The Mets plan to stick with Jason Vargas in the rotation despite his struggles, general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said Sunday (link via MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo). “We’re not going to be making drastic changes to our club after one bad inning of a start where he had a schedule that was derailed from the start of the season,” said Van Wagenen of Vargas, who recorded just one out against the Braves on Saturday. Of course, a move to yank Vargas from the rotation would be based on more than just his most recent outing; the 36-year-old has yielded 10 runs on 14 hits and four walks with three strikeouts in 6 1/3 frames this season. And while he did enjoy a solid second half in 2018, his overall results last year were dismal. As DiComo notes, however, the Mets are lacking in terms of internal depth alternatives, and a run at free-agent Dallas Keuchel still does not appear to be in the cards.
More from the NL to kick off the week…
- Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald chatted with D-backs GM Mike Hazen and assistant GM Amiel Sawdaye (both former Red Sox execs) about the team’s current standing and unwillingness to plunge into a full-fledged rebuild. “Teams do that to pick at the top of the draft, more for a monetary perspective,” said Sawdaye of the growing trend of aggressive tanking. However, the Diamondbacks knew they’d have a huge bonus pool this year by virtue of qualifying offers to Patrick Corbin and A.J. Pollock, and they were able to land a second Competitive Balance draft selection in the Paul Goldschmidt trade. Hazen acknowledged that it’s “cleaner and easier” to declare that a team is either rebuilding or “all-in” on winning, but the Arizona organization is trying to walk the line. Hazen cites the unexpected success of the Athletics and Rays in 2018 as a means of pointing out that even clubs tabbed by projection systems as middle-of-the-pack teams can make strong postseason pushes. Sawdaye voiced a belief that the D-backs inherited a team that had more talent than the Astros or Cubs at the time those teams opted for a full-scale teardown, while Hazen stressed the importance of fostering a “culture of winning” even in times of possible transition. Both execs offer insight and perspective that go against some of the game’s common trends right now, making for an interesting interview that’s well worth a read for fans of any club.
- Cardinals center fielder Harrison Bader is currently dealing with what the team hopes is a minor hamstring injury, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Bader was out of the lineup Sunday and is expected to be further evaluated today. The initial prescription for Bader was merely to rest the injury for a full day, but if the pain in his leg lingers today, he could undergo an MRI as well. The 24-year-old Bader, one of the game’s premier defenders in center field, is off to a sluggish .179/.347/.359 start through 50 trips to the plate.
- In a separate piece, Goold notes that righty Carlos Martinez threw a 20-pitch bullpen session — consisting entirely of fastballs — on Saturday and is expected to do so again today. From there, he’ll move to live batting practice (assuming today’s ’pen session goes well) before the Cardinals make a determination on not only the location of his rehab assignment but also the role in which he’ll pitch on that assignment. The organization is still mulling whether Martinez will pitch as a starter or as a reliever in 2019.
I have no doubt that Vargas staying in the rotation is a Fred Wilpon call who doesn’t understand sunk costs at all
Bernie Madoff with a big slice of Fred’s money. I’m sure he understands sunk cost very well.
Yay! Now the Yankees can sign Keuchel! Will 2/30 get it done?
I don’t think y’all would love him in that ballpark. But the yanks could use him
He’s a extreme ground ball pitcher
Even then, you’re assuming that every pop up won’t go out of that park on him. Which they would. When people do hit it in the air on him, it isn’t a cheap bloop
Maybe Cashman would do a subway trade and flip Bird for Vargas?
Yeah as if the Mets need a first baseman
Chill bro, Greg’s sister Begamin Bird is gonna get you.
The Mets are making a mistake for not pulling the plug on Vargas. His age alone makes him a gamble.
Pretty sure the Mets knew his age when they signed him lol
If Martinez goes to the Bullpen…which it looks like he will…Cardinals Bullpen will be scary
IF they pitch like they’re capable of. It’s been a bit touch and go so far. Too early to get excited either way.
that goes without saying
Hopefully Bader is okay, with just a day or two of rest. I like that J Martinez might get an extra start or two out of it. Vargas has had two starts, they shouldn’t have signed him if his leash was going to be this short.
I hope bader is alright first of all. Unfortunately injuries are part of baseball that open up playing time for other guys and I’ve always wanted to see what Tyler O’Neill can do with regular playing time. The kid can hit but has been so inconsistent cause he’s never in a full time role. Remember what the kid was doing to triple A pitching when he was starting everyday?!? I just want to see him get his chance.
I do like Bader, but look what this lineup would look like if they had not traded away Pham for a bag of baseballs last season. I suppose O’neil would be in the minors and Bader would be making spot starts and defensive replacement appearances. I hope Sega ends up being worth more than those balls.
I liked Pham on the Cardinals. Makes me wonder what else may have been behind the trade. Hopefully Cabrera makes an impact. Of course Pham will be back on the market eventually. No way Tampa extends him.
