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The Mets suffered through their second straight disastrous season in 2018, leading to major changes atop their baseball department. General manager Sandy Alderson stepped away in June to battle a recurrence of cancer, which proved to be the end of a tenure that was occasionally fruitful but recently disappointing.
Seeking a replacement for Alderson, the Mets mostly interviewed candidates who were already executives at the major league level. In the end, though, they made the unexpected decision to name longtime player agent Brodie Van Wagenen as their GM.
Mets owners Fred Wilpon and Jeff Wilpon were already plenty familiar with Van Wagenen, who counted big-name Mets Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Yoenis Cespedes among his clients when he was with CAA Sports. Now that Van Wagenen is on the Mets’ side, Fred Wilpon believes his “high character, blend of analytics, scouting and development ideas” will help the franchise escape the doldrums.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Yoenis Cespedes, OF: $58.5MM through 2020
- David Wright, 3B: $27MM through 2020 (insurance covers all but $6.75MM)
- Jay Bruce, OF/1B: $26MM through 2020
- Jason Vargas, LHP: $10MM through 2020 (includes $2MM buyout of 2020 club option)
- Juan Lagares, OF: $9.5MM through 2020 (includes $500K buyout of 2020 club option)
- Todd Frazier, 3B: $9MM through 2019
- Anthony Swarzak, RP: $8MM through 2019
Arbitration-Eligible Players (projected salary via MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)
- Jacob deGrom – $12.9MM
- Noah Syndergaard – $5.9MM
- Zack Wheeler – $5.3MM
- Wilmer Flores – $4.7MM
- Michael Conforto – $4.4MM
- Travis d’Arnaud – $3.7MM
- Steven Matz – $3.0MM
- Kevin Plawecki – $1.3MM
- Non-tender candidates: Flores, d’Arnaud
Free Agents
- AJ Ramos, Devin Mesoraco, Jerry Blevins, Jose Reyes, Austin Jackson, Jose Lobaton, Rafael Montero, Phillip Evans, Jamie Callahan
[New York Mets depth chart | New York Mets payroll outlook]
The Mets started 2018 a red-hot 11-1, but they began an epic nosedive soon after and sat 16 games under .500 at the All-Star break. By then, New York’s chances of contending were out the window, and the question was whether it was going to retain the deGrom/Syndergaard duo past the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. That same month, the outspoken Van Wagenen proclaimed the Mets should trade deGrom if they weren’t going to extend him. Ultimately, the Mets didn’t reach an extension with deGrom or deal him or Syndergaard. Depending on the Mets’ GM hire, both deGrom and Syndergaard could have been trade candidates this offseason. But with Van Wagenen now calling the shots, the team’s not primed to kickstart a rebuild by parting with either of its superstar hurlers. Rather, according to Van Wagenen, the Mets “will win now,” and they “expect to be in on every free agent.”
In light of Van Wagenen’s free-agent declaration, visions of Bryce Harper and Manny Machado may have been dancing in the heads of the most optimistic of Mets fans. However, even though the Mets play in the majors’ biggest market and have zero dollars on their books past 2020, it’s hard to imagine them reeling in either. For one, there’s no word on how much the Mets are willing to increase their payroll over last year’s $150MM-plus Opening Day sum. Landing Harper or Machado would require a sizable jump over that figure, as the Mets’ payroll is already nearing $135MM heading into 2019. Secondly, the Mets have never even doled out a $150MM guarantee, yet both Harper and Machado could push or exceed $400MM on their next deals.
While Harper and Machado seem likely to be out of New York’s price range, the club could still come away from free agency having made significant improvements. There are more realistic targets out there, including for the Mets’ bullpen, which is a focal point for the team this offseason. Per Van Wagenen, the Mets are seeking “multiple” relievers to upgrade over last year’s bullpen – a unit that was among the majors’ worst. As things stand, right-handers Seth Lugo, Robert Gsellman and Drew Smith are the only current Mets relievers who were remotely effective over a fair amount innings in 2018 (lefty Daniel Zamora also impressed, but he did so over a mere nine frames). There’s a lot of work ahead as a result, though there are also several proven relievers available on the open market.
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Among free-agent bullpen pieces, veteran closer Craig Kimbrel is poised to secure the richest contract (MLBTR predicts $70MM over five years). The Mets make sense for Kimbrel when considering their need for late-game help. That said, it’s debatable whether the Mets should allocate that type of money to a reliever – especially considering Van Wagenen isn’t married to having a traditional closer. Plus, because Boston issued Kimbrel a qualifying offer, signing him would cost the Mets more than just a boatload of money. They’d also have to surrender their second-round pick in 2019 and $500K in international spending room.
