As injuries continue to mount on the Mets’ pitching staff — young lefty David Peterson is out up to eight weeks with an oblique strain — acting general manager Zack Scott spoke with reporters about his team’s approach at the trade deadline (links, with video, via MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo and SNY’s Andy Martino). While Scott took a generally open-minded approach, he did acknowledge the opportunity for upgrades in the starting rotation, given the health woes that have plagued the Mets’ staff this year.
“It’s like we’ve gone the reverse of where we were earlier, where we had several position player injuries early,” said Scott. “…I think the same thing could be said, especially for the starting pitchers. There’s uncertainty, so we need to make sure we put our best foot forward there.”
The Mets came to Spring Training with visions of an Opening Day rotation featuring Jacob deGrom, Carlos Carrasco, Marcus Stroman, Taijuan Walker and likely Peterson. In a best-case scenario, rehabbing flamethrower Noah Syndergaard would be back from Tommy John surgery by early summer.
That, of course, hasn’t been the case at all in 2021. Carrasco still hasn’t thrown a pitch thanks to recurring hamstring troubles. The Mets’ current hope is that he’ll return by month’s end, but Carrasco’s timeline has proven to be quite tenuous to this point in the season. Syndergaard, meanwhile, is not expected back until early September. The team’s top depth option, southpaw Joey Lucchesi, will miss the next year-plus due to Tommy John surgery. Right-hander Jordan Yamamoto is on the 60-day IL due to shoulder issues.
Given that context, Scott’s mention of starting pitching upgrades is perfectly sensible. However, Martino reports that the Mets are “reluctant” to move the top-tier talents from their minor league system in trades. That curbs the quality of pitcher the Mets can reasonably hope to acquire. Scott voiced a willingness to acquire rental players, noting that the cost of impending free agents is “most of the time fairly reasonable” due to that lack of club control.
The Mets will surely gauge the price of more controllable arms, but if they’re indeed reluctant to part with their very best prospects, such names will be difficult to obtain. For instance, the New York Post’s Ken Davidoff writes that the Mets have at least gauged the Twins’ asking price on right-hander Jose Berrios but consider it to be “sky-high.” The Mets have also been linked to Minnesota’s Josh Donaldson, so it’s only natural that they’d also see where things stand with Berrios. (Some fans will inevitably speculate about eating the Donaldson contract to get Berrios at a lower prospect cost, but there’d be little sense in the Twins tanking the value of their most appealing trade asset and instead leveraging him to dump the salary of a veteran who is performing quite well.)
A Berrios-caliber arm may be tough for the Mets to line up given their apparent reluctance to deal from the top of the farm, but Scott noted that the brilliant performance of his team’s top three starters also means he doesn’t need to prioritize a top-of-the-rotation arm. “It could be just someone that helps us stabilize things until we get healthier,” he said of a potential rotation acquisition.
Given the performances of deGrom, Stroman and Walker to this point in the season, it’s only natural that the Mets don’t feel pressured to pursue another high-caliber starter. They’ll surely keep themselves informed of the market for such arms. But with deGrom looking once again like the runaway Cy Young favorite and both Stroman (2.59 ERA, 3.64 FIP) and Walker (2.44 ERA, 3.05 FIP) both thriving, there’s an argument that a steady fourth starter — even a rental — is the most logical piece to prioritize for now. Speculatively speaking, available rentals in that mold would include the Twins’ Michael Pineda, the Rockies’ Jon Gray or the Pirates’ Tyler Anderson. D-backs righty Merrill Kelly also fits that general description, and he has an affordable club option for the 2022 campaign as well.
The other NL east teams should just give up tbh
They have. AAA Mets in first, brah.
The Mets are fine with Villar starting at 3B and Guillorme and Peraza backing up JV. McNeil is starting to hit, and will improve even more now that Nimmo is back. Nimmo is the key to the 2021 Mets lineup. Conforto can walk after 2021 as far as I am concerned as no other player except Conforto was out on the IL for 18 months simply by swinging a bat? Keep Nimmo and let Conforto go. The Mets need to sign LSP Mike Clevinger.at the Winter Meetings or at least re-sign Stroman for 2022. This might become moot if they trade for Berrios but I believe he would cost too much in prospects.
