Tom Brennan - WHO IN THE METS MINORS CAN REALLY HELP IN 2019?

WHO IN THE METS MINORS CAN REALLY HELP IN 2019?

In two articles last week, wherein I outlined many players deserving of promotion to higher levels than they played at in 2018, the key question still remains:

Who in the system can help in 2019, and how much?

Jeff McNeil sure helped in 2018 as he far outperformed almost everyone’s expectations (yes, even mine, by a little bit)!  Who can help this team, realistically, in 2019?

FIRST BASE:

Peter Alonso – he ought to help a whole lot.  I believe that, if not traded, he will force his way into the line up and have rookie of the year potential.  

Dominic Smith is no longer a prospect (too many big league at bats) but could have some upside surprise in 2019 if he gets playing time and has a rebound season.

SECOND BASE/SHORTSTOP/THIRD BASE:

Andres Gimenez – he is a guy who could be up here early in the year, but I am guessing he will force his way into the picture by July 2018. 

Gavin Cecchini had largely a lost season due to injury, and lots of future competition – I am guessing he does not have much of a major league impact in 2019.  The free agency rules cite the following: "All Minor League Uniform Player Contracts between either a Major or a Minor League Club and a player who has not previously signed a contract with a Major or a Minor League Club shall be for a term of seven Minor League playing seasons."  

Since Gavin signed in 2012, 2019 would be his 8^th season, so unless I am mistaken, he would become a free agent this off season.  He may well want to try another opportunity, if one looks better. 

Levi Michael, if he remains in the organization after his fine season in AA, could be a call up utility candidate, as could Jack Reinheimer.  Both strike me as low-impact players if called up.

OUTFIELD:

Tim Tebow, if he continues to play, he could be a low-impact call up, most likely no earlier than July, more likely in September.  He’d still have a lot to prove in order to demonstrate he is good enough to be considered a legitimate major league back up outfielder.  

Kevin Kaczmarski seems like the second coming of Eric Campbell to me, lacking power, and if called up, would likely also be low impact.  

Past-the-prospect-stage Dominic Smith could be the first outfielder called upon, but it seems like with Nimmo, Conforto, Bruce, Lagares, Jackson, and even McNeil (once Gimenez is called up) as outfielders, Smith will have to really hit to force his way in there.

CATCHER:

Tomas Nido and Patrick Mazeika seem like weak back up candidates at least in early 2019.  Maybe their bats become backup-catcher-ready by mid-2019.  An area of team weakness.  

In a pinch in late 2019, Ali Sanchez might be able to handle some back up duties.

STARTERS:

Corey Oswalt and Chris Flexen no longer qualify for rookie status, and seem low impact at best.  

More than those two, Drew Gagnon might be the best spot starter available for 2019.  But would he be better than Rafael Montero, who could be back by sometime in May from Tommy John surgery?  Too early to tell.

If all goes well for them, Justin Dunn, Franklyn Kilome and David Peterson could be ready by mid-to-late 2019 as either rotation or pen arms.  If lucky, the Mets could get from them what they got from Gsellman and Lugo in late 2016.

BULLPEN:

On a team with one of the worst major league bullpens, Daniel Zamora has been very impressive since his call up, and the lefty might have a solid role in 2019.

Drew Smith is getting ample opportunity to prove he can cut it – so far, so good.  Hard throwing Tyler Bashlor and Gerson Bautista may be able to use their struggles this season as a springboard to at least modest major league bullpen success in 2019. 

Maybe Joshua Torres (solid in A ball in 2017 and great in AA, but horrid briefly in AAA) or Corey Taylor could be of marginal help in 2019, but the Mets would be better served, in my opinion, to sign a few real quality pen arms and not make the mistake in 2019, as they did in 2017 and 2018, of over-relying on marginal bullpen arms.

CONCLUSION:

Alonso and Gimenez are the cream of the crop for 2019 prospects in terms of expected major league impact.  Several pitchers may have an impact in the pen, and a few in the starting rotation later in 2019.  

This team needs to avoid the rash of injuries that plagued it in 2017 and 2018 in order to not continue to rush not-yet-fully-prepared guys to the majors.