Kevin Draper | Deadspin- Mets closer Jenrry Mejia was suspended 80 games for testing positive for stanozolol in April. While he didn’t appeal his suspension, Mejia professed his innocence. His suspension was completed in early July, and Mejia has since given up zero runs in 7 1/3 innings. But his successful return proved to be short-lived, as Mejia was suspended 162 games today for a second positive test, this time for stanozolol AND boldenone. And what did Mejia have to say in his defense this time? [Nothing]
(Chris Soto: Nah Nah Na Na...Hey Hey Hey....Goodbyyeee. This is a disgrace to the Mets organization. Not only for testing positive again, but for thinking that it was still ok to take the banned substance so shortly after completing a previous suspension. What was he thinking? With Mejia eligible for arbitration this off-season, he is now a sure fire candidate to be non tendered and released to become a free agent. Add $2.6M to this off-season's available budget and $865k for the rest of this season.)
Mack Burke | NY Daily News- Even though Sandy Alderson has become active in improving the Mets for a playoff push, the biggest reinforcement could be a few weeks away. David Wright returned to regular baseball activity Tuesday at Citi Field, taking ground balls on a field for the first time and hitting in the cage. He had spent the last couple of weeks of his physical therapy and rehab in Los Angeles from a back problem participating in light baseball activity. Wright said that despite the fact that the activities don’t seem heavy or taxing, he’s letting loose and being as intense as he possibly can during his workouts. He plans to do more drills on Wednesday.
(Chris Soto: Nah Nah Na Na...Hey Hey Hey....Goodbyyeee. This is a disgrace to the Mets organization. Not only for testing positive again, but for thinking that it was still ok to take the banned substance so shortly after completing a previous suspension. What was he thinking? With Mejia eligible for arbitration this off-season, he is now a sure fire candidate to be non tendered and released to become a free agent. Add $2.6M to this off-season's available budget and $865k for the rest of this season.)
Mack Burke | NY Daily News- Even though Sandy Alderson has become active in improving the Mets for a playoff push, the biggest reinforcement could be a few weeks away. David Wright returned to regular baseball activity Tuesday at Citi Field, taking ground balls on a field for the first time and hitting in the cage. He had spent the last couple of weeks of his physical therapy and rehab in Los Angeles from a back problem participating in light baseball activity. Wright said that despite the fact that the activities don’t seem heavy or taxing, he’s letting loose and being as intense as he possibly can during his workouts. He plans to do more drills on Wednesday.
(Chris Soto: Early indications are that David Wright could be playing in Port St. Lucie minor league games by this time next week. If that truly is the case then one can assume that he would need 2-3 weeks to get back into shape and should be available to play for the MLB club in late August for roughly the last 30 games of the season. In the meantime, Juan Uribe seems to be doing just fine as Wright's official fill-in. In his first 3 games with the club, Uribe is 3 for 7 so far with only 1 K. )
Mike Puma | New York Post- Tyler Clippard didn’t have to wait long for his Mets debut. A day after he was acquired from the Athletics for minor league pitcher Casey Meisner, the veteran righty was summoned to protect a four-run lead Tuesday.“I was anxious to get out there and put that first one under my belt,” Clippard said. “I am really excited to be back in the NL East. National League baseball is my kind of baseball for sure and the Mets are right in the mix and it’s going to be a lot of fun chasing down my old teammates in Washington. Everybody was talking before the season that rotation was one of the best in the game. From what I’ve seen this year, this rotation here in New York compares if not better than what they’ve got over there."
(Chris Soto: Nice. I like the fire included in Clippard's comments. That's actually quite the added bonus that Clippard brings to the Mets. He has a score to settle with his former team as the Nationals traded him away after the 2013 season because rising bullpen star Drew Storen "was younger and more affordable." Clippard should provide some superb late inning relief coverage as the Mets look to start making progress on the Nationals. Last night's victory and the Nats loss now only separate the two teams by 1 game making this weekend's series against each other the most important one this season.)