Fortunately for New York, Kimbrel’s far from the only viable closer type who’s looking for a job. David Robertson (a former Van Wagenen client), Jeurys Familia (an ex-Met) and Adam Ottavino would also be fits for the club. And going by MLBTR’s projections, the Mets may be able to get two of them for less than Kimbrel’s next deal. Beyond that trio, fellow relievers Zach Britton, Andrew Miller, Joe Kelly, Cody Allen, Kelvin Herrera, Joakim Soria, Bud Norris, Brad Brach and Jesse Chavez are also among MLBTR’s top 50 free agents. Notably, Miller and Allen are familiar with Mets manager Mickey Callaway from his days as Cleveland’s pitching coach. Recent indications suggest the Mets are at least interested in Miller, but even if nothing comes together with him, it’s obvious there will be other high-end options for the club if it’s truly willing to throw money at its relief woes.
Although the Mets’ bullpen is in dire need of aid, the same isn’t true of their rotation. DeGrom, who could be on the cusp of winning his first NL Cy Young Award, and Syndergaard are about as good as a one-two punch gets. As of now, Zack Wheeler, Steven Matz and Jason Vargas (another ex-Van Wagenen client) figure to round out the rest of the starting five. But even if the Mets expect to roll with that quintet, they could at least stand to add better depth.
Syndergaard’s coming off back-to-back injury-shortened seasons; Wheeler wasn’t the picture of health from 2015-17; injuries have regularly beset Matz, who has never thrown more than 154 innings in a season; and Vargas was both terrible and injured in 2018. There’s little in the way of possible answers beyond those five, with Lugo and Corey Oswalt (he of the 5.85 ERA/5.70 FIP in 64 2/3 innings last year) representing the Mets’ leading candidates to serve as their sixth starter. Lugo has offered decent production as a starter during his career, but using him in that role would deprive the Mets’ already questionable bullpen of an important reliever.
Shifting to the position player side, it’s worth wondering whom the Mets’ pitchers will primarily throw to in 2019. Van Wagenen said Friday that New York’s “covered” behind the plate, where it has a pair of controllable major leaguers in Travis d’Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki. The oft-injured d’Arnaud looks like a trade candidate or non-tender possibility, though, and Plawecki hasn’t really done enough to claim a starting role since he debuted in 2015. Unsurprisingly, the Mets are seeking catching help on the open market, having shown reported interest in the position’s top two free agents – Yasmani Grandal (a QO recipient) and Wilson Ramos – as well as Martin Maldonado. Even though Maldonado would be a far less exciting pickup than Grandal or Ramos, he’d at least provide a defensive boost over what Plawecki and now-free agent Devin Mesoraco gave the Mets in 2018.
In general, defense was a problem for last season’s Mets, who finished 27th in the majors in both DRS (minus-77) and UZR (minus-32.1). The only regular who earned plus marks in each of those categories was third baseman Todd Frazier, though he fell flat as a hitter in the first season of a two-year, $17MM free-agent contract that his ex-agent, Van Wagenen, secured for him last February. Still, barring a sizable splash in free agency (Josh Donaldson, to be specific), Frazier’s the best candidate to start at third for next year’s Mets.
Beyond Frazier, the rest of the Mets’ infield is a mostly unproven group. His left-side cohort, shortstop Amed Rosario, did make some offensive strides from his 2017 debut, but he had a horrid year in the field (minus-16 DRS, minus-5.2 UZR). It appears he’ll start at the position as a 23-year-old in 2019, though, unless Machado actually takes his talents to Queens.
Rosario’s double-play partner could be Jeff McNeil, who flourished in the minors in 2018 and did the same in the majors after a late-July promotion. The 26-year-old racked up 248 plate appearances and slashed .329/.381/.471, good for a 137 wRC+, while rarely striking out (9.7 percent). On the negative side, the power McNeil displayed last year in the minors didn’t transfer (.142 ISO, three home runs), he posted a .359 BABIP that will be tough to sustain, and his xwOBA (.322) lagged miles behind his real wOBA (.368). Of course, none of that’s to say McNeil can’t be part of the solution for the Mets going forward. He’s currently “penciled in” to start at the keystone for the club next year, according to Van Wagenen, but perhaps it would be unwise to rule out a pursuit of free-agent help. The market’s teeming with veteran second basemen, including Marwin Gonzalez, who has drawn the Mets’ interest, Jon Heyman of Fancred reported Thursday.