Awful take. A 4 game lead up on teams that will be getting guys back from injury. Mets have a hard schedule coming up. Lots of road games in the 2nd half, and they’re a bad road team. Mets are certainly good enough to win the division, and they’re in the driver’s seat, but they’re going to be challenged, likely by the Braves and Nats. Maybe the Phillies and Marlins, but less likely. Also, every team in the NLE may be buying at the deadline. Some should probably sell, but I think they will all buy.
I gotta have a certain amount of support for my fellow Met fans but even calling that post a “take” is being generous.
It’s crazy. Mets have seen a lot over the years. Real Mets fans know better to talk in July. 4 games is nothing. I do think the Mets deserve a lot of credit for holding the division, and they’re certainly my pick to win it at this point, but no one will be shocked if they struggle in the 2nd half. Like I said 4-5 games is nothing. The Mets haven’t had a big run yet. Just some 5-game spurts here and there.
I’d be shocked. They don’t have the wilpons anymore. Ignore everything that happened the last years with them…. They clearly also have the best team and depth. It should be a cake walk in the 2nd half.
As a Braves fan, I’d probably agree the Mets are in the drivers seat this year. Metsfan22 saying everyone else should give up with a 4 game lead and no deals having been made yet is comedy gold though. If someone goes on a tear one month the dynamics could rapidly shift. Whichever team wins, it’ll go down to the wire.
@MetsFan22, you’re also the one who posted that they’d ride roughshod over the rest of the league and were better than even the Dodgers. Few were on board with you then, not many believe the division title is already theirs now.
Bro… I still stand by that. The Mets are 1 in projected war to the IL and the dodgers aren’t even top 5….
You’ve gone from delusional to just trolling now
MF22 would you please stop embarrassing the rest of us?
Nothing ever is a cake walk with the Mets who have not hit except for Nimmo. Get another pitcher because if Carrasco makes it back they are still short a fifth starter. Trade for either Gray, Anderson, or Pineda. A trade of Sanger, and Vientos should get this done. If they add Duplantis or Wagner LaGrange to this trade mix they might even be able to nab Berrios?
VonPurpleHayes
Mets have a hard schedule coming up. Lots of road games in the 2nd half.
===================================================================
That’s a big no. The NYMs have played 36 home games and 45 road games so far. That means they have relatively few road games left.
@JoeBrady My point is, they still have plenty of road games left, something they struggle with. I wasn’t arguing that they have more road than home games.
You’re right, Joe. The Mets have 45 home games left and 36 road games.
@von: In the short term, I will disagree that the Mets have a tough schedule coming up. After their remaining two against the Brewers, they have seven straight against the Pirates, three against the Reds, then the tough Blue Jays, followed by the Braves (could be a tough series) and Reds again. July isn’t particularly difficult on paper. Not a cake walk, but nothing special.
August, however, is brutal. Dodgers for seven games, six against the Giants, plus two series each against the Phillies and Nats. It’s not inconceivable that their lead could swell up to 8 or so games, only to get erased down the stretch.
That doesn’t really matter. ‘Plenty’ is a relative term. Having more home games left than road games, is almost always a positive for a team.
Looking at the math, they are playing .543 (H=.694, A=.422). If your assumption is that the NYMs will continue to play the same at home and on the road, then in the 2nd half, they will play .573, which is 30 points higher than they are currently playing.
There is no way around playing at home more often, not being an advantage.
Everybody has plenty of road games left. Most have more than the Mets.
That brutal August is exactly what I was alluding to. It’s going to be a very rough stretch. Mets haven’t played a lot of teams that are currently over the .500 mark. Mets sit at 7-9 currently. August is the real test. Not to mention the remaining division games. You have to like where the Mets are sitting now, but it’s not going to be easy IMO.
@ RCT – Don’t discount the Reds. Their starting pitching has been great of late and they have some beasts on offense too. The key to beating the Reds is getting to their bullpen early but that’s no guarantee with the way Reds starters have been pitching as of late. They could easily finish 3-3 vs. the Reds if not worse; depends on deGrom’s schedule.
If the Mets can split with the stronger teams, their destiny is in their own hands. To date, they have handled the better teams. Having deGrom, Stroman and Walker gives them a fighting chance against ANY team.
To date, the change in hitting coaches really hasn’t changed much. McNeil is still ice cold. Lindor is still around .220, but seeing some more line drives. Nimmo needs to keep himself on the field. Pete needs to even put his home/away splits – positively. Conforto needs a hot streak. McCann has been solid as has Pillar and Dom looks like he’s starting to regain his timing.
