12/3/13

Mack’s Morning Report – 12-3 – Tenderizing, Jim Johnson, 2014 Pitching, Juan Centeno, Rant Sports


 



Justin Turner@redturn2                      
Thanks fans for all the kind words, I don't know where I'll end up, but I'm going to have a blast no matter what happens!
 

The one obvious problem with returning the site to Blogger is the fact that posts are posted on top of each other and don’t make it very reader friendly to scroll down and find the third or fourth post up at the time they go to the site. The Word Press ‘front page’ had seven posts featured right in front of your eyes, thus, you could click on them and participate.

Please remember to scroll down and participate. I’m getting a little paranoid about my morning reports.
 

The Mets made a very intelligent decision yesterday when they non-tendered SS Omar Quintanilla and RP Scott Atchison. Not only did it give them two open roster slots on the 40-man going into the Rule 5 Draft, but it also eliminated a projected $2.1mil that would have had to be paid to them in 2014. This money can be added to the unspent portion of the projected 2014 team budget and could be the difference in signing their final free agent of the Hot Stove season.

On paper, this solidifies (for now) Ruben Tejada as the opening day starting shortstop, with either Wilfredo Tovar as his backup. Atchison’s replacement could be Jeurys Familia, Joel Carreno, or someone still unsigned.

These are just really smart moves by a General Manager trying to work with a miserable budget in a frenzied market.

Re: JV1… not worth my time discussing.

And then came Hefner and Turner and I'm starting to figure out that this is just the beginning of some big plan Alderson and Company has begun to spin. You're watching quite the cleaning out of the house and one has to wonder who's going to fill these spots

No one draft five players in the Rule 5 draft, so these openings could represent any combination of players obtained that way, guy who were non-tendered by other clubs last night by other clubs, players obtained via free agency, or by trades

The money saved is around $4mil, making their committed 2014 current salaries at $56-58mil. The budget is supposedly $85-90mil, so you now have left $29-34mil left to spend.

All five of these cuts can be absorbed by players already in the system who already have their salaries counted. Players like Wilfredo Tovar, Zach Lutz, Matt den Dekker, Jeurys Famila, and Carlos Torres. can fill the roles tomorrow, allowing the Mets do whatever they want with the $29-34mil left to spend

First thing first...  they still need a starting right fielders and a major upgrade at short.
 
Wilmer Flores in VWL – 10-20, .500, 1-2B, 4-BB, 1-K        
 

Danny Black -

The Orioles have a lack of Major League ready prospects at key positions and a Jim Johnson trade could be used to fill some holes.  By trading Johnson Baltimore would have holes at 2B, LF, SP, and closer. Top second base prospect Jonathan Schoop missed parts of last year with a back injury and never played up to expectations. He will almost certainly start the year at Norfolk and look to get back on track. Henry Urrutia played in the Arizona Fall League with the idea of improving defensively in LF while waiting for is power to develop.  The verdict remains out on when the Cuban outfielder will be ready to start in the majors.  The Orioles best pitching prospect entering 2013 was Dylan Bundy, but he won’t be a major league factor until 2015 after undergoing ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow.  The Orioles have no clear internal options to replace Johnson;  Tommy Hunter would most likely be given the chance if no other acquisitions are made. http://gradingonthecurve.com/2013/12/01/orioles-lack-prospects-influence-jim-johnson-trade/

Mack – On the surface, the Mets do have more important needs than a closer, but someone like Johnson doesn’t become available every day. The Mets could put a deal together and package a second baseman (Murphy or Flores) and either a starter (Gee or Montero) or a closer (Parnell or Black). The bad news is he’s due around $10mil this season, which is his last year of arbitration. Remember one thing here… if you’re building a pitcher-based team, it wouldn’t hurt to have the guy that has led the league in saves for the past two seasons. 

(update... traded late last night to Oakland...)

Andy Martino

Re: Bronson Arroyo - What we can tell you is that the Mets don’t seem hot for the veteran.  While there is some level of interest, it does not appear serious at this moment.

Mack – I sort of go back and forth on whether or not the Mets need another 2014 pitcher. My feelings is this team isn’t going to compete for a playoff spot in 2014 and we’re going to have to push things back until 2015. That’s fine with me, only if some members of this squad get another shot to turn things around while others get to mature within the lineup.
Regarding pitching, there is plenty for 2015… Harvey, Wheeler, Niese, Gee, Syndergaard, Montero… and more.
The team has allocated only a certain amount of money for additional salaries, which I assume are for both free agent and trade candidates. Let’s use that money where the needs exist more… on the field every day.
 

Sandy Alderson says that catcher Juan Centeno will play in AAA-Las Vegas come opening day.

           Mack – Outstanding.
I’m a strong believer that the number two person on every position should be playing every day in Las Vegas so they are one (long) plane ride away from being game ready. Sitting next to Omar Quintanilla on the bench doesn’t hack it in my book.
I’m also a big fan of my number one player for every position having to look over his shoulder and see what’s going on down on the farm. Nothing keeps a front line starter on the right path than his replacement leading AAA in OBP.
Let Centeno play Vegas until Kevin Plawecki is ready to go there. Now, THAT’S your problem!
 


#1  -  SP  -  Noah Syndergaard
#2  -  C  -  Travis d’Arnaud
#3  -  SP  -  Rafael Montero
#4  -  IF  -  Wilmer Flores
#5  -  OF  -  Brandon Nimmo
#6  -  OF  -  Cesar Puello
#7  -  1B  -  Dominic Smith
#8  -  SS  -  Gavin Cecchini
#9 -   IF  -  Dilson Herrera
#10 – C – Kevin Plawecki
            It looks like a pretty accurate list. What’s interesting is there is only two pitchers on this list. Hopefully, the Mets will begin to develop some bats within the system to support the rotation that seems like is going to be filled in by opening day 2015.
            Three players were secured via a trade… three via an International free agent signing… and four draft picks.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Was very surprised to see the team non-tender Justin Turner and Jeremy Hefner.