As a super-utility player, much of Gonzalez’s value comes from the fact that he can play all over the diamond. That includes first base, another potential area of interest for New York. If the season began today, the Mets would be choosing between a Jay Bruce/Wilmer Flores or Dominic Smith/Flores platoon. Changes may be coming there, however. With Cespedes set to miss a large portion of 2019, Bruce could open the year as a corner outfielder. The Mets may non-tender Flores, who has dealt with knee problems. Likewise, Smith’s no lock to remain in the organization. Still just 23, Smith was a top-100 prospect as recently as 2017, but he was woeful at the Triple-A and major league levels in 2018.
Thanks to Smith’s struggles, fellow youngster Peter Alonso (also 23, and now the 58th-ranked prospect at MLB.com) is the Mets’ new hope for a long-term answer at first. Alonso’s a potential “impact player,” according to Van Wagenen, who has suggested the Mets are open to having him on their roster at the outset of 2019. If true, it could prevent the Mets from doing much of anything at first base in the offseason, even though their other options don’t inspire much confidence. Most of the free-agent choices at the position don’t look overly enticing, and if Alonso’s knocking on the door, the Mets may decide it’s not worthwhile to trade from a below-average farm system for someone like Justin Smoak or C.J. Cron.
In the outfield, while Cespedes may not factor in at all next season, there’s no question the Mets still have two cornerstones in Brandon Nimmo and Michael Conforto. It’s just a matter of where they’ll line up. Owing in part to the season-ending toe surgery defensive stalwart Juan Lagares underwent in May, Conforto ended up seeing more time in center field than any other Met. He was no match for Lagares in the field, though, managing minus-8 DRS and minus-4 UZR across 501 innings. Nimmo (minus-2 DRS, minus-2.8 UZR in 350 innings) and current free agent Austin Jackson also garnered negative marks. Those numbers won’t necessarily preclude the Mets from using either Nimmo or Conforto next year, though, at least when Lagares isn’t in the lineup. Historically, the righty-hitting Lagares has been useful against left-handed pitchers. When he sits versus same-handed hurlers, the Mets could shift Conforto or Nimmo to center and use someone else (Bruce? A free-agent or trade acquisition?) in the unoccupied corner. The aforementioned Marwin Gonzalez, with his switch-hitting ability and his experience as a left fielder, would be a logical choice in that scenario.
Alternatively, if the Mets are in an especially bold mood, they could aim higher than Gonzalez and try for the premier free-agent center fielder, A.J. Pollock, another QO recipient. His addition would enable the Mets to use Conforto and Nimmo as full-time corner starters and relegate Lagares to the bench. Pollock also happens to be a right-handed hitter, which the Mets want more of for their outfield, Van Wagenen revealed this week (via Tim Britton of The Athletic; subscription required). However, signing Pollock would lead to a logjam of full-time outfield starters upon Cespedes’ return, whenever it comes, and would give the Mets another expensive 30-something with a long injury history. In the end, signing a Cameron Maybin type or pursuing a trade for the Brewers’ Keon Broxton or the Nationals’ Michael A. Taylor could be more realistic possibilities.
Speaking of the Nats, they’re among the NL East teams the Mets have looked up at in recent years. But Washington joined the Mets in serving as 2018 disappointments, and the Nationals’ roster will take a notable hit if Harper walks away in free agency. Those two teams are now trying to overtake the reigning NL East champion Braves, as are the Phillies, while the Marlins are continuing to rebuild. There’s clearly no dominant club among that quintet, meaning the Mets may find themselves in the thick of the division race next year if Van Wagenen pushes the right buttons in his first offseason as an executive. The Mets closed last season on a high note, going 38-30 after the All-Star break, and with deGrom, Syndergaard, Nimmo and Conforto leading the team’s core, it’s evident Van Wagenen didn’t walk into a hopeless situation.
Cespedes is owed $58.5M through 2020 not 2019.
I was about to say, that is ridiculous haha
Might as well be $58.5M thru 2019.
When the Wilpons do spend, it’s usually a waste like Cespedes.
Bobby Bo is insulted at your insinuation
Yeah no doubt.
Two that come to mind were Mo Vaughn & Jason Bay. Bonillas contract just keeps on taking.
