12/11/19

John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 12/11/2019


Winter meeting updates and lots of baseball rumors on this Wednesday morning.





Reflections on baseball asks if Brodie is AWOL at the meetings. “Brodie Van Wagenen is not exactly bringing home the bacon. There appears to be zero chat in San Diego coming from the Mets – and it’s not because they’re keeping possible signings and trades close to their vest.”


The NY Post says the Mets pursuit of Starling Marte could get complicated.  They say “…it’s unclear whether the Mets would be in position to orchestrate a deal for Marte without shedding a contract such as Jed Lowrie’s or Jeurys Familia’s. One method for shedding a contract would be as an attachment in a deal for a desired player, such as J.D. Davis or Dominic Smith.”





The NY Daily News says that the Mets sent Strength and Conditioning coaches to Puerto Rico to work with Edwin Diaz.  “In an excess effort to ensure Diaz does not suffer the same blows in 2020, the Mets sent a group of professionals — like nutritionists, physical therapists and strength and conditioning employees — to Puerto Rico this winter to meticulously work with the Mets closer in different training areas.”


Joel Sherman again makes the pitch for the Mets to spend.  He thinks it is a good enough roster that can win with a few enhancements.  He recommends singing players like Rick Porcello, Jason Castro or Martin Maldonado, a Joe Smith or Craig Stammen. 

Deesha Thosar says that “Hensley Meulens hopes to be a calming presence for Carlos Beltran in his first year as manager”. “Meulens said. ‘I think I'll be a calming presence for (Beltran) in terms of slowing things down so he can still make the right decisions.’”


Rising Apple had the top 5 Mets players who got away.  #5 Marco Scutaro (I always liked him as an MLB Met and as minor league Met; Hated to see him go as a Non tender when I am pretty sure he was making the league minimum); #4 Justin Turner (another non-tender!); #3 Kevin Mitchell (The anniversary of his trade to the Padres is today – see below); #2 Jeff Kent (possible Hall Of Famer but was kind of unhappy as a Met); #1 Nolan Ryan (no brainer).  I would also add Amos Otis; Jeff Reardon; Jason Bay – the first time they let him go; and Paul Blair (drafted by the Orioles from the Mets in the early 60’s).  Maybe one day we will add Jarred Kelenic, Justin Dunn, and Anthony Kay to the list.

MLB lifted the ban on Marijuana for Major League players. As part of the MLB's efforts to crack down on opioid use in and around its league ... it has agreed to stop testing minor leaguers for weed.

The Dominican league started up again last night.  No current Mets saw action.

However, Juan Lagares played centerfield and went 2 for 3 to raise his average to .345 in 22 games.

With Juan in center, Carlos Gomez played in right going 0 for 4 in his third game for Aguilas Cibaenas. Carlos is hitting .200 in those three games.

Mack’s Mets blast from the past comes from December 2011: Mack on Baseball Chapter 1 – Inches.

UltimateMets has this date in Mets History:
Born on this date:

Transactions:

New York Mets traded Felix Mantilla to the Boston Red Sox for Tracy StallardPumpsie Green and Al Moran on December 11, 1962.

New York Mets traded Ted Martinez to the St. Louis Cardinals for Mike Vail and Jack Heidemann on December 11, 1974.

New York Mets released Bob Apodaca on December 11, 1979.

New York Mets traded Frank Taveras to the Montreal Expos for Steve Ratzer on December 11, 1981.

New York Mets traded Doug Flynn and Danny Boitano to the Texas Rangers for Jim Kern on December 11, 1981.

New York Mets traded Kevin MitchellStan Jefferson and Shawn Abner to the San Diego Padres for Kevin McReynoldsGene Walter and Adam Ging on December 11, 1986.

New York Mets traded Rafael Santana and Victor Garcia to the New York Yankees for Phil LombardiDarren Reed and Steve Frey on December 11, 1987.

New York Mets traded Jeff Gardner to the San Diego Padres for Steve Rosenberg on December 11, 1991.

New York Mets traded Bubba Trammell to the San Diego Padres for Donne Wall on December 11, 2000.

New York Mets signed free agent Tsuyoshi Shinjo on December 11, 2000.

New York Mets signed free agent Kevin Appier of the Oakland Athletics on December 11, 2000.

