Here’s the latest from Mets GM Sandy Alderson, who spoke with reporters (including Newsday’s Marc Carig, and Mike Puma and Joel Sherman of the New York Post) about where his team stands headed into the Winter Meetings…
- If there was a general theme to Alderson’s comments, it was that the Mets will be patient when it comes to making their moves, particularly in the relief pitching market. The team seemed poised to make a quicker jump for a bullpen arm earlier this winter, though now New York appears to be taking a step back. “We’re not going to chase players. There are a lot of guys out there, and a lot of teams looking for relief pitching,” Alderson said. “We think there’s some values out there. And to the extent that the market gets overheated, I wouldn’t think that we’ll jump into the inferno. But we do want to improve our bullpen.” In a follow-up tweet from Puma, Alderson “is sending out signals to” some agents that the Mets might not sign a reliever until after the Winter Meetings or possibly even into January. The Mets are one of the teams who made a three-year offer to Bryan Shaw, though Carig suggests that Shaw would be holding out for a fourth year or perhaps is looking for an offer from a team whose Spring Training camp is in Arizona (where Shaw owns a home).
- Dominic Smith “is still very much in the mix” for regular time at first base, Alderson said. Smith received some criticism from Mets officials, including Alderson himself, after the season, though recent reports had the team looking for just part-time first base help, either in the form of a platoon partner like Adam Lind or an outfielder who could fill in at first like Jay Bruce. “I wouldn’t expect us to do something that totally eliminates Dominic as a possibility,” the GM said. “We are still very high on Dominic — some of my comments earlier in the offseason notwithstanding. I would be surprised if we did anything that precluded him from not having an opportunity in Spring Training.”
- Asdrubal Cabrera is almost certainly going to be used at third base next season, so Alderson said the Mets will look for second base help. A trade for a second baseman is possible, though “our farm system right now is not brimming with prospects, so in that sense, making a trade isn’t as attractive,” Alderson said.
- The Mets were never linked to the Giancarlo Stanton trade rumors, as Alderson said he “just didn’t think, given the contract, a variety of circumstances, it made any sense for us to feign any interest for purposes of public consumption.” While the Mets no longer have to worry about Stanton as an intra-division rival, they’ll get a regular dose of the slugger as both an interleague foe with the Yankees.
MB923
Puma said that Anderson also said this:
Alderson: “With Brandon Nimmo in right field you think we need Stanton?”
twitter.com/nypost_mets/status/939976093934800896
mike156
Rough translation: “We aren’t going to spend money, if we can possibly help it. If someone falls into our lap, or, if a team is willing to trade someone to us and pay that player’s salary…then we will consider it”. I understand the team has limits, but it’s a pity they can’t tell their fans when they will be healthy enough to act like a big market (or, for that matter, even mid-market) team,
iamhector24
“Here’s our off season plan. We are going to let all the other teams sign who they want and need and at the end of free agency we will sign the left overs. With no competition from other teams we won’t have to over spend. Plus with David Wright coming back it’s not like we have to worry! Everything is fine.”
majorflaw
“recent reports had the team looking for just part-time first base help, either in the form of a platoon partner like Adam Lind . . . “
Um, they’re both LH batters. While Smith and Lind could share time at 1B it would not be a “platoon” situation.
“While the Mets no longer have to worry about Stanton as an intra-division rival, they’ll get a regular dose of the slugger as both an interleague foe with the Yankees.”
Something missing from this sentence, like the other part which “both” was referencing. Either that or remove the word “both.”
sampsonite168
“We’re broke, why would we even pretend we can afford Stanton?”
lol, gotta appreciate the honesty at least.
xabial
The crazy part is forbes values the Mets at $2B.
But Wilpons make me feel like they’re worth far less..
majorflaw
Even though both are heavily leveraged, Los Mets own both the stadium they play in and the cable teevee network which broadcasts their games. What value would you place on each?
adshadbolt
Value isn’t based on performance it’s based on cities and fanbases
chitown311
Man, after the ’15 postseason run, I thought the Mets pitching staff would be untouchable for the next 5-7 years. How quickly the tides can change
bravesandcrewfan
Shaw to the Crew? Idk about you guys, but that makes sense to me. They have the flexibility and spring training in Arizona.
mattblaze13
I think they should trade harvey, wheeler, familia, flores, lagares, d’Arnaud, cabrera, reynolds, robles, and goodell. Get ride of those 8 and fill out the roster with free agents
padam
That’s 10.
Michael Chaney
There’s only one guy who could ship out a third of an active roster that quickly, and his name is Jerry DiPoto
LongTimeFan1
@mattblaze13
Goeddel was DFA’d and became free agent in November.
The chances of mets trading two starters and a closer in same offseason is slim to none.
met man
I’m fed up with the Mets ownership.New York is the largest market in MLB and they act like a small market team.Look how their cross town rivals put money back into the franchise.Boy,do I wish the Steinbrenners owned the Mets.I can only wish…..
jakec77
If you want to look on bright side…
There is an argument that the Mets are the perfect example of a team that should not spend to their payroll limit. They are a team that it would not be shocking if they won 90 games (they have two legit ace pitchers, several guys with upside behind them, a closer who was one of the best a year ago, an MVP type in Cespedes, and average to above players at most positions) and it wouldn’t be shocking to see them lose 90 games (injury prone, lack of depth, possible Harvey and Wheeler have just disintegrated); it makes sense to see which team they actually have. Especially since, as noted, the farm system has graduated most of it’s talent so if the Mets want to improve inseason the only way they can do it is to be able to take on salary.