Just like Kei Igawa, Irabu, AJ Burnett, Kevin Brown, and Carl Pavano. Aren’t the Yanks still paying Aroid?
Wow 86…you’re so smart that you will ever have a need to change your identity here off the Mets last winning WS because there won’t be another.
And no they yankees don’t need to pay players with installment loans, just like the Yankees ownership doesn’t need to invest in risky ponzu schemes
Thank you. I thought that sounded off.
Sign. Aj pollock to play center. Sign miller to close. Trade wheeler and nimmo to get Bryant move Frazier to first and let’s go
haha wheeler and Nimmo get you Bryant is what fantasy world??….no seriously I’m asking because I’d like to move there it sounds amazing!!
DPyou’re right, the CUBS have to give up more..
Giving the Mets a return call after this proposal would be an overpay for the Cubs
Yeah the cubs need to give up more for any of our players. The Mets fans’ system is to take whichever half is stronger stats wise and double it. Same thing goes for pitchers—they take whichever half the pitcher was in the DL and make believe the next year that he will be healthy all year.
Hey mikeyank55, the stankeers are paying $30mil a yr on a broken hitter, who only hits when the game is not on the line. All you have to do to Stanton is have a righty throw him a breaking pitch. Check to see what he does from the 6th inning on. Also Sanchez played 81 games due to being hurt and still lead the MLB in pass balls. DD gone till june or longer. Judge was on the DL last 2 years. IT’S EVERY TEAM.
Wow 4 ever, you are so insightful taking one year as a large sample size for a career. BTW Sanchez played with a bad shoulder in case you don’t read articles with words longer than three letters. His NON throwing shoulder, so to simplify it for your simple mind means his glove shoulder.
And between your teams three catchers how did they do? One can’t hit, the other one can’t call a game and the third one prefers to roll the ball to second base.
And what’s with this name? 4ever? Have you ever put one and one together that it’s a DUMB strategy saying 4ever with a coupon owner team?
Now go park your car near Chitifield at one of the Juno yards in the neighborhood.
mikestankees55″ His NON throwing shoulder, so to simplify it for your simple mind means his glove shoulder” and. Does that mean he can’t block pitch with his body like they’re should. also 81 and lead MLB IN PASS BALL. He’s a 1B. The Stankees paid $30mil to a RF when they already had the second coming on Winfield( I like Judge) Just sit you butt down, worry about WHY the stankees will but Manny to plat ss till june, ask him to move to 3B & he’ll cry about it(the second coming a A-Roid). Find you # 3 & 4 Pitchers.
.
I think if they wanted Bryant it be something more like Rosario, Alonzo, Smith, Wheeler, Matz, and Conforto, which would not make sense for the Mets
6 players for Bryant? I don’t think so.
I read somewhere about a Thor for Bryant. I’d pull the lever on that one. Wouldn’t the Cubs though?
Thor not going any where
Probably not seeing as how they seem to value offense over pitching
*except to the DL.
Lol
Thor is the throw in. 7 for 1 then. It makes no sense? Welcome to the Mets.
Wheeler and Nimmo for Bryant is absurd
Keep dreaming loser. Wheeler and Nimmo lmao
Nimmo was a much better player than Bryant last year, is cheaper, and Wheeler is a stud who was more valuable than either of them. It’s the Mets who would say no. And yes, I know KB missed some of last year.
The league’s figured something out in KB’s huge uppercut (similar to Wil Myers). Still a very good player, but the reason Theo didn’t say he’s off limits is because he’s about to become crazy expensive and he’s probably not the perennial MVP candidate he looked like in 2016.
Nimmo came put the gate with a hot bat and speed however cooled of tremendously. Have to see a fill season of a real Nimmo. I won’t discount he is a 15/15 type of player
Um…Wheeler has talent but hasn’t really performed consistently at the MLB level yet. Nimmo, again, decent player, not a superstar. Bryant is an MVP. Big difference. Other than a small hiccup this past season he’s been a stud everywhere he’s played. Much more valuable than those two players. Wheeler and Nimmo could be decent fillers in a trade for Bryant, which need to include at least 1 much, much better player.
Tom-Wheeler has Tommy John,. that not his performance.
Come in Nota, your not impressed with Seam’s half season analogy?
