Steven Marcus | Newsday- In terms of a possible return date, “I said from the beginning of June or July." Wheeler recently said. “That’s still the timetable for me. There’s this process; you never know if you’re going to have setbacks. They could be late, could be earlier. You never know. I’m not really trying to set a timetable." According to Sandy Alderson, “Zack is progressing very well. We expect him to be ready sometime midseason. His call demonstrated a strong desire to stay with the Mets. He is loyal to his teammates and believes in the direction of the team. This says a lot about Zack and about the Mets.”
(Chris Soto: Sounds like Zack Wheeler's rehab is progressing as scheduled. Tommy John Surgery is always a crap shoot. You never know just how well a guy is going to bounceback. For every strong Matt Harvey/Jose Fernandez return we see, there is just as many Bobby Parnell's and Josh Johnson's in the league. A healthy Zack Wheeler is better than Bartolo Colon and is WELL beyond what 90% of MLB teams have as their respective #5 SP option.)
Bill Baer | NBC Sports- The defending National League champion Mets are searching for bullpen help, but seem content to wait for free agent demands to diminish. GM Sandy Alderson would prefer to avoid multi-year contracts for relievers. “Does it really improve the team to give a reliever a one-, or two-year contract if we don’t believe he is better than what we have?” Two targets left in free agency include Antonio Bastardo and Tyler Clippard. Bastardo, 30, posted a 2.98 ERA with a 64/26 K/BB ratio in 57 1/3 innings for the Pirates this past season. Clippard, who came over to the Mets from the Athletics ahead of the trade deadline, compiled an aggregate 2.92 ERA with a 64/31 K/BB ratio over 71 innings.
(Chris Soto: I am ok with not spending a multi year deal on a RP. History will show that, outside the premier closers of the game, multi-year deals for mid inning relievers almost NEVER work out well for teams. There is always a significant degree of volatility with relievers year over year. Heck....25% of the league's closers, let alone middle inning guys, on 4/1 end up losing their jobs over the course of the season.)
(Chris Soto: Sounds like Zack Wheeler's rehab is progressing as scheduled. Tommy John Surgery is always a crap shoot. You never know just how well a guy is going to bounceback. For every strong Matt Harvey/Jose Fernandez return we see, there is just as many Bobby Parnell's and Josh Johnson's in the league. A healthy Zack Wheeler is better than Bartolo Colon and is WELL beyond what 90% of MLB teams have as their respective #5 SP option.)
Bill Baer | NBC Sports- The defending National League champion Mets are searching for bullpen help, but seem content to wait for free agent demands to diminish. GM Sandy Alderson would prefer to avoid multi-year contracts for relievers. “Does it really improve the team to give a reliever a one-, or two-year contract if we don’t believe he is better than what we have?” Two targets left in free agency include Antonio Bastardo and Tyler Clippard. Bastardo, 30, posted a 2.98 ERA with a 64/26 K/BB ratio in 57 1/3 innings for the Pirates this past season. Clippard, who came over to the Mets from the Athletics ahead of the trade deadline, compiled an aggregate 2.92 ERA with a 64/31 K/BB ratio over 71 innings.
(Chris Soto: I am ok with not spending a multi year deal on a RP. History will show that, outside the premier closers of the game, multi-year deals for mid inning relievers almost NEVER work out well for teams. There is always a significant degree of volatility with relievers year over year. Heck....25% of the league's closers, let alone middle inning guys, on 4/1 end up losing their jobs over the course of the season.)
HOT STOVE REPORT (courtesy of mlbtraderumor.com)
- Sixteen-year-old Cuban outfielder Lazaro Armenteros held a showcase for scouts on January 8th. Approximately 150-200 scouts were in attendance to see the kid known only as "Lazarito." While the Cuban phenom has been compared to a young Willie Mays and Bo Jackson, the early word from the showcase that that he seemed "too muscular & stiff" and "unable to play CF."
- The San Franscisco Giants have signed CF Denard Span to a 3 yr/$31M contract pending he is able to pass his physical.
- The St. Louis Cardinals are close to a deal with Korean RP Seung-Hwan Oh "The Final Boss."The deal comes on the heels of a report that Oh was going to be suspended for 72 games if he had returned to the Korean Baseball Organization for allegedly gambling at a foreign casino, which is against South Korea’s laws.
