The latest from Citi Field…
- The Mets have been linked to a possible reunion with Jay Bruce all offseason, and a Mets source tells Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News that the free agent is looking for a four-year contract. This represents a shift in Bruce’s asking price, as he and his representatives began the offseason in search of a five-year pact worth $80-$90MM and reportedly were still sticking to that demand at the start of December. Of course, starting with a high number is a common tactic in any negotiation, so it isn’t surprising that Bruce has limited his demand, particularly since the free agent market as a whole has yet to truly kick into gear. Even four years may be too long for the Mets’ liking — while Bruce would be a valuable contributor at first base or in a corner outfield spot, New York has Michael Conforto (once he recovers from shoulder surgery) and rookie Dominic Smith slated for those spots over the long term. The Rockies, Blue Jays, and Mariners have also been linked to Bruce at various points over the winter, though Seattle’s acquisitions of Ryon Healy and Dee Gordon may have lessened their desire for Bruce’s services.
- A source “expressed skepticism” to Newsday’s Marc Carig (Twitter links) that the Mets and Indians would be able to work out a deal involving second baseman Jason Kipnis. New York has been connected to a wide array of players as it tries to address its hole at the keystone, though with other trade avenues seemingly closing up, it was looking like Kipnis could be the Mets’ top option. With the Mets also apparently open to taking on salary instead of moving prospects in trades, Kipnis seemed like an even clearer target; one rival executive described Kipnis as one of “the most attainable” second basemen left on the market given that the Tribe seems eager to get his $30.5MM in remaining salary off their books.
In other news, Dolan’s remind fans that going to the post season isn’t a guarantee as they lock up Melvin and a few other from the bargain bin and let a slew of all-stars walk.
This narrative of the Dolans not spending is outdated. Give credit where credit is due. He paid Bourn and Swish and got nada in return. He opened the checkbook for Encarnacion when no one expected him too. The Indians are consistently in the bottom portion of attendance and yet he still spends when the opportunity strikes.
Yes, Santana has moved on to Philly. The dude got $20 million per season. Can you say overpay? Kipnis is a fan favorite but redundant and expensive. They retained Brantley, b
Upton and whatever other minor league signings are par for the course and have worked out well for Tribe in the past. There is no reason look at these negatively.
Must be from the Dolanz R Cheep crowd.
as a hardcore indians fan, one who went by this narrative, i agree with you. i would always give the dolan’s a hard time bc they always seemed to let players walk and shopped the bottom of the barrel, but when they got francona, they shelled out the money to get him. they shelled out the money to get swish. when no one was picking up bourne, they shelled out money for him too. and you’re right, those didn’t work, but they were willing to try. and they still won the edwin sweepstakes and made him a $20MM/yr player, which is literally unheard of in cleveland. trading their prized prospects to get a game changing reliever in miller and take on his salary, when normally they hold onto their prospects like gold. and they actually had a GAME CHANGING PLAYER come here for once. not to mention one up-ing the yankees by taking on the remaining salary on jay bruce’s contract to get him for the stretch run. in reality, the dolans have done way more over the last few years than anyone will give them credit for.
Exactly!!! And people still didn’t show up earlier in the season.
Braves should sign Yelich and Brett Anderson, trade Markakis to the Blue Jays for some RP
Yelich isn’t a free agent so the only way they get him is if they trade for him.
Signing Anderson really isn’t necessary, since the Braves acquired McCarthy, and to a lesser extent Kazmir. Also, at their disposal for the 2018 season, the Braves already have an abundance of LH pitchers on their 40 man roster, and several more LHPs that are pretty close to debuting.
LHSPs: Newcomb, Gohara, Fried, Kazmir, and Allard.
LHRPs: Freeman, Minter, Lindgren, Biddle, Brothers, Clouse, Mader, Pike, Kinman, Pfeiffer, McCreery, and Dayton.
