Mack Ade – Donations, Giancarlo Stanton, Harol Gonzalez, Jonathan Lucroy, Edwin Encarnacion

Good morning.

You might have noticed that I have once again put up a donation box over on the right hand, top side of the cover page of Mack’s Mets. We’ve done this in the past.

There’s no hidden agenda here. I administrate the site using Blogger, which has no way to set up a fixed, monthly subscription rate. Instead, I have relied on donations to help me raise funds to replace my computer, pay for a printer, etc.

Nothing has changed for me. I’m a Viet Nam Vet. Disabled.  And haven’t drawn a full time paycheck in over 10 years.

Anything is appreciated at any time of the year.

No donation… no biggie.

NJ.com had a story about the possibility of the Miami Marlins offering up the services of their mega-star, Giancarlo Stanton, to multiple teams, including the New York Mets. I love the idea but I can’t see their nutzo owner beginning the process of breaking down this team for the umpteenth time.

Still, one can dream, but what exactly would the Mets offer up to close this deal?

They aren’t going to deal pitcher Noah Syndergaard and Matt Harvey isn’t healthy enough yet to make any of the trade wires.

Miami needs an SP to replace their fallen ‘cigarette boat’ captain (jeez… cigarette boat… cocaine… Miami… accident on the water… ), and no matter how you try to sell it, Steven Matz, Zack Wheeler, and Jacob deGrom are still coming back from the IR.

So who else?

Robert Gsellman, Amid Rosario, and Michael Conforto?

I always like to keep tract of starters in the Mets organization because I believe that the success of this team always will fall in line behind this position.

MiLB.com has an article out naming the top Mets prospects, by position, and here is one of the two SPs listed in this article (P.J. Conlon was the other one -

Right-handed starter -- Harol Gonzalez, Brooklyn (14 games): Just about every part of Gonzalez's stat line for Class A Short Season Brooklyn in 2016 jumps out at first glance. In 85 innings the 21-year-old struck out 88 batters and walked 17 while posting a 2.01 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. Gonzalez was also able to keep the ball in the yard for Brooklyn, allowing only two homers all season.

"He's always been a guy that's had a good feel for pitching," Morgan said. "What we started to see this year was him putting together the command with his mentality. He's very smart and cerebral, so he's able to get a feel for what the opposing team is trying to do and adjust accordingly. He came into his own and began understanding himself and executed this season."

The Dominican Republic native put together his best stretch from July 14 to August 26 when he allowed just three earned runs over 46 2/3 innings.

We will see Gonzalez in Columbia this spring and is on target to be ready for Queens in 2020.

My friends over at Mets360 had a great story this morning on their projected 2018 Mets. It included –

The Mets should sign Jonathan Lucroy to catch. He will add a solid veteran bat to the lineup. At first base, the Mets should add a veteran first baseman to platoon with Smith. Sign John Jaso. Jaso would provide the Mets a good option to play first base in addition to Smith at a very reasonable price. He could also do some catching and play the outfield as well. The Mets should look to conserve money here because the big bonanza of free agents comes after the 2018 season. Manny Machado would look awfully good in a Mets uniform. Sign Lorenzo Cain to play center field. Lucroy will demand the most money, but Jaso and Cain both could be signed for a fairly reasonable price and leave some room for going after Machado after the 2018 season.

I always have a hard time looking this far forward. I’m still trying to figure out who is going to be my third reliever, my starting catcher, and my center fielder (if Yoenes Cespedes isn’t signed) in 2017.

Free-agent 1B-DH Edwin Encarnacion turned down a four-year, $80 million deal from the Blue Jays, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag. The Blue Jays recently signed free-agent DH Kendrys Morales to a three-year, $33 million contract, though Heyman believes they still have interest in Encarnacion to be their first basemen.  Encarnacion, who turns 34 years old in January, hit .263 with a .357 OBP and .529 SLG with 42 HR and 127 RBI this past season for Toronto.

          I’ve always been one to support the signing of ‘prime meat’ for multiple years. Encarnacion would be a wonderful 3-4 year option for my team at first base, making Dominic Smith the most valuable first base trade chip in the business.

Your thoughts?