While awaiting movement on the free agent front, enjoy some lighter fare from around the league…
- New Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo followed a relatively straight path to his first managerial gig, but that doesn’t mean it was easy – or quick. The straight-shootin’, bongo-playin’ skipper was a career minor-leaguer as a player, a Triple-A Hall-of-Famer as a manager, and yet, when he finally got his opportunity as a third-base coach for Kevin Cash’s Rays, the promotions came quickly. Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling charts Montoyo’s career path from the first scholarship he earned as a ballplayer from Puerto Rico through his 18 seasons managing in the Rays minor-league system. It’s a longer profile, but well worth a read for Blue Jays fans who want to get excited about what Charlie Montoyo brings to Toronto: he’s a stern developer of young talent, a keen innovator of fielding shifts and an earnest baseball lifer.
- Fangraphs’ Craig Edwards attempts to estimate the value of entire farm systems in terms of WAR and free-agent dollars. By organizing the top 800 players in the minor leagues into tiers and making one WAR equal to $9MM based on their calculations of free agent values under the current CBA, Edwards has put together a table to show the rough free agent dollar value of each farm system. The Padres’ system, unsurprisingly, tops the charts at 50.9 Present-Day WAR worth $458MM, while the Mariners pull up the rear at 4.8 Present-Day WAR worth $43MM. Their tiering methodology and the prospect grading process is laid out in further detail here.
- The Athletic’s Tim Britton proposes in a four-part hypothetical how the Mets could turn themselves into a contender this winter. Britton’s Plan A includes signing Manny Machado, Yasmani Grandal, a couple of elite relievers and investing in depth. In a purely theoretical context, there’s not much to argue with there. Practically speaking, the subtext suggests that the Mets have holes at both the top and bottom of their roster, with the left side of the infield and bullpen being particular areas of concern that could use an upgrade. Joel Sherman of the New York Post also advocates for a winter spending spree, though he focuses more on the why than Britton, whose focus is the how. The Mets don’t have any payroll commitments beyond 2020, so taking a chance with a megacontract player like Machado isn’t inconceivable, but one player doesn’t usually swing the pendulum. To Britton’s point, there are 520 minor-league free agents available, and the Mets, as well as other teams, should take the opportunity to try and find the next Max Muncy. Other names listed as potential depth targets include Jordy Mercer, Neil Walker, Logan Forsythe, Drew Pomeranz or even a trade target like the Brewers’ Keon Broxton.
Those that know the Mets and don’t look through rose colored glasses know that the Mets truly are not that far away from contending. They’ve got a very good core of players (mostly young) in Alonso, McNeil, Rosario, Nimmo, Conforto, Syndergaard, Matz and Wheeler to couple with deGrom, Frazier and Bruce (if healthy). Cespedes is a loss for 2019 due to duel heel surgeries. The issue is, and always has been, their willingness to spend and make the “right” moves. Yes, they “could” sign Machado or additional offensive power. They could build their BP or even package a trade to get Realmuto, as Miami has shown a willingness to trade within the division. But, as long as the Wilpons are operating the helm, they’ll continue the status quo and make just enough money to line their pockets.
They are potentially set up well for the future- they don’t have a whole lot of money tied up past 2020. They could extend some of their pitchers and other younger players, and/or make some good free agent investments now or later. I don’t actually think there’s been a problem with the amount they’ve invested in the past few years- it’s just that the return on investment has been crappy. One can hope that they will make some better decisions, and/or have better luck. Last year’s crop of free agent signing could not have turned out a whole lot worse.
Exactly my point. I expect they’ll extend deGrom and Syndergaard. It’s “how” they’ve chosen to invest without a long term plan. The Cespedes signing was good, IMO. But choosing aging players such as Frazier and Bruce when they could have easily gone after Moustakis and Cain. Perhaps with BVW at the helm they’ll make better decisions on signings but, as long as the Wilpons sit behind the curtain, Met fans should expect just enough to get by and nothing more.
Regarding Frazier and Bruce vs. Moustakas and Cain- I think the Frazier signing was actually pretty defensible, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him rebound next year. Moustakas had a QO attached, he had not been better than Frazier over his career, and he seemed to want a longer-term contract. I’m still not that impressed by him.
I’m not a Wilpon defender, or an Alderson defender, but I can kind of see a plan in what they did in recent years- it was a fairly low-risk strategy, in terms of not getting stuck with big long-term contracts (outside of Cespedes), but it was also very low-reward. The upside is that, even though it looks like we don’t have that much flexibility this year, we’re not in bad shape long-term.
Wow, they have good starting pitching and not much else. If you tie them
To every free agent, they have a chance at a wildcard. How are they going to score runs?
Hey Nicky—please retract your comment about the Cespedes signing. It’s was only good for Mr. H20. The deal is a financial catastrophe for any team and the Mets specifically its devastating. He will never be the same
Player as 2015z. Wagon Wheel to Wilpon. Game over.
Why would deGrom or Syndergaard sign an extension with that dumpster fire?