Michael Baron | Just Mets- With the Mets having secured Juan Uribe, Kelly Johnson and Tyler Clippard ahead of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, the Mets are continuing their search for an outfielder to add to their equation. People in the Mets organization have liked Brewers OF Gerardo Parra for a number of seasons [and] with his pending free agency, the Brewers have made him available. [However], the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Haudricourt tweeted earlier on Monday that they could be looking to make a big move to acquire Gomez.
(Chris Soto: Carlos Gomez makes a ton of sense for the Mets. He is owed only $2.7M for the rest of 2015 and is under contract through the 2016 season for a VERY reasonable $9M. Acquiring someone like Gomez will allow the club to let Lagares have Tommy John Surgery and patiently allow him to recover so that he is 100% for the 2017 season. In the meantime, the Mets would have one of the top hitting CF's in their line-up which would make them legitimate contenders for playoff runs in both seasons. )
48 comments:
And if the captain ends up playing games in st Lucie next week will I be there to see him? You bet your sweet ass I will.
Dumb and dumber Mejia....I will not write about you again. May you test positive for signs of brain activity.
But will David Wright be as good as Uribe? Time will tell. Perhaps they were expecting he would be, but hoping to limit his # of games to limit chances of getting hurt again and missing the playoffs. I hope he comes back at least 90%.
Clippard is a godsend. My guess is Paul Sewald and Dario Alvarez may provide bullpen depth in September....Heck, maybe Michael Fulmer too.
It's time for us to bring Carlos Gomez home! Think about how CF would have looked over the past 7 years if he hadn't been the centerpiece of the Santana trade. And he's still under 30! We not only need him for 2015, he's a keeper for his career.
On a different note, what a threat to have David back as a part-time 3b and as a pinch hitting threat off the bench! Can you see the sweat when a RP sees The Captain replace someone in the on-deck circle.Hurry back, David! The playoffs are waiting for you!
Nice job, Christopher. Totally agree on Wright, Clippard, and Gomez.
As for Mejia, I know that I'm in the minority, but I feel sorry for him. I don't think the organization, which signed him long ago, should turn their back on him. I'd keep him, try to help him, and hope that he can pitch again a year from now. I believe that he used PEDs because of his injury history, his feeling of vulnerability. He made some bad choices and likely got some terrible advice. Right now, he's paying a terrible price for those mistakes. Or, as Cuddyer rightly pointed out, choices. Maybe he can never succeed as a Met. But my personal feeling is that I hope the club will be there for him. I don't believe he earns any money during the suspension, so I don't think the salary is a concern.
James Preller
Steve, not ready to go "career" for Gomez just yet, but I do like that his addition would fill a hole for 2016 and allow Lagares to get healthy. Come 2017, Gomez will be a free agent and looking to make serious cash. Let's see how it goes. In fact, let's see if the Mets get him. The price will be steep.
James Preller
Question: Why does everyone want Gomez instead of Parra? Parra is having a much more productive year, will cost less, is a Gold Glove OF as well. Gomez's numbers are down across the board. SB numbers way down. Not sure you're getting the same player from 2012-2014. So why is Parra rather than Gomez the consolation prize?
Question 2: Why haven't they brought Alvarez up by now? Our best guy against lefties is a RHP: Clippard. Alvarez has good splits vs. LH hitters, has performed in Vegas, etc. Anybody know anything there?
Meija has got to learn not to cheat with these substances. I understand he's a kid. but if he doesn't grow up this time, he's looking at a lifetime ban and a career in Japan(if they'll take him) or Mexico and maybe Korea. He's way to good for that. Maybe some MLB organization will take pity on him and give him a chance and let him pitch im the minors till he's proven he can stay clean. He needs to do 90 in 90 in NA and learn about staying clean - hear some REAL stories about ruined lives. Anything to wake him up before he completely blows his career.
Lukas,
Parra is having a career year right now. His career batting line is .279/.330/.407 but this year he's batting an outrageous .324/.365/.517. OPS is almost .150 more than his career numbers. He's been an average bat at his best throughout his career.
Yes he'd be a nice fit and an upgrade over Kirk in the outfield but it's not like he's some kind of hidden gem that can be had for cheap. He's just enjoying a really good first half of the year that's way above his career norms.
Gomez has battled injuries this year which would explain his slightly down numbers this year but still has an OPS over .760 which would fit nicely in this lineup (Grandy, Duda, Johnson & Uribe all over the .760 mark as well).
