The Morning Report – November 2 – Dillon Gee, Aaron Judge, Bullpen, Josh Harrison

Mets release RP Juan Urbina.

Comment From Jake deBomb - don’t tell me you’re buying into the Cespedes to Mets silliness…

Eno Sarris: I don’t think I’d spend a Niese one one year of a low OBP slugger. But a Gee? Doubt that gets him, so doubt it’s happening.

            Mack – Let me begin with this.

            I like Dillon Gee.

I’ve always pimped Gee to become a member of the Mets rotation and, when he did, he proved me to be correct, but the simple truth is there are just too many starters on this team to fit them all into the 2015 rotation.

Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, and Zack Wheeler are a lock to be in the opening day rotation, while Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz will stay in Las Vegas until they fulfill their Super-2 commitment. This leaves Gee, Jon Niese, Bartolo Colon, and Rafael Montero are competing for the last two slots open until next year’s All-Star break.

Opinion: The Mets need a left fielder in 2015 and, no matter how much of a pain in the ass Cespedes is supposed to be, he would make for a wonderful one-for one deal for any of those four pitchers… other than Montero.

You do a deal with the Yankees, this is the guy you want:

            Aaron Judge, professional large man, Yankees - The only body comparison that does Aaron Judge justice is Jimmy Graham, tight end for the New Orleans Saints; which is very appropriate for a high school basketball player. The hulking 6-foot-7, 270-plut right-field prospect was far and away the best player on the field Thursday, launching two home runs and gunning Dalton Pompey at home plate. Judge’s first round-tripper was a showcase of pure strength—a trademark shot that fell over the left-center field fence, likely an out in thicker air. The second bomb was certainly not cheap. After spitting on a 2-1 curveball eight inches off the outside corner, Judge got a 3-1 fastball, and didn’t miss it. 430 feet later, the Fresno State product’s ball landed one third of the way up the berm, 20 feet to the left of center field. What stuck out most about the Yankee farmhand today however, was his extremely advanced approach at the plate. Typically, 22-year-old hitters with limited pro experience aren’t self-aware. Yet, Judge seems to know his strengths and weaknesses, and plays to his positive qualities. He stands far away from the plate with a slightly closed, relaxed stance, understanding that pitchers may want to bust him inside due to long arms. On the scouting scale, the right fielder’s arm strength is plus-plus, to go along with plus-plus potential power, and the potential for an average hit tool. If it all comes together, he should have no issue playing right field every day and hitting in the middle of a lineup. —Jordan Gorosh - http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=24969

Robin asked –

            Mack, you keep touting Rafael Montero to become part of the Mets bullpen. What about Dillon Gee, Jon Niese, or Bartolo Colon? Do you see any of them heading in that direction?

                        Mack – Hey Robin.

                        Well, first we have to determine how many relief slots there are there.

            Let’s assume that Josh Edgin, Jeurys Familia, Jenrry Mejia, and Vic Black are all solid returnees.

            There’s a probable chance that you will leave Bobby Parnell back in camp when the team breaks for Queens, so you don’t have to address that until, let’s say, May 1^st.

            So, that leaves you Gonzalez Germen, Carlos Torres, Erik Goeddel, Dario Alvarez, and the guys listed above.

            I can only guess at this point but I’m sure Sandy Alderson and his pitching experts will place down there the best of what’s left after he determines his rotation… and… finishes the Hot Stove season.

            We’re going to have to wait until then.

Natale asked -

Mack - my son and I are big fans. The Morning a Report is the first thing we read each day. We are also fans of Josh Harrison.  With the Pirates losing Russ Martin, would a Plawecki + Gee or Montero do it? Maybe give em Black back?  Josh would look great in left and can provide Wright insurance. Maybe, he can lead off too.

            Mack – Hey Natalie. Thanks for the question.

A combination of, let’s say Plawecki and Montero, would get you a damn good player, but Harrison is a 4-year MLB veteran and, at 26-years old, hit .315, .837-OPS, 13-HR, 52-RBI. I don’t think the Mets side of this offer would be good enough.

There are different opinions out there right now about Gee, but, right now, I see him as damaged goods and un-tradable.

Right now, even an untested Noah Syndergaard couldn’t pull off this deal.

Now…make it Jake deGrom even up…