Seems like it'd be good for Mets to pretend wheeler is a trade deadline acquisition. By then Mets can also determine what else they need, what they have to trade/release to get it. And figure out role of Bart at that time.
ReplyDeleteNow relief pitching is a good position to go into the season planning to upgrade at mid season.
ReplyDeleteThe 3rd or 4th hitters in your lineup?
ReplyDeleteNot a sound plan to enter the season planning to upgrade at mid season.
The great part of Wheeler entering the team as a 'trade deadline decision' is an especially good one since it will not cost the Mets a single player in return.
ReplyDeleteBTW Bob Gregory... nice job yesterday sitting in for me on the Morning Report
Thank you.
DeleteMuch appreciated.
I agree with you, Bob. A strong 3/4 is important...I'd bet we run away with the division with a real upgrade there. Maybe we have to wAIT TIL July for that
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling that Wheeler,like Harvey, will come back ready and rarin'.
ReplyDeleteAlways had my doubts on Parnell and Black returning healthy. Toomuchgoing on for both.
Bob-
ReplyDeleteI don't necessarily think Wright/Duda is a bad option for our #3/4 going into the season. Also, as I suggested yesterday, I wouldn't be surprised to see Alderson approach the Astros about Carlos Gomez at the deadline if it looks like his hip issue is solved. If Jake Marisnick finally looks like he is reaching his potential, the 'Stros would probably make Gomez (who is a FA after the season) available, and we already know that Sandy likes him.
I don't see how anybody can feel comfortable seeing Wright or Duda as the 3/4 hitters.
DeleteAgain- I believe it is important to enter the season with 3/4 hitters your team feels confident can perform the entire season.
Wright's injury and declining offense has to bring huge question marks.
Duda's low average, combined with high strikeouts and inconsistencies has to bring huge question marks as well.
Although I understand the reluctance to give middle inning RPs multi year deals, since their performance is often volatile year to year, I don't see why we should be wary of giving more than one year to a RP who has demonstrated the ability to consistently maintain a high level of performance. Clippard is one who has done that, and at age 30 he should be good for another 2 years if the price is right. But, of course, the price may not be right. Bastardo has been a bit more erratic, so I am not even sure I would go the extra year.
ReplyDeleteIn any event, the Mets have a pretty good bull pen as it stands right now, and good options waiting in the wings. A few days ago, Sandy said “Does it really improve the team to give a reliever a one or two year contract if we don’t believe he is better than what we have?” That sure sounds like he could elect to stand pat, although it could also just be a ploy to pressure his FA targets.
One last thing regarding the pen. I have to say I am mildly distressed to hear that the Redbirds are close to a deal with Korean closer Seung-hwan Oh. About 2 months ago I emailed Alderson suggesting he strongly consider Oh as an 8th inning option that would be less expensive than his existing FA options. I got no reply. I reminded him that I was the guy that suggested to him, 4 years ago, that he consider both Hisashi Iwakuma and Nori Aoki when they had just entered the U.S. market. At that time he did email me back that he would look into Iwakuma but he was not going to bid on Aoki. I believe now that we missed out on an excellent opportunity to upgrade the pen. Ah well, such is life. (life as a Met fan, that is)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI am not surprised that Alderson did not put much credit into the suggestions of a Met fan when it comes to his roster.
DeleteTruthfully, I don't think he really cares much for fans given many of his comments over the past few years.
It seems like he sees himself above the fans who in his eyes are unruly and ignorant children that aren't even his.
Matt Cerrone/Mets Blog just brought up that there is a possibility that the Mets and Cespedes may be working on a one year deal
ReplyDeleteDavid Bowie - big loss
ReplyDeleteSaw him. Radio City. Ziggy Stardust days. He was revolutionary back thenn 40+ years ago
Delete@Herb
ReplyDeleteAgreed on Oh....but if the story about him gambling is true.....that raises a minor red flag.
Sadly other teams ,even the so called small market teams are signing Cuban and Asian players but Mets sit around and you hear nothing about them even going to scout them. Very disappointing.
ReplyDeleteTrade grandy and wheeler to the yanks for Gardner and miller and sign cespedes to play RF
ReplyDeleteWheeler better than 90% of other teams #5? That's assuming he is healthy. If he is healthy what are the 10% of teams that have a better #5. Answer is none.
ReplyDelete