It’s the Mets way to take these kinds of stAts and double them in their prediction. This automatically leads to disappointment the next season. Welcome to the Mets way
Somebody missed the story about Bryant being hurt last season…
Actually had a better second half, also the reason he cooled off in the first half is because he was getting a little home run happy, but he made the proper adjustments. 15-15 would be fine as Long as that ops is around 800 or higher.
Bryant isn’t getting traded, especially for this proposal lmao. If you put this trade in mlb the show your console would’ve shut off
Because he’s a diamond in mlb the show but barely played like a silver lol
Places in Fangraphs 2018 MLB player WAR……
Nimmo #44
Wheeler #46
Bryant #165
mob the show? what are you 10! stop playing in the big boys sandbox!
mlb the show? what are you 10! stop playing in the big boys sandbox!
“Now that Van Wagenen is on the Mets’ side, Fred Wilpon believes his “high character”
LOL! Can the words agent & high character be used in the same sentence?
Hey Fred got a deal to take wagon wheel.
I don’t care how much people make fun of the Mets. When you have DeGrom, Syndegaard, and Wheeler as your top 3, there’s always a CHANCE of contention. Even if it’s at its slightest. I wish you Mets fans luck this offseason.
Well they had those three the past several years and have not contended so there goes your theory
I didn’t say they were bound for success. I just said they have a chance. If Rosario and Alonso live up to the hype, and Conforto and Nimmo continue to hit, alongside a healthy and dominant rotation, then sure, they have a chance at winning 85-87 games and sliding through with a WC. It’s slim, but it’s possible. Personally I think they should rebuild, but if they want to contend it’s not like their roster is complete garbage.
Rosario is garbage nimmo and conforto had their best years degrom will never have the season he had this year yet the team finished in 4th place
They had a dominate rotation this year yet they finished in 4th
And they are all going to be healthier and each make 32 starts next year. Conforto and Nimo are going to produce much more and Yada yada.
Mets had guys have career years this year yet they still finished in 4th
LKB-several year–let’s see 15 in the W/S, 16 Wild card missed in missed playoff in 16 & 17. I guess that what you mean by SEVERAL. and Wheeler was not part of 15 or 16, before last year Nimmo most at bats were 215. last he had 433.. The Cubs have a Infielder in the minors they are very hi on, Nico Hoerner(ss)-can play 3b, Baez can also play 3B. BUT the cubs don’t need another OF(Nimmo) and I’m not moving Wheeler.
And 2015
And 2000
And 1986
And 1969
Oh, only the bottom two count because they were champs?
Please.
I guess that metsfan4ever bought the SNY Slow package so he doesn’t know that the Mets sucked in 2018 also.
See accordingly his math has been corrected:
15 WS fluke
16 zero
17 negative
18 negative
I’m guessing that slow forever won’t be posting back here.
Wrong they are 30 games under 500 the last 2 years with those giys good try
Thanks man we appreciate it, if we can just get a couple bullpen guys and a catcher for the love of god please can we have a good catcher ? We really aren’t that far off
Not too far off…it’s only a short uber to the Bronx to watch a winning team.
However alc47, Mets fans are given IQ tests at the stadium and there are trick questions to vet out the obstinate ones who are simply front running.
Through a cross league cooperation with the Phil’s so that essentially Mets dummies will not be welcome in either stadium.
Offenders will be required to spend two seasons watching minor league teams so that they learn how a real big lesguenfranchise
League franchise drafts and develops their players.
Good luck.
This article is so dumb mets finished in 4th place . Who cares when they won their games 8 games under 500 is the same whether you win in April may or June or July
The article contradicts what the new GM said at a Presser the other day.
Every single Offseason Outlook suggests that team will be looking to sign the same free agents. Most of the teams have limited budgets, and the name FA’s are not looking to sign with young rebuilding teams that have few established players. Most rebuilds fail.
Dumb article degrom had a historic year nimmo and conforto had career years yet the team still finished in 4th place degrom won’t have the same type of year nimmo won’t be as good
Here are the facts about reyes the virus 1) 2007 and 2008 biggest collapses in MLB history Reyes hit under 200 during both collapses and made everyone lose focus and urgency. 2) the blue Jays were under 500 with Reyes then they got rid of him and they started to win and went to the ALCS 2 years in a row 3)Rockies got 16 games worse after they acquired Reyes 4)The Marlins got rid of Reyes in the first year of a 5 year contract 5)2017 mets underachieving disaster 22 games under 500 with Reyes 6)2018 once again disaster, overall 30 games under 500 since Reyes returned. 7)last game Shea stadium history loss with Reyes. First game citi field history loss with Reyes. Reyes is the rare athlete that infects guys around him his laughing and overall personality doesn’t allow guys to have the right mindset to perform at their highest capabilities which is why the biggest collapses in history happened with Reyes . it’s been 2 decades of the same disaster result. Mets were in the World Series in 2015 before he showed up
You’ve been listening to the Alex1929 Show!