The Mets routinely fail to score in the first 6 innings – how exactly ARE the hitting coaches prepping this team?
@von. I imagine EVERY team in the East has a tough month scheduled at some point in the second half. So what other team has better pitching in the East? Phils and Marlins are pretty much right where they were expected to be. Nats and Braves both have their weaknesses.
Maybe the difference is in the bullpens. Advantage to the Mets again as long as Rojas manages it properly and the FO finds another arm or two for him.
I don’t think any team in the NLE is better than the Mets and never meant to imply otherwise. I will say that otger teams in the division have already played more against the NLW. The Mets have a lot of those games bunched up in one tough month. That’s the tough schedule I keep alluding to.
@von. “…bad road team…”. Except that Alonso has been terrible at home and his typical beastly self away.
Mets need two healthy starter if pitchers. I say two because that way Rojas can reduce innings and starts on deGrom, Walker and Stroman without these bullpen games. Two additional starters eliminate a lot of unnecessary bullpen innings. It’s just not fathomable to think Lugo, Castro, May, Loup and Smith can continue to pitch 4-5 times per week.
As guys like Familia, Gsellman, Reid-Foley, Smith and 20 other relievers come and go with various injuries and demotions, wouldn’t it be better to just go with a healthy 6 man rotation and schedule piggy backed multiple inning relief efforts? That’s gotta be better than having bullpen games where you use 7 relievers and then unexpectedly need them a day later and then scratch your head the day after that when no one is available.
It’s a general flaw in the game today with nobody going more than 6 innings anymore.
You have zero credibility ! Talked all kinds of crap about the Mets well before the season started. How’s the McCann signing looking ? Check the stats on him and Realamuto
What a clown
@chriscala
Are you including in that comparison the money that was saved from not signing Realmuto at that deal vs McCann such as Walker? I mean personally i would rather take Walker and McCann + 3M to use elsewhere right now than just Realmuto. Just my opinion on it.
Flyby, the Mets clearly did themselves well by passing in Realmuto in order to better spread the money around, as you point out. But, some fans understand nothing beyond big names, big contracts, free agent rankings and Boras propaganda. McCann plus Walker was a much better plan than obsessing over Realmuto.
Hey Chriscala, I DID check out the stats… JT is exactly one theoretical win above replacement better than McCann. Big whoop. Mets off season moves have them in first place, so…
That assumes the only 2 catchers the Mets could gave gotten are JT and McCann. For what McCann has given them so far, they could’ve saved even more money on a cheaper catcher.
You know every team plays 1/2 their games on the road, right? To this point, the Mets have played 7 more games on the road and therefore have 7 more home games than road games remaining as of today (43 vs. 36). Home win % has been .684, so they’re in the driver’s seat on their division if they keep that up, even if they remain equally awful on the road.
The Mets have a 4 game lead, and you are talking like it’s 14. Lol. DeGrom or Stroman go down and your team is sunk, dude. They get swept once by the Nats, Braves or Phils and that lead is razor thin. I mean there’s fandom, and then there is delusion.
Anything can happen to any team, but right now, the Mets are in control. They have 10 more home games than either the Nats or Atlanta. They just returned Nimmo, Conforto and McNeil from the IL. They have the best rotation in the division.
While any division leader could collapse, the NYMs are clear favorites over anyone else in the division.
@JoeBrady Look at what you just posted. Everything in this post makes perfect sense. No one could sensibly argue this. I agree completely. Now compare this to MetsFan22’s post. That’s what sparks reaction.
@appalachian. EVERY team would be in trouble if they lost any of their top 3 starting pitchers except that no team in the East HAS the Mets starting 3 statistically currently pitching.
Mets have to:
1 survive the season
2 have their top three healthy in September
3 keep Diaz out of non-save games
4 stop using their primary relievers in “getting their work in” situations.
5 better schedule their multi inning relievers to give Lugo, May, Loup and Diaz time off.
6 let their starters work on their SCHEDULED days and schedule a guy who can go 30-40 pitches/once through the lineup, first out of the pen.
We just shouldn’t need 6 pitchers in a 9 inning game (or 5 in 7) when one of our top three start. Those need to be 4 pitcher games. Starter/long relief/set up/closer. Whoever pitches gets the next day off except for Diaz.