Once Travis comes back and if Tejada keeps hitting line drives, this is a league average offense, if not better.
Yes, what Kevin said re: Gomez/Parra and career numbers.
In addition, Parra would be yet another LH outfield bat. And Gomez would be controlled for 2016 at a reasonable salary, so he's not a two-month rental. After 2016, when he walks, the Mets get draft compensation. He's more expensive because he brings more to the table.
That said, I think the bargaining strategy for the Mets is to attempt to get Gomez, with Parra as the fallback position. Parra would absolutely help.
Steve from Norfolk:
What would you be willing to trade for Gomez?
Would you give up Fulmer, Nimmo, and Gsellman?
(Personally, I'm going either/or with Montero & Fulmer, not both together; and I'm holding on to Molina. If a team pushes really hard for Molina, I'd only relent if I could pull Fulmer off the table. I understand that the Brewers would like two quality arms.)
Likas-
The big difference IMO is that Parra is FA in the fall of a career walk year. We have just acquired three rentals already. Gomez is under reasonable contract through 2016, which, among other things, coincides with any Lagares rehab if necessary.
Confession: I was one of those who said at the time of the Santana acquisition, "Whew, Gomez, not F-Mart."
You want to have him for 2016—that's fair. But be careful he's not on the downside,
He's a RH hitter—another good point. Very LH-heavy right now. But d'Arnaud and Wright can change that.
But hey, call me bonkers, I'd rather have the guy hitting .324 than the the flashier name hitting .266.
Why wouldn't you want the guy having his career year when that's the one you'll have him for? If you think he's bound to regress don't you think he'll wait until next year to do so? Also wouldn't you want the one whose arm is markedly better (1/2 of the reason you want Lagares replaced to begin with)? Oh, did I mention he'll cost less too? I'd rather keep/have Nimmo, Fulmer, and Parra than, say, Gomez and Gsellman.
Confession: im the writer who wrote post choosing Thor to be the guy traded for a bat ;)
You want to have him for 2016—that's fair. But be careful he's not on the downside.
He's a RH hitter—another good point. Very LH-heavy right now. But d'Arnaud and Wright can change that.
But hey, call me bonkers, I'd rather have the guy hitting .324 than the the flashier name hitting .266.
Why wouldn't you want the guy having his career year when that's the one you'll have him for? If you think he's bound to regress don't you think he'll wait until next year to do so? Also wouldn't you want the one whose arm is markedly better (1/2 of the reason you want Lagares replaced to begin with)? Oh, did I mention he'll cost less too? I'd rather keep/have Nimmo, Fulmer, and Parra than, say, Gomez and Gsellman.
James, I'd not want to lose Fulmer in any deal. His AA 1.88 ERA is better than what Harvey, Wheeler, Matz, Syndergaard and deGrom produced when they were in AA. He might be as good going forward as them.
If you had a choice, would you trade him or Wheeler?
I felt sorry for Mejia the first time. Despite it being at a time when half the bullpen was injured. How he could possibly do it again (especially as they are making the first aggressive player acquisition thrust towards a pennant in several years) is so beyond me, I am done with him. How could he possbly think he'd get away with beating the testing? I am flabberghasted.
@James Preller,
First, remember that Gomez is only 3 years older than Lagares, with a LOT more experience - his rookie year was 2007 with us (at 21).If not for the Santana trasde, he would have been probably have been our CF since, or at the least backup, playing a corner when not in CF.
I would try to work a deal using Niese or Gee - although I feel that Gee's value has been reduced even more by putting him in AAA. Throw in Nimmo and another prospect from AA or A+ - give them a list of three and let them pick. Give them Montero instead of Niese if they insist, although I think Montero has more to offer us over time. I think Gomez could be our "Hernandez".
You trade for Parra: You keep/have Nimmo, Fulmer, Parra.
You trade for Gomez: You keep/have Gssellman, Gomez.
You're all lamenting the fact that the Mets/you gave up on Gomez 7 years ago. Aren't you doing the same thing on (1) Lagares and (2) Nimmo right now? The fact that you don't realize the hypocrisy in this is a little … let's call it, odd. It's like you want a 7-years-later do-over. Let's learn from history here?
