The Mets are “positioned to move fairly quickly” to trade Curtis Granderson and/or Jay Bruce, Newsday’s Marc Carig writes (Twitter links). While it isn’t likely they trade both, that scenario is a possibility, Carig adds.
After recently re-signing Yoenis Cespedes, the Mets have plenty of outfield options, also including Michael Conforto, Juan Lagares and Brandon Nimmo, in addition to Granderson and Bruce. Trading both Granderson and Bruce arguably would leave the organization a bit short, but there’s the possibility the Mets could deal both as a prelude to other moves.
Between Granderson and Bruce, the latter appears to be more likely to be traded, as noted earlier this week. If the Mets were to trade Bruce, Granderson could stay and share time with Lagares in center field.
The 29-year-old Bruce had a strong season overall in 2016, batting .250/.309/.506 with 33 homers in 589 plate appearances. He did, however, struggle a bit after arriving in New York via an August 1 trade. The Mets recently exercised his $13MM option for 2017, and he can become a free agent. Granderson hit .237/.335/.464 with 30 home runs of his own. He was also rated as about an average defender in 251 innings in center field, no small feat for a 35-year-old. He’s set to make $15MM in 2017, after which he, too, can become a free agent.
Trading one of them plus some prospects to someone with an extra catcher could benefit them. The Astros could move Gattis for one of them plus a pitcher.
Why would Mets want Gattis? He’s horrible catcher.
He might be a horrible catcher, but he can play first and he’s another power bat in the line up with cespedes
He’s still horrible at first and I’d rather a healthy Duda there.
And why would the Astros want to add a $15m outfielder?
Because they already added 2 8 figure outfielders in the past 2 weeks
So they’d want a third? That logic doesn’t even make sense.
It depends on how effective Gattis actually is at catcher. From the standpoint that he’s a right handed hitter with significant power, he fits relatively well. But the Mets need good defensive play out of the position as well.
Why would Houston want Granderson or Bruce? The Bruce trade seemed like an unnecessary panic move by the Mets from the moment it was mentioned.
I agree – they don’t. One of them is a stretch. Both is no way.
The Mets should trade Conforto the the tigers for JD Martinez the tigers are all set to make that trade
The Mets are trying to get rid of an OF’er, not swap for one. And one that would be a FA after one year… They currently have two of those.
I agree. I am not sure why JD Martinez keeps coming up here, but someone wants Conforto badly.
There is ZERO chance that the Mets give up Conforto for Martinez. This is pretty idiotic even by this pages standards.
Granderson I can understand because he can play in CF and platoon with Hernandez essentially bumping Reddick to LF and Springer back to RF.
With the Astros signing Beltran and having Gattis at DH makes a deal to the Astros very unlikely.
Gattis, yuck.
Gattis? Only if the Astros want a bag of baseballs in return!
Breaking News! Astros trade Evan Gattis to the Mets for a bag of peanuts!! Astros GM quotes ” I think we got a little better”
Astros insist the Mets include a pitcher in the deal. Mets accept under the condition it’s bud light and not the good stuff.
Plus a pitcher?? You do understand the Mets would hang the phone up immediately?
You totally missed the joke.
All for Bruce leaving… Gotta keep Granderson! He is a huge dugout and clubhouse leader that is sorely needed – especially if Wright is out!
If both are moved I fully expect a new CF to be on the Mets.
Moving Bruce is needed! But must keep Granderson who is a huge leader in dugout and clubhouse! Plus a good bat –
If they choose to move both, they’ve got to sign Fowler.
Yes.
What about JD Martinez?
They’d need a CF. Cespedes can play there but I think he’s better off in one of the corners.
Because they’re not trading Conforto for a guy who can’t play CF and is one of the worst defenders at his normal position.
mets should move both bruce and granderson. then use the money to sign castillo to catch and fowler for CF. cespedes, fowler, conforto for outfield. with lagares to caddy for fowler/4th outfielder. you then could get prospects for bruce/granderson/d’aurnaud to fill in their other holes.
trade them both and sign Fowler if you can. Maybe grab EE if at all possible.
