Q and A - Dark Horse Candidate

Reese Kaplan asks –

You're now exactly one month away from pitchers and catchers reporting, but the Mets only have 3 healthy outfielders on the roster, no definitive answer at second base, questions in the bullpen and tenuous health in the rotation.  Which problem do you address first (and how)?

The Mets have very few "givens" on the team.  Beyond Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Jeurys Familia, Jerry Blevins, Jay Bruce, Yoenis Cespedes and Michael Conforto (when healthy) and even Matt Harvey (when healthy), no one else is pretty much a lock to a give star caliber performance.  Who is your dark horse candidate to take a quantum leap forward into this category?

            Michael Friere says –

The question clearly lays out most of the remaining "issues" on the roster and what the Mets may need to do between now and the start of the regular season.   If I were to rank the four issues raised in this question, I would list them from most important to least important, as follows;

Second Base - the glaring hole on the roster, in my opinion.  A ton of names have been bandied about, with the latest entry being Howie Kendrick.  I am actually intrigued by HK because he is a solid, veteran both on the field and in the clubhouse (by all accounts) AND he would only need a one or two year contract to sign.  That would cover the position in the short term, but it would also keep it open in 2019 or 2020 when Mr. Guillorme is ready to take over.

***Not listed in the question, but I look at 3B as a problem area and I would rank that #2 right now (Cabrera would be a solid utility infielder for the bench).

Bullpen - still a bit light from the left side, but there are still options on the free agent market so all is not lost.  Overall bullpen depth may take care of itself if anyone within the "small village" of relief pitchers we have at AA and AAA produce in 2018 and ascend to the parent club.  Still a need, but not as big of an issue as 2B and/or 3B.

Starting Pitchers - if our projected rotation stays healthy, we are in decent shape for the season and we would have enviable depth in the bullpen or in AAA.   Unfortunately, none of us have a crystal ball, so it is hard to say what will happen.   Odds are, someone will miss time with an injury, but you hope it isn't someone like Thor or Jake.  I would love another veteran starter for depth and security, but like the previous entry, our money needs to go other places, first.

I predict that Sandy will address Second Base and he will also add another bullpen arm before Spring Training begins, with the other issues addressed from within.              

Jack Flynn says –

Brandon Nimmo has finally graduated from his long apprenticeship as a developing major league baseball player. He is ready for a starting job on the Mets in 2018 and has earned the opportunity to play center field and bat leadoff against right handed pitching.

The old rules for leadoff hitters no longer apply. You don’t need 50 steals from a guy with a .325 OBP and no power (I’m looking at you, Dee Gordon). You really need 10-15 steals with a .375 OBP and moderate power. A player like that scores 100 runs a season batting in front of the likes of Conforto and Cespedes. That’s Nimmo.

His selectiveness is not the result of tentativeness – it is ingrained into his skill set. Bat Nimmo first, eighth or anywhere in between – his fundamental approach is going to be selective and to take walks when the pitcher will give them. This skill set best lends itself to a Top 2 position in the lineup, unless that player also develops into a .300 hitter, a 20+ home run hitter or both. That’s probably not Nimmo.

The player I’ve recently been comparing Nimmo to in conversation is Seth Smith. My hope is that he will turn out to be better than Smith defensively, which will allow Nimmo to capably man center field for the next five years. If not, and Nimmo only turns out to be a left fielder who can stand in center or right field without embarrassing himself, it’s going to be a disappointing outcome for a controversial first-round pick.

Tom Brennan says –

I would list 5 who might have a breakthrough season in 2018 and move towards star caliber, in this order:

1) Wilmer Flores - if he gets the playing time, he could put up big numbers, even if his defense reminds everyone of Chuck Hiller.

2) Steve Matz - started his career 10-1, what can he do with his experience, if he can really be healthy?  Which he says he is.

3) Amed Rosario - he has the talent to be really good starting in 2018, and getting better from there.

4) Juan Lagares - superior D, and if he can get his bat to average MLB outfield caliber, he is clearly an above-average player in 2018.

5) Travis d'Arnaud - he may never be a stellar defensive catcher, but if he stays healthy, his bat could really produce.

Mack says –

                        Dark stars outside this team? I have no idea.

Frankly, I believe that the next big star on this team will be SS Amed Rosario. I don’t see him being moved to second. I expect him to settle in there for 5+ years, and the Mets eventually dealing off Andres Gimenez in a future deal.

Reese Kaplan says –

I would address the 2B issue the way Mack has previous outlined.  Play Wilmer Flores for half a season starting on day one and see what you have while Luis Guillorme plays every day at AAA.  If his defense is worse than what Daniel Murphy provided, and the offense isn't what is hoped, then you hand the job over to Guillorme or T.J. Rivera when he's ready to play again.

I would certainly like to see them trade A.J. Ramos to free up salary dollars and then add two lower tier free agents with solid performances such as the Seung-Hwan Oh and Matt Albers. 

I would leave the rotation as it is with the big five and Montero, Lugo and Gsellman in the wings.