And Idk if Gomez-to-Hernandez is a fair comparison. Hernandez was on the team for, what, 10 years? Gomez is signed for one more year than Parra, i.e., 1 year and two months. You're obviously a lot more confident in the Wilpons and their finances to resign him than I am?
I'll repeat:
You want to have him for 2016—that's fair. But be careful he's not on the downside.
He's a RH hitter—another good point. Very LH-heavy right now. But d'Arnaud and Wright can change that.
But hey, call me bonkers, I'd rather have the guy hitting .324 than the the flashier name hitting .266.
So why wouldn't you want the guy having his career year when that's the one you'll have him for?
I liked Fulmer when the Mets drafted him. Then the injuries came and he dropped off the radar for me. Now he is healthy and he is back on the radar.
Milb tv is fairly cheap. I subscribe to watch Matz games. When Matz was called up I almost canceled then I decided I would keep it to watch Fulmer's games. It has been worth the money. He is impressive. Even on a small screen you can see the late break on his slider. Very nasty. His fastball fits in with Matz, deGrom, Harvey, Wheeler, and Syndergaard. I would put it at the lower end of those five. Much like Matz. Often seeing 95 and 96 when they display it or announce it. He could have been higher but I haven't seen it. His command is were he has made huge progress. In his last game 9ks and 0bb in 6 innings. That has been normal for him over the last couple of months.
I think he needs to be promoted to AAA asap. The only thing I see lacking from his game is his change up. He rarely uses it because his other two pitchers are so effective. He will need it to be a top of the rotation starter at the ML level.
As far as including him in a trade. He should be off the table for any rental. I don't care who it is. If it is for an Addison Russel type player then I would be fine with it. If I like a trade and I had the choose to part with Fulmer or Wheeler it would be a very difficult choose. I would have to flip a coin. He is behind the other 4 right now. If he could develop a plus change up he puts himself in that mix.
Steve,
Honestly I think you are insane if you feel we could get Gomez for a deal centered around Niese. I think the deal would have to be along the lines of Wheeler and Larages plus Ynoa/Cessa. Wheeler would give them a front line starter under control until 2020. If they don't want Lagares, then I'd have to be Nimmo.
Frankly Milwaukee's farm system is pretty bad right now with none of their top 10 prospects above AA ball and half of them in Rookie ball. We can offer Lagares and Wheeler (major league talent) or Fulmer and Nimmo (near major league ready talent).
LukasKubicek the Mets didn't give up on Gomez 10 years ago or ever. They did get Johan Santana in return. It is not like they just released him. They did give up on Turner a few years ago. Gomez was highly regarded by the Mets. In hind sight they should have included Fernando Martinez in the Santana trade. He was the Twins first choice.
You have to give something of value to gain something of value.
Richard Jones
I agree "give up" is strong. But not my point. My point is there are people, if you look through the thread, who are lamenting the fact that we didn't have him for the last few years, however many that is.
And yet, depsite your point, everything I said in my comment remains dead-on. Feel free to comment on the rest of it.
Gerardo Parra has an .883 OPS this season. The only OF in MLB who are higher: J.D. Martinez, Cruz, Stanton, Trout, Harper.
I'm not sure how this team could put together a decent package for Gomez or Parra and not hurt the future of the organization.
My guess is Nimmo is expendable and at least one of the SS prospects (Reynolds, Cecchini, Rosario, Guillorme).
Would Nimmo, Cecchini, Lugo be enough for either one of them? Too much?
And why would you even trade Niese for Gomez (besides the fact that the Brewers wouldn't do it)? Who pitches every 5th day?! YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PLAYOFF RACE?!
Mack,
I don't think anyone is questioning whether Parra would be an upgrade in CF of Kirk/Juan. My stance is that I'd rather have Gomez's track record than Parra's hot first half.
Considering that Oakland got KC's #2 prospect for 2 months of Zobrist, I don't see how Milwaukee isn't insisting on one of our better arms like Gsellman or Molina for him.
Kevin -
I'm not saying Parra is better than Gomez... I just posted that line as a point of fact.
