7/22/17

Reese Kaplan -- Tick-Tock, Sandy, Time's Running Out


Rumors, rumors, rumors that all have one thing in common.  They start off with “Team X has been scouting” or “Team Y has contacted the Mets about…”  Hmmn…is sitting and waiting for the phone to ring really the best strategy for building for the future?


Thus far we have heard rumors about Addison Reed being coveted by perhaps as many as six other teams.  The Yankees may or may not be in on Lucas Duda now that they’ve acquired Todd Frazier and must continue to pay Chase Headley.  The Indians have checked in on an Ohio homecoming for rent-a-slugger Jay Bruce.  Boston has checked in on Asdrubal Cabrera, Wilmer Flores and TJ Rivera.  Not a peep has been heard about Curtis Granderson nor Fernando Salas.

 With Neil Walker slated to return as soon as Monday, it’s possible he may generate some interest as well, though the one week audition before the non-waiver trade deadline is not likely going to mean anything.  His salary is so exorbitant that he can easily pass through waivers and have the month of August to show the rest of the baseball world that he’s indeed healthy. 

If any of you are handicapping this race, who’s betting the Mets will peddle some of their free-agents-to-be?  Personally, I would be shocked if a deal for anyone other than Asdrubal Cabrera is made.  Rumors abound that the Mets want to test drive Michael Conforto in CF quite a bit through the end of the year to see if making Jay Bruce a QO is a viable option.  If they are considering the QO or an extension, then Jay Bruce is probably off the table. 

Lucas Duda is heating up at the right time but his health history makes him a very difficult sell for another team.  He earns a little more than half of what Bruce does, so that aspect should make him somewhat more appealing.

The toughest one to move is likely Curtis Granderson given his age, salary and unimpressive numbers.  Perhaps he’s the one that must be bundled with Reed in order to get someone to bite (assuming the Mets pay down his salary). 

Let’s assume Cabrera leaves…what does that do to the Mets infield alignment?  As much as people want to see Amed Rosario, the fact is that they still have Neil Walker, Jose Reyes, TJ Rivera and Wilmer Flores for three infield positions.  It may be that they want to remove the alleged bad influences of Cabrera and Reyes before Rosario gets to leave Las Vegas. 

Personally, I would play Neil Walker long enough for another team to take him off your hands (assuming you are paying the lion’s share of his salary).  That opens up shortstop for Amed Rosario and some mix of TJ Rivera, Wilmer Flores and Jose Reyes (if he’s still around) manning the other infield positions.  With Lucas Duda likely not traded, Dom Smith will have to wait for a post September 1st call up when roster expand. 

Right?  Wrong?  What do you think?

16 comments:

Mack Ade said...

Hey Peter - read this one...

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/yoenis-cespedes-finish-career-article-1.3346051

Come on Sandy... send Yo home!

Tom Brennan said...

Mack, I saw that article. For the first time, I agree that it would be better for Yo to go. $110 million for 4 years, 3 1/2 to go, and he' lining for his old team. Really? Really?

Tom Brennan said...

Reese, I think we have pretty attractive trade assets. Even Grandy, although the crowded OF (including the return of Yo Yo) cut his time down to an ineffective limited-use July after a terrific June. Sandy needs to move Cabrera, Reed for a large ransom, and hopefully Duda by July 31, Walker in August. Save some millions now to spend this off season.

Matz could go too.

Unknown said...

Like this season isn't bad enough now Yo want's to be an Oakland A...can we oblige him? Guys what's the deal with Bruce if we keep him till the end of the season and give him a QO and another team sign's him we get a draft pick but last night on SNY they said the contract would have to be over $50 million to get the pick is that right?

Unknown said...

Another question Wright's contract is insured and the club is covered for 75% of it's value but I would guess there has to be a limit to it's length do any of you know?

Anonymous said...

Send YO to Oaktown for Ryon Healy! Send Duda to Seattle for Tyago Viera or whatever his name is! Send Assman Cabrera to Clev for Wildthing Vaughn! Send Reed to the Dodgers for Willie Calhoun plus an arm

Mack Ade said...