Hi, let me introduce you to the mets owners.
Sadly accurate. The Wilpons are some of the worst owners in all of sports. They are running the mets like a small to mid-market club, but pocketing large market $$.
Wellington is available. Trade both. Flip a pitcher for betts or jbj
Betts will cost more than one pitcher. More likely to get JBJ
Which pitcher?? Maybe a gsellman?otherwise lay off the hard stuff.
I agree that Betts won’t cost more than one of the Mets’ big pitchers, but Betts is definitely more valuable, and better, than Harvey and Matz and is roughly equal in value to deGrom and Syndegaard.
Red Sox would need a pitcher like you said. And no Harvey or Thor. I don’t see a trade for Betts. Maybe JBJ, though.
Any Betts trade would likely start with Thor, Rosario and Conforto
They won’t do that. Nothing against Betts, who is terrific, but the Mets would be foolish to do it. Thor is already looking like a TOR guy.
Lol at Thor, Rosario and Conforto as a “start” for Betts. Maybe they can throw in deGrom to get it done?
Mookie Betts is absurdly good, and the Red Sox are not trading him.
Noah Syndergaard is absurdly good, and the Mets are not trading him.
Let’s just end it at that, both of these players are approaching folk hero status in their respective cities. Plus Thor wouldn’t get to hit in the AL. (He has put up a 1+ WAR as a hitter…)
Rosario is an absolute stud prospect, he is untouchable. Have seen him play in person several times each of the last three seasons, the jump in his level of play this last season was pretty crazy. He literally matured overnight. He has serious tools and talent, and a tremendous work ethic he’s going to be really, really good.
These are the types of players that just don’t get traded, at some point the stakes just get too high and nobody will make a move unless there are financial or off the field reasons.
AND them? Betts would next Syndergaard and Lugo.
Trade both and sign Carlos Gomez or some other low budget CF as a backup plan.
Then platoon Lagares and Nimmo in CF, with Lagares coming in regardless as a late game sub.
I think the perfect player for them is Fowler not Gomez, and I would sign Desmond, He could be that super utility man they need, not knowing about Wright at third and not having a solid first basemen.
Nah. No Gomez. Sign Fowler.
I wouldn’t trade both unless they intend on signing or trading for a starting-caliber outfielder. Standing pat while trading both would likely mean a Lagares/Nimmo platoon in center and Conforto in right, which has risky upside, but is far from ideal.. Of the two, I’d rather keep Granderson, who has the benefits of playing an adequate center field and (I would argue) better indicators for a bounce back in 2017.
How about Eaton/Abreu for Granderson/Duda/Gsellman/prospect(s)? The Sox get a 1B slugger with a cheaper contract in Duda, a hometown hero who can end his career at home in Grandy, a possible #3 rotation guy in Gsellman, and a prospect (Nimmo?). We (the Mets) get a contact-hitting leadoff guy who plays incredible defense in Eaton and a 1B slugger in Abreu.
Or do y’all think we’d need to give up a ton more than what I suggested? The Sox are looking to clean house, so perhaps this would suffice.
I feel like that wouldn’t be enough young talent on the Mets side. It’s a deal I’d make though
What additional prospect(s) do you think could get it done?
For Gattis? Lmao umm ok?
Pardon,wrong comment
more unquestionably.
Even without the prospects added, that would be a stretch.
It’ll take more than that bc Eaton is a stud, but I love the idea. Gsellman’s stock could rise w continued strong pitching, but for now that package is light.
The package you suggested is not even close. They have no need for any and with them taking on salary it would cost the Mets even more. Realize that Eaton is under a team friendly deal for 5 more years. This sound crazy but for Eaton they are probably asking for a MLB pre arb player and two top 100 prospects. If they trade Eaton and Abreu they are fully in rebuild mold. I have a feeling most of what they would be asking for is young bats as seeing they are pretty well set on pitchers and pitching prospects. It seems they have done a good job in that system of developing guys. Just doesn’t seem like they have the elite bats.
