Reese Kaplan -- That Was Then, This Is Now

Mets fans are a frustrated bunch, particularly when we see other teams making splashy moves in free agency, international signings of marquee players and trades for All-Star caliber talent while Sandy Alderson and company seemingly sit on their hands waiting for the market to come to them, prices to fall or whatever other euphemism for “We ain’t got no money” you choose you use. 

Take, for example, the recent Aroldis Chapman deal to the NY Yankees that cost them none of their top 5 minor leaguers which has been thrashed in the Queen City media for selling low on their star closer.  Surely the Mets could have pieced together an equivalent package of quantity and dubious quality to land Chapman if only they had the $13 million with which to pay him.  There’s no obligation to him beyond 2016 unless he receives a major suspension for his domestic violence case, then it’s conceivable he would lose a year of service time and still be under team control for 2017.  If he gets a slap on the wrist, then they could make a QO and see what happens.  If he reverts to the team for 2017, oh well, you’re stuck with the best left handed reliever in the game.  It seems a win-win. 

Lost in the shuffle, sometimes, is how far the Mets have progressed since the beginning of 2015.  Let’s take a look at the roster that began the season and then compare it with who is likely going to be on the payroll when April rolls around. 

2015

Travis d'Arnaud            C

Lucas Duda                 1B

Daniel Murphy              2B

David Wright               3B

Wilmer Flores              SS

Michael Cuddyer            LF

Juan Lagares               CF

Curtis Granderson          RF

Anthony Recker             BE

Kirk Nieuwenhuis           BE

John Mayberry Jr.          BE

Ruben Tejada               BE

Bartolo Colon              SP

Jacob deGrom               SP

Matt Harvey                SP

Jon Niese                  SP

Dillon Gee                 SP

Jenrry Mejia               RP

Jeurys Familia             RP

Carlos Torres              RP

Alex Torres                RP

Jerry Blevins              RP

Rafael Montero             RP

Sean Gilmartin             RP

Buddy Carlyle              RP

2016

Travis d'Arnaud            C

Lucas Duda                 1B

Neil Walker                2B

David Wright               3B

Asdrubal Cabrera           SS

Michael Conforto           LF

Juan Lagares               CF

Curtis Granderson          RF

Kevin Plawecki             BE

Alejandro De Aza           BE

(RH hitting outfielder)    BE

Ruben Tejada               BE

Wilmer Flores              BE

Matt Harvey                SP

Jacob deGrom               SP

Noah Syndergaard           SP

Steve Matz                 SP

Bartolo Colon              SP

Jeurys Familia             RP

Addison Reed               RP

Erik Goeddel               RP

Jerry Blevins              RP

Hansel Robles              RP

Sean Gilmartin             RP

Final Bullpen Roster Spot Contenders

Josh Edgin

Logan Verrett

Buddy Carlyle

Rafael Montero

Dario Alvarez

Josh Smoker

As we all know, neither Travis d’Arnaud nor David Wright came anywhere close to the production expected of them due to injuries.  Michael Conforto in his brief major league trial already exceeded the output of the mercifully retired Michael Cuddyer.  Those three full-season additions are already cause for optimism going into the 2016 season.

Next there are the middle infield acquisitions of Neil Walker and Asdrubal Cabrera.  Both promise both more offense and better defense than the DP combos tried during 2015.  More optimism.

The carry-overs from last year’s lineup include Lucas Duda, Curtis Granderson and Juan Lagares.  In the case of the big man at 1B, when he’s on he’s as good as anyone in the game, but his streakiness can drive someone to drink.  Curtis Granderson showed last year why they signed him and he more than earned his contract value after his 2014 initial campaign was Bay-like.  Juan Lagares may be the key among this triumvirate as he was not producing at the plate or in the field during this past season when his arm woes diminished his formerly laser-like accuracy.  What was more puzzling was his seemingly mediocre route-running on fly balls.  This winter he’s been solid with the bat and making spectacular throws during his stint in South American ball, so he could be a major cog on both sides of the ball.

On the bench the team has shed some of the all-or-nothing free swingers like Anthony Recker and Kirk Nieuwenhuis.  Wilmer Flores has been transitioned into the super sub role and is envisioned to play all of the infield positions.  Alejandro De Aza may not be Yoenis Cespedes, but when you consider some of the other people who got ABs in the outfield last year for the Mets, he is a step forward on the bench.  I could foresee a Ruben Tejada trade taking place to free up salary with Matt Reynolds taking over his backup shortstop role. 

Pitching between the starts of the two seasons couldn’t be further apart.  Last year the likes of Dillon Gee and Jon Niese filled out the rotation, along with carryovers Bartolo Colon, Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom.  This year Noah Syndergaard and Steve Matz replace the departed pair of Gee and Niese with Colon assuming 5^th starter’s duties when he was the Opening Day starter in 2015.  That’s a vastly improved pitching staff that, if healthy, gives the team a chance to win every single day. 

The bullpen is similarly reconstructed for the better.  Jeurys Familia was forced into closer’s duty when Jenrry Mejia went on his first of two Club PED vacations.   As good as Mejia was in 2014, Familia took the role to a whole new level of shutdown performance.  Then you have the veteran presence of Addison Reed who has been a closer in the past, but seemed to thrive in the 7^th inning role.  Barring more trades or free agent signings, he may be bumped up to 8^th inning duty out of necessity.  Erik Goeddel and Hansel Robles showed the ability to strike people out.  With health and more opportunity, they can help get the team out of some late inning jams.  The duo of lefties – Jerry Blevins and Sean Gilmartin – were both better than hoped, though Blevins, of course, suffered the two breaks to his pitching arm.  Still, memories of Alex Torres and his Great Gazoo hat still pop up in my nightmares.  There should be a nice competition for the final spot in the pitching rotation with Josh Edgin having the upper hand if he’s healthy. 

With all the doom and gloom about the small payroll, the need for a big bat and the lack of movement in free agency, the fact remains that the club going into 2016 is far superior to the one that began 2015 (even without Yoenis Cespedes and Tyler Clippard).  Obviously another bat and a veteran reliever would be nice to have, but they are the defending National League Champs and with the team they’re putting on the field it’s entirely possible they have what’s necessary to repeat.