Mack’s Apple’s – 11-23-17 - Noah Syndergaard, Eric Hanhold, Kenneth Bautista, Fredy Valdez, Manny Machado

Good morning.

Who can become baseball's next next superace ? -

Noah Syndergaard, New York Mets: It was a lost season for Syndergaard, who made five starts before going down with a lat tear (he returned to make two abbreviated appearances at the end of the season). He has said he learned a lesson from getting too muscular in his offseason workouts heading into 2017 and will scale back this winter. We know the upside: A 2.60 ERA over 183 innings in 2016 with a league-leading 2.29 FIP. In the 30 innings he did pitch this year, he fanned 34 and didn’t allow a home run. Aside from the raw stuff, his ability to limit home runs is a huge positive in this new era of home runs.

6-5 Eric Hanhold was identified as the ‘player to be named later’ in the trade of 2B Neil Walker to the Baltimore Orioles.

Hanhold is another right-handed reliever with a big arm, was originally drafted in the 6^th round of the 2015 draft, out of the University of Florida, by Milwaukee.

I never had this kid on my draft board because he pitched three years as a reliever for Florida and his best ERA was 4.20 (2014). He didn’t fare any better for Milwaukee, even when they converted him to a full-time starter in 2016 at the A+ level (19-starts, 2-12, 4.81).

He did turn it around a little last season (A-Carolina: 30-G, 3-starts, 8-3, 3.94, especially in the second half of the season where he posted a stat line of 1.53, 1.09-ERA.

I have him breaking camp with the Binghamton team this spring.

I talked earlier this week to Mets outfield prospect, Kenneth Bautista, down in Puerto Rico.

Bautista lives in Carolina, Puerto Rico and he told me that he is blessed to have his power on at him home. Not everyone is that lucky down there with the island still estimating that over 50% of the island is without power.

Bautista was a 25^th round draft pick, in 2015, out of the Puerto Rican Baseball Academy, in Gurabo, Puerto Rico.

The 19-year old hit .264/.383/.450/833 in 129-at bats for the GCL Mets last season. He had 43 strikeouts, but balanced that off with 22 walks.

I’ve got him going to Kingsport this spring.

Baseball America is reporting that the Mets are the favorite to sign 15-year old corner outfielder, Freddy Valdez. He’s 6-3 and known for his ’raw power’.

           

I find it very interesting that Baltimore hasn’t begun any extension discussions with 3B Manny Machado. He has one year left on his contract and it’s no big secret that the Orioles have plans to move him to shortstop so one of their prospects can take over the hot corner.

Let’s remember Machado was a top SHORTSTOP prospect in the minors and only moved to third because of team injuries at that position.

I can’t imagine the Orioles giving up on this guy, but I’ve seen many players with huge salary demands be dealt off before the team loses them anyway.

Could we get this guy for the 2018 season and beyond?

David Rubin says I’m nuts here and this guy would never sign a deal with the Mets. Rubin has good contacts, both at the team and league level, so he may be right, but, if it was possible, what could the Mets offer here?

You know how I hate projecting phantom trades, but Machado is worth the effort here.

The first thing the Mets would have to work out with Machado’s agent is a trade and extend deal, somewhere in 4-5 years attached to the 2018 commitment. Remember… Machado will only be 25 years old next season!

Machado will obviously cost $30+mil a season.

In addition, I would offer 4 players.

To start, either 3B David Thompson or SS Luis Guillorme. The Orioles would need some infield depth on that side of the field and they can decide what position they would like to fortify (I would hate to lose Luis, but baseball is first a business).

Next, an SP… I’d give them three…

One at the MLB level… Seth Lugo.

Next, a top high level prospect… they can pick one from Chris Flexen, Marcos Molina, or Corey Oswalt.

And last, a low level pitcher… either Thomas McIlraith or Jason Viera.

Is it enough to get him?

Well, it would first take Machado and the Mets to work out a new deal. If they could do that, this is a good haul for a team that is going to lose this guy anyway in a year.