Good Morning, Mets' fans.
I know that we still have a good portion of the 2018 season left to endure, but it is starting to reach the point where we need to look ahead to better days that hopefully start with the 2019 season. I know, some of you have been looking ahead since the middle of June and that is understandable with how the season went off the rails at that juncture.
Regardless of when you threw in the towel as a fan, what is crystal clear is that the team was not good enough to withstand the barrage of injuries that took place this season and MAJOR changes are needed between now and next April if things are going to be different.
The point of this entry is to take a quick look forward and to identify which players on the current roster will be a part of the solution. In my world, I call them "foundation pieces" and they will form the core of our next successful team.
So, what is a foundation after all? It is the base upon which you construct a house or other permanent structure and if you want your efforts to last, you select the strongest material that you can. To quote a recent Coldplay song "Viva La Vida", the last few Mets' teams were based completely on "pillars of sand" and when the foundation crumbled, so did the team.
No, what you want is a foundation that is much more solid than sand. Perhaps we could follow Ashford and Simpson's lead and build the next Mets' foundation as "solid as a rock"?
Enough with the music trivia, right?
Getting back to the topic at hand, what players on the current roster would be considered "solid" or an integral part of the future?
Here is my list, which includes a bit of projection and hope;
Peter Alonso (1B)
Jeff McNeil (2B)
Amed Rosario (SS)
Brandon Nimmo (LF)
Michael Conforto (RF)
Jacob DeGrom (SP1)
Noah Syndergaard (SP2)
Yes, there are only seven players on that list which is roughly 28% of a normal, "game day" roster. This does not mean that there are not useful pieces left on the forty man roster, like Zack Wheeler, Seth Lugo, Robert Gsellman or even Dominic Smith. Clearly, the team cannot go into the 2019 season with an seven man roster, right?
What I am trying to say is that the players on the aforementioned list are the foundation upon which the rest of the roster should be constructed. Some other players will be around for a bit due to contract status or other reasons, like Yoenis Cespedes, Jason Vargas, Todd Frazier and Jose Reyes (just kidding on the last one, I hope).
Others will force their way onto future rosters as they develop in the minor league system and we may see some new additions with free agency and/or trades taking place this winter. A great example of that should include moving pieces like Zack Wheeler and Wilmer Flores whose value has risen in 2018 but who are also free agents starting in 2020 (sell high while you can).
Until that picture becomes clearer, the seven players listed above will form the foundation of next year's team, in my humble opinion.
In what could be good news or bad news, that leaves the following positions open for change and improvement;
Catcher, Third Base, Center Field, SP's 4 and 5, along with most of the bullpen and a Closer.
What do your "foundation pieces" look like?
12 comments:
I think with Jake being the best starter in baseball, Wheeler in the last several weeks pushing his way into the top 10-20, Matz seemingly getting right, and Vargas reborn, the Mets have a good foundation right there to compete in 2019. So, I keep Wheeler - the potential for a steamroller rotation truly exists with these 4.
We need to replace Familia with a legit major league closer - I'd be very surprised if he'd come back, unless he loved NY. The pen is 27th in ERA in the majors - for the Mets to compete, it needs to be 10th or better in 2019. Wishful thinking won't get it there. So, while I like Paul Sewald, having a guy who is 0-11 in his career epitomizes what the Mets have to change. That is completely contradictory to a playoff contender. He can go pitch for Baltimore.
Morning
My list would be the same as yours plus SP Wheeler RP Drew Smith and swing pitchers Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman
And due to contractual reasons short term would be 3B Todd Frazier and longer term OF Yoenes Cespedes
Morning Fellas:
I am interested in the Mets changing there hitting attitude!
Getting away from the homer or nothing,to a hit n run,1st to 3rd,strikeout less team. I realize it takes time, but switching mcneil for Cabrera was a start.
Knowing Calllaway and Eiland came from Cleveland and KC,I believe next years BP,is top priority! look for guys like chad Allen,Andrew Miller, Holland coming in! With Miller hurt most of this season his price tag is coming down
I also would like the Mets to sign Wilson Ramos to catch
But this organization is wasting time having Austin Jackson batting 3rd and keeping Alonzo in the minors! They need to see what this guy can do,they have an opportunity to give him 100 at bats they should do it
Steve
I like your list and would prefer to add Wheeler to it rather than unload him for prospects over the winter. I don't know the reliever market but I am certainly up for fixing that problem by overdoing it. If there are two big time closers on the market, I would grab both. One for the 8th and another for the 9th. I like locking down the game confidently. Also, should the position players do what they did to Degrom this year again next year and we are not contenders, the model shows you can sell off high end relievers who are performing to those in the race at the trade deadline; limiting your long term risk for this overpay.
Last comment is that room needs to be created for Alonso to be tried properly. To me that is trading Bruce and providing $14 of his $28M to the trade partner. DFA Darnaud and trade Lagares as well. I am also OK with trading Flores to DH in the AL but I dont think he has as much value as you see. Nice hitter with low OBP and absolutely nowhere to hide him in the field
You're going to have to eat Lagares' money as well since he's on tap to earn $9 million in 2019. Furthermore, there is not much in the upper minors to replace him, so I'm in favor of keeping him.
You want to move Jay Bruce, then I have no problem with that. Understand, however, that even by paying down his salary you're not getting much of anything but 50% salary relief.
You are right Reese. Trading Lagares will require some Met money involved also. But I think the league does see his value as a defensive presence. He would be worth the $9M to us if he could stay healthy and hit .265 on the year. But his penchant for landing and staying on the DL is not getting by anyone. Bruce at $7M per year for someone is a steal playing in RF. He will go back to being a 25 - 30Hr guy and a team looking for power could buy it cheap with him if we are paying half the freight. I just think we need more higher average higher OBP guys on the field who can play defense. I would prefer 5-6 Nimmo types starting everyday who are adequate in the field and work counts, get walks and have the ability to smack many doubles over the all or nothing Bruces.
I just wish the rules involving 40 man roster and Super 2 could be suspended in September to allow a Sept call up of a guy like Alonso who, due to rapid minors progression, does not HAVE to be on the 40 man roster. Only slow developers in the minors eventually clog up 40 man roster spots, the ones who excel fast get screwed by rules.
Mets fans want to see Alonso NOW. Other teams' fans want to see their hot young prospects now, too.
Fix the rules, and give the game back to the fans.
I agree Anonymous......my style of team is built equally on run prevention (good defense, good pitching) AND run creation (contact hitters, speed and good fundamentals). The current set up is like a "beer league" softball team....all or nothing, which results in a deluge of runs one day, followed by five or six days of no runs, etc.
As much as I hated them, the old Cardinals' teams were very successful with this formula.
More Nimmo and McNeil types, as you stated.
Steve -
I wouldn't get excited about Jackson batting 3rd. The Mets are just trying to play out the string without any more injuries to their chips.
Mike -
The old Card also had 4-5 relievers that hit 95
Anonymous -
Re: Alonso
Peter might have screwed the pooch yesterday af6ter taking on both the Mets and Chris Carlin on Twitter
Totally stupid move for Alonso's camp. As far as the team goes we've spent way to much time signing/trading for DH type's. Flores played SS for years in the minors...WHY? Bruce, Duda and also Granderson, Reyes and Cabrera who we added who were not the players they used to be but because ownership doesn't play/trust young players the only way we get to see them is if a veteran gets hurt. This type of thinking MUST change and must of course start with our new GM....fingers crossed.
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