The Brewers are not flipping Gomez unless they get at least two significant arms, IMO. Brewers can simply keep Gomez; not a deal they have to make. Parra, OTOH, has to go.
However, lot of teams in on Parra. His flexibility is a nice plus, and so is the glove. I don't believe his numbers are sustainable, but he's a ballplayer.
I haven't read this anywhere, but Fulmer could be a reliever this year for the Mets. Yes, this year. The concern with him is his secondary stuff is still undeveloped. If the Mets keep him, it's likely he's a bullpen arm anyway.
All hands on deck.
BTW, I agree that Niese is not on the table. Right now he's a clear asset in the pennant chase, pitches every 5th day. Not available. I'd be very, very cautious in regard to bring Matz back and/or counting on him.
Parra is having a career year. I'd be wary of the cost with him as a straight rental.
As talented as Gomez is, we really could use someone who could hit 4th. This lineup down the stretch coupled with our pitching could win it considering how close we are, our schedule, and recent additions:
SS Tejada
CF Granderson
3B Wright (really coming back?)
RF NEW HITTER
1B Duda
Ca d'Arnaud
LF Conforto
2B Who cares
I also agree that we need Niese. Even if Matz is back, Niese is the best SP5 in baseball
Too much I think. I'd give Lugo and Gsellman with Reynolds and another hitter. I can't justify dealing Nimmo or Cheech for a rental, even if KC gave up Manaea.
I'd up the ante with Wheeler and get Braun's name into the conversation. They trade Braun and they can afford to make Gomez the centerpiece of that team.
I think mentioning Granderson in CF for more than a spot start here and there is just silly. I'm pretty sure he couldn't reach 2B, including the roll, from the centerfield wall.
You don't necessarily need that "big cleanup hitter" that people talk about. If everyone from 1-7 are capable of hitting 15+ HR, then what's the issue, each hitter is just as dangerous as the next.
Cespedes would be nice but that would mean that Conforto gets sent back down. Not saying that's a bad thing but the idea of adding a big corner OF bat, keeping Conforto in LF and moving Granderson to CF is foolish in my eyes.
Granderson has played most of his career in CF. He'll be fine. Putting an average-power hitter in the middle of the lineup is what's foolish. Sure, if everyone 'does their job' we can score enough runs...but if one of your top run producing positions in the lineup can't be counted on to drive base runners in it's pointless. There's a reason that lineups have been constructed the way they have for decades - it works. Higher OBP hitters first then higher SLG hitters to follow gives the team the best chance to score runs. We can't just hope that our guys always come up in big spots when we have to, I'd rather have the math in our favor. We've already seen terrible results this year, if the Mets would've had one more reliable slugger they'd probably be in first place. A traditional slugger takes pressure off Duda and gives the Mets two shots every time through the lineup.
Last time Curtis played CF regularly was in 2012 at age 31 and was below average (-10 runs saved above average CF). His range is worse now and his arm is non existent. He's an above average RF, despite his arm (+10 runs saved above average RF to date).
Obviously the Mets saw a need to add Clippard, even before hearing of Mejia's suspension. Does anyone think that another bullpen arm could be in play?
I'm thinking an older vet like SD's Joaquin Benoit could be had for a price cheaper than Clippard. Hell, he could just switch bullpens tonight. Parnell has only thrown 13.1 innings this year with a 1.35 WHIP. Benoit on the other hand has 43.2 innings with a 0.85 WHIP.
I would keep Fulmer, even if it ends up forcing a patchwork bat this year. Look at Thor and his value today v two months ago in the minors. These type of arms have great value on the way up, but when they graduate with success, it skyrockets. If you believe he will continue his success, I say keep him and within a year, his value will likely close to double with graduated success in the MLB. it is a gamble, but given recent performance, the better bet is that he succeeds rather than fails in the Bigs
Anon Joe F
Let's also remember that, though he has struggled in his rehabbing, it looks like Vic Black is close to coming back.
I know we are all targets on the 2015 pennant race; however, we do have to keep at least one top pitching prospect like Fulmer in the organization as the 2016 emergency SP6 or SP7, depending on the extent of injuries.