I agree that Tampa is unlikely to extend him. I am highly doubtful that the Cardinals or Pham would look to reunite though. I am thinking about what the lineup would look like today with the on base and power potential in the place of their current #8 hitter. I think Pham offensively is a net plus over the defensive skills Bader brings to the table. If you add that bat to this current lineup it reminds me more of the team that was so good during the mid 2000’s. Not saying they are bad, but I think you would be looking at potentially 5 all-star caliber position players on the field and in the batters box. I know it is early in the season, and I hope Bader proves me wrong. It doesn’t matter at this point, just more wondering what ifs.
Not a fan of Pham. Seemed like a complainer. Often injured and had eye problems. Don’t miss him although good when healthy.
I think he was far too candid with the media and that is what got him shipped off. There were years in the minors that he was injured, but it was mostly just the eye issue with the big club. My perspective is one that the guy works his butt off and battles an eye ailment that show how much talent and desire to succeed can help you achieve your goals. Either way though the guy is a player and would have been an excellent member to a very good lineup top to bottom.
Disagree. I always noticed his interviews were “I” and “Me” when he was being congratulated and “We”, “Us”, and even “them” when something went wrong. The good things were always his doing and the bad things were never his fault. We started calling him “Leon” around the office because his attitude reminded us of the Leon commercials from Budweiser several years back. Heck, he once complained that he would have more RBI if Carpenter could learn to run. If it’s true or not, if you are willing to sell out your teammates in a throwaway interview then he can’t have been good for morale.
Plugging in a good player does not always equal a positive. These are humans and the dynamics to a winning team are not always cut and dried.
Maybe right.. I did notice his self promotion at times. The SI interview didn’t do him any favors either, but I can somewhat understand his position. The cardinals did pass him over for multiple call ups. Of course it was the same position that Jose Martinez was in and he handled things completely different. I am not a put everything on Matheny guy, but Pham was not the only member or former member of these recent Cardinals teams to speak poorly of his managing.
I understand anyone being frustrated, but realistically, I think he took his frustration with his own injuries out on the organization. He split time between AA/AAA in 2013 but missed about a quarter of the year with injury. He had a great 2014 (his first full year hitting well) and got called up in September (don’t forget that the team had Holliday, Jay, and Craig, who was coming off of a monster 2013, AND had Oscar Taveras and Grichuk on the MLB team).
He opened 2015 in AAA, got injured and missed a couple months. When he was back and healthy and hitting, he was called up again. He hit fairly well and was selected for the opening day roster the next year, 2016. He got injured the first day and was out for almost two more months when they optioned him back to Memphis. He came back up in August and did not hit well.
He didn’t make the 2017 opening day roster, which he shouldn’t have, but quickly made the MLB roster after starting well. He had a great year with the MLB club and the Cardinals offered him a contract to buy out the last year of pre-arb and the first year of arb. Whether it was too high, or too low, it doesn’t really matter. He took it personally, and ran his mouth about it.
Then it was clear, he had no interest in playing for that team and his effort showed it. I firmly believe it was him and Fowler that cost that team a playoff spot last year. Fowler believes he didn’t get enough playing time (despite getting 330 PA before missing over 2 months with a broken foot) and Pham. And it wasn’t their production. Carpenter cost the team with production. Pham and Fowler cost the team with their attitudes. The coincidence of Matheny, Fowler, and Pham all leaving the clubhouse at the same time and the AAA winners getting playing time and a 22-6 August was no mere coincidence at all.
This^^^
Pham doesn’t come across as a team player. He was more about himself when he wore the BOTB.
The bad trade wasn’t so much Pham, as signing Fowler (I was in favor somewhat but liked Piscotty and Grichuk) but the trade for Ozuna. Piscotty in Lf Bader in cf, Martinez, Oneil, Grichuk in Rf. P.S When Cabrera is up and pitching lights out as our best left you’ll sing a different tune. Pham wasn’t happy and I think quit trying.
Yeah the Fowler signing was a bust and a reactionary move the front office had previously tried to avoid. Every time they do that kind of thing it backfires. Trading for Heyward. Signing Fowler. Signing Holland. Signing Leake. Trading for Ozuna. When they do things deliberately like trading for Goldie or signing Mikolas last year they seem to get more bang for the buck.
It is very possible. I need to get to a game to check him out. I doubt I make it to Memphis, but check out a few Scards games a year. He is fairly well regarded by scouts, so maybe there is something to him, but the proof will be in the pudding so they say.
I don’t know what’s going on with Keuchel, and if there’s some underlying issue as to why he hasn’t been signed yet (contract demands aside). But, the Mets should offer up a one year, $20M contract and see if he bites. Vargas is not the answer for that rotation. Adding Keuchel would give the Mets a rotation of deGrom, Syndergaard, Keuchel, Wheeler and Matz which is arguable one of the best in MLB.
Why pay 20M for a fifth starter though? Not that important.
Only reason I can see them signing him is if they get a discounted multi year deal and plan on moving on from Wheeler or Matz in the offseason.
Yea but he wouldn’t be their 5th. He’d be their 2nd or 3rd, depending on how he pitched. Matz, in reality, would be their 5th.
He’s definitely not a 2 in that rotation and probably not a 3.
huh? Keuchel is an innings eater who has decreasing k-rates and increasing hard hit rates. He’s a 4th SP on a team that is worth $14-15M, not $20M + losing a 2nd round pick.
