Reese Kaplan -- Where's the Guts, Huh?

For people of a certain age, this fraternity-based comedy rings both familiar and true:

“What? Over? Did you say 'over'? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!...It ain't over now, 'cause when the goin' gets tough, the tough get goin'. Who's with me? Let's go! Come on!”

(He ran to the front door but no one followed him)

“What the f--k happened to the Delta I used to know? Where's the spirit? Where's the guts, huh? This could be the greatest night of our lives, but you're gonna let it be the worst. 'Ooh, we're afraid to go with you, Bluto, we might get in trouble.' Well, just kiss my ass from now on! Not me! I'm not gonna take this. Wormer, he's a dead man! Marmalard, dead! Niedermeyer...”

And so it’s time for a similar and somewhat reckless approach to help right the Mets’ ship and get it moving forward once again.  Let’s consider a radical rebuild from within until/unless BVW can pull some rabbits out of his hat:

DFA Keon Broxton and Todd Frazier

Broxton and Frazier are both out of options, both wasting roster spots and are the very definition of a sunk cost.  By exercising the mechanism of a DFA they are both no longer a part of the 25-man roster as well as the 40-man roster and thus open up those slots to folks more deserving.

Attach Juan Lagares to any Trade Proposals for Dom Smith

We don’t know in the long run whether Smith or Pete Alonso will turn out to be the better players, but for now Alonso’s power has seduced all but the most jaded of fans and the job is his.  Consequently it’s Smith who needs to go.  Apparently there are a number of teams eyeing Smith so strike while the .333 iron is hot and make someone take your excess baggage.  Think a major league starting pitcher or lower minor league studs in this deal.

Add Both Carlos Gomez and Rajai Davis to the 40/25-Man Rosters

You will have 4 slots open between the DFAs of Broxton and Frazier plus the trading of Smith and Lagares.  Adding these two veterans will hopefully give the club a boost the same way Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe did in 2015. 

Promote Stephen Villines to the Big Club

Just as the Padres did with Chris Paddack, sometimes you need to take a leap of AA faith.  Villines just made the trip to Syracuse and didn’t miss a beat.  Over his 3 seasons as a minor league reliever he’s delivered a 2.32 ERA, 8-6 record, 12.6 Ks per 9 IP and just 1.7 BBs per 9 IP.  Do you really want to see more of the Jacob Rhame types?  He’ll take one of those two remaining open roster spots. 

Take a Long, Hard Look at the 40-Man Roster

There are any number of players you could argue don’t belong on it.  Take Tyler Bashlor, for example.  He is kind of like recently released Josh Smoker – a boatload of strikeouts when he’s not walking the ballpark.  He’s already 26 and has a 3.89 career minor league ERA (worse this year) yet got promoted out of necessity.  Is he ever going to amount to anything?

Paul Sewald is a conundrum.  He’s been great in AAA and for his minor league career has pitched to a 2.19 ERA with great control, yet in two long looks in the bigs he’s fizzled more than sizzled. At 29 his prospect window has closed and you have to wonder if he might be better served as trade bait elsewhere off the gaudy minor league numbers than counting on him to flourish in the majors.

Jacob Rhame has definitely shown flashes, but the last prolonged good numbers were way back in A ball in 2015.  He’s now 26 with the stats getting worse instead of better.

31-year old injury reclamation project Ryan O’Rourke would have been a great story had it played out in storybook fashion but thus far he’s not even dominating AAA hitters. 

Walker Lockett at this point is what he is.  At age 24 and with some arm issues, he’s not likely going to morph into major league starter material (though given how poorly Corey Oswalt and Chris Flexen have done, can he really be any worse?)  His career ERA is approaching 6.00 and that’s not encouraging.

Eric Hanhold at age 25 hasn’t had much of a look in the upper levels or the majors but he’s having a devil of time keeping guys off base due to poor control and hittability.  Given his limited chances I think his spot is safe – for now. 

AA Players Who Should Get Promoted

A pair of 27 year olds –Barrett Barnes and Arismendy Alcantara – are both doing quite well for Binghamton and should move up if you’re going to lose Rajai Davis and Carlos Gomez from Syracuse.  Along with them make room for 25 year old Braxton Lee. 

On the pitching side of the ledger, quite a few Rumble Ponies are off to strong starts, including starting pitchers Anthony Kay and Harol Gonzalez, along with relievers Adonis Uceta, Joe Zanghi, Matt Blackham, Stephen Nogosek and Michael Gibbons.

Perhaps it’s time to consider adding some of these folks to the important rosters. 

One Painful Cut

Whether it’s him hitting the wall, dividing his attention between his game and his upcoming nuptials or what, can we finally pull the plug on the circus sideshow of Tim Tebow?  While I don’t think Alcantara, Barnes or Lee are going to be All Stars or even starters, they do all represent a lot more positive potential than does the soon-to-be 32 year old hanging onto his baseball dream after flaming out of football.  People would applaud BVW and the Mets for signaling an end to the transparent money grab that came with his signing in the first place.

Honestly, would any of these changes carry a huge risk of the club doing worse than they are right now?