Mack and Company on... Rebuidling

Mack:

Ya know, I'm all in on this rebuilding stuff and I'm over the fact that Jose and David won't be around to benefit from this process, but I've always been a "pick up the ball and run with it" kind of person. People like me don't jicky-jack about decisions like this. We want all the players that aren't part of the plan to exit and be replaced with prospects that will fit the new plan.

I'm on the record about my thoughts on David Wright, D.J. Carassco, and R.A. Dickey.

Let me ask you a question.

Let's assume that Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler are the real deal and both develop into the SP1 and SP2 of the future Mets rotation from 2014-2018

The Mets have a dozen other prospect pitchers that could rise to a solid major league SP3, but...

What if you could get Drew Pomeranz right now for either Wright or Dickey?

Do you realize how much the future changes for this team with three all-star SPs?

Charles Thompson

Its actually the easiest pitch ever thrown my way...if the Mets could.get Drew Pomeranz or another pitcher of his caliber that's so close to the majors in a trade, then Wright, Dickey, and anyone else that isn't included in the Mets' future plans would have to be dealt for that to happen. Thing is, they must play some great ball for that to happen.

Christopher Soto

If Wright comes out firing in 2012 then He can be used to possibly draw Pomeranz away . If thats the case then the Mets would have one of the top rotations for 4 years at minimum (assuming it takes 2 years for them to settle in at full potential).

However, I personally feel you are overvaluing Dickey. While he is extremely valuable, his attractiveness with other clubs probably would barely get a mid level prospect at best. While he is performing great the simple fact is that he is 36 years old and knuckleball pitchers can have wild swings in effectiveness based on the conditions of the place he's pitching. I would think Denver would be an AWFUL place for a knuckleballer due to the odd weather conditions associated with being a mile high in the sky.

As for Carrasco, I dont even think a team would pick him up on a waiver claim at this point talk about a bust.

David Groveman:

Do I trade David Wright or R.A. Dickey?

Loaded question and here is why. Trading them... for a package of players including Drew Pomeranz is hardly a bad idea. However I could not do it at all unless I filled other gaps in my minors by including Nolan Arenado and Wilin Rosario. Do I think the Mets could ask for that much? Sure. Would they get it? Who knows.

Assuming the Rockies like that swap. The Wilpons now have no major draw for the fans. Sure... the hardcore fans might laud Alderson for the savvy move of trading for a solid foundation in 2013 but 2012 would be a joke squad where we'd be starting 3 of: Daniel Murphy, Ruben Tejada, Zack Lutz, Jordany Valdespin and Reese Havens. That means the revenue dwindles further and the Wilpons who I'm guessing have NO money making parts of their business right now, are forced to cut the budget further and further.

Would I be excited at the prospect of starting 2013 with?:

Matt Harvey
Zack Wheeler
Jenrry Mejia
Jeurys Familia
Drew Pomeranz
Jon Niese
Ike Davis
Lucas Duda
Reese Havens
Nolan Arenado
Wilin Rosario
and Matt Den Dekker

Sure! Would every Met fan? NO WAY!

Stephen Guilbert

I agree with Chris regarding Carrasco. I also agree that Dickey is
more valuable to the Mets than any other team. Past his unquantifiable
"intangibles" as a fan favorite and leader, he's a darn good pitcher
and there's no reason he couldn't be penciled in to that future
rotation as a very good #5.

Now in regards to Wright-to-the-rockies, i have gone on record in
saying that if Arenado and/or Pomeranz are included, you have to go
for it. Throw in a lower-level prospect and get both. I love David
Wright and, of course, I would love to see the Mets lock him up long
term but there are some offers you just cannot refuse. If the Rockies
come to the Mets with Wright and Flores for Arenado, Pomeranz, and
Brothers, it gets my vote.

Without an offer of that magnitude, I see no reason not to commit to
David as a cornerstone of this team, sign him to a long-term
extension, and keep him as the de facto leader and star third-baseman
he is.

Jack Flynn


The only shred of dignity left for the Mets to cling to is David Wright.

He is the one player still on the roster to build an advertising campaign around without being laughed off Madison Avenue. He is the one player still on the roster whose jersey you can sell in the team store without drawing derisive snickers from opposing fans. He's the only position player left from the 2006 season, the last time Mets fans could hold their head high when talking about the boys from Queens.

Drew Pomeranz has star potential. He has the chance to be a solid member of a major league rotation for the next 10 years. He might end up being even better than that. One day he might be the focus of an ad campaign. One day his jerseys might sell out in the team store. One day he may be on a team that runs roughshod over its division and finishes one hit away from the World Series.

One day he might also be Bill Pulsipher.

The Mets have enough lottery tickets, both at Citi Field and spread throughout their farm system. David Wright isn't a lottery ticket. He's a blue-chip stock that, although his returns took a dive in the last year or so, is still paying dividends for the Mets. He may be the only blue-chip stock they have left. For a team that has gotten into so much trouble for speculating on the future, it's time to draw the line here.



Conrad Youngren

If DW is to go to the Rockies it has got to be for Pomeranz +. For the “+” to be significant (Rosario, Arenado,…Bettis?), it probably has to be Wright + on the Met’s end.

If you’re suggesting Wright AND Dickey to COL, I want Pomeranz, Rosario & Bettis (OK, I’ll settle for OF Tim Wheeler if I can’t get Bettis).

I could more than live with Murph at 3B temporarily and Turner initially (with Valdespin/Havens sooner than later) at 2B for a future Harvey, Pomeranz, Wheeler, Neise, Familia rotation—I think that’s your point.

I do have agita with the “shopping Wright” -- to see what you can get -- philosophy, I suppose this happens all the time, but I’d prefer targeting an acquisition and be willing to pay the Wright price rather than the other way around.

Mike Friere

Amen, Mack! I also believe that you either rebuild or you don't. I don't like "half assed" efforts to do anything of importance, in any walk of life.

With that said, I think the Mets should make every effort to get better "tomorrow". Each transaction should be for the future goal, not necessarily for the present, unless it benefits both time frames.

As far as David Wright is concerned, if dealing him fits that profile, then so be it. Drew Pomeranz would be a great addition to the future staff and he is the kind of talent that would make dealing David less painful. I don't see R.A. Dickey bringing back enough talent to justify moving him. In other words, he is more valuable to us then what we could get for him, IMO.

At the end of the day, you either win a championship, or you don't. Is there really any difference winning 65 or 75 games? No one cares who looked good while losing.........and if you are going to lose, you might as well try and maximize your future chances to win a title while doing it.

David Rubin

Mack, I'm in the process of writing a post on this very topic, as you know, but let's face facts - the team IS rebuilding. We are NOT going to be relevant in any race that counts this year, except for the race for a top draft pick. That, to me, is rebuilding, whatever form of denial the team chooses to take, but that's the bottom line!