Okay dude, you gotta stop with this blind hatred of Jose Reyes.
Facts aren’t hate dummy no matter how much your bias doesnt allow you to accept facts
You’ve literally posted this on every Mets article. We get it, you don’t like him.
Wait a minute Jay. You don’t know that Alex’s next door neighbor is Wagon Wheel and at a get together last weekend, WW revealed that he is bringing Reyes back because “Mutt and Jeff” want him to be part of the team to instill “Mets’ values” in the players.
Plus WW indicated that Reyes was switching sneaker companies (no more. Endorsements) and that he believes the old shoes were what prevented him from having any footwork when he played middle inning positions.
Delete your account buddy, José Reyes absolutely owns you.
The irony of the situation, the only thing Reyes infected is his psyche
Can you take it down a notch?
This is important information. You should take it to a non-baseball site. Think of how many people you could help with this knowledge.
1. Given their talent level, any trade they make just transfers their liabilities; i.e., one position gets stronger as one is left weaker…..
2, Not enough cash (maybe) or judgement (Cespedes, Bruce) to properly impact the FA market…”iffy” farm system…..mid-range at best….tho, granted, at the upper portion of that range…..
3. Yanks are ascending….perfect time for VanDerSnoot to do a rebuild……they have some interesting pieces that would be make the transformation a quick one…teams will pay HEAVILY for Jake, Thor, etc,…….they can get back to the party in two years…..but if they keep on putting Band-Aids on the roster, the Marlins will be in contention before the Mets…..
I think it’s safe to say that Alex isn’t a Mets fan^^
Offseason plans: Sitting on the sidelines twiddling their thumbs #LetsGoMets
Mets should deal Syndergaard and Degrom. They could theoretically rebuild the rotation and team.
I mean you make degrom available- astros could easily offer Forrest Whitley, Josh James, Cionel Perez, Seth Beer, Garret Stubbs. Two great prospects- two mlb ready pitchere- mlb ready catcher
Syndergaard to the Brewers could net Keston Huira, Corbin Burnes, Brice Turang- toss in rebound candidate like Domingo Santana or Keon Broxton
Jay Bruce is a rebound candidate if he stays healthy. Mets don’t need Pollock and his injury woes.
Bruce is more of an injury risk than Pollock is. He was a negative-WAR player in 2018 receiving 99 less ABs than Pollock, in his down season. And Bruce is only 4 months older than Pollock. Sure, Bruce’s 28MM (through 2020) looks immovable, but don’t let that make you think moving on to Pollock wouldn’t be an upgrade. Bruce belongs in the AL where he can support his team defensively from the bench.
How so??? Bruce injured last year, yes, and so wasnt Pollock. that being said try looking at Baseball-Ref and compare who’s at risk based on games played since 2013.
Research before you post. May sound smarter next time
Because Pollock is worth 1 more WAR than Bruce in only 40% total games played throughout their respective careers. Would you rather have a negative-WAR player play more or a positive-WAR player play less? If the Mets had the DH, this would be easy for Bruce, but factoring in his defense (and the fact that their top prospect Peter Alonso is 1B), Pollock would be an upgrade not even factoring in offense.
Yes, Pollock is more of an injury risk, but he also has a much higher ceiling, so depending on his asking price – he would most definitely be an upgrade. NYM needs all the offense they can get, and though COFs like Pollock (presumably) and Michael Brantley come with significant injury histories, that risk also makes them more signable with NYM. If they didn’t have those risks, they would be too expensive.
I’m not looking at WAR… In this situation we are looking at 2 players and keeping them healthy to stay on the diamond. Bruce is the winner as he has a better chance being able to on the diamond. Pollock may have the better WAR but when it all boils down to the causality of WAR then Bruce is my front guy as his trends are more appealing..especially on a team that already has injury issues.
I am a Queens resident and got the obligatory 2019 Mets pre-purchase ticket reminder and it has absolutely no players names or faces on it whatsoever. Sure, it could be a safe leaflet, but it’s just hilarious that when selling tickets for the upcoming season in baseball’s largest market, they don’t lead with their marquee players (i.e. DeGrom, Thor, Cespedes, Wright not being there, Nimmo, Conforto, Wheeler, etc.) even though some of them could be spending the upcoming season playing for another team.
