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1/22/19

Tony Plate - Do the NY Mets Really Need to Make Another Impact Trade?



According to some of the others New York Mets general manager Brody Van Wagenen needs to make one more impact trade for the Mets to become the favorites to win the National League Eastern Division. 

In my opinion I don’t think another trade has to be made, because the Mets are set to do battle. First of all, they have a very good starting pitching rotation which is the strength of the team. When healthy perhaps the rotation can be one of the best in baseball. 

They acquired one of the best closers in baseball in Edwin Diaz who is a light’s out type of strikeout pitcher with a fastball that can hit triple digits on a radar. He also had 57 saves in 2018. I still can’t believe Seattle traded him. When you have a young closer with that talent you keep him on your team even if you will not be a contender.

When the Robinson Cano trade was made some thought, it would be a risk. In my opinion it will not be a risk, because when Cano played for the New York Yankees he showed everybody that he can handle the pressure of playing in New York and he will do fine. 

As for the prospects the Mets traded, the bottom line is you don’t know how a prospect will turn out so, I think the Mets won this deal. 

The Mets added infield and outfield depth by acquiring Jed Lowrie, J.D. Davis, and Keon Broxton and I think the current depth is better than the depth from the last two years. They also added bullpen depth by re-signing Jeurys Familia and signing Luis Avilan.

In other baseball news the Arizona Diamondbacks signed former NY Mets infielder Wilmer Flores to a one-year free agent contract. His career numbers with the Mets is 68 home runs and 253 RBI’s along with a .262 batting average in parts of six seasons. 

The New York Yankees traded Sonny Gray and minor leaguer Reiver Sanmartin to the Cincinnati Reds for minor league second baseman Shed Long and a draft pick, then the Yankees traded Long to the Seattle Mariners for minor league outfielder Josh Stowers. The Yankees also signed former Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Danny Farquhar to a minor-league deal.

In NFL news the NFC and AFC Championship games took place this past Sunday. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the New Orleans Saints 26-23 on a Greg Zuerlein field goal in overtime. Tom Brady and the New England Patriots showed everybody that their dynasty is not over by defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 37-31 in overtime on a Rex Burkhead two-yard touchdown run. The Patriots will be making their third straight Super Bowl appearance.

10 comments:

  1. I am optimistic for at least a few high quality years from Cano - he has a sweet, Hall of Fame quality swing - it seems the guys who over-rely on another tool (e.g., Frazier - power with soft average) are more prone to rapid decline.

    I am excited about the Diaz/Familia combo in the pen, likely the mets' best 1-2 pen punch ever.

    Even with Gray traded, I am hoping for a season full of grey skies in the Bronx for the other local team.

    I want a Brady dynasty to happen for the Mets.

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  2. Agree, Tony......they are in solid shape right now.

    Favorites? Not quite ready to jump on board, yet.....but, I do think
    they are in the conversation, for sure.

    Oh and I can't prove it, but Tom Brady must be a master of the dark arts!

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  3. There was the old Benitez/Franco duo. They both get much maligned but the numbers were pretty impressive.

    I'm of the opinion they are still weak in the OF, SP depth and to a lesser extent bullpen depth. That is the order of my priorities for making trades or signing FAs.

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    Replies
    1. On another site where we dialogue, I proposed adding SP depth by signing Gio Gonzalez, and you replied by asking what we'd do with Vargas then.

      Npw you WANT to sign generic SP depth? We still have Varges.

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  4. I have a problem with any trades that depleat the pipeline anymore at this point.

    Do whatever you want free agent wise.

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  5. They can trade more pieces, but only the ones people really won't want - I too want to keep our top guys - no more trades.

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  6. One trade to make, if possible--trade Frazier to create ABs for Lowrie and McNeil and hopefully get another solid pen piece in return.

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  7. Bill, if we can find a taker for Frazier, great - but the Rangers, per Reese, just signed Asdrubal for 1 year, $3.5 million, and if I had to choose between Asdrubal and Frazier, I'd pick Asdrubal - so, what is Frazier really worth - $2MM? Wilmer Flores signed for a similar amount to Cabrera - I'd take Wilmer over Mr. .213 Frazier too. So, Frazier is way overpaid for 2019.

    We should just offer to eat all but $2 million remaining of Frazier if someone would take him.

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  8. Tom, I cannot fault your analysis on Frazier’s value but if I’m going to give him away, I’d rather keep him in case lightning strikes one of the other guys. No sense in them going out and getting ripped off again because you have no choice but to pay the ticket.

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  9. Texas Gus, I could keep Frazier for now, it is up to McNeil to push him out. Survival of the "Hittest"! Hit .300 again, Jeff!

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