Q and A: - Mets Draft Picks

Benjamin Kogel tweeted me after ready my post, “A Vineyard?”:



I couldn’t agree with that article anymore, Harvey might turn out to win a Cy Young or two, but when you have the chance to fill a position for 6+ years you do it.


If the Mets take a pitcher, I would go with Alex Meyer. He’s in the Harvey mold.


I think Susac is the first catcher taken, then Blake Swihart towards the late first round or early sandwich pick.


So, it’s possible that the Mets take Meyer and then Swihart is still there when they pick again at 44.


Or, they could take a catcher at 13 and then possibly Josh Osich is there at 44. We could only speculate, we will just have to wait and see.






Mack:


Benjamin, thank you for taking the time to write out your thoughts. I’ll give you my thoughts on each pick in a few seconds, but the most important thing is the Mets are going to have the opportunity to draft four very good players. That’s how deep this draft is.


Okay, first, the 13th pick.


The important thing is to get by who won’t be around when the pick comes around. Definitely gone are: 3B Anthony Rendon, OF Bubba Starling, RHP Gerrit Cole, LHP Jed Bradley, RHP Dylan Bundy, and RHP Sonny Gray.


That’s six picks with seven more to be picked before the Mets choose.


I believe someone will pick the hottest name this past three weeks, RHP Taylor Guerrieri, I also can’t see either SS Francisco Linder or LHP Danny Hultzen falling to 13.


That makes nine picks, with four more to pick between:


RHPs Taylor Jungmann, Matt Barnes, Archie Bradley, Trevor Bauer, Dillon Howard, John Stilson, Alex Meyer, Anthony Meo, or Jose Fernandez.


Also, LHPs Matt Purke and Daniel Norris, and outfielders George Springer, Jackie Bradley Jr. Josh Bell, and Mikie Mahtook.


Benjamin, I swear to you, there isn’t a bad player on this list. I’m sure some will burn out (they always do) but I trust Sandy & Company to figure out who fits the Mets the best. Remember, these new VPs are draft experts.


I would normally warn against a wounded pitcher like Purke, but everybody is kicking their own ass for passing on Anthony Renaudo last year. I also would like the Mets to pass on Norris because of his lack of height, and I assume the money demands of Archie Bradley eliminates him as an option.


But, I’d be thrilled with any of the names listed above. Thrilled.


Oh yeah, I’d be dancing in the halls if it was either Jungmann, Barnes, or Springer.


Next, the 44th pick.


All the names listed above will be gone. If not, pick whoever is left and start dancing again.


There will be a lot of quality players left on the board when the Mets pick comes up, including most, or all of the catchers available.


One name that should be gone is C.J. Cron, who, due to injuries (sore labrum), wasn’t able to catch this past season. He DH’d and played 1B and has hit the snot off the ball. His injuries will heal and he could return to catching next season. Yes, the Mets don’t need a first baseman, but this Mike Piazza type power.


In one sense, I hope he’s gone so I don’t have to second guess this pick.


Blake Swihart continues to currently project as the first full time catcher to be drafted, but he’s coming straight out of high school, a no-no in drafting catchers.


I’ve studied the scouting reports on all the top ten catchers that are out there and not one of them project as a plus bat, glove, and arm. For all the good in this draft, there are no Yazmani Grandal’s this time around (Do you hear that, Omar?)


No, I’m afraid the Mets should go back to the “best player available” at this point in the draft


Some interesting names that could still be around are: OFs Brian Goodwin, Brandon Nimmo, Alex Dickerson, and Charles Tilson, RHPs Tyler Beede, Michael Kelly, Robert Stephenson, and Jack Armstrong, and LHP Josh Ostich and Ryan Carpenter.


I have a good source when it comes to Oregon State and they tell me to be wary of Ostich. They also say that fellow RHP Sam Gaviglio would be a far better pick.


Also available here should be shortstops Phil Evans and Levi Michael, the same Levi Michael that Peter Gammons says the Mets will pick with the 13th pick.


Me? Well, I would definitely go pitcher with the 13th pick and go local here with St. John’s SS Joe Panik.


2nd Round – 71st pick:


Still some very good players might be around:


RHP Dylan Maples, Nick Burdi, Brian Brickhouse, Joe Ross, OFs Jake Cave, William Flamion, Nick Martini, LHP Andrew Chafin, SS Brad Miller, and 2B Ryan Wright.


Me? I would reach out here and draft Georgia Tech RHP Mark Pope (11-4, 1.77).


3rd Round – 101st pick:


Players that could still be on the board: LHP Grayson Garvin, Phillip Pfeifer, Adam McCreery, Brett Mooneyham, OF Shawon Dunston, Shon Carson, RHP Drew Gagnon, Sam Gaviglio, Noe Ramirez, Deshorn Lake, and Dylan Davis.


I would reach out here and draft USC RHP Austin Wood, who has fallen from grace this year after a bad season (5-6, 5.13). He’s a handful, but could turn out to be the steal of the draft.