The extra ink for color pictures wasn’t in the budget. That’s really sad though.
Hey DMC—take that as a sign to RUN as fast as you can and avoid donating any more of your hard earned money to the Mutt and Jeff Wilpon fund.
The only value in their marquee players is trading the ones worth anything. Cespedes, Bruce etc are worthless pieces.
Trade two of the top line starters and rebuild from the bottom because the team will be at or near last place with our without them.
Looking a MET HATER. Find a ss,3b, & a Catcher who can stop baseballs
Offseason Outlook: New York Mets:
They will make some questionable decisions. There. That was easy.
youtu.be/5vRpTC6L-28
This off season plan should be so simple!
Machado to play third!
Move Frazier to first until Alonso is ready. Rosario at SS and Flores at second.
Then trade Conforto and Wheeler or Matz for JT Realmuto.
Then sign either Andrew Miller or Briton or Drob or 2 out of the 3!
If the Mets weren’t so dam cheap they would be serious contenders next season with those pitchers.
You have one correct statement Billy—the Mets owners are so dam cheap, so everything else that you wrote is a wasteful exercise. Plus if they throw any money in this year the top players WILL NOT accept a contract as the salary offsets a career ending in prison.
Let’s spend 30_mil on a k machine, or on a C.F. That goes straight to the DL, or make an alcoholic 100lb overweight pitcher rich and a #1 pitcher.
Sorry about the stankees l
With the Mets, it always comes down to health. Over the past few years it’s debatable which is the better team: The NL all-star team or the Mets disabled list? Thus, signing a 30-year-old (Pollock) with an injury history is not prudent IMHO. The best indicator of possible future injuries is a history of previous injuries. Some guys just can’t stay on the field for a full season.
Spend some cheese on a reliever. I like Ottavino who pitched well in Colorado last year, but he too has had his share of DL stints, Give Alonso 200 at bats at AAA and make him your everyday IB in June. I’d trade Bruce for whatever the Mets can get. Sign Markakis and Maldonado. Two solid players who do more good than bad, especially on defense..
Hey Lou-what page of the official Mets’ Fans’ Excuse book is “especially in a team that has injuries”?
I will spare you the research. It’s in the front cover under the team logo, “If it weren’t for all of the injuries we would hCe been back in the World Series”.
Don’t go for the sucker package to renew your season tickets !
Wagon Wheel only has Monopoly Money to spread around and there aren’t many $500 bills in his pile.
sign miller and Robertson .. sign Manny. then trade Rosario, D. Smith and J.Dunn for Realmulto.
A lot of Mets haters posting here, none of whom factor in roster construction and are not objective.
I expect Mets to contend in 2019 and look forward to an active Mets offseason and what Brodie Van Wagenen and the Wilpons will do on field and off to produce a winner and improve processes.
Hey Long time. We are not Mets haters, because they never disappoint us. It’s like late night comedy and Mets diehards are an absolute joy to pick them with needles to take the air out of their insane bravado.
@mikeyank55
Seriously dude, you’re comments and posts reflect poorly on you, not Mets fans. And it has nothing to do with baseball either.
Your problem long time is that you are supporting a team that has been run by the least committed, most incompetent ownership in baseball.
So your defense and association reflects POORLY on YOU.
BTW refer to your Budweiser buddies as dude.
My association and loyalty is both strong and long and will continue regardless of a flawed ownership who are not anywhere near as flawed as Mets haters – including some Mets fans – love to exaggerate to feed a hate agenda. I have 50 years of loving the Mets and will continue to love them through thick and thin as I do all my valued relationships, till the day I leave earth.
As for you, your hate and obsession has nothing at all to do with Mets and baseball. It’s just a rouse to outwardly project an overall mean-spiritedness within. There’s something broken internally that propels you to want to hurt others and take pleasure in it. Very unhealthy and your comments, which have been ongoing for some time, very much reflect that..
S9 stupid—-Just cry about your STANKEES. I’m morally bankrupt- and the golden years in NY baseball. Is that why the Giants/Dodger went to Calf. What NY rivalry- I don’t care about the STANKEES except the new stadium is on my old HS field. Cry for your team, you need the meds
Also dope-the allure of being the first teams to play out west and cash in attracted the teams to move. When the MLB gave NYC another franchise it was to right a wrong and laughable as they were as a team, the Mets original owners built a winning franchise in less than 10 years.
