiphiphooray… still sick to my stomach about this season’s ominous outlook. I hate to give up one of the core 4 SP’s, but I think its what we should do it to get an elite bat… if not this year then when? is the plan really just to add mid- tier players , fill ins, reserves, who exactly are we waiting for to come back. Wright, TDA?? We still needed a bat when everyone was healthy and clicking. We’re good with everyone on deck, but not World Series good. Our SP staff can withstand the blow of losing 1 gun, but offense can’t make good, not one hitter at any level the Metsies have will take this team to the next level this year or next, must go outside the club.Time is NOW!
I get your point cutter, that being said I think Sandy is right not to trade one of our young 4. We need them down this stretch if we are going to have any chance, not to mention in the future as you can never have enough pitching. Plus nothing would anger me more than to see another Kazmir or Ryan situation, you have to let your guys develop and have some patience. This year might not be the Metsies year, but it should pave the road for contention in the years to come.
I think they should hold and spend money on Jason Heyward and maybe buy low on Ian Desmond in the offseason. Those starters shouldnt get too expensive and they can have the current money allotted to bats. But the Wilpons will have to open their wallets, which are under lock and key.
The Phillies and the Yankees are going after Jason Heyward, Which will preclude mets from signing him on the Cheap .Mets should make a play for Upton Now though, Two Second tier Minor leaguers should get the Job done.
The Mets are not trading any of Harvey, Wheeler, Syndergaard, Matz, or deGrom. It doesn’t make sense to, and Sandy said yesterday that he won’t.
Also, ‘if not this year then when?’ The answer is next year and beyond. They’re built for long term, sustained success. These players will all be together for at least a few seasons.
i thought that alderson said he wouldnt be trading any of the 4.. wheelers name wasn’t in there about not being traded
He didn’t mention Wheeler because he’s injured. If they traded Wheeler, they’d get almost no return because no one wants an injured pitcher. Wheeler was implied. Injured players don’t get traded.
they should immediately bat him second behind Granderson. Both of those two will post high OBPs hopefully leading to at least a run… a run every single starting pitcher the Mets have just wants.
I think that would be the best move for him too. But with Terry Collins as the manager, we’ll be seeing him bat 8th. After Travis d’Arnaud came back from injury, TC dropped him down to 6th.
This really is the Year of the Prospect. I can’t wait to see who will be the next in line to come up…maybe Seager?
im all for keeping every SP, there is nothing more I’d rather do than just that…but that is only possible with confidence we’ll spend in free agency… but I think we’ve all lost some faith. If we dont add an impact bat through this deadline no matter what moves we make, looking to the off season can anyone honestly feel good about the prospect of picking up someone who can transform the lineup?
I wonder how this effects Nimmo’s situation being that he was drafted ahead of Michael and has to be added to the 40 soon. Too bad they were not called up together, might have taken some of the pressure off of Conforto and slid Curtis to center. Then again maybe the reports are right and Sandy is using him as a chip.
Nimmo is younger and needs more seasoning. Conforto was drafted out of College and was probably more advanced then Nimmo is now coming out of the draft.
I honestly can’t believe that it has gotten this bad for the Mets. They needed a bat (multiple bats) WEEKS ago. Granderson who should probably be batting lower in the lineup is masquerading as a leadoff hitter out of necessity. It is just a complete utter garbage fire. The team is going to completely waste the years of their amazing SP, which is a complete shame, because no matter who you root for watching Harvey, DeGrom, Noah pitch on a nightly basis is really fun.
The Kid not Ready, it will hurt his confidence in development long term. he will get exposed before he can make the mental adjustment to Big League Pitchers , Wrong move by a Cheap franchise !
He came out of college as arguably the best bat. He has produced at every level. While I don’t expect him to have a .800+ OPS out of the gate, I think low to mid .700s would be a great upgrade for the OF.
He’ll come up, hit the cover off the ball, and it will be enough to win a few games and give the Mets an excuse to make no further improvements. Then the scouting reports will get around and he’ll start slumping and be batting under .200 by the end of August. The Mets will continue to do nothing and miss the playoffs.
Carlos Gomez is available, but Mets don’t want to trade anything in return.
Bad, bad move. Desperation move that carries a significant risk of hurting his development. Go out and get some veteran, like a Marlon Byrd or someone. Someone like that would hit better than Conforto anyway. At least let the guy play in AAA first before bringing him up to be the savior of a team in the biggest, most unforgiving market in baseball.
Conforto is ready. He was considered one of the most MLB-ready players at the time of the draft last year. He’s hitting well in Binghamton in AA, which is a tougher hitting environment than Las Vegas in AAA. If they sent him to AAA, he would hit well (because everyone does), and then he’d start next year in the majors. Why not bring him up now, when their starter is hurt and they really need offense?
Also, getting Byrd would cost you both a prospect and money ($3MM+). Conforto costs nothing.
It’s foolish to even consider trading one of the Five Horsemen (Harvey, Wheeler, deGrom, Thor, and Matz). Not that anyone wants Niese or Colon but you don’t break up your greatest strength when you don’t have a surplus (i.e. a sixth starter) in that part of the team’s game.
You realize you just named SEVEN starters, right? Colon and Niese would absolutely represent the surplus you just claimed the Mets don’t have. And while I realize that the Wheeler is gone for the year and that Matz is currently sidelined, the Mets aren’t going anywhere for the foreseeable future if they don’t trot out a Major League lineup. They will eventually need to trade someone with real value (ie. Not Colon; Not Niese.) to acquire some bats because top bats simply don’t exist in free agency.
They don’t ‘need’ to trade any of their pitchers. They have some hitting in the minors, they’re currently missing their two best hitters, and they could sign a bat in free agency. ‘Top bats’ might not exist in free agency (which = ??), but they could absolutely sign complimentary pieces.
What is this, the 5th guy from 2014 MLB Draft to make his big league debut? I’ve got Finegan, Rodon, Schwarber, Nola and now Conforto. Remind me if I’m missing someone.
Regardless – I don’t remember a year where so many guys were promoted to the big leagues the season after being drafted. Not bad for a draft class that was universally declared as ‘weak.’
Baseball’s never looked better the future for baseball is very very bright
I have heard a rumor coming out of Boston with the Red Sox sending Pablo Sandoval & Handley Ramirez to the Mets for Zach Wheeler. If true this would guarantee the Mets being an instant playoff contender! I vote a big YES!!
Are we sure that this isn’t a showcase for say the Tigers. Yoenis Cespedes/Rajai Davis would be major upgrades over their current outfield. If the Tigers trade Price for pitching, then I think they could flip these two for young outfield talent under control.