Steven Matz has been a staple in the Mets’ rotation (when healthy) since his 2015 debut, but he’s recently been shifted to the bullpen in a move that manager Mickey Callaway hasn’t fully termed as temporary, Zach Braziller of the New York Post writes. While Callaway called Matz one of the team’s top five starters, the manager also declined to definitively state that Matz will return to the rotation. “I expect that after the All-Star break [he’ll be back in the rotation],” said Callaway, “but we’ll adjust if we need to.” That statement came prior to Matz’s bullpen debut last night — a scoreless outing. MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo writes that after the game, Callaway “hesitated multiple times” when asked about Matz’s return to the rotation and did indicate that he could stay in the ’pen for a longer period of time. Matz himself spoke to DiComo and other reporters about the different feel of relief pitching and took a team-first approach, stating that he’s willing to pitch in any role the club feels will help win games.
More Mets talk…
- SNY’s John Harper opines that trading Wilson Ramos should be a priority for the Mets at the deadline, citing defensive issues that have led multiple pitchers to prefer throwing to Tomas Nido. Both Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard look like they’ll be paired with Nido moving forward, Harper writes. He quotes one unnamed official who suggests that part of Syndergaard’s 2019 struggles have come from pitching up in the zone more, some of which could be tied to Ramos’ struggles to block pitches in the dirt following a significant knee surgery late in his Nationals tenure. There’s no clear indication in the report that New York will actually look to jettison Ramos, who is an objectively better hitter than Nido even in a down season. Ramos has slashed .275/.348/.414 with nine homers while the 25-year-old Nido has displayed a continued inability to get on base. In 180 career plate appearances, Nido is a .209/.233/.308 hitter, including a .263 OBP in 80 trips to the plate in 2019. Defensive prowess aside, a .233 OBP is a tough sell even for a backup. Nido has walked only six times in his career despite primarily hitting eighth ahead of the pitcher.
- The Mets reached a deal last week with their third round pick, highly-touted high school right-hander Matthew Allan. The signing was the culmination of a bold gambit from the club’s front office, as The Athletic’s Tim Britton (subscription required) details how carving out the bonus pool space to meet Allan’s high asking price led to the Mets “manipulating our entire draft” to accommodate Allan, as GM Brodie Van Wagenen put it. After the third round, the Mets spent the rest of their picks in rounds 4-10 on college seniors, who had less negotiating leverage and thus signed for bonuses of $20K or less. A strong endorsement from scout Jon Updike also gave the Mets confidence that Allan would ultimately sign and begin his pro career, rather than attend college.
trendysayings
I don’t know where the misunderstanding is from. Because of off-days, including the All Star Break, they won’t need a fifth starter for a while. And with no lefties in their current bullpen other than J. Wilson who’s been hurt all year, Matz volunteered to move to the bullpen for the time being. No real concern about being moved there permanently.
LongTimeFan1
@trendsayings
Callaway has stipulated they don’t need 5th starter for a while, so as you I don’t see an issue here and looks like MLB Trade Rumors is making more of things than is necessary.
BTW, Luis Avilan is back from the IL making the pen now 3 left-handers.
Now if the Mets make some July trades and get back one or more young starters, it’s conceivable Matz remains in pen. They could also call up left hand starter Anthony Kay but he’s struggled in Syracuse after dominating AA.
There’s also the possibility of trading Matz but I doubt it occurs this month.
BrodiesHairisGreezy!
Yeah sure. All of MLB is just dying to trade for a loser like Matz.
Thor-DarkKnight-CaptainAmerica-16
Avian is also a lefty my friend
antibelt
Quite a few teams went the same route the Mets did in drafting top end high school prospects with meddling college seniors. However, they went more cheap then other team in negotiations. I wonder how they (prospects) feel about the team moving forward.
Bill
If they have bitterness towards the team, it’s going to be a LONG time (7-10 years, at best) before they can do anything about it
What exactly are you proposing? That they do poorly and jeopardize their MLB career, just to get even?
antibelt
Misterbill of course not. But they won’t exactly be giving any hometown discounts either.
Bill
The odds of that happening with players drafted in those rounds (or any rounds, TBH) is so minimal that it must have taken you a long time to come up with it.
kahnkobra
except Allan was a projected 1st rounder top 18 i believe, who the mets got in the third round and signed. everyone did not do that
antibelt
I didn’t say all, but plenty of teams had similar draft plan.
64' Yanks
Callaway’s moves are reminiscent of the man gathering the deck chairs together for a float on the Titanic.
king beas
Trade for pitching catchers or center fielders. No need for another corner outfielder or 1b/3b
slash78
How about Kevin Pillar?
king beas
Syndergaard for pache allard and muller
Lugo and Wheeler for lutz feliciano and Rasmussen
Conforto and matz for baz mcclanahan and marte
Frazier and Vargas for anyone in any teams top 20-30
rdsfan05
Such a weak return for matz and conforto
antibelt
Vargas isn’t getting any top prospects. He profiles the same as Gio Gonzalez, and no one wanted him last offseason.
BrodiesHairisGreezy!
Enuff BS about Matz. He simply BLOWS and cant pitch in New York City (or maybe at all in the Big Leagues) If the Wontpons are serious about competing (never mind winning) They will jettison this Loser out of the organization. Time to rebuild about Degrom and Syndergaard and SPEND for some new pieces.
Nest year this LOSER will be in his 6th year and I will venture loads of dollars He wont even hit 30 WINS at that time. Six years and this LOSER cant reach 30 wins?.
LongTimeFan1
@BrodiesHairisGreezy!
How many big league wins do you have?
Zero.
Matz, 25.
There’s a market for him.
Zero for you.
There are some among the 99% who never having the chops to reach the majors, resort to calling those who have – losers.
Matz has had solid big league career, 3 of 5 seasons with era’s of:
2.27
3.40
3.97.
Career 2.8 BB’s and 8.5 K’s/9.
4.28 mil MLB career earnings.
BrodiesHairisGreezy!
Wow Steven calm down.! You dont have to be such a Puzzy about criticism ok? Btw, you BLOW and embarrass Long Island every time you try to pitch!
LongTimeFan1
BrodiesHairisGreezy!
Actually, you seem unable to handle criticism so you turn to an imaginary Steven Matz response to you to avoid it. Not that this should come as surprise. I’ve learned some interesting things about you from just several posts.
catchdogg
@BrodiesHair
That’s not criticism. It’s FACT. Including the fact that you’re a Zero.
BrodiesHairisGreezy!
Then why does your Mother call me Champ?
RUMadd
Earlier this year, I heard a radio interview with Davey Johnson where he kept saying that player makeup (heart, drive, focus, intensity) is more important than talent. I kept thinking he sounded like an old codger who was distorting his experience. But having witnessed the three underachieving amigos of the Mets’ starting pitching staff, Syndegaard, Matz, and Wheeler, I finally realize what he meant. The reason these guys are still maddeningly inconsistent is that they lack the mature focus and intensity needed to compete in the MLB. It is obvious. They are just immature and lacking in the makeup that makes up for true professionals and winners, and that trumps talent every time. If the Mets can get anyone to take these three overage teenagers for decent value in return, I would pounce.
LongTimeFan1
Doesn’t trump talent every time, but good/great mental make-up is important component of success.
Even great players with great mental make-up at times struggle. Baseball is a game of failure.
metsufferer
One question.Can anyone recall seeing Juan Lagares getting a base hit lately?