1/28/16

The Morning Report 1.28.2016 | Collins Setting High Expectations for 2016, Edgin Unlikely to Begin 2016 Season Until May, Potential Trade Match-up with Cardinals.



Maria Guardado NJ Advance MediaComing off a World Series appearance and armed with one of the best starting rotations in baseball, the Mets will enter the 2016 season with high expectations. Even manager Terry Collins plans to hold his club to an elite standard with the hopes of steering the Mets back to the Fall Classic. "We've got to go back,'' Collins said. "Let's win it all. You got to have those expectations. If you are afraid of it, you are in the wrong sport. You talk about goals in baseball, there is no bigger goal, and until you get to the World Series, you don't really understand how much fun it is.''

(Chris Soto: Terry Collins is correctly putting high expectations on the 2016 season. We as Mets fans have had a taste of the glory and fun that comes with a World Series appearance and we will rightfully feel spoiled enough to demand another one. Should a 100-62 record with a loss in the NLCS a failed season? No of course not....but with us having a better team than last year when we DID make the World Series....it sure as heck will FEEL that way.)



David Hong | Metsmerized OnlineAccording to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, Edgin is on pace to return about a month into the season and the Mets are anticipating his return to be around May 1. Edgin was the team’s top left-handed reliever in 2014, when he posted a 1.32 ERA with 28 strikeouts over 27 1/3 innings. The Mets re-signed fellow southpaw Jerry Blevins this offseason and he will be the primary lefty specialist until Edgin returns. The Mets also recently signed left-hander Antonio Bastardo to a two-year, $12 million dollar deal.

(Chris Soto: I'm not sure why but I was under the assumption all off-season that Edgin would be ready to go come 4/1. I understand now the Front Office's desire to acquire another solid left handed option......it was actually a need. When the Mets got off to that fast start early in the season, Collins was taking advantage of a 3 lefty bullpen. He will do so once again with Gilmartin being the low leverage lefty, Blevins the high leverage lefty, and Bastardo as the 8th inning guy who can face lefties or righties.)


HOT STOVE REPORT (courtesy of mlbtraderumor.com)
  • According to Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Cardinals aren’t exactly certain of when Yadier Molina will be healthy enough to make his 2016 debut. Molina underwent thumb surgery back in October and had to undergo a second operation in December after the first one did not fully correct the ligament issue.
    • This is interesting news of note because the Cardinals do not have an internal replacement for Molina. While Travis d'Arnaud is certainly still an injury risk, this can be a strong opportunity for potential discussions between the Mets and Cards for prospect Kevin Plawecki.
  • The Mets announced that they have designated outfielder Darrell Ceciliani for assignment, which will clear clear a spot on the team’s 40-man roster for the newly re-signed Yoenis Cespedes
    • At first glance, it seems like Ceciliani will likely clear waivers and report to AAA-Las Vegas, however, lately there has been a strong history of Mets CF capable players being claimed away from them. 
  • According to Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports, Lefty Eric O’Flaherty is set to throw for scouts in Seattle. He’ll be looking to prove that he’s not only healthy, but has worked out some mechanical kinks.

12 comments:

Ernest Dove said...

I might be wrong but does the recent darrel dfa mean that Nimmo and i guess cambell are the only 40man guys left who can play outfield?

Christopher Soto said...

Correct Ernest.....


40 man roster is in a bit of a bind right now....

Ernest Dove said...

I can't wait for Tom comment on the darrell dfa ;)

Reese Kaplan said...

Ceciliani is a superior fielder and baserunner to Campbell. We are chock full of infielders (Flores, Tejada, Reynolds, Herrera) to help should Wright go down with injury, so I don't buy the 3B argument. Plus, if you saw Campbell play 3B, he makes Flores look like a highlight reel whiz. He's had his shot to prove what he can do, and, like Nieuwenhuis and Recker before him, he's failed miserably. They should have given Ceciliani more of that chance given the superior glove and speed.

Tom Brennan said...

Ceciliani should have not been DFA'd, unless they felt he'd never get past hamstring issues to the point of being reliably available. They should have closed down the Soup Stand instead.

Mack Ade said...

Morning all -

I'm very surprised that Campbell wasn't DFA's and DC left in the 40-man.

The Mets are full of infielders now and DC still has the superior outfield skills to qualify as the 5th outfielder.

Very surprised.

Brian Joura said...

The Mets' strong play early in 2015 had extremely little to do with having 3 lefty relievers and everything to do with playing injured or no good teams from the NL East.

Mack Ade said...

Brian -

You make a good point.

All of us have to remember just how bad this lineup was in the first half of the season. Thank God we had that, what, ten game winning streak then.

TP said...

I agree with Tom and others on the DC DFA.

I would not deal K Plaw without receiving a disproportionate return. I love the depth right now. 40 man roster tough decisions are great things to have.

Christopher Soto said...

@Brian Joura....

Not saying the strong was BECAUSE of having 3 lefties....just saying that early in the season Terry Collins was thoroughly enjoying having and deploying 3 lefties.

Herb G said...

Interesting about the Cards. Prior to signing Ces, I had looked for a possible trade with them for Randal Grichuk. Plawecki + a prospect or two could have done it, but with Cespedes in the fold, that trade is moot.

Ernest Dove said...

I still personally see ZERO reason to trade one the two 40man catchers Mets have on roster. Especially in 2016 when tda and plaw are costing the mets peanuts in salary.