The hold up on Kuechel is a draft pick tied to signing him.
He had too high of an asking price at the start of free agency and was too slow to drop it. By then, his suitors were gone. Add that to the results late signing pitchers had last season and absent a willingness to spend some time in the minors to get up to speed, it is a recipe for disaster for teams to sign him now, and none of that even takes the draft pick into consideration.
So you’d give up money and draft pick for a year?
Time to cut loses with Vargas sign Keuchel,and extend Wheeler. Mets organization has to grow up and play the game right which includes ownership.
Completely disagree. Keuchel is no guarantee to be good. Wheeler is a health risk and not worth what it would cost – better to get a draft pick or slot money comp. Vargas is worth another start just so you have a 4-game sample size for this season. Making these decisions in mid-April is a fools game.
How about the 20 game sample size last year from Vargas? He’s already 36, and it’s not like he’s been an ace in the last 3 seasons. Keuchel, even though he is a bit of a risk, is a lot more reliable than Jason Vargas. Wheeler, though he did have TJ surgery, has not had anything major since. A 3 year, $12-$15 million AAV extension for him seems fair.
Wheeler is getting a lot more than 3/$12-15M. Just because that’s what the Pirates would offer does not make that realistic. He’s getting 5/$84M min. on the market and I would not go near that type of extension for him.
Here are Wheeler’s IP per season (MLB):
2013: 100
2014: 185.1
2015: 0
2016: 0
2017: 86.1
2018: 182.1
I never said 3 years for $12-$15 million. I said 3 years for $12-$15 million per season (or AAV/average annual value). So about 3 years for 36-45 million in total. The offer you proposed is only $1.8 million more per year than what I said. If you ask me, $12-$15 million AAV is pretty fair for a pitcher with Wheeler’s history and age.
I said $17M x 5 years, which is $42-48M more than guaranteed than you suggest. There is zero chance he signs a 3-year extension and even less chance he gets under $15MM per season.
Also 3/$12-15M = 3 years @ 12-15 / season. It’s just the shorthand way of saying that. No idea how you thought it was divisible.
He’ll be 29 by the end of this year. The way current pitches who are nearing, or over 30 are getting contracts, and with his history of TJ, I highly doubt many teams would want to give him more than 4 years of control. Maybe for $16-$18 AAV (which I still think $15 million a year is more fair), but I highly doubt for 5 years.
He’s not getting 4-5 years in April it doesn’t/won’t happen
2019: 100 IP
WHOA Mike….. no Wagon Wheel is Mutt and Jeff
Hi Mike
Not needed dummy. Being overseas and jumping on infrequently these days it is a delight that I’ve gotten so inside of your tiny pea sized brain that you now espouse my vocabulary.
So in the spirit of spring Squirt, I’ll add a few new ones for you to start memorizing:
Matz Magic: 8 runs – 0 outs for a pitcher that in any given night can be taken to the mat.
CallOWay: when Mickey gives you the post game “O well the outcome could have been different”.
PS-Don’t forget to repeat “TC” when you brush your teeth once a week!
I think Keuchel might not sign until after the draft and the draft pick compensation part is out of the equation. Most teams could use him but they are not paying a premium price AND giving up draft pick.
Nice to see a GM who gets it. The Astros style full rebuild was necessary because Houston had a terrible team, a bad farm system and high payroll. Kinda like the Giants of today. Most of the teams modeling after the Astros are just shooting themselves in the feet by trading almost all their known value for future lottery tickets with the expectation they’ll win. Gambling is gambling, and a lot of teams who play that game are going to lose.
When your team has good talent in the minors and you’re not hamstrung by existing contracts, the “rebuild” process can be shortened a lot. Sounds like a GM who has direction and an understanding of how to be competitive.
Where would the Mets get the money to sign Keuchel?
The Mets are just a small market team located off a dirt road in the Adirondack mountains of rural New York.
The Mets are a large market team with owners that live on the north shore of Long Island. The only thing that you can describe correctly as small is their acumen and commitment for the team. Just wait metsie fans…they are soon to rip your hearts away as they have hit their max budget.
“Hello, I’d like to speak to the Mr. Jeter. Derek! What do you need for Urena?” I wonder if the Cubs would move Hamels?
True story I got to meet BVW on Sat at the Mets game as I was on the field for batting practice yes you can pay $75 to do that in Atlanta n I highly recommend it. But any ways I told BVW to sign Dallas n he smirked and said at what price and I said 2 years for $25m he just smirked n said I’ll see what I can do. Doubt that meant anything but a fun story and an awesome dude as he interacted with all the fans n took pictures with them
Carlos Martinez has all of the ability to be an Ace of a pitching staff. However…..Until he gets his head on straight to put pitching at the top of his priority list. He needs quit worrying about what color his hair is or what wild style to fix his hair to draw attention. He needs to draw his attention as he did when he first came up!! 101 mph fastball and an 85 mph change up. Plus, he needs to suck up petty injuries and put 100% in his pitching. If he can’t mature in those areas or put pitching as his first priority, he’s better off staying on the DL for both the Cardinals and himself.