New York Mets signed free agent Steve Trachsel of the Toronto Blue Jays on December 11, 2000.

New York Mets traded Alex EscobarJerrod RigganMatt LawtonBilly Traber and Earl Snyder to the Cleveland Indians for Roberto AlomarMike Bacsik and Danny Peoples on December 11, 2001.

Los Angeles Angels signed Darren Oliver of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 11, 2006.

New York Mets traded Aaron HeilmanEndy ChavezJoe SmithJason VargasMaikel CletoEzequiel Carrera and Mike Carp to the Seattle Mariners for Sean GreenJ. J. Putz and Jeremy Reed on December 11, 2008.

Mets drafted Darren O'Day from the Los Angeles Angels on December 11, 2008.

Chicago White Sox signed J. J. Putz of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 11, 2009.

Houston Astros signed Jon Switzer of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 11, 2009.

Mets drafted Sean Gilmartin from the Minnesota Twins on December 11, 2014.

Baltimore Orioles drafted Logan Verrett from the Mets on December 11, 2014.

Arizona Diamondbacks signed Tim Stauffer of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 11, 2015.

Want more?  Check out https://sportspyder.com/mlb/new-york-mets/news

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4 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

Like watching one of those old movies - "they always get their man."

The Bronx Bodega Boys got their man again.

The Mets sit idly, hope for October miracles - which rarely come.

Didi is the antithesis of Zack Wheeler - bad year and he gets a much smaller contract.

Nimmo for Marte? Do we get anything extra, considering Marte's age and greater cost?

Unknown said...

Mets will throw in a prospect or two so they can take on Marte's contract

Anonymous said...

Observations

1. Reported that the NY Mets have signed Red Sox right-hander Rick Porcello to a one year $10,000,000 contract. I have watched closely Porcello the past few seasons. He has won a CY Young Award in that time. However, he can be very good and not so good game to game. However, I think that this contract is most favorable to the NY Mets and I like this signing overall.

If Rick can smooth out his game to game performances, stay healthy and adapt well to his new team, he would be a most advantageous signing. Then the Mets could re-sign him to a longer term after the 2020 season . Good deal for the Mets and GM Brodie, fine number three man in the Mets 2020 rotation. Realy looking forward to having two CY Young Award winners in the Mets rotation.

2. Following up this Porcello signing is the Michael Wacha signing. Wacha is only 28 years old and has been impressive in his career. There is some associated with this signing due to recent injury, but the chance of significant upside here would make this most beneficial to this Mets team longer term also. Wacha provides potential insurance to what now should be a really fine 2020 starting rotation.

Due to recent season trades of younger MiLB starters, the Mets still need to add in maybe one more young and close to being in the bigs starter to compliment already here kid starters like Tom Szapucki and Kevin Smith, to name two. I do like Daniel McGrath for this as I have mentioned here often. The Mets rotation now is very good, but quite right-handed, as are most MLB teams.

3. I overall like CF Sterlimg Marte as a player. He hits for average and steals ample bases. But I would still prefer Brandon Nimmo over him at the Mets CF position in 2020 because Brandon is still developing and his ceiling could overall be even better than Marte's. Plus, Nimmo should get you more overall, and he has the type of OBP that a good leadoff batter should have. Nimmo is really good now his ceiling is not yet defined. While Sterling Marte is 31 and will want one of those long and very risky contracts.I'd pass on him.

I am also concerned here with Marte's overall injury and health scenario and do question why a team would be willing to separate from him, being that he was their "franchise type player".

Marte basically has had two injuries in 2019, with one being undisclosed and guarded by the Pirates. My question here is simply as to why? Most teams have to disclose such information.

Anonymous said...

How this looks potentially now.

1B Alonso 2B McNeil SS Rosario 3B JD Davis LF Cespedes CF Nimmo RF Conforto C Ramos

Bench: Infield: Cano (3-4 games starting a week), D. Smith (2 games starting a week 1B and LF), Out. Marisnick C: A. Sanchez

SP: deGrom, Syndergaard, Porcello, Matz, Stroman

RP: Yet to be decided. Current rumor has Mets looking at Betances and others.

Crucial pivot player in all this? Probably Yoenis Cespedes.