Reese Kaplan -- Lay Off the Wilpons This Time

Some people routinely call me a downer, a pessimist, a Wilpon basher, an Alderson hater and the like.  They’re right, of course.  However, there are a few story lines coming out of this weekend in which I am put in the rare position of defending what the Mets are doing (or not doing, as the case may be).

Everyone here would be doing cartwheels and popping champagne if the Mets somehow landed Shohei Ohtani, a 24-year-old two-way player who would instantly fortify the suspect rotation and add a good extra outfield bat as well.  I chided the Wilpons and Sandy Alderson to try to make it happen.

Much to everyone’s surprise the Mets made the gesture of filling out his handler’s questionnaire about how they would use the player and what the team and city could offer to the unique Japanese talent.  Sandy Alderson had given a half-hearted comment about wooing him here, “I don’t think there is a downside into looking into it.  I think the only downside is creating a false set of expectations among fans that have to be tempered. This guy can go to any one of 30 teams.”

Well, Sunday night word came out (to no one’s surprise) that the Mets are out of the bidding and many will hold the Wilpons’ and Alderson’s feet to the fire for again taking half measures into building a competitive product that actually has a chance at approaching the post-season.  There are plenty of reasons to bash the guys who cut the checks and make the personnel decisions, but in this case it’s unwarranted.

Apparently Ohtani is interested in West Coast and small market teams.  (Cue the jokes about how the Wilpons operate like a small-market team).  If anyone could push their hostility aside for a moment, apparently the others told sayonara include the Yankees, Athletics, Braves, Brewers, Diamondbacks, Pirates, Rays, Red Sox and Twins.  Notice that the Dodgers, Giants, Mariners and Padres are not on this list (though oddly Oakland is).  I don’t know how much smaller markets they have in mind than The Brewers, Rays or Pirates.  Note that the Mets fit neither the West Coast nor small market preferences, so short of relocating the franchise, there was nothing that could be done to lure him here. 

Similarly, it was reported that the Marlins have worked out the frameworks for deals to either the Cardinals or Giants to move their $295 million man, Giancarlo Stanton, in order to make Derek Jeter able to save enough money to pay cash for the big private jet.  He gets a pass for doing that, but the boo birds are out in force squawking once again about the cheap Wilpons and gutless Sandy Alderson. 

I’ve seen articles all over the place chastising the Mets for not getting into this trade/payroll war.  Would they benefit from the addition of Stanton to their roster?  Just getting him out of an opponent’s lineup might be worth it alone.  Despite his huge injury history, he’s clubbed 35 homers and driven in 81 in just 108 games against the Mets.

Regardless of what it would take in talent and payroll dollars to get him to put down roots in Queens, Stanton has been quite vocal about preferring to play for a contending team or one closer to his California roots.  Again, do the Mets meet either of these criteria (not to mention do they have the talent or payroll flexibility to take on Stanton’s A-Rod-like contract?

I’m sorry to douse the gasoline on the fire, but the answer is once again a resounding no.  Furthermore, the size of that contract and the long injury history would be setting yourself up for another David Wright debacle.  No, Mets fans, not getting Stanton is dodging a bullet.

Of course, by NOT spending money on Ohtani or Stanton the folks who make the turnstiles rotate are doubly anxious to see the club spend money on improving the team where they actually do have the opportunities to do so.  Expect with the Winter Meetings starting next week that the already restless natives are going to come out with pitchforks and torches when the likes of Mike Moustakas, J.D. Martinez and others wind up inking deals with other clubs.  That’s to be expected.  However, save your energy for another week for legitimate complaints.  Neither Ohtani nor Stanton would come here based upon their own personal desires.