As for Yelich, the way the Braves are currently constructed they would be better off going after a LF’er with a little more pop in his bat, and yeah, by the way, Yelich is still under contract with the Marlins..
Ozuna would have been the perfect target, but that ship has since passed…
Looking at the Braves current line-up for the 2018 season and 2019 season, they desperately need some more power…
Now, that won’t be as pressing of a need once Austin Riley and possibly Alex Jackson enter the fray, as bother areally powe hit ting prospects, capable of putting upressure 20-25+ HR’s..Although, for Riley that’ll likely be September 2018, and for Jackson, it’ll most likely end up being September 2019, possibly a little earlier….
With that being said, the Braves desperately need to get rid of Markakis, and use their plethora of pitching prospects to add a power hitting LF’er..
2018
#1 CF- Inciarte
#2 2B- Albies
#3 1B- Freeman
#4 LF- Markakis/Trade Target
#5 RF- Acuña
#6 C- Flowers/Suzuki
#7 SS- Swanson
#8 3B- Camargo/Ruiz
2019
#1 2B- Albies
#2 RF- Acuña
#3 1B- Freeman
#4 LF’er
#5 3B- Austin Riley
#6 CF- Inciarte
#7 C- Veteran C or if ready Alex Jackson
#8 SS-Swanson
Or the Braves could go after a 3B’man after the 2018 season, and shift Austin Riley to LF. He has the arm for LF, and in order to best utilize their 8 most talented players, the Braves will definitely need Austin Riley’s power potential and his solid bat in their line-up.
Wat
Free Wilmer!
who are we kidding here, free Conforto, he deserves better
tired of all the talk…this team needs to do something now!
Couldn’t agree more, between the off-season the Yankees have had and now the braves and Phillies making moves. Let’s get things going Sandy, tell the wilpons this is New York if they wanna spend like a small market club they’re in the wrong market.
Wow supervisor… I’m amazed seeing your post which is SO on target. This site usually attracts Mets fans in denial.
If the Astros traded Marwin before the year, would like Bruce as LF/DH.
The Mets are a joke. They had the perfect oppertunity to challenge for control of the division with a young core on the rise and Harper likely leaving the Nats in a year. Instead, they let a medical staff, that has been a problems for their players health since Beltran was there, ruin their rotation’s health, and they have refused to spend what is necessary to supplement their team. If you have a core of players like Harvey, deGrom, Syndegaard, Wheeler, Matz, Conforto, Rosario, Smith, and Cespedes and you are located in NYC you should be able to make a team that can contend more than 2-3 years.
Let’s even say that it is unfair to say they should spend at the level of the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, or Dodgers. They should still be able to spend like the Astros, Angels, Giants, Nats, and Phillies (not what they are spending now but what they will be in the next few years). Last opening day they were ranked 12th, making their payroll mediocre.
Since their farm system stinks (on a recent podcast BA said two of their top prospects were recent draftee pitchers who have a total of about 30 innings pitched), and they don’t want to spend how are they supposed to stay competitive in the East? Even without Harper the Nats will arguably be as good or better than the Mets, the Braves are loaded on young talent, and the Phils are built up on nice young talent and are ready to really spend in the next few years. To me, it looks like the Wilpons are going to take this opportunity that took years of bad play to build for and waste it on being a mediocre club that will be contending for wildcard spots.
In the end, as a baseball fan that is frustrating. As you watch teams like the Red Sox, Yankees, Cubs, Astros, Indians, Phillies, Dodgers, and Braves all try to use rebuilds to set up for long, continued success it is baffling the course the Mets took.
The Mets are a MESS,period!
Not according to metseventually. He should adapt the team’s new alias, metshopeless.
Glad that you started tracing the ineptitude back in time to Beltran. How about the years that they mismanaged Jose, Jose with his hamstrings?
