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2/5/20

John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 2/5/2020


The Mookie Betts to the Dodgers trade finally happened, Wilmer Flores has a new team, the Caribbean Baseball series continued in Puerto Rico but most will want to talk about the latest chapter of Steve Cohen and the Mets.

The NY Post says: “Steve Cohen’s $2.6 billion bid to buy the Mets is on life support — if alive at all”.

Per NBC Sports: Cohen is apparently unhappy that the Wilpons — the current owners of the Mets — changed the terms of the deal at the last minute. As a result, Cohen has decided not to go through with the deal. He had been expected to take control by 2025.



Deesha Thosar of The Daily News said it well: “It took exactly two months for the Mets to Met-up the most joyful event for the fan base in years: The (clearly premature) announcement that the Wilpons were (close to) selling the team.”

Per Forbs.com: “This is what the Wilpons do. There’s no deal they can’t try to stretch the limits of good faith on, no version of events they don’t think they can improve, even when circumstances are already in their favor.” 

In that same Forbs story they ask these questions: “1: How much did the Wilpons need to sell? 2: Is Steve Cohen really out of the picture? 3. Will MLB, at long last, do something? To clarify: something helpful?”

The NY Post Asked: “Q: Who wins if the Wilpons are indeed back to square one on this sale? Three simple words: Brodie Van Wagenen.  Q. Who loses? A: Mookie Betts, who surely hoped to have Cohen’s Mets as a major suitor for his free agency next offseason. And Major League Baseball as a whole.”


The NY Post had: “The key dates of the Mets-Steve Cohen saga.”


It took a three team trade to get Mookie Betts and David Price go to the Dodgers.  Twins pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol and Dodgers outfield prospect Alex Verdugo go to the Red Sox, and Kenta Maeda goes to the Twins.











JD Davis told SNY.TV about being the subject of trade rumors this winter: "I think it's a huge compliment," Davis said. "Me and Brodie have talked about it. There were some teams that reached out, but again, I think it's a huge compliment. It's even bigger that my own team wants me more than other teams. I've been on the other end of the stick of being traded, so again, I truly am blessed to be back for a second year and be back with these guys, and hopefully we can do a little more damage."

From Mets minors.net: “John Sickels Has Just One Mets Prospect In Top 100.” Ronny Mauricio was the only Mets prospect to make the list. In ranking Mauricio as the 72nd best prospect in the game, Sickels said.

Brian Joura of Mets 360 discussed: “Rigging the rules for Mets players to finish the year strong.”

213 Miles from Shea continued reviewing Baseball America’s 2019 Top 30 Mets Prospects with #21 Adam Hill. “Adam Hill is the first of too many players as we work our way to the top of the list that were traded away last season. Adam Hill was packaged Felix Valerio and Bobby Wahl to the Brewers for Keon Broxton. Keon’s time with the Mets didn’t go swell. Wahl’s time with the Brewers didn’t go so well.” 


Per the LA Times: “Matt Kemp sells Poway mansion for less than half what he paid.  Veteran baseball outfielder Matt Kemp has sold his custom estate in Poway’s Heritage community for $4.3 million, records show. The three-time all-star bought the property in 2013…for $9.075 million, according to the San Diego County recorder.”


12UP.com had 6 MLB extensions that should happen now: DJ LeMahieu, New York Yankees; J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia Phillies; Marcus Semien, Oakland Athletics; Javier Baez, Chicago Cubs; Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers; and Aaron Judge, New York Yankees.  I would also add Michael Conforto and Noah Syndergaard.

Winter Ball:

Yesterday was day four of the seven day Caribbean series in Puerto Rico. 

Mexico beat previously undefeated Venezuela 7-6 (box). 
Venezuela had a 3 run ninth to make the game close but Mexico held on with the tying run on second. 

The Dominican Republic beat Panama 4 – 3 (box).

Tim Peterson gave up a run on two hits, a walk, and 2 Ks in one inning of relief.  

Ramon E. Ramirez got the save with no hits, walks, or strikeouts in a scoreless inning.

Puerto Rico beat Columbia 3-2 (box).

Joshua Torres got the win in relief for Puerto Rico retiring two batters in the top of the 8th with the score tied 2-2, before Puerto Rico scored the eventual winning run in the bottom of the 8th. 

Venezuela, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic now each are 3-1 in the series.  Puerto Rico is 2-2, Panama is 1-3 and Columbia is 0-4.

Three more games today with semi finals on Thursday and finals on Friday.



Born on this date:
Transactions:
New York Mets traded 
Greg Goossen to the Seattle Pilots for Jim Gosger on February 5, 1969.

New York Mets released Elliott Maddox on February 5, 1981.