Jim Stem
in an ideal world that would happen but there is a thing you have to account for called reality where there are double headers, injuries, reshuffling lineups, starters having a bad day, etc etc,
The mets seem to have double headers every week. i think there was a stretch where they played 10 games in 8 days so how do you “let their starters work on their SCHEDULED days and schedule a guy who can go 30-40 pitches/once through the lineup, first out of the pen.”?
Also i agree 100% on diaz working non-save situations but how many days do you give him? He wasnt needed for about a week before he was used last time? Do you want him coming into a save situation having not pitched in over a week? I think for a non-long reliever ideally you want them out there atleast once every 3 days or so to keep them sharp. but considering you currently have McGill as your 4th starting pitcher you will most likely need a ton of arms for that 5th day as i dont think there is any more depth until one of the guys come back from injury which i think SRF is closest and he is swing man/long reliever which is at best 2x through the lineup so out after 4-5 innings is best you can hope for.
Sadly this is not MLB the show where you can just hit reset everytime something isnt going the ideal way and redo it until it does.
I like Metsfan22s clearly unbiased hot takes. It’s almost trolling but it’s not its fun.
@Joel Peterson Just like you making disparaging remarks in the AZ GM’s wife’s cancer post and then double-downing after being called out. You’re both embarrassing.
You’re right – signed, 2007 Mets
I normally love all fellow Mets fans, but you make us sound like a bunch of uneducated dummies
Mets would 7.5 games out if they played in the NL West. Hardly dominating.
The 2006 Cardinals were 83-78 in regular season and won the World Series in five games.
Yup…The one exception in 100 years does not change the fact that the Mets would not be a playoff team in the NL West.
@ashamed. There is one problem with your theory: Mets have have handled the West teams so far.
I have no idea how the Giants have managed to win so many, but it’s doubtful they can maintain. Dodgers and Padres have great teams. But good pitching beats good hitting. How did the Padres do against the Mets pitching?
When you see McNeil, Smith and McCann hitting 6, 7, 8 in some combination, that’s going to wear down any staff. Remember, if the Mets play only .500 ball in the second half, they will have be around 90 wins. If they make the post season, deGrom, Stroman and Walker can stack up with anything the Dodgers, Padres and Giants put out there. Those will all be 4-2 games one way or the other.
@jim Mets have handled the Padres in a series where both teams were severely injured. They have yet to play the Dodgers or Giants. So saying they handled the West seems silly to me.
I come here to get away from the negative dopes on the Mets sites who the team is terrible and the’ greatest needs are a centerfielder and a third baseman, regardless of the cost, because big market teams with rich owners always make moves for today and use money to cover for trading away the their prospects, even though their real issues are a lack of starting depth and the fact that guys you shouldn’t bench have been hurt and have not hit well for much of the season. And, now I have to deal with MetsFan22’s nonsense. There is no place for a reasonable discussion of the Mets.
You just summed up the Yankees approach perfectly!
I hope the MLB playoffs don’t end up looking like the NBA playoffs with all the injuries. But pretty sure that’s gonna happen….
Well, the Twins do have some recent history of giving up talent to save cash. The Phil Hughes trade to San Diego where the Twins threw in a draft pick so they could save a couple million on Hughes contract so I certainly wouldn’t put it past the front office to give away talent for a little cash savings now, even if it sounds absurd.
Your crazy. Not this year, my friend. Berries will cost a Top ten pitching prospect mlb ready. AAA infielder for starters. It will probable cost another top A+ pitching prospect as well
Donaldson. Probably a AA prospect would get it done. Or no deal
I doubt you get anything back for Donaldson. He’s owed ~ $60M/3 for 2022-24, has one healthy season in the past five years, and is currently hurting.
A big difference between a Hughes who wasn’t up to par in terms of being a major league caliber pitcher and Donaldson
The Mets should be targeting a player like Pineda. they just need innings, don’t think anyone available is starting a playoff game for them.
Itwill be great when the Nationals win the division and the Muts finish behind the braves and phillies.Could not happen to a better team.Typical Muts
Thanks for playing, Bob. Please enjoy one of our consolation prizes.
The Nationals don’t have the offensive depth or pitching to win the division.
How do you know that.?
lol, Nats aren’t winning anything. The only reason they’re not in fourth place right now is that Schwarber went on an historic home run tear, and now he’s hurt. Their rotation is awful.
Phils and Braves are much more likely to overtake the Mets. The Braves have underperformed in a big way and yet… they’re only 4.5 games out.
