Reese Kaplan -- Grading the Off Season Thus Far

For the most part the off-season has started off positively.  First came the surprising hire of Mickey Calloway after being led to believe there was a Kevin Long or Manny Acta leadership in the team’s future.  That move caught pretty much everyone by surprise as it was so un-Mets in its creativity.

Next came the filling out of the coaching staff.  Here it became a bit more puzzling.  The AL-oriented manager picked an AL pitching coach, an AL bench coach and an AL first base coach.  All of them were established baseball men who were coming with strong reputations but not bilingual.  That was somewhat surprising. 

For a hitting coach they stayed in-house with the promotion of little known Pat Roessler who was Kevin Long’s assistant.  They also retained the services of Glenn Sherlock to reprise his role as third base coach and catching instructor.  I have no problem with that, but he becomes the primary person with NL experience to aid the manager by his side to help him get acquainted with the league (except that he is not the bench coach – that job went to Gary DiSarcina). 

After saying he was a part of the housecleaning, they did retain bilingual Ricky Bones to work in the bullpen as he had under the previous (and mercifully ended) administration.  It’s good that they have someone who speaks Spanish to help relate to some of the players with limited English skills, but how much impact can he have on, say, Yoenis Cespedes or Amed Rosario, when he’s out in the bullpen throughout the game?

The other area which is a little surprising was on the roster cuts made to free up room on the 40-man roster.  Gone were such familiar names as Erik Goeddel and Phil Evans.  Evans has already indicated he’s willing to come back on a minor league deal.  That’s good.

What’s not good is that other AAAA types of players like Matt Reynolds and Josh Smoker are still around occupying roster slots.  Does anyone honest fear either of them would go on to become respectively the next Addison Russell or Aroldis Chapman?  If so, get something in trade.  If not, then why not use those spots to protect more players from December’s Rule V draft?

Then, of course, there are the status quo maneuvers.  Bringing back Jerry Blevins is good.  Bringing back Asdrubal Cabrera is less so.  Given the very limited resources the Mets have to spend on players I’d have sooner seen them part ways with Cabrera and spend that $6.5 million on starting pitching, a quality reliever or an outfielder.  Cabrera was much improved at 3^rd vs. SS or 2B but was still a liability.  His offense was acceptable for what was being paid but if you’re going to act like a small market team then don’t go halfway and take borderline players instead of developing younger ones. 

Finally there is the other huge positive -- inking an agreement to move the AAA franchise to nearby Syracuse.  Not only does that make it geographically more convenient to get players to Queens, but it also lets them develop in an environment more conducive to showing what they really can do.  There should be no more Eric Campbell type inflated numbers.  

It’s early yet and anything’s possible, but thus far it’s a weak B- to me.  You can only ride that Callaway A+ for so long when other aspects drag down your grade.