The first season of the union between the Mets and infielder Jed Lowrie couldn’t have gone much worse. Signed to a two-year, $20MM contract after back-to-back terrific seasons with the Athletics, Lowrie appeared in just nine games in 2019 while battling multiple leg injuries. There’s at least some that hope he’ll be able to contribute in the second season of his deal, though.
Lowrie’s wearing a leg brace at the outset of spring training, but he’s facing “no limitation” and “is full go in practice,” according to manager Luis Rojas (via Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News). However, there still isn’t a timeline for when he’ll be able to participate in regular-season games.
Even if Lowrie does wind up healthy enough to take the field for a sizable portion of 2020, it’s unclear how much playing time he’ll receive. The switch-hitting 35-year-old has spent most of his career in the middle infield, but the Mets already have second baseman Robinson Cano and shortstop Amed Rosario as up-the-middle starters. Likewise, Lowrie won’t get much of any time at first base because of the presence of Pete Alonso. He does have over 1,000 innings of major league experience at third, but the Mets have Jeff McNeil there, and they’re not giving up on J.D. Davis as an option at the hot corner.
andrewgauldin
They need to trade Dom Smith
8
no
ctyank7
Why not? The Mets have too many corner (3B/1B or LF/RF) guys that clog even a 26 man roster.
looiebelongsinthehall
Depends on the return. They can send him back to AAA to improve his defense in the outfield to make himself more valuable. I’m just not sure there’s a good market for him given last year most hitters were aided by the ball.
whynot 2
They don’t need to trade him, he don’t cost them anything and based on last year should provide a solid back up option at first in case of injury. Would he get them the best return if the right move came along, that is a different story.
wedgeant27
Dom has options. He’s likely the Syracuse 1B this year and the DH next year.
findingnimmo
Keep dom and see what holes pop up come summer and then figure it out from there. No need to trade him now. See how the roster plays out the first half of the year. He is a good chip to hold, but no need to waste it now.
of9376
Considering he was a tremendous pinch hitter I highly doubt that. He’s a better option than Lowrie at this point.
Murphi Kennedy
You will be treated as soon as he proves he’s healthy enough to take the field my guess is back to the Athletics
Murphi Kennedy
You will be treated as soon as he proves he’s healthy enough to take the field my guess is back to the Athletics
looiebelongsinthehall
A lot depends on health. Not only him but also Cano. The Mets would have to pay a large portion of his contract in any likely trade so why not keep him as insurance for Cano?
Jonas Altman-Kurosaki
Usually people are treated when they aren’t healthy.
Moneyballer
So he’s going to play the super-utility role for $10 million bucks?! Nice going Mets! And they wonder why they always fall short. Misuse of players, funds is their modus operandi.
coolwinnebago
$10M for a super UT isn’t a bad price at all…
MarlinsFanBase
Super Utility? I thought this article was about Jed Lowrie. Who’s the Super Utility player that’s being discussed? Whoever that Super Utility is, it’s a shame that Lowrie is making as much money as him. When did the Mets get a Super Utlity guy? I missed that move.
Kevin Michael Farrell
It is considering they already had a guy named Wilmer Flores that filled that role as good as any Mets player ever has, that wanted to be here and mostly everybody loved, and they dropped him like a hot potato.
He is now making 3Mil this year, 3 mil next year, and 3.5 mil in 2022 for The Giants which is less money over 3 seasons of “Production” than Lowrie will make in one season sitting at home watching from his tv (If he even cares enough to keep in the loop)!
WHY did they even sign him in the first place? He wasnt necessary and was never “That good”!
bobo5555
Super utility? He can barely play second base, he had a negative defensive war even previous to being old and injured constantly.
MarlinsFanBase
Exactly. It’s such a poor assessment to label him as a Super Utility guy that both analytics and the eyeball test say it’s not even close.
DarkSide830
actually it could have gone worse. he could have been on the field producing Chris Davis numbers and then re-injuring himself to the point of missing the 2020 season.
MarlinsFanBase
Actually, even worse than that, he could be healthy both years and hit like Chris Davis, then insurance doesn’t pay for anything.
jetup12
Why trade Smith unless you can get something significant in return? He was solid until his injury and then proved to be a great teammate. He makes minimum money. The guys on the team seem to love him.
JoeBrady
Dom Smith + Lowrie + Familia to PT for nothing back.
angt222
Trade Lowrie to Colorado for LHP Jake McGee
Jonas Altman-Kurosaki
Just make sure you turn fair trades off first before you propose the deal
sherlock_
Imagine if Mets signed LeMahieu instead
maxorange33
Lowrie, one of the famous ASStros cheaters. After beating the Yanks he is being interviewed in the celebratory dressing room shirtless and there is piece of tape still in his left upper chest/shoulder area.
5TUNT1N
Are you thinking of Reddick? Another ex Athletic that shifted to Houston? Because Lowrie only played like 70 games for Houston back in 15, you may need to take a deep breathe and check your facts.
findingnimmo
And it wasn’t tape it was confetti
frijolhead
Lowrie wasn’t even on the astros in 2017.
jonnymac2for1
BVW is great for the NL East. Worst GM in baseball. He tries to be different. Trading away blue chip prospects and taking on salary of a guy over the hill….. and with past PED violations. Just terrible.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Not a Mets fan. Sure it was bad start for him but he’s only been on the job for one year. Diaz is totally redeemable. I’d give him a longer leash considering the clowns he works for. The Beltran fire was unforseeable. Bringing in a new GM does nothing. To BWV’s credit, he’s handled the press quite well.
findingnimmo
Trade was also for Diaz. Who was the best reliever the year before with three years control. And they dumped salary and roster spots in the trade too. Plus, did u forget Davis, alonso being called up, Degrom extension. Those get swept under a rug because of one deal which we still don’t know the outcome? Prospects are prospects till they are pros. And then it’s still a question if it’s all star pro or backup pro. We won’t know the full story of this trade for three years at least. Yes cano money is a hit but will u be crying for bvw’s head if cano hits .280 with 20hr and 85 rbi? See what happens year two and see what happens with the prospects down the road.
parkers
Great take findingnimmo. Set lineup, Ben Zobrist type in McNeil, great bench, added depth if Cespedes and Lowrie make it back,great bull pen if Diaz and Betances duplicate the back of their baseball card. 9 game improvement from 2018 to 2019.
What is it exactly that makes BVW so bad a GM?