I didn’t think the Mets had much quality on the farm.
Low minors is pretty good.
Their soy beans are fantastic this year. 😉
Whatever they do they shouldn’t give up quality prospects to land Bryant for a half season. And if the sign him next year it’ll be the last(ish) move they’ll be able to make cuz it’s gonna come close to breaking the budget. I know the average fan thinks “big names with big contracts win win” but it’s really the smart teams that make less “obvious” moves that succeed. Of course if signing Bryant means Cano isn’t in the starting lineup next year, that’s a plus.
Extremely doubtful that they keep Cano around no matter who they sign.
Uh, where’s Cano going to go? He’s under contract for two more years. He’s here to stay.
Really? I’m not so sure they just release him but it’s possible and probably the best thing to do.
Cosmo2 you are right just release cano and eat the rest! 🙂
I cannot imagine a scenario where Cano just gets released. Why wouldn’t they play him first to start next year? If he’s terrible, then yeah, you re-evaluate and potentially release him.
He hit very well down the stretch in 2019 and was potentially their best hitter in last year’s COVID-shortened season. You can argue that whatever substances he was using helped those numbers, but you’re paying him a ton of money either way, so you run him out there next year and see what you have.
Because they have better options. You COULD play an aging Cano at second, then McNeil to third and Dom or Pete DH. Davis to bench I guess? But Cano’s latest success was quickly followed by getting popped for PEDs so I wouldn’t count on much production. Could be a decent bench bat maybe but they’ve better starting options and could add more.
I think outright releasing him would be a mistake. Even if you eat majority of contract a team will be willing to take on his bat (ala odor) and you get a mil or two saved and maybe some long shot prospects / filler for the minors rather that just paying out a huge dollar for nothing.
Worst case maybe he is foolish enough and gets the 3rd ban and they dont pay anything or he has the phantom injury and he gets paid through insurance instead of the team.
“He hit very well down the stretch in 2019” because he was cheating. There’s no reason to think Cano wasn’t cheating his entire career. He’s been caught twice now. He’s a huge question mark at this point. I would not be shocked if the Mets cut him and eat his contract.
Some interesting names there. I’d have to assume that Berrios is unobtainable.
I still don’t get why everyone thinks Berrios is so great. I get that he’s young and that has value but…
*With an extra year of team control equals a pretty guaranteed compensatory draft pick if you can’t sign him.
*Totally reliable workhorse.
*Just turned 27 so he’ll remain in his prime next year.
*Cheap $6.1MM this year, will remain way under value next year..
*Upper rotation arm (a guy you start in the playoffs)
*After his 2016 rookie campaign, he’s accumulated 12.9 fWAR (18th best pitcher in MLB and tied with Stephen Strasburg)
Those are probably some of the reasons…
Ah, yes. The money. I forgot the money…. The low price tag does make him more valuable. I see him as a middle rotation guy with a bit higher ceiling. Smack in the middle of his prime. Valuable. But once you add in the low cost I guess I see the hubbub. I just don’t see him as an ace, but what do I know?
Nobody’s saying he’s as good as DeGrom, Buehler, etc. But he’s #3 in a good rotation, #2 in a decent one.
I say go for Berrios; take Donaldson and be done with it.
Davis at third has never really impressed me; defense is horrible and Davis is serviceable at best; trade Davis after you pick up Donaldson.
If they don’t buy then they should sell. Walk middle and squish like grape!
Sorry, but I don’t see anything in that post actually happening.
…Except maybe a grape getting squished
Depends which way the Twins go. Some fans think they can regroup for next year, since this year’s version is essentially the same roster that took the division that last two years. Others think they should have a mini-rebuild and target 2023. If they go the latter route, Berrios becomes available, but won’t be cheap.
With the rental notion that was hinted at throughout this article, I can see Jon Gray being of serious consideration to the Mets at the deadline.
I’ve been wondering if Peterson as a PTBNL with a Vientos and a 10-15 guy would get the Twins to consider Berrios. He has had ML success and is cheap and controlled longer
Between the mets and the blue Jays this years trade deadline looks like it has the potential to be one of the more exciting ones In recent memory.
Jose Urena would likely cost a low level or mid level lottery ticket. Make an offer for Dustin Hermanson @ Toledo. Healthy bodies that can give innings. Detroit is hoping to get Turnbull, Boyd, and possibly Tehran back in next month. With Mize, Skubal, and Peralta pitching well, and Manning being given innings, they may soon have a surplus ( knock on wood).