I think they may try to get Hefner back on a minor league deal so that he doesn't count against the 40 man roster while he recovers from Tommy John. As for Turner it looks like they are comfortable with Satin as the back-up Corner IF. However this leaves the team short for a back-up Middle IF.

One has to think that maybe....JUST MAYBE....Sandy has a plan to somehow grab a SS and use Tejada as his middle IF bench piece?

Mack Ade said...

I just listened to John Heyman on MLB-TV and he was VERY upset that Justin Turner was let go.

He felt that the Mets would resign Hefner and not have to put him on the 40-man while he is out for the year, but, according to him, it sounds like Turner is a goner.

We are watching the beginning of something and, like I promised, I'll wait this out through the end of December before I comment on the off-season moves.

Let's see what happens, if anything, today. There's some decent players floating around out there right now.

Anonymous said...

One player I absolutely want right now.

RP Christhian Martinez

Can't believe the Braves Non-Tendered him.

Unknown said...

I hope u r right Chris. Also when they trade either Ike, Duda and/ or Murphy that should bring the payroll down as well, depending on if they bring $$$ back in trade or not?

Mack Ade said...

I know we're dealing with nickels and dimes right now, but the object of every deal is to improve on the person you used to have in place.

So I ask... if say the Mets bring in a new SS, do we consider Tejada an upgrade to Turner as the UT infielder?

David L. Whitman said...

You lose the power that Turner had, but once upon a time Tejada was our SS of the future, so defensively you certainly expect him to be upgrade.

In addition to Martinez,some names which might warrant the Mets attention on the non-tender list:

Daniel Hudson
Andrew Bailey
Ronald Belisario
Ryan Kalish

TP said...

Mack,
Still here even on blogger. I agree with Soto on Tejada - Mets preferred him over Turner as utlity INF and will start him if all else fails.

I believe Mets need to add 2 starters - one legit and a scrap heap vet that will accept competing for #5 with Mejia/Montero and go to Vegas as depth. It looks like the Nats got Fister for nothing, this type of guy would have fit the Mets perfectly. Not sure what Alderson is doing outside of nothing but others seem to be beating him to the punch.

Anonymous said...

Nats gave up an organizational Top 10 prospect to net Fister so even though I agree that they won that trade Its not like they gave up nothing.

For the Mets that would be the equivalent of trading away Montero who the team is holding onto for a trade for a bat not an arm.

Mack Ade said...

TP -

I stand by my earlier comments...

I don't think agents care to get their prime clients involved with the Mets

David L. Whitman said...

The Nats made out big on the Fister deal. The Tigers must be really high on lefty Robbie Ray because they didn't much in return. The Nats rotation for the next several years looks downright filthy. It's one of those mid-level moves that can put a team like the Nats over the top. As for the Tigers, aside from freeing more $$$ for Cabrera and Scherzer, not sure what they were thinking.

I agree with KLaw on this one:

"A lefty reliever, a backup at second and a non-top-100 prospect is just not a good return for two years of one of the top 30 starters in baseball."

Mack Ade said...

D W -

Fister was the best SP4 in baseball - it does make Washington a much better opponent.

TP said...

Soto,
Respectfully disagree with the Ray - Montero comp. Montero is a top 100 prospect, has dominated AA and pitched very well in AAA in a hitter's league. Ray is not top 100, hasn't pitch in AAA yet, and didn't dominate AA like Montero did. Not that I want to deal Montero for Fister, but if the Mets' prospect pool is so deep in pitching, the should have been able to compete with that package the Nats gave up without depleting too many assets.

Kevin said...

And there goes Michael Choice :( If the Rangers got Choice for Craig Gentry, then shame on Sandy for not putting together a better package to acquire the A's #2 prospect. A power hitting OF in AAA. He could've been our starting LF instead of Chris Young.

Anonymous said...

@Kevin,

That deal is of the multi player variety and the Rangers offered a good piece for him.

Gentry is basically the high end ceiling that Lagares can end up being. He hits about .280+ puts the ball in play and has sneaky 20+ steal speed. Good for a #2 hitter.

The A's are in an aggressive mode and look like they are loading up for a deep playoff run. The Mets do not have had anyone that the A's would have wanted.

Kevin said...

Well they currently have Crisp, Cespedes, Reddick & now Gentry. So it seems like Gentry is their 4th OF and insurance in case Reddick or Crisp get hurt. We could've offered them something better than that. We could've made an offer last week offering one of our high end relief prospects to act as their future closer.

I agree that they are trying to load up for a playoff push meaning they aren't moving Cespedes or Lawrie. We could've offered an SP or RP and Murphy

Anonymous said...

Pretty sure Reddick is going to the bench. He hit .226 last season.

Also I think Alderson is saving the SP prospect bullets in hopes of a big trade.

Murphy could have worked but I don't see the A's wanting to add his expected $5.8M contract to the payroll. Gentry is only going to make $1.1M via arb this season.

Kevin said...

Although Reddick only hit 0.242 the year before, he did hit 32 HRs. WAR of 4.8 & 2.6 the past two seasons. Plays good D and he's young. I'll take him.

I think he'll be a lot cheaper alternative to Granderson (poor average, good power, good defense)