This season alone, Miami pitcher Jose Fernandez and Cincinnati closer Aroldis Chapman were chosen for the All-Star game, where Oakland outfielder Yoenis Cespedes won the Home Run Derby. Chapman and Cespedes, along with Tampa Bay shortstop Yunel Escobar, Detroit infielder Jose Iglesias, Texas outfielder Leonys Martin and Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig, are playing major roles in their teams' push toward the playoffs. Of those seven, only Escobar is older than 27 or was in the majors before August 2010. - http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-0925-cubans-baseball-20130925,0,2113200.story#axzz2fs7YGorw
Jonathan Papelbon earned his 29th save of the season in the Phillies' 2-1 win over the Marlins on Tuesday. It hasn't been Papelbon's best season, but he's now one save away from recording 30 saves in eight straight seasons. The 32-year-old owns a 2.52 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings this season. Jonathan Papelbon earned his 29th save of the season in the Phillies' 2-1 win over the Marlins on Tuesday. It hasn't been Papelbon's best season, but he's now one save away from recording 30 saves in eight straight seasons. The 32-year-old owns a 2.52 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings this season. http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/mlb/412991/Papelbon-saves-29th-as-Phils-beat-Marlins-2-1?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Daniel Murphy went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run as the Mets beat the Reds 4-2 on Tuesday. Murphy's home run was his 13th of the season, giving him 76 RBI and 92 runs scored. The second baseman is finishing strong, too, as he's batting .303 with 13 RBI and 13 runs scored in September. Murphy has now hit safely in 18 of 23 games this month. http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/mlb/412991/Papelbon-saves-29th-as-Phils-beat-Marlins-2-1?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Even by Mets standards, this has been a weird final month. The return of Wright (and the Mets offense), Murphy's hot streak, the Mets resurgence since Wright returned, the Harvey situation, the very real possibility that the Mets might not have a protected draft pick after all, not to mention the brief, but dramatic re-appearance of Tejada, and seeing names like Dice-K, Harang and Wlifredo Tovar in the starting line-up. As a result of many of these, the stark reality is that the Mets of 2014 may not look much different than the 2013 model. If that is the case, maybe the Mets squeeze out 75-80 victories-once again not bad enough to awful (protected pick in draft) and not talented enough to be good (unprotected pick, but still in the top 12-15).
ReplyDeleteDave:
ReplyDeleteI no longer will root either way for the protected pick. Right now there are 4 teams (including the Mets) that are 72-85. Another is 72-86 and another is 73-84. Who knows where this is going.
The 2014 Mets will not be defined by one FA outfielder.
My hopes is Matt Harvey returns on opening day; however, I want the Mets to continue to firm up their rotation for the rest of the decade. Bronson Arroyo would make a great 2-year commitment while we wait for Noah Syndergaard. It also allows for other Mets pithers (Gee, Montero) to be offered up for positional players.
I'll write more about this tomorrow morning.
Free agency isn't the only way to build this team. They could trade for Dexter Fowler or Alexei Ramirez to fill the leadoff spot. They could trade for Carlos Gonzalez and/or sign Jose Abreu, Nelson Cruz or Jhonny Peralta to add some power to the lineup. They could trade Flores in a swap of prospects for Chris Owings or Michael Choice in order to fill a more pressing hole.
ReplyDeleteAny combination of these guys doesn't include losing a draft pick. Obviously you lose players when you trade but you still keep the draft pick in a described deep draft. Obviously having a protected pick opens the door for Pence, Granderson, Choo, Ellsbury, etc. but there are other players available that could help this team. Murphy & Wright are the only position players to not spend time in AAA this year I believe and they are a 75 win team simply based on their pitching. This month has shown us that if we have enough hitting, we can win the low scoring ball games. Its not crazy to think that this could be a 90 win team with the high-potential starting rotation, hopefully more experienced bullpen and some much needed offense.
Its going to be an interesting offseason nonetheless.
It's just going to be difficult to address all of the team's needs without free agency. The Mets have some valuable pieces they can deal, but not enough to fill all holes. A combo of FA signings and a trade or two would be much easier. I'm still rooting for the protected pick - Add another stud to the system, sign a leadoff hitter, trade for power, and sign whatever FA's are necessary to fill short- term gaps either created by trades or already existing.
ReplyDeleteI'm rooting for them to go big in free agency and leave their pitching in their system. I'm not crazy about signing Arroyo though.
ReplyDeleteThere's a very real chance they won't have Harvey. Now, say what you want about the rest of the staff, it is very good. But there isn't another number one pitcher there unless Wheeler steps up the way Harvey did. That means they need a difference maker in the rotation from outside the organization. Arroyo doesn't fit the bill, he's another number 4/5 starter.
I guess I will address the 'protected pick' once the season is over...
ReplyDeleteYou can't put a worse team on the field and yet they still keep winning
No free agent starters please. OFs, SS and pen pieces. Without Harvey we have a rotation # 2 and 3's w minor league depth, the last thing I want is Arroyo, ll take DiceK on the cheap before spending money on him. The Rockies seem to be one of the teams that have players the Mets could use, seem willing to part with them, and since we already made the McHugh for EY trade there may be hope they could construct a deal, hopefully blockbuster deal. Either way, I don't see Mets signing an A type FA but it would've been nice to finish top(worse) 10 in case opportunity presents itself..
ReplyDelete