New York Mets traded Roberto Petagine to the Cincinnati Reds for Yuri Sanchez on February 5, 1998.

New York Mets signed free agent Scott Erickson on February 5, 2004.

New York Mets signed free agent Elmer Dessens of the Atlanta Braves on February 5, 2009.

Miami Marlins signed Jon Rauch of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 5, 2013.

Los Angeles Dodgers signed Justin Turner of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 5, 2014.


Want something else tracked here each day?  Please leave a comment below.

16 comments:

  1. Can't blame Cohen (obviously).

    It's something like this:

    I own a really expensive sports car which is fully-loaded and beautiful. The trouble is, I'm broke and can't afford to keep it and maintain it. I decide to sell the car.

    You come along. You see my car and want to buy it. You have plenty of money to buy it and run it. So, I agree to sell you my car...on one condition.

    If you buy my car, I alone get to continue to drive it for the next five years and take it wherever I want to go. You get to sit in the passenger seat and pay for the gas, tolls, insurance, maintenance, repairs, etc.

    What do you say? Wanna buy my car?

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  2. I just want to tell you how grateful I am for your Breakfast Links. I used to pour through half a dozen sites to get the info you've accumulated in one. Now I just go to Mack's Mets and read your wonderful post. I know how much work you put into it and I am forever grateful.
    julesgre@comcast.net

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  3. Jules. Thanks for reading and thanks for the kind words. These posts are going to change a bit once the season starts. Any thoughts about what you would like most highlighted would be helpful.

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  4. Folks

    I am in no way defending the Wilpons, but we really have only one side of the story here.

    Cohen could have taken a last look at the deal and decided it needed adjusting, either thorough the dates he could run the team, or the cost for the product agreed to.

    I have no knowledge of this but there may be a second side to this story that we never will be told.

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  5. Agreed Mack. In sales there can sometimes be a lot of twists and turns. The five year turnover did not seem workable from the start. We will see what happens and comes out in the weeks to come.

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  6. Depressing to see this news about the Wilpons sale being in jeopardy and Mookie Betts being traded to the Dodgers in the same day.

    3 strikes
    1) not making Girardi the new Met Manager
    2) Wilpons most likely not selling the team
    3) Mookie Betts not patrolling center field and leading off for the Mets

    gloomy day

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  7. Bob W's analogy is clever and maybe spot on... but,

    We knew this months ago. What changed?

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  8. What I'm hearing changed is that the Wilpons tried to extend the five-year window for transferring ownership.

    Yes, we don't know for certain what the other side of the story is. But, we do have some history to go by. The Steve Einhorn bid to buy the team back in 2011 ended for exactly the same reason. Even Nelson Doubleday selling his stake and getting out in 2002 was similar.

    The Wilpons are Control Freaks with a capital "CF" when it comes to the Mets. They have their fingers in everything about the operation, especially Jeff. And, from what I've heard, Jeff knows just enough about baseball and team operations to be very dangerous.

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  9. There are often two sides to every story - 1) the correct side, and 2) the Wilpon's side.

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  10. Interesting analogy, Bob. Of course we're not privy to any info other than "reports", but based on those Cohen bought that car.

    If he were scammed by the Wilpons, what does that say about him? Obviously he's a very bright guy and skilled businessman, so why did he buy that car in the first place? Would you?

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  11. I think that once he got the car, he would kick the Wilpons out. Actually, he never quite bought the car. He was just negotiating to buy it.

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  12. Again, we only have "reports" to go by, but they were unanimous in saying he bought the car, but is now looking to back out because the Wilpons "want to change the deal".

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  13. Whatever. All I know is, if someone wanted to pay me $2.6 BILLION to go away...see ya!

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  14. Bob G.:

    On Girardi. Everyone loved Bobby Valentine too. (Hint: It could be their "flip/flop personalities" and large size egos that probably worries some team owners.

    On One Last Moves. Kazmir is a breakdown lane. While Russell Martin may already be a grandfather. Not sure.

    On Wilmer Flores. Not unlike Ruben Tejada prior, Wilmer has holes in his game that tend to get exploited during the season. What position to put him at is one. Otherwise great guy. Has future in PR.

    On Tomas Nido. Excellent backstop. Great arm. But cannot hit MLB. Has not improved any. And may have regressed some at the plate over time. If you want to stay MLB, then you have to put the work in to improve. Sorry Tomas. Rather get Mike Jacobs back. At least he can hit and for power as the backup catcher. Maybe color commentator?

    Kris Bryant. Why are the Cubs wanting to deal him in the first place? Not a good sign since so young.

    Luis Rojas. After Alfonso, I liked this guy next best. He