The New York Mets put a
claimer waiver on another best-buddy Pirates player, RHRP Ryan Reid.
As I have said over the
years, you can only judge your picks ups vs. the players they would replace.
He’s a long term minor
league pitcher with a career (8-yrs) 9.02 K/9 and 3.67 BB/. His small MLB line
(7-appearance in 2013) is impressive.
Overnight, he becomes
competition for Josh Edgin (2-yr MLB: 8.8 K/9
and 3.77 BB/9) and Scott Rice (13-yr MiLB – 6.51
K/9) and 4.29 BB/9.
You have to love the
fact that ther will be three LHRP in ST to compete for the two slots opened.
Most impressive here
was the 2013 major league stat line for a pennant contender (28-yrs old, 0-0,
1.64, 1.09, 11-IP,7-K,3-BB,) An excellent low risk pick
Anthony DiComo -
.These aren't your grandfather's Mets, your father's Mets or even your older brother's. No, the 2014 Mets already have an identity all their own, for better or for worse.
Fans of the 2013 edition may hardly even recognize this year's team, which will mix big-ticket free agents such as Curtis Granderson, Chris Young and Bartolo Colon with a host of other newcomers. Matt Harvey will not play at all as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery. But Zack Wheeler and Travis d'Arnaud expect to log full seasons in the big leagues, while Noah Syndergaard also eyes his debut
With change, of course, comes uncertainty. Some of the organization's most pressing questions at this time last year still apply, though many have taken on different shapes or increased urgency. With that in mind, here are the 10 most important issues facing the Mets heading into 2014: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/nym/new-york-mets-look-to-big-ticket-stars-young-arms-in-2014?ymd=20131226&content_id=66138172&vkey=news_nym Anthony DiComo -
.These aren't your grandfather's Mets, your father's Mets or even your older brother's. No, the 2014 Mets already have an identity all their own, for better or for worse.
Fans of the 2013 edition may hardly even recognize this year's team, which will mix big-ticket free agents such as Curtis Granderson, Chris Young and Bartolo Colon with a host of other newcomers. Matt Harvey will not play at all as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery. But Zack Wheeler and Travis d'Arnaud expect to log full seasons in the big leagues, while Noah Syndergaard also eyes his debut
So, we all open the
gifts that Santa left for us and still no shortstop, or additional reliever
that can hold down the closer role until Bobby Parnell is
healed. The Mets won’t tell you this but, first base, second, third, catching,
the outfield, and the rotation are already determined from within the
organization. There needs some definition on a utility infielder and the
fifth outfielder, though Lucas Duda could fill
that role in an emergency. The addition of Ryan Reid
this past week is far from what is needed in the pen and I expect Sandy Alderson to sign one of the good free agents
that are still out there.
There is enough money
left for one good reliever or one almost good shortstop. You pick your poison.
Under the current budget restraints, I’ll take the closer and let Ruben Tejada have another shot at short until the
trading season around the all-star break. No money spent then would be tied to
any budgets set now.
Folks, we’re getting
real closer to pitchers and catchers reporting. There’s a lot of big names
still out there unsigned but we’re just not playing in that league this year.
A backend reliever… a
utility middle infielder… and a 5th outfielder.
Look for these spots to
be filled in the next two to three weeks.
The 2014 Mets will, in
many ways, look a lot like the 2013 version; however, it will be missing two
main cogs that made this an ‘almost’ .500 team… OF Marlon
Byrd and SP Matt Harvey. In addition,
there is no IF Justin Turner and C John Buck.
The additions (so far)
are OF Chris Young, OF Curtis
Granderson, RP Ryan Reid, SP Bartolo Colon, and (sometime during the year) SP Noah Syndergaard, SP Rafael
Montero, and OF Cesar Puello.
This is going to be a
far more talented team in 2014, even with the one-year loss of Harvey. The Mets
will actually start to develop an excess of top level talent, both in the
outfield and in the rotation.
It especially will
become interesting around the all-star break if starters like Jenrry Mejia, Dillon Gee,
Jon Niese, and Bartolo
Colon are holding their own. You easily could see Montero and Mejia head
to the pen, joining fireballer Jeurys Familia for
a whole new approach to saving a ballgame.
I’ve said this before… the
2014 (and beyond) Mets will be a pitcher driven team whose goals will be to
generate a rotational ERA under 4.00 while, at the same time, averaging 7.0-IP
per outing. If the Mets were able to accomplish this, and had a talented
backend bullpen, the team would need less than four runs per game to win in the
85-90 games range.
Additionally, the 2014
Mets (on paper) look to be one of the more talented defensive National League
teams. This alone could bring you 3-5 more victories during the season.
You’re now talking a
range of 88-95 wins, all without their best (Harvey) rotation in the lineup.
I’m not looking at
miracles here. I just want a decent season from the guys the team signed this
year (Young, Granderson, Colon) and increased numbers from current team members
(Ike Davis, Travis d’Arnaud,
Juan Lagares, Tejada).
The bonus here could be
some additional pop from Wilmer Flores and Puello
when they get in the lineup.
No, I truly believe
there is enough talent here to make the playoffs, but a lot of things have to
go right that, in the past, have usually gone wrong.
I will make one
prediction… if this team is going to make headlines in 2014, it will be with
their glove. Games will be additionally won in the field rather than with the
bat. You’re going to see a lot more 3-2 games in 2014 and the guy with three
runs will win because their players prevented the other team from scoring more
than two
10 comments:
I like your comments about the 2014 Mets but have an issue with your idea for SS. I do not see how we can go with Tejada for another season. I just cannot see his upside. He has no power or speed. The only upside I see is batting average. I am in the "sign Drew" camp because he gives you above average defense and average offense. I do not see anybody else (SS) with these attributes becoming available any time soon.
@Anon
A .270 avg from your #8 hitter with average to above average defense at SS is a lot more than what most clubs on their teams.
We have to remember that SS is not a very deep position in terms of offense. You have maybe 3 premier guys and then a major drop-off in talent.
In tejada's first two seasons, he was a Top 10 MLB SS offensively.
Tejada's career high in home runs for a season is 1 and RBIs is 36. Drew hit 13 HRs and 67 RBIs last season in 442 ABs.
I just dont want to pay Drew 14 million and give up my 3rd tound pick. We cant afford to stop building our system. For me I would love one of the seattle SS
Anonymous:
I feel your pain about the shortstop position, but the budget is the budget and you can't keep telling the world that you aren't going to go over the budget, and then do so.
No, the Mets have enough money left for a decent backend reliever or another Tejada-like SS
Your pick this year.
Here's someone not on anyone's radar who is a FA from Japan who produces Drew-like number:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/japan/player.cgi?id=torita001tak
I'm willing to bet his salary would be closer to Tejada's than Drew's.
Reese -
The Mets have had little or no success with Asian players.
Additionally, I've been doing this since 2005 and, through two administrations. I just don't find the Mets brass very warm to signing Asian players.
Maybe it's just me, but maybe it's also the Wilpons.
Why give up a 3rd round pick for one or two yrs of Drew. Get a younger ss or stick with tejada. If we cant get a ss during the offseason maybe once the season starts the mets can get a ss.
Why give up a 3rd round pick for one or two yrs of Drew. Get a younger ss or stick with tejada. If we cant get a ss during the offseason maybe once the season starts the mets can get a ss.
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