Colon will be gone. Gee will be gone. Wheeler doesn't come back until June/July and is a question mark.
Your 2016 opening day rotation stacks up as Harvey, deGrom, Syndergaard, Matz, Niese
You can't sacrifice Fulmer in any deal for an OFer...
There are always free agents for.the roles of sp6 or sp7.
Mack, I think you are partially correct. I'd hate to lose Fulmer. But I think the system is deep enough to be able to find a #5 starter if necessary. Plus, as we've learned over and over, that type of veteran arm (think: Dice-K) is not hard to find in a trade or waiver wire. There's always a Harang hanging around.
I'd hate to lose Fulmer. And upon reflection, as much as I want Gomez in CF, I don't think the Mets need to offer a crazy package. One "A" arm, another "B" arm, and Nimmo. Maybe that gets it done. Maybe less than Nimmo. (I'll let Sandy work out the details.)
For Parra, Fulmer is probably too high a price, agreed.
Keeping Montero, Molina, and Gsellman would be a positive and keep the pipeline flowing.
In 2016, the Mets might well need a 3B, SS, and CF. If a deal now can scratch one of those items off the list, it's a plus. Catching the Nats won't be easy, nor will winning the WC. I'm not sure 90 wins does either. Add d'Arnaud & Gomez to the lineup, combined with the soft schedule, and there's a genuine shot.
This deadline is making me nuts. Okay, I'd deal Nimmo for Gomez, but only if we're going all in. By that I mean sign him to an extension, go get Jay Bruce too, shift Granderson to LF and demote Conforto. Move Granderson in the offseason and then roll with Conforto-Gomez-Bruce in the OF going forward. Add Duda, d'Arnaud, and possibly Wright and we'll be dangerous. No half measures though.
d'Arnaud & Parra gives a genuine shot as well. AND you get to keep Fulmer and Nimmo.
I'm a little incredulous at how this isn't a no-brainer?
Kevin S, I guess the Mets might be looking at another veteran bullpen arm, but I wouldn't. I'd try to solve it internally, and aggressively. I mentioned Fulmer earlier. Verrett is still around, Goeddel is getting healthy, and there are other candidates. Not battle-tested, as they say, but talented arms.
My resources go to strictly toward solving the CF bat at this point. I'd guess a guy like Neal Cotts is available, but I don't love that kind of thinking. When it comes to bullpen depth, I really do believe in "internal solutions" as the first, second, and third options.
Lukas, the only reason it's not a no-brainer is that we don't know the cost of Parra. You seem to assume it won't be much. And I prefer Gomez for reasons already stated (true CF, RH bat, 2016 control, better career numbers).
It will come down to the negotiations and probably won't be determined until late Friday night.
Alright, well I'm assuming a Gsellman would get it done. In which case I'd much rather have Parra.
But I don't know if that's true and can't do anything about it anyway, so I'll withhold comment until the deadline.
James -
I did forget about Montero...
Parra is a 'nice' move and he's a rental. If he costs relatively nothing then fine, but I doubt he'll be cheap.
Alright - we "need" Niese for this season. Gomez is nowhere near being on the downside. Hell, he's only 29! I'd put Wheeler in the deal - but I'd ask for a 24 hour window to get an extension(All the time we have). You don't have to dump Lagares to get Gomez. I would if I had to, though. Lagares needs TJS. If they use the latest procedure for partial tears, he's back in 6 months. If I remember right position players come back in 6 months, even from the old procedure - their arms don't get stressed as much as pitchers. Put Grandy on the bench as 4th OF and alternate Gomez and Lagares between CF and RF. (Conforto is pretty much limited to LF). Or set up a 4 man rotation in the OF. Now THAT is an outfield! Gomez is a case of trading the wrong person a long time back. I watched him at close quarters here in Norfolk for the 2006 season, so I'm speaking from personal observation. And, if you don't trade Niese you have no room for Matz, who should be back this year, or Wheeler, who will be back around ASB next year. In the meantime, you fill SP5 with Montero, who will be back soon also, or bring up Fulmer or Gee. Parra is one of a Lot of players who have years where they play over their heads. Do you think Justin Turner is going to sustain this year's numbers for the rest of his career?
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