Reese Kaplan -- Is BVW's Big Mouth a Pro or a Con?

With the Seattle blockbuster trade Brodie Van Wagenen sent a signal in fireworks that his style and Sandy Alderson’s styles couldn’t be further apart.  The no-risk/no-reward approach of flipping hot young prospects and taking on some salary beyond the terms of the players headed cross country is indeed an execution of courage or foolhardiness, your actual results may vary. 

However, let me offer a rare observation in praise of the former GM’s style as opposed to the BVW bluster and bravado.  Often Alderson’s moves caught people by surprise.  Negotiations are something that probably should be conducted more discreetly than played out over the Internet as was done and continues to be done by the new sheriff in town. 

Now there is a flip side to BVW’s approach – it is the media leak strategy that can be used to put pressure on other trading partners and would-be FA signees that there is multitasking going on in Metsville, not the singular and sequential methodology of the past.  BVW acolytes would be probably volunteer that he’s setting up not only Plan A, but Plans B, C,  D, E and F in the event things don’t transpire as desired. 

What is refreshing is that the magnitude of rumors includes improvements to centerfield, catcher, bullpen, starting rotation (sorry, Jason!), and overall depth.  This list during the Alderson era would more likely include shopping for scrap heap scratch and dent sale items, AAAA players for depth and unproven suspects in the bullpen.  The very fact there is some ink generated about the likes of Marwin Gonzalez, Josh Harrison and the word “Mets” in the same paragraphs suggests that the days of Eric Campbell, Anthony Recker and Andrew Brown are far behind us.

It is also interesting to see that on the subjects of catcher and centerfield there is more than a singular focus.  Free agent options on the former are in the conversation like Yasmani Grandal, Wilson Ramos and Martin Maldonado.  Trade options are also on the table including J.T. Realmuto and one of the surplus in San Diego.

On the centerfield side we’ve heard FA options including A.J. Pollock, Adam Jones, Andrew McCutchen (and dare I whisper it, Bryce Harper).  On the trade front there have not been any substantial rumors but given the magnitude of the other position approaches you’d have to think that deals involving the swapping of players must be in the cards as well.

While Mets fans have been beaten down not to expect the top tier free agents to be in the conversation (Craig Kimbrel, for example), the reinforcements for the bullpen under consideration include the likes of Andrew Miller, David Robertson and others of demonstrable quality instead of the days of Anthony Swarzak, Alex Torres (and his hat), and Josh Smoker. 

As a fan I’m loving the roster construction stories played out in the media on a daily basis.  It gives great fodder for speculation and debate.  However, from a business perspective I have to wonder if the quieter approach might actually be more prudent.