Hey Nicky,
When you peel away players whom had one half of a good season (simply for not “doubling their output” for your predictions for next year, and the apparent deficiencies up the middle, there is a rose color hue abound.
Derek and others are not letting some hustling former agent take them in a trade and convincing a top tier difference making free agent to sign is more difficult for wagon wheel than almost any other GM as the franchise lacks credibility for a sustainable effort.
As long as Brandon Nimmo hits in every clutch situation the Mets will be fine
The First thing the Mets should do to improve themselves is to resist the temptation to bring back Reyes and players like Reyes. Getting out of the mindset of populating roster spots with questionable talent willing to work at or near league minimum is progress, but I’m sure the FO already knows that. I’d be surprised if the Mets make an even slightly significant splash in the FA market this winter.
Signing Machado and a few elite relievers can turn the Mets into contenders…. Pretty sure you can argue that for 75% of teams.
Let’s give the new Mets GM some time to see if he can convince the Wilpons to part with some money.I doubt that will happen,but time will tell.
How long do you want Met man? We can be patient since the team has not won it all in over 30 years. Now Mets pundits calm down. No reason to bring the Texas rangers and Seattle Mariners into it. Your support of Mutt and Jeff has created the context for allowing absurdity and mediocrity.
When one gets beyond stats of past performance and that the “cheap” owners need to spend more – which fits for 90% of teams discussed on this forum – lets talk a little baseball…..
The two biggest assets the Mets have are Mickey Calloway and Dave Eiland. No team was better working with their pitchers last year. In another year or 2 they will be recognized.
Winning teams must develop and maximize their own pitchers. You can go out and spend for name FA’s, but it’s easy for them to get off track.
In their first year with that staff, DeGrom became an elite starter. Please don’t say “career year”, because if he stays with the Mets he’ll put up results like Max Scherzer has. Wheeler finally broke through as the year went along. Syndergaard was hurt a bit, but he made an amazing statement later in the year to the effect of – I’ve been pitching incorrectly my entire career and didn’t know it. That was in response due to a bit of a dry spell in which he was being re-tooled. Lugo, Gsellman and others were moved to the bullpen and began to adapt. Last week the new GM said he believed either of those 2 can pitch the 9th.
Not everyone worked out great. Metz and Vargas need to be squared away. But the point is this……
Players talk so word gets around the league. The Mets will become a preferred landing spot for FA pitchers….especially those that need to be fixed. Start with Cody Allen.
Now lets see what Callahan can do with the position players. He’s started on Roserio to be consistent on D, and become a base stealing threat on O. Bruce was an awful OF, Mickey moved him to 1B which will keep his head in the game more, and put less pressure on his aging body (he can’t run). LH throwers have an edge at 1B. Next up – get Mickey a catcher to work with. He had a major role with the Indians in developing Gomes and Perez in calling games and working with the staff.
When Francona came to Cleveland, the Indians were messing up plays and throwing the ball all over the park. Over a few years clean games slowly became the norm. It takes a little time.
I mentioned this on another post a few weeks ago but I think it bears respecting-
I read a book titled “where nobody knows your name” by John Finestein (sp) recently. It’s primarily about players trying to make the majors or make it back to the majors and the trials and tribulations they face. They also write about Charlie Montoya- what a class act. Never heard of him before reading the book but by jingles I will be pulling for him this year.
Montoyo once drew 156 walks in a minor-league season. He wasn’t much of a hitter but he could get on base and scored runs; I always wonder what a guy like that might have done in the majors (he apparently didn’t have much defensive value either). I suppose Lance Blankenship is the only guy like that I can think of who played in the majors, maybe Tony Phillips.
Anyway, he sounds like a terrific baseball guy and I hope he does well.
Broxton for DeGrom straight up.
Now I know how it is to be a Cubs fan proposing trades….
“…the Mets, as well as other teams, should take the opportunity to try and find the next Max Muncy.”
Muncy as well as a lot of other young players/rookies had great seasons, but all these guys will have to make adjustments to their game next year. Second seasons are when these young players will prove to be full timers or platoons. I really think Muncy will come back to earth offensively.
to Fangraph’s Edwards: what a waste of time. Pure speculation.
Did you read it? It’s an absolutely terrific, thoroughly-researched article.
Well, the Mets will probably sit with a 150M payroll after arb cases, but what folks don’t realize I’d that 2019 will have 42M covered via insurance at 70-75% (Wright, Cespedes). They in essence, could spend now. Walker is gone after the year, and they could let another 8M walk by not reupping Flores and TA. Machado and relievers certainly not out of the question, but I think Machado goes elsewhere. After all those years playing in Baltimore and getting a taste of the WS, he’ll find a home with someone who has a better shot at contending.
Hey padan. It’s not theory. It’s reality. Mutt and Jeff lead a spoiled life: they must take care of relatives like Sol the bartender, “TC” the Mindless cheerleader, and other family and neighbors from LI.
Padres could use a theme song. Since the Spanos plague vacated SD, maybe it could be a disco themed…”San Diego Super Padres (minor league system)”
I wonder how much Baldelli in Minnesota will be working against Montoyo for the same assistants, since they both come from Tampa.