Mack’s Morning Report – 8-3 – Merandy Gonzalez, Cold Stove, Tomas Nido, Addison Reed

Good morning.

Merandy Gonzalez –

            I really don’t like this deal.

Normally, I’m the first to tell you that the first role of prospect chips is to produce trades for established major league baseball players that have proven they can be successful at the major league level. But, two top prospects for a 30+ relief pitcher that is going to cost you around $8.5mil next year in his last year before free agency?

And trading Merandy Gonzales? Really? Guys, he was one of the top three SP prospects in your pipeline.

I guarantee this one will come back at us in spades, unless we manage to re-negotiate a couple more years for the services of AJ Ramos.

Cold Stove -

Here’s the Hot Stove tally –

We get A.J. Ramos for around $8.5mil next year. We lose Lucas Duda for more if he stayed.

We get RP Drew Smith and lose SP Merandy Gonzalez and OF Ricardo Cespedes… but first base opens for Dominic Smith.

We get three top 30 prospects from Boston (all relievers: Gerson Bautista, Jamie Callahan, Stephen Nogosek) for the expiring Addison Reed

Tomorrow's 'Talkin' Baseball' question asks the Mack's Mets writers what they think about the results of the Hot Stove season that ended on Monday. 

I'm giving you an advanced look at mine.

First, I take out all the expiring contracts. They really mean nothing to me at this point.

This leaves the Mets acquiring a seasoned, successful closer, a potential 8th inning guy next season, and three more relievers that were ranked in another team's top 30 prospects.

We lose two top 30 prospects who were a top rated starter and a long term projected outfielder.

Based on this, I like what happened. No, we didn't get any blue chip prospect, but we might have firmed up the system's pen pipeline for quite a few years.

If Ramos pitches great next season and signs an extension, and Smith turns out to be what the scouts project him to be, this was a good day even if the three Red Sox pitchers flub out.

I give it a B.

Tomas Nido –

            Fangraphs had this scouting report on Nido this week –

CONCLUSIONS - Using a solid and powerful frame, Tomas Nido has appeared in two mid-season All-Star Games this year. He has upside in his hitting tool and may turn his raw power into a genuine skill that improves with age and experience. Solid on defense, Nido may be among the next “home grown” prospects to make the major league Mets club. Nido does not have speed and he won’t steal bases. He does, however, have a good enough defensive skill set with good mechanics to help pitchers on the Mets’ staff. Once his development is complete, Mets fans may expect an acceptable batting average, credible power, and good defensive skills in his overall approach to games. No single tool will be enough for Nido to grasp a starting catching job on a winning team. I do, however, think he will find his way to the Mets’ 25-man roster one day. His future will depend upon catching depth the Mets (don’t) acquire or develop in the next year or two.

SCOUTING PHRASE FOR NIDO: an improving catcher with power, but no one tool that overwhelms

SCOUTING GRADE FOR NIDO: 45 – A backup catcher at the major league level

Addison Reed –

           Fangraphs rated Addison Reed vs. the rest of the relievers during the Hot Stove season –

Reed is great because he doesn’t have crazy platoon splits and can get lefties and righties out and strikes everyone out and walks nobody. He’s probably your ‘best’ reliever that was traded at the deadline. Smith has that arm slot that is tough on righties, but also admitted to me earlier this season that he was throwing the four-seam more than ever “because now even righties have the swing to lift the low pitch because of launch angle and homers and getting paid,” and that you “have to be able to pitch in on guys.”