The team that you support 4ever (such a laughable name) is owned by a family that is a far cry from its founders.
You are as laughable as they are.
Keep on posting and we can get deeper.
It would be helpful for you to brush up on your English writing skills metsfan so that you can learn complete thoughts not rambling. So now your true colors come out about your high school baseball field makes total sense as to why you are “4ever”.
Contrary to your annual Mets’ experience, Yankee fans do not cry for their team. It must feel good for you to be out in the open again after being in detention since your team fell out of contention this past spring. The slide keeps getting worse–during the “dream” rotation’s fertile year.
Pound your chest as Wagon Wheel makes his moves. Looking forward to you crawling back in your closet next June as you slide your Jet’s helmet over your head. Its all of the protection that you will need while in detention.
“Also dope-the allure” – well pinD#$k-since you like calling names—you said the golden age of NY baseball-so you must be old and golden, maybe old and crusty. Do you miss those days when all you has to do was buy players. Stankee fans do not cry for their team. NO they just throw things like batteries, drinks, take HR away from a RF to win a game. I know a retired NYC cop who was at the 76 WS when the Reds won the W/S and he said you great stankee fan were punching George Forster as he was running off the field when the final out was made. And your TRUE COLORS-or is a STILL A GROUP of you since you’ve used, WE in past post-you say you don’t heat the Mets-if that true your post wouldn’t rag on them so much and just wonder what it would have been if you keep Joe Giradi and not a PR manager. Is it Napoleon complex, maybe even penis envy you suffer from. 4ever-yes- and 55 still your IQ. Just worry about how your stankees will do with passball boy, K-king @ $30mil, no SS. Your team has ONLY won a W/S when they can BUY it. Giradi had you guys going in the right direction but as YOUR owners wanted a puppet. (did you know George bought the team only after Mike Burke as him for a loan to buy them himself-then he cut Burke ouy-and now the KIDS run things). And JETS-further proof you just post out your butt…..for the record deGrom shouldn’t have gotten the cy-young. Thor & Wheeler has more wins & less loses with the same team.
Do yourself a favor and get off your high chair and lie in the ground. Your emotional breakdown will be over soon-certainly within the next year or two—and so without the ability to type into your Desktop computer you can stop hyperventilating.
Baseball economics have favored teams who’s owners invest in their teams. The coupons have raped your team eventually so it appears from your out of control, makes no sense rant that perhaps this has been a reoccurring theme in your life.
Go BUY A W/S. Baseball economics-PLEASE-can SD/Atl/Milwk/Oakld/Seat/KC/Clev/Mia/Balt/Tor/Tampa/Az/Col pay like the stankees. Just because the Mets don’t play the BUY GAME means more to me and MOST PEOPLE then crybaby stankee fans. At you age or IQ(not sure which the 55 stands for) you should know better unless it’s the IQ. I was right with the penis envy. So sorry to hurt you lil baby feelings. But your team never developed a team. Even back in the 50s the stankees out bid other team for Mantal(the drunk)/A-Roid(the roids)/Reggie/Catfish/etc, paid for Ruth(your golden age of NY baseball-by the way did you ever play the game or just wished you could-lol) Now 30 year old pitchers, who has 1 good year will get 5 years from the Steinbrenner boys because like you never played the game just watched or sat the bench. I got Desktops/laptops/tablets/cells that I can use to stick it to ya BOYYYYYYY. BUY A TITLE. It was sooooo great to see the seats behind home plate empty when Boston was handing it to your stankees. Tell me still have brinks guards in stankee stadium. Have to run to the train/car in the 7th inning to keep from getting mugged. Feel proud when you see Russians wearing stankee hats as they beat gays up. You a fool, and the more you reply the more you’ll get stuck. Fool-learn the sport and STOP YOUR HERASMENT- YOU’VE BEEN WARNED
Your meds need adjustment.
Your spelling needs a spell check.
Your fragments need complete thoughts.
Your IP address has been identified and mapped.
Soon your threats will block forever’s access.
Hey it’s old man, p.e., Met hated lilmikey. Mikey hates everything. Your bozos, the stainless just got a 160 inning lefty. And gave up their prized and last good minor leaguer. Now the stankees are looking for a SS, 3b(who can make plays),a catcher who can call a game,b!oc k BALLS(not with his chin)and still a PITCHER