Speaking to fans and media (including the New York Post’s Mike Puma and MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo) today at Citi Field, Mets GM Sandy Alderson addressed several questions about his team’s winter moves and what might still be yet to come. Some highlights…
- Alderson downplayed the idea of signing Mike Moustakas, noting that “the draft-choice compensation and the loss of international pool money, both are key to us improving what is now a less-than-robust farm system, so we have to be careful there.” As per the rules of the new CBA, the Mets would have to give up $500K in international bonus pool money as well their second-highest pick in the 2018 draft to sign a free agent (like Moustakas) who has rejected a qualifying offer. Alderson also noted that the Mets are looking for multi-position versatility, whereas Moustakas only plays third base.
- To that same end, Alderson was “glad to hear” Asdrubal Cabrera’s recent comments about preferring to play second base rather than his currently-intended third base position. “We thought he played pretty well [at third], we wanted to try to anchor that position in the event David Wright can’t come back,” Alderson said. “So we were a little reluctant to approach him about moving off of third if we were to find somebody to play third, so now that we know he would be happier at second, it broadens the scope of what we might be able to do.” While the Mets have largely been focused on second base targets this winter, many of the players linked to the team (such as Josh Harrison or Eduardo Nunez) can play more than one position. The re-signed Jose Reyes is also available as an option at multiple infield positions.
- A reunion with Bartolo Colon doesn’t seem likely, even on a minor league contract for the veteran right-hander. Colon has expressed interest in returning to his former team, to the point that the Mets are reportedly the only club Colon would consider accepting such a minors deal to pitch for, though it doesn’t seem as if there’s any present interest on the Mets’ side.
- Alderson feels there could be quite a bit of further player movement at both the top and bottom of the free agent market in the coming weeks as teams drop players off their 40-man rosters to accommodate new signings. Like other clubs, the Mets will monitor the market, with Alderson noting that they could pursue a veteran left-handed reliever. The Amazins are notably short on southpaws, as Jerry Blevins and Steven Matz are the only left-handed pitchers on their entire 40-man roster.
David Wright isn’t going to come back, and if he does, he won’t be an everyday player like he once was, so why is Sandy still pretending that David’s their third baseman?
Because the Wilpons’ want him too. Each off season that they can sell fans on a possibility of Wright coming back, is an off season that they have an excuse for not spending on a 3b. And they can keep Wright’s number on the payroll (even though its 3/4ths covered by insurance).
Insurance money to pay Wright’s contract
Lets just hope we can use the insurance money towards someone who can actually help. I love David for everything that he’s done for us and think he is a very tough guy, playing through pain most of his career, but at the same time it doesn’t seem realistic for him to make any type of meaningful come back. When it takes 4 to 5 hours just to get stretched out and still be in pain while playing 1game a series….is it worth it?
I hope they’re paying Sandy some real good money, because it’s been one big joke listening to him over the years. All he does is cover for Wilpon. By the way, why does Wilpon have money to build an arena for the NY Islanders hockey team but money for good players for the Mets. The Mets are a joke!
Meant to say No money for good players.
It’s a 197 league, y’all.
Not for the taxes, but for the loss in picks/international spending.
“so now that we know he would be happier at second, it broadens the scope of what we might be able to do”
Maybe SA should have learned this earlier, like by having a discussion with him?
Likely irrelevant I guess since the scope of what SA might do is still as narrow as what the Wilpons’ will approve, and I think they’ve made it clear that going forward approval will only be of low $$ deals.
Yeah, knowing where you’re signing a guy to play seems like step 1 or 2 in the whole process. Apparently the Mets didn’t care all that much tho. Seems odd
That said, with his anger over the situation last season, possible the Mets may have been afraid to ask – assuming they’d have to play him at 3rd without wanting to piss him off again by even bringing up 2nd
The tag line for 2018:
Incompetent from the top down…
Cheap as ever!
Martin Mull rules.
Paragraph 1 about Moustakas could have been headlined “Alderson Confirms Moss is 100% Correct”. On an unrelated note, come on Sandy, bring back Big Bart! What’s the harm of a minors deal?
With their AAA club being in Vegas? With all those free buffets?
I can see some harm there
But only to buffet owners!
Poised to win it all this season!
He’s putting all his chips on the pitching, which is fine provided one of the top two don’t get injured and the others pitch reasonably well. Still need another bat in the lineup though, especially if Conforto doesn’t produce like he did last year due to injury. Moustakis would be adequate, but dollars play in that decision. If they got him on a 4 year deal around $18m per, I’d say they’d have to give it some thought.
Hey Padam, come on. Like a typical Mets fan you fantasize about free agents and irrationally conceived contracts.