It seems like the Mets will acquire Grey and Donaldson. Wish it was Bryant.
What makes you say that?
Just strong rumours.
Never believe the rumors around the Mets. They’re constant and 99% wrong.
He is hearing voices…
Lol. That’s a mighty big leap, and some huge adds.
Looking at the presumptive trade market, I don’t see a position player who is a must have for the Mets. This could get me pushback from the more overly optimistic side of the fanbase, but I don’t see them as one bat away from being a World Series team, which would be the main argument in favor of trading for Bryant. I wouldn’t be opposed to getting Donaldson or Bryant (as I’m not a fan of Davis as the starter and I don’t consider Guillorme or Villar anything more than bench players) but neither player really moves the dial that much either.
Really, I expect them to focus on pitching and hold out for McNeil and Conforto to get going.
I pretty much agree with all this.
Berrios would cost them Baty plus they are not doing that.
Mets are kidding themselves if they think a back end SP is sufficient. Mauricio is essentially blocked by Lindor and McNeil. I’d be targeting a controllable arm that will give them ma shot in the postseason and is there next year. Stroman can walk and I’m not a believer in his durability year to year. Thor has to be viewed as a late inning arm for the stretch run. Look at it this way, whatever SP they are looking at, you have to be comfortable with that guy facing the Dodgers in postseason. If not, that’s not the guy. Tyler Anderson smells of batting practice.. Fact is the arms that would make a difference are on contenders and/or not rentals. So Mets would be wise to explore the Berrios’ of SP.
Whoever they acquire doesn’t have to face the Dodgers in the postseason. The Mets likely go with a three-man rotation in the playoffs.
The Mets need an arm or two to help get them to the postseason. Once they are there they can see how they go about lining up against the Dodgers. Sure they should aim high and try to get someone that can help not just this season but if that deal is not out there or the asking price is just too high then you move on to the next tier until something works out. The approach can’t he front end starter or nothing.
Gray is a lot better than the other guys mentioned. And the Mets aren’t getting him for a package of C level dregs from a weak farm. The competition will be too fierce.
I’m honestly not sure it will be as fierce as in recent years. Some FO’s are taking a wait-and-see approach in regards to the foreign substances crackdown. Maybe they feel comfortable trading for these guys by then, but some may be scared away by injury concerns or drop in spin rates, even if those drops don’t immediately correlate to on-field results.
The entire Pirates pitching staff is available.
Considering that only two of their starters are anywhere near even league-average, that’s not surprising. If Tyler Anderson could be had for very cheap, he’d fit in, though.
I would like to see if the Mets could get Steven Brault from the Pirates. I know hes been injured and im pretty sure its his last year of control so he probably wouldnt cost much.
Edit: I was mistaken, not a free agent till 2024
Mets fans covet the players and prospects like no other fan base in baseball. Reminds of the “da bears” snl skit
Angels can offer you a nice and shiny Heaney or Bundy 😉
On a more serious note I know he’s not top end, but Alex Cobb has been pitching really well and could be an interesting get.
Neither of them are nice or shiny.
The only team that cares about winning in the East is the Mets. Standings speak for themselves.
If the Braves cared, they would have already improved the bullpen and switched the lineup order around.
I’m sure you’ve won numerous World Series titles as a GM on MLB The Show.
That said, it takes two teams to make a deal. Real GMs can’t just hit the “force trade” button. Teams with pen help to deal aren’t going to make a deal in June. They’re going to try to get the most suitors involved.
And, no, the Braves shouldn’t change the lineup because you have an irrational dislike of Acuna Jr.
Please go root for the Mets, though. Please!
It goes beyond Acuna, who happens to prove he is overrated every night. Riley needs to be traded.
I thought your first post was crazy but Acuna overrated? Complete nonsense.
I’m convinced most of you don’t watch the Braves but instead google stats. His production after his excellent first 2-3 weeks has slowed down below “superstar” standards. How many times must you guys watch him fail when the team needs a big hit? His useless solo homers are not helping this team. He needs to be hitting 3rd in the lineup to get more opportunities.
A superstar can carry an offense and gets the big hits when the team needs em. He is nothing more than an above-average player whom I believe already reached his ceiling.
What?! So don’t look at his stats, and point solely to the times he “failed”? You do realize baseball is a sport where success is “failing” seven out of every ten times, right?