Or do you think that their pitching staff incompetence began when Johan Santana went from top pitcher to languishing thru a mangled series of surgeries and rehabs? The cherry on top of the whip cream was when “TC” allowed him to throw what, 140 pitches (+|- 10) so he could complete a no hitter. That was the last effective game of his career.
Just remember-power is in mets fans’ hands. Refrain from buying tickets or licensed merchandise and do NOT watch SNY this spring and summer.
You will embarrass Fred and Jeff as well as deprive them of a pile of cash to buy more Brooklyn Dodger memorabilia!
The fact that you blame the owners for every single shoulder and elbow that breaks down is laughable.
So is their medical and training staff. And if you want a good laugh from a crowd, start defending their incompetent overuse of their young pitchers. Blowing past innings limits can bite you in the ass and it has happened over and over.
You can’t blame everything on bad luck.
OK, it’s time for me to play the GM for the Tribe…Sell Kipnis to the Metsfor as Much cash you can get..Trade Salazar, Naquin and Ryan Merrit for Yelich and Dietrich to the Marlins, then Urshela and Mejia and McCallister to the Blue Jays, for Donaldson. All doable and without pitching, we win it all
The Indians will not trade Mejia. They currently have 2 catchers who are good defensively but that can not hit major league pitching. A catcher who hits like Mejia is a rarity.
You have to trade to get what you need. Mejia can hit, yes, but he is not that good of a catcher. Why do you think they were playing him at third base in the Arizona League. Nobody has catchers like the current Indians have. You pick up hitting in the other 8 spots and you keep your light hitting, but awesome catchers
Agree that Mejia is a star on the near horizon. Now that we know Santana isn’t returning, CLE can slot Mejia in at 1B. I’m not sure how he did at 3B in the AFL, but they do have options if they want him in the lineup. Tribe really needs to pull out all the stops to unload Kipnis. Everyone knows he doesn’t have the arm for the OF, 2B has been nailed down by Ramirez, and I don’t think they’ll move him to 3B. If CLE can’t trade Kipnis I really believe they’ll move him to 1B for the duration of his contract which is by no means ideal, but they won’t pay him $15M/year to sit the bench.
I like Bruce and have a lot of respect for the way he was able to demonstrate how he could play in NY after starting off poorly. But I don’t want him back. Use the money to get a real 3rd basement, 2nd baseman (and not Kipness as he is always hurt unless the Indians are giving him away), or Lorenzo Cain.
The problem is that the Mets do not go after the best possible solution. They settle for the scraps. I will admit the Swartzak signing was good and he can help. But as a season ticket holder it is so frustrating to support this team. FYI, I told them I will absolutely not renew for 2019 if they do not improve this team. Alderson needs to be held accountable for having one of the worst minor league system and having few international signings.
“Use the money to get a real 3rd basement …”
“Getting a third basement just gets you deeper in the cellar.”
–Bogi Yerra
Thanks Agerst…for showing a Mets fan who is willing to put his money where his brain says it should go. The sooner that more Mets fans stop buying tickets, licensed gear as well as not turning on SNY, the sooner that the cheap Wilpon’s will get the message that their days of stealing from NYC NL baseball fans is over.
I would never make a deal for 1 year of Donaldson for Mejia now Mejia / Salazar / and a couple lower level prospects fto Baltimore in a deal that nets the Indians Chris Davis who is signed for multipul years and Machado.
BTW Mejia is not a good defensive catcher and has not been able to adjust to calling a game or handling a pitching staff I saw this close up at spring training 2017 this is why the attempt to have him play other positions this past spring.
when he was behind the plate all pitches were called from the dugout
The Mets get Kipnis and pay down most of the remaining money on his contract, and the Indians get Hansel Robles and Jordan Humphreys. Who says no?
Kipnis would be nice but like Kinsler I’m guessing he will Kip would rather go anywhere else. Smh we are an embarrassment at this point.
Kipnis would be nice but like Kinsler I’m sure he will veto anything even if we did go after him* We are not exactly a first class run organization