If Moose were going to sign for 18×4 he would have already signed. And, not with the spend thrift Wilpon’s.
The coupons don’t have any real thoughts. Only musings that they roll around their tongues to get foolish fans to buy tickets. Then they pull the rug out from underneath you.
Then they laugh all the way to the bank.
Hmm… Considering they got Bruce at 13 per, is Moustakis that much higher? And I said “if,” as in ‘if’ he price came down due to the lack of teams needing a 3B guy who is for the most part a home run hitter.
If he came down in price then he wants to go to a winner. Not sure of you understand that padam
“Moose” had a career year and most likely want far more than that is the only problem. Isn’t it interesting funny how well most players perform in a contract year?
Giants should add Colon as a long relief guy so they can continue the trend of signing/trading for age 30 and over, and leaving/out of their prime players.
Bartolo’s prime hasnt even started yet
very true, he has so much to offer
If there’s another chapter in this fat cheaters baseball story the testing program is a bigger joke then previously thought…
There are train wrecks and there are dumpster fires….the Mets are a train wreck on their way to a dumpster fire……..one day Sandy will stop sending three women to the tomb waiting for Wright’s resurrection……
Nice line.
Are the Mets trying to win?
That’s a good question.
Let’s just hope they’re not taking a page out of the Cincinnati Bengals blueprint…HC has zero playoff wins in 16 seasons yet he just signed an extension. By putting out a semi competitive product each season the bangles keep their payroll low and seem thrilled with mediocrity because they are making money! Smh
The Mets should be in regular enough communication with their players to know and understand their preferences, where they feel most comfortable, etc.
Eduardo Nunez or Todd Frazier. My personal preference is Nunez but i would assume he wants more security as opposed to Frazier who would accept a 1-2 year deal. 3 years/$24 million for Nunez, 1 year/12 million for Frazier with a club option in 2019.
It’s a very nauseating time to be a Mets fan. We are two years removed from making the World Series and still have the majority of that core intact. Yes, they weren’t healthy last year … but the window hasn’t closed. If we really want to compete in the next three years while we still have this core intact, we need to stop worrying about international spending pool money and draft picks. Sign Moustakas already, enough excuses!!! You know it’s a bunch of BS when Sandy starts saying Moustakas doesn’t have positional flexibility. You have to be kidding Sandy, right? I don’t want to stabilize 3B with good defense, great power and leadership skills because he can’t also play all over the infield? When we already have three mediocre guys (Cabrera, Flores, Reyes) that do exactly that …!!?? See, you can argue about the pick and the international pool money and how the farm is depleted. I know the league is trending to prioritize those areas, as highlighted by the stagnant FA class this year. But then blow up the team if you’re going to prioritize that, over adding a winning player like Moustakas.
But then Sandy made it clear he wasn’t serious anyways because he made that dumb comment about positional flexibility. It’s realy a shame. We have a sick core of pitching (yeah I know they’ve been hurt but that’s pitching in general), a bullpen that actually looks good with Blevins Ramos and Swarzak setting up Familia and a decent enough lineup. Add moustakas to Bruce cespedes and eventually conforto … and now we’d have the makings of a legitimate lineup. It’s always going to come down to health of course. But it’s still the Mets front offices job to put together a team that is competing for a championship. Especially since this is our window. For so many seasons we spent money and just didn’t have all the homegrown arms like we do now. Now we have the arms, but can’t spend money. Maybe I should approach going to the ballpark like Sandy and the Wilpons handle this team and buy crappy bleacher tickets so I have more flexibility to move around the park and switch seats since I’m not attached to my crappy seat, and maybe I shouldnt pay $12 for a beer and $8 for a hot dog. I need that money for international vacations and I’ll wait until those 2nd round picks develop before I come see the team. But that wouldn’t work either, because by the time that 2nd round pick and international prospect make the Mets, they’ll either be busts or degrom and Noah and cespedes and Bruce will be gone already. Unbelievable. I’m sorry for the long rant, but I needed to get this off my chest. So tired of the dishonesty and crap the Mets front office expects me to buy from them.
Amazing that the Mets are only concerned about the farm system when it’s a reason not to spend money on a FA. What about paying a higher end IFA now and then?. Or drafting over slot in the draft? What about paying the balance of last year’s traded players salaries in exchange for better prospects? NEVER. Just can’t give up a 2nd round pick (no longer the excuse of a 1st round pick). Do they have a single major leaguer picked in the 2nd round under SA-?
Enough said. SELL Wilson’s
Mets shoudn’t sign Moustakos, but not because of picks or international $$$. He is just going to cost too much.