Last I checked those “useless” solo homeruns still went up on the scoreboard.
He’s comfortable at leadoff, you leave him leading off. It’s that easy. Plus unless you get no-hit, no one gets more opportunities than the lead-off man to hit. That’s really what matters
It doesn’t matter what he likes. The team is not hitting and needs to make changes till they decide to acquire a B- player because they have no good prospects left.
You think Freeman liked playing third base?
I think you’re very much alone on the whole “Acuna is no good” thing. And the whole “big hits” thing… do we need to re-hash why and how players do not have power over when and where they get their big hits? Ah, the myth of “clutch”; how many it has made seem foolish.
Acuna is no Lindor that’s for sure.
@OUTLAW Im with you PLEASE!!!
Or signed Madison Bumgarner
I watched the entire discussion yesterday and can’t believe the author of this post came to these conclusions. Scott did not say anything at all close to this.
A work of fiction.
gotta look at German Marquez with COL – they aren’t going anywhere for a while and yes he is controllable and won’t be cheap. – but whoever said titles were cheap? He’s signed thru 2023 dirt cheap.
I think that’s aiming way too high, but why not? Reach for the stars.
Just sign Big Sexy already
Kyle Davies fits their requirements. He is only good twice through a lineup but he’d be a change of pace between deGrom and Walker, and would probably only cost an A-ball starter.
The Mets front office should call the Cubs front office. It can possibly be one stop shopping for some pretty good rentals. Need another starter who’s a playoff tested veteran? How about Zach Davies. Some relievers? Ryan Tepera, Brad Weick, Rex Brothers, Andrew Chafin. Maybe Kimbrel? But he has an option for 2022. How about a 3rd baseman/outfielder/1st baseman in Kris Bryant? Another outfielder? Well there’s Joc Peterson. See, just like shopping at your local megamart.
Merrill Kelly is maybe the most underrated player on the trade bait list this deadline. Before he was mentioned in this article I don’t think I heard his name being talked about at all when it came to trade talks. He’s got solid numbers this year, with a 4.67 ERA and a 4.02 FIP, and he’s been dealing lately. He had great naumbers last year before his injury, and he’s under club control for the next 4 years at a very affordable rate.
Danny Duffy would be perfect – walk year, having an excellent season. KC has no shot at the playoffs and would be thrilled to save the $7mm or so left on his deal.
Austidillo, Pineda, Donaldson and/or Rogers could go to the Mets in some combination. I would have to believe either Davis or possibly even McNeil along with Peterson or Oswalt could go the other way with low level prospects.
Megill has looked pretty good so far, but has no history of going more than 5 innings. I highly doubt any starting pitcher who is healthy gets moved from the Mets 40 msn roster. Syndergaard, McNeil going to the Twins for Donaldson and Pineda does make some sense. Peraza and Villar can both handle 2b.
Why would the Twins have any interest in Syndergaard?
Really makes no sense for either team
Moving McNeil would be asinine for the Mets. He is cheap, highly productive (admittedly w. a down 2021 coming off of injury), and a good clubhouse guy. I don’t want the Mets to go after a 3B when they have serviceable options (Guillorme + Davis / Villar).
The Mets need more arms, preferably at least 1 starter and 1 reliever. The rub is they want to hold onto their top 1-4 prospects and trading from the 40man could be tough with all of their injuries, so that will limit them to a backend starter and/or 7th arm instead of a #2-#3 and/or 8th/Closer from the pen. I can see them taking back a bad contract to reduce the prospect cost. Moving quality pieces (which would be needed for a guy like Bryant) is a waste of talent because he’s a rental. Great season, but still a rental. I can see them making a run for him in the off-season though, even with a few of their guys needing extensions.
Royals have rotation arms they could move too. Jon Gray from the Rockies. Texas?
As a Twins fan, I don’t get the love affair with Berrios. Is he good? Yes. Is he frustrating? Even more so. He has great stuff but he rarely can make it to the 6th inning due to pitch count. Every year it seems he falters later in the season with a dead arm. That being said I hope we get some quality prospects for him. Maybe he just needs a change of scenery and different coaching to put him over the top.
Zach Davies is available.
Mets Don’t Need a 3B .. Villar/Guillorme give Them Excellent Defense & They Both get on Base. They Need another Starter & maybe another Relief Pitcher: Castro is Totally GASSED.