That package isn’t enough for Eaton alone, let alone Eaton and Abreu. Duda is cheaper but substantially worse (and streaky/injured) than Abreu. Eaton isn’t getting moved except for a large haul. Think Matz and Conforto as a starter (along with one or two other pieces) for Eaton. Even then, I might be undervaluing Eaton.
I still like the idea of the Pirates getting Jay Bruce to play RF with Polanco in LF and Marte in CF. That’s a nice OF.
Plus, the more I think about it, Josh Bell’s future is at 1B because of Austin Meadows, there is no reason to play him in RF this one year.
Josh Bell’s future is at 1B because his OF defense is atrocious. I can’t see the Pirates running Bell out to RF.
who’s blocking bell at first so he would have to move to right? i hope it’s not jaso
He played 1B for a few months in his life before they asked him to play it in the bigs. He’s not good. No reason to think he won’t develop and they shouldn’t waste his time in the OF, though.
Yanks and Mets should get over their intercity rivalry and trade with one another. Yanks need the lefty power of Granderson or Bruce with their short porch in RF, and Mets need Gardner in CF and leading off for their lineup.
Pirates trade Cutch; go after Bruce who brings a power bat to the middle of the lineup. I know it’s far fetched but if they are going to move Cutch I would like to see them add some power to the lineup.
Rumored:
Dodgers showing interest in Granderson. Orioles showing interest in Bruce.
I’d take either one of these guys as a Dodgers fan although I prefer Bruce. Let’s see what happens.
I don’t follow the Dodgers much, but they don’t have lots of OF depth, correct?
That’s one area they could definitely have a shedding from. They have way to many one dimensional/ OF.
You can keep Granderson, a majorly overrated player his whole career ! Same can be said for Jay Bruce. NEITHER guy has a career average above .255 for gods sake
…but 30HR possibilities….power plays in today’s league.
I think a 30 home run corner bat with a decent amount of fielding capability on a affordable 1 year contract is appealing to a good amount of teams.
Granderson gets on base though, get that average bullcrap outta here
maybe 2015 not so much this past year
Batting average is really the best way to evaluate hitters in 2016.
I can see the Mets trading both only if they think they can get Fowler or another outfielder. Not sure why they’d trade both guys unless they have someone else in mind. Don’t know much about their farm system I guess. Do they have someone waiting to come up?
They are hoping Conforto bounces back. In his rookie year he hit .270 and had a 130OPS+. Dude can rake…he’s only just turned 23.
Gotcha. That makes a lot sense. I was wondering why they’d want to make a trade getting rid of one or both of them. Thank you for the response.
Mets will find that these guys will be tough to move if they want full value for them. Bruce is a 0.7 or 6 million dollar player according to Fangraphs and he is making 13 million, Grandy is a better choice, but still isn’t worth what he is making. The Mets and Alderson sound like they will cut their losses with these players to try and sign a real centerfielder and some relief pitching that fits next years team. For these two guys it’s all about the money !
bad analysis…market doesn;t necessarily have alot of available OF…so the value is there
Confordo should play every day. He’s as good of a hitter if not better than Bruce.
Trade both, sign someone to platoon with Lagares in center.
SIGN FOWLER!!!
Sounds smart.
That makes Lagares the 4th OF, and he’s a plus defender at all three.
Thank you 😉
#firsttimeihaventgottenhateallday #imagenius haha 😉
Trade both and sign Desmond
Curtis would be good on the reds or back on the yanks and other he’d be like he was this year maybe the pirates too
Bruce to the Dodgers. They tried to make the trade last season, but the Mets got him. The Dodgers need a solid right hand hitter, and since they will probably trade Puig, it makes sense.
And then they instantly become one of the wort OF defenses in the NL. That is cringeworthy. Then they still have Ethier who has 10-5 so they won’t be able to move. They’ve burned their major trade pieces with major holes. That doesn’t make any sense at all.
Trade Bruce to Texas to DH
Bruce for a couple of young middle inning relievers and a throw-in catching prospect
I truly believe the Dodgers are going to make the trade for Ryan Braun, and buy getting Bruce, it would help in the power department that the Dodgers are lacking. Puig is what the Brewers were looking for in trade talks last season, and dumping some or all of Braun’s contract. Bruce in left, Peterson in center, and Braun in right. The Dodgers get that power from the right side with Braun, and power from the left side with Bruce. Make the trade.
Stop does nothing or fix anything. That is a terrible def alignment. Remember Ethier had 10-5 so good luck trading that. It didn’t help either that he had 18 mill attached. They need help from the right side or at least equal splits alla Eaton who can also provide speed and a lead off presence along with gg defense a cheap extended contract. Those are two trades you used to deplete the system in which you have more pressing needs. Power was never the problem last year. The problem was the ability to extend innings and inability to capitalize and run. Na give me Toles/Thompson platoon, Pederson, and Eaton if they have the ability to trade Ethier. If not then they just have to go with a Toles/Thompson, Peterson, Ethier and (SVS or Kikè or whoever is generally hitting). With that alignment now you need to find a 2B that can run and hit LHP. This is all assuming they lock up Turner. Your not going to see a Braun trade if Bellinger is involved you just aren’t.
Would like to see the Rangers swing a deal for Grandy
3 Way deal:
1. Tigers get Granderson (whose remaining salary is $15M/1year) for $7MM (Mets and Red Sox each pay $4MM) and Jackie Bradley Jr.
2. Mets get 2 mid-level prospects (one from Detroit, one from a 3rd team).
3. Red Sox get JD Martinez.
Allow Tigers to both get younger (with a prospect that is ready), cheaper and still not give up in 2017.
JD is a much better hitter than JBJ and can credibility replace Big Papi. Paying the $4MM for the Red Sox would raise their financial commitment to $15MM for JD, still reasonable.
Mets save $11MM AND get 2 prospects for Granderson.
Wow no I’m sorry doesn’t make sense for the Red Soxs
agreed
The Tigers are trying to move Curtis Granderson type players. I doubt the Illich family will ever allow their GM to make a deal with Dave Dombrowski.
The Red Sox were hesistant to move JBJ for Sale, JD Martinez does not make DD pull the trigger. And the Red Sox are not paying a portion of Granderson’s contract and taking on JD’s projected arbitration salary to boot when JBJ offers a cheaper (albeit different) skillset.
Focus on pitching. Swap Bruce for David Robertson, then re-sign Fernando Salas and Jerry Blevins. Bottom line is if their arms stay healthy, no one can run with them.
big if…
Jay Bruce to the Blue Jays. Reece McGuire & mid-level prospect to the Braves and Vizcaino to the Mets. No everyone chime in with how it’s such a horrible deal.
Mets do that in a heartbeat. Id even do Bruce straight for Hunter Strickland
Trade both grandy and Bruce. That would leave the Mets with ces, lagares and conforto as our starting of. They have talked about getting reyes and tj rivera some of work in spring training. If conforto struggles against lefties again we can run tj out there. With all the money the Mets would save let’s go get one of the big name closers.
I do not understand the love affair with fowler. I would much rather see what lagares can do as an everyday player. Worst case if he struggles against righties let reyes play center.
I would think the Indians should have some interest. He’d be an upgrade over Chisenhall and would replace some Napoli power if he signs elsewhere. Any thing beyond a one year guaranteed contract for Napoli scares me. Since Bruce is one year away from free agency, they could actually stomach both contracts if necessary. Additionally, since Bruce is only under contract for one year the prospects given up would be tolerable.
No vested interest here, but Trumbo in Colorado sounds exciting. If not Trumbo, how about Carter for much cheaper?
Trumbo would be a solid fit…but he’d cost COL the #11 pick…which is steep for such a one-dimensional player. Carter could be a fit…much cheaper and no loss of the #11 pick.
No Russell Martin love? Seems like the Mets have the pieces to trade to Toronto for Martin. He would be a great upgrade to what we currently have at the position.