Gary -

The QO detai9ls have changed so much so I'm not sure what the answer to that is.

As for the Wright insurance deal, I've been told that, if Wright doesn't play a lick in 2018, the insurance will cover 100%

Reese Kaplan said...

@Gary -- Here's the info from a Forbe's article on the new CBA:

"Draft Pick Compensation: The changes are numerous and complex but address everything from the Qualifying Offer system to those that break the Luxury Tax.

Clubs may not tender a Qualifying Offer to a player who has previously received a Qualifying Offer.

The time period during which a player can accept a Qualifying Offer will be extended from 7 to 10 days.

Clubs signing a Free Agent subject to compensation will no longer forfeit a first round selection, but will be subject to the following:

A non-market disqualified Revenue Sharing Payee Club shall forfeit its third highest remaining selection in the next Rule 4 Draft.

A Luxury Tax offender shall forfeit its second-highest and fifth-highest remaining selections in the next Rule 4 Draft and shall have its
International Signing Bonus Pool (described below) reduced by $1,000,000 in the next full Signing Period.

All other Clubs shall forfeit their second-highest remaining selection in the next Rule 4 Draft and shall have their International Signing Bonus Pool reduced by $500,000 in the next full Signing Bonus Period.

All forfeited International Signing Bonus Pool monies will be distributed equally among all other Clubs. Competitive Balance Selections will be exempt from forfeiture.


A Former Club of a Free Agent subject to draft pick compensation will receive the following:

A non-market disqualified Revenue Sharing Payee Club shall receive a selection immediately following the first round of the draft if the player signs a contract with a total guarantee of $50 million or more.

Clubs that break the Luxury Tax threshold shall receive a draft selection immediately following the fourth round of the next Rule 4 Draft.
All other former clubs shall receive a selection immediately following the Competitive Balance Round B of the next Rule 4 Draft (which follows the second round)."

That Adam Smith said...

At some point, probably in the middle of your four of his contract, he Mets finally tire of Cespedes' act (long, long after the fans have) and DFA him. Billy Beane then swoops in and grabs him for the rest of the season at the ML minimum, watching him go on a huge tear carrying the A's to the postseason, while we pay for the privilege.

Sound about right?

Mack Ade said...

Reese -

Huh?

Mack Ade said...

Adam -

You REALLY ought to write for Mack's Mets...

Tom Brennan said...

Reese's QO rules just gave me an Excedrin headache!

Adam, in year 4 of Cespedes' contract, we'll probably find out he is really 40, not 35!

Unknown said...

Cheer up guys there's only 3 and half years left and we all loved the signing. My question is who really made the decision. He is who he is and management had to know his "game" much more than the fan base so did the FO as I "ass"-ume bid against themselves and if so they should be ashamed of themselves and someone should pay with his firing. Now having said all that we know were stuck with "Jeffy" who probably is the culprit here as the bottom line guy so were just _ _ _ _ _ _insert bad word here.

Tom Brennan said...

That's why some still call them the Wilponzis, Gary. They scheme, and things blow up in their faces.

Reese Kaplan said...

@Mack -- Lawyers write this way in order to require you to engage another lawyer to interpret what is actually being said.

Statement Analysis Blog said...

Reese Kaplan said...
@Mack -- Lawyers write this way in order to require you to engage another lawyer to interpret what is actually being said.
July 22, 2017 at 2:05 PM


Amen.

We should expect another hot streak by Cespedes. This home run drought can't last. However, if he seriously slumps (no hits, increased strike outs of balls out of the strike zone), I expect an injury and DL stint.

As to those who point blame at leadership more than Cespedes, there is much merit here.

The golfing defiance came BEFORE the big contract.

The Mets leadership are responsible. Alderson makes final decisions but internal debate can be, methinks, heated.

Alderson allows for debate, freely, but only to a point where the decision is made. He is a smart man. He is also very funny. He chooses his words carefully, but like all humans, even in humor, he cannot masquerade his "vinegar" or bitterness. This is why the Page Six Matt Harvey quip was important.

Reese,...good article.

Peter