Mike Freire - Fleeting Thoughts (Post Trade Edition)

Good Morning, Mets' fans!

I am putting this article together on Monday (12-03-18), so who knows how accurate this will end up being by the time it posts on Thursday morning?  Apparently, our new GM has a penchant for staying aggressive, so we may have another trade or two to digest between now and then. With that being said, I am going to try and keep an open mind during what is shaping up to be a very active Mets' off season. 

Yeah, I know....let's get on with it already!

1.  On the basic topic of our new General Manager (BVW), one thing that is certain is that he is NOT boring!  You have to think that he shared his vision with the Wilpons prior to getting the job offer, so they have signed off on this activity in a round about way.  I think that is potentially promising news because the Robinson Cano trade was an aggressive, "win now" type of deal that included ADDING salary to the team's overall payroll over the next five years.  Or, in other words, precisely the type of trade that you would NOT expect from our favorite club.

What is equally interesting has been the range of responses that the fan base has expressed since news of the trade broke.  Yeah, no one likes to lose talented prospects, but isn't this aggressive and bold approach EXACTLY what many of us were begging for during Sandy's tenure?  Now that it is happening, it seems that some folks are clamoring for some "sanity" or at least a more conservative approach. I suppose you cannot make everyone happy, right?

2.  The aforementioned trade has depleted our minor league system a little, losing a talented starting pitcher, a high upside reliever and a potential "five tool" outfielder.  Or, you could look at the outgoing players as a starting pitcher who will likely become a reliever at the major league level, an enigmatic reliever with control issues and a very young outfield prospect who is at least three or four years from making an impact at the major league level.  It's all about spin, I suppose.

Regardless, as much as I hate losing their potential, remember that we obtained a dominant closer in the process who is only 24 years old, himself!  And that does not even touch on some of what is still left behind in the system;

Pitching Prospects - Thomas Szapucki, Jordan Humphries, Anthony Kay, David Peterson, Ryley Gilliam (closer) and Simeon Woods-Richardson

Position Prospects - Peter Alonso, Andres Gimenez, Mark Vientos, Ronny Mauricio, Freddy Valdez, Adrian Hernandez and Francisco Alvarez.

The listed players are clearly not the only prospects that we still have, but it is a pretty nice group of prospects.  Heck, maybe someone like Ronny Mauricio is transitioned to the outfield and replaces what we "lost" in the trade?

You have to give up something to get something, right?

3.  Post-trade, it seems that everyone has an idea of where our current players will line up and at what position, etc.  I am no more of an expert then any of you, but I do have a question that I find intriguing to say the least.

What if BVW wanted Robinson Cano to become our third baseman, instead of our second baseman?

Before you outwardly scoff at the idea, it does make some sense.  As Cano ages, it makes sense that his range may start to become a bit less expansive, if you will.  Even though third base requires some range, it isn't on the same level as playing a middle infield position.  Plus, Cano is also supposed to have an above average arm so it should play well a bit farther across the diamond AND he even played two games at the "hot corner" for Seattle last season, so maybe the transition has already begun?  Oh and he provides more then enough offense (24 HR/96 RBI and 0.893 OPS career average) for a position that is "supposed" to be staffed with more of a power hitter then second base usually is.

That would clear the way for Jeff McNeil to become the every day second baseman and it would allow Todd Frazier to be the "super utility player" that best suits is skill set at this point in his career.

4.  In case you missed it earlier in this article, the Mets also got an electric closer in the form of 24 year old Edwin Diaz!  Among his many impressive statistics from this past year includes 3.2 WAR in less then 80 innings pitched, not to mention 57 saves and a psychotic 124 strikeouts at a very manageable salary.

Sure, losing Jared Kelenic is a tough pill to swallow, but fans need to remember that Diaz is coming to New York WITH Cano.  That seems to have been minimized due to Cano's age and salary, but it shouldn't be.  His addition to our bullpen will have a dramatic effect on the team's win/loss record.  However, I hope that BVW is not quite done with the bullpen, yet.

I want him to reach out and sign free agent Zack Britton, as well.  In addition to adding a nice left handed compliment to the right handed Edwin Diaz, Zack also has closing experience in his past so he can ease some of the load on our new closer OR he can close when Edwin is not available.  Seriously, look at Zack's statistics from 2014-2016 with the Orioles (All Star, Cy Young and MVP votes) and tell me he would not be a dominant addition to the overall bullpen.  Despite some injuries in 2017 and 2018, he was still pretty effective last year and was actually rounding into form down the stretch for the Yankees this year.

Well, that's all until next time.

Stay safe.