Q and A - Amed Rosario or Andres Gimenez

Michael Friere asks –

           "With Amed Rosario looking like the future at SS, what should the Mets do with Andres Gimenez"?

           Mack said –

I study Civil War battles. Both armies fought each battle with ‘artillery on the hill’, and their armies split on both flanks, plus the center.

The General will then move his troops from center to flank based on where those soldiers are needed; however, they will never weaken their center so the enemy army can split their forces.

(Another example of middle field defense)

It looks like Rosario will have as long a job at short that Jose Reyes had the first time he was a Met. Thus, baring injuries, we need to find a home for our number one prospect.

And he is that. Some will point out that his numbers faded last year, but let’s remember he was only 18 and only played in Columbia because of injuries to their original shortstop.

We also must remember that he put up enormous numbers as a 17-yr. old in 2016 for the DSL Mets (347-AB, .350/.465/.523/988).

I have found no proof that Gimenez has ever played a game at third base, but that’s the ‘flank’ that needs the most defense on this team.

I would do everything humanly possible to make him a third baseman, while knowing he could always return to short if Rosario went down.

Reese Kaplan says –

           Andres Gimenez is a great  unknown at this point.  Yes, his numbers look good.  As a combined 17/18 year old he has turned in an impressive .298/7/69 with 27 SBs and nearly as many walks as strikeouts over an aggregate of about one season's worth of 561 ABs.  Perhaps most impressive for a youngster is his with nearly as many walks as strikeouts leading to an OBP of .397.  Rosario likely has more power but perhaps a tick less speed.

First of all, Gimenez is probably 3 or more years away.  A lot can happen in the next 3+ years with Amed Rosario and with Gimenez.  Suppose one fails to develop as expected or gets injured.  If that happens to Rosario, how nice would it be (for a change!) to have a backup ready to step into his shoes?

Second, suppose Rosario starts a solid career track in the mold of Barry Larkin.  Then you can trade one of them as Rosario approaches his arbitration years or Gimenez approaches the majors.  Get back quite a haul either way.

However, to trade Gimenez now is to sell low on him as he's very far away from the majors.  Of course, no one is untouchable and if the right return was offered then you have to pull the trigger, let development risk/reward transfer to another organization and reap the immediate benefit of whomever is offered back to you.  Still I think the smart play right now is once again to play to Sandy's Alderson's great strength sitting tight and doing nothing.

Michael Friere says –

           The Mets seem to have focused on drafting and/or signing players over the past few cycles that ALL play SS.  I suppose part of that is coincidental, but it is also due to high school, college and developmental teams putting their best all around players at the position (regardless of where they will eventually end up).

For example, Alex Rodriguez started at SS as did Manny Machado, before both players were moved to a different position by their respective clubs. I am confident that Amed Rosario will be the future at SS for the Mets, despite his "rough" adjustment period towards the end of the 2017 season.  That is a blessing and a curse, since the system has quite a few prospects waiting in the wings to play the same position, to include Andres Gimenez.

There seems to be a shortage of prospects that can play 3B, so why not move Andres to third? He is still at least two or three seasons away from MLB, so he can work out the kinks and become the future at the position for the Mets. By all accounts, he should be able to handle the position defensively.  He is not likely to be a prototypical "power bat" but how many teams have a slugging third baseman anymore?

Eddie Corona says –

            Amed Rosario looking like the future? says who... 

Now I am not saying he will not be the future but when Rosario is a top 5 rated prospect in all of baseball, rated to be an excellent fielder, plus runner, and can hit for Average and power well that comes with some expectations... Expectations like some recent Shortstops like F. Lindor, C. Correra, C. Seager and X. Boegart.

Did Rosario remind you of any of them?

My untrained scouting assessment did not scream Superstar or even Allstar player... Could it click for Rosario. Absolutely... Should you just give up on his 2 month audition in the Majors? Definitely not...

But Scouts are paid to make assessments and I was not impressed...

I would just as soon trade Rosario for a potential young superstar (Machado, Yelich, Etc) as I am ready to keep him...

No I am not ready to hand the Position to Rosario for the next 7 years. He need to prove his hype and promise is worthy of that...

Best way to know a star... You just know when you see them... Well what I saw from Citi field was a weak exit velocity off the bat, Soft singles and horrible plate discipline. He can run and his defense was better than anything we have seen since Reyes was in his twenties... But that's a low bar...

I am officially on the Andres Gimenez watch and starting his clock to the Majors... and hoping we trade Rosario while his value is at his highest...

Tom Brennan says –

            Gimenez needs to drive this issue with his progress.  In 2018, he fielded great, showed good speed, only a little power....but he was just 18.  Maybe he packs on 25 pounds of beef by age 20 and his power ramps up, and he could be a great 2B or 3B.

 Or maybe, as good a shortstop as Rosario is, Gimenez will be better....if so, he should take SS and Rosario moved to 3rd.   

I think that Gimenez could show up by late 2019, and it will be much clearer then, based on his progress.