THE GM CANDIDATES HAVE SPOKEN by Tom Brennan

THE GM CANDIDATES HAVE SPOKEN by Tom Brennan

The GM candidates have weighed in on what the team should look like in 2017,  Keep in mind this is the initial debate, without moderators, and the candidates can change their positions in the weeks to come without being accused of flip flopping.  

Now, let's hear from our four candidates:

1)  GM Reese Kaplan:  Keep Lucas Duda but have a REAL plan B. He should be a bargain for a 30 HR hitter at around $6.5 million. That Plan B could be handing Michael Conforto a 1st baseman's glove, or letting Wilmer Flores have the position outright. I'd also get Travis d'Arnaud some reps at 1B to help keep his fragile body intact for once.

DON'T make a QO to Neil Walker. Have we learned nothing from David Wright, Lucas Duda and others from back injuries? He would likely take it to reestablish his value as he is in a poor negotiating position now until he proves he's healthy. I would Hand TJ Rivera and/or Wilmer Flores the job, (or Jose Reyes if, by some miracle, David Wright can play).

Cabrera

Sensing a theme here, Rivera, Flores and Reyes are your backup plans should Wright discover he can't play.

Find a catcher.

LF will go to Michael Conforto when Cespedes departs.

CF is a platoon of Lagares and Nimmo.

RF is Jay Bruce

Rotation is Syndergaard, de Grom, Harvey, Matz and Wheeler with Colon and Gsellman in the wings as backup starters. Lugo is trade bait.

Pen should include Familia, Reed, Salas, Robles, Blevins, Edgin and Smoker.

The challenge is to find a durable catcher who can hit and play the field. Wilson Ramos can hit but isn't durable. I'm not sure who that might be.

Also, you know how the story will be spun -- getting back Wright and Duda more than makes up for the power losses of Cespedes and Walker.

IMPRESSIVE COMPILATION BY GM KAPLAN - HE'S HIRED - BUT WAIT, THE OTHER CANDIDATES STILL NEED TO WEIGH IN:

2)  GM Mike:  1B: Duda, with Flores backing up. 2018 is for Smith

2B: Walker walks - no QO. Probably Reyes, but otherwise open competition for Flores, Rivera, Cecchini. KJ also in the mix. Savings for Yo.

SS: Asdrubal

3B: Unfortunately they have to let Wright try to stay healthy and reclaim 3B. Reyes backing him up. If Wright plays, Reyes to 2B.

C: Biggest need for improvement in trade or FA. Go get that solid veteran defensive C who can hit. It'll make a huge difference. 

LF: Gotta ink Yo. 4 yrs, $100MM+. If not, it's a scramble to replace him.

CF: Lagares, with a bit of Conforto/Nimmo.

RF: Pick up the Bruce option. But then gotta trade either Bruce or Grandy. Could argue either way, but either of these guys will be here max just one more year before Conforto takes his permanent place in RF.

Bullpen: - always look for more quality depth

Let walk: De Aza, Walker, Loney

2018, more saving$ as Duda, plus Grandy/Bruce depart.

IMPRESSIVE COMPILATION BY GM MIKE - HE'S HIRED - BUT WAIT, THE OTHER CANDIDATES STILL NEED TO WEIGH IN:

3)  GM RICHARD CAMARDI:  Rotation- Thor, deGrom, Matz, Harvey, Gsellman

Pen- Re-Sign Colon, Salas, Blevins, Reed, still have Familia, Robles, Smoker, Lugo

1b- Conforto/Flores 

2b- Walker, T.j. Rivera

3b- Reyes (Re-Sign Kelly Johnson) 

SS- Asdrubal

I love David Wright but its time he calls a quits he's only hurting the team if he tries to play

Catcher- Rene Rivera/ Sign Matt Wieters switch hitting catcher, that gives you 4 everyday switch hitters in the lineup

Lf- Cespedes 

Cf-Grandy/ Lagares 

Rf- Bruce/ Lagares or pick up his option trade Bruce stick Grandy in right, Lagares in center with Nimmo the 4th OF (Take Nimmo out of that for now - it would make 26 players)

Didn't include Wheeler because I can't see him coming back and if he does great just push Gsellman back and stick him in there! 

I'm a huge fan of T.J Rivera but this team wants to win a championship and you can't do that with a ghy entering his 1st full season in the bigs who in my opinion has horrible range at 2nd, at least with Walker you can expect .280/.340/.460 20-25 dings 75 Steaks and quality to above average defense. 

Keep Rene Rivera as backup catcher and Syndeergaard's personal catcher.

If Conforto doesn't pan out at 1b and Bruce has a hot start you can always flip him get a 1b or promising prospect and stick Conforto in Rf or Cf

IMPRESSIVE COMPILATION BY GM RICHARD CAMARDI - HE'S HIRED - BUT WAIT, THE FOURTH CANDIDATE STILL NEEDS TO WEIGH IN:

4)  GM TP:    The Mets, like most every other team, have multiple issues that require decisions, and not all of them can be done in the preferred order. So, I see two main issues that require contingency planning. These are Cespedes and Wright. Barring an unlikely splurge, the Mets cannot control the timetable of either, nor can they control the outcome of the DW question mark. 

So, I suggest the following:
1. Re-sign Duda and Bruce as hedges against Cespedes leaving.

2. Upgrade at catcher if possible without overpaying. Even with the Met offensive struggles and a Cespedes defection, defense comes first and some RH pop is most desirable.

3. Obtain another big bullpen arm that can provide Familia insurance or bump him to the 8th and Reed to the 7th. This can be done with a internal option should all the big arms be recovered and performing next spring.

4. With Cespedes back the OF will be overcrowded, which will require dealing Bruce or Grandy. I like Lagares/Nimmo in CF, with Grany/Conforto seeing time there if needed.

5. Walker had a very good year and provided veteran leadership but I only bring him back if DW retires and he is still available.  

6. Colon would be a nice insurance policy but only on a one year deal.

Should they retain Cespedes, Colon, offer Duda arbitration, and shift one of their excess young powerarms to the back of the bullpen, the only real acquisition needed is at C, which they can trade excess assets to obtain. I m very high on 2017, with or without Yo.

IMPRESSIVE COMPILATION BY GM TP - HE'S HIRED!!!

WAIT, I CAN'T HIRE ALL 4!

FOUR BASEBALL GENIUSES AND FABULOUS GM CANDIDATES READY FOR HIRE, WHAT'S AN OWNER LIKE ME TO DO IN DETERMINING WHICH ONE TO HIRE?  

HMM, I'LL USE 2 TRIED AND TRUE SELECTION TECHNIQUES:

1) EENIE MEENIE MINIE MO METHOD - takes the thinking out of it.  I like that.

OR

2) Do what the Wilpons do - hire the cheapest guy out there.  Any of you guys want to take this job for what Sandy is already making?  All four of you do?  How about the minimum wage?  All 4 still want the job?  Shucks.

That didn't work, so I'll stick with Eenie Meanie Minie Mo, and pick…

Wait, a 5th candidate, some guy named Christopher Columbus, just applied.  He is a big fan of old school baseball, so we will have to defer our GM hiring decision for now.

Have a great day, one and all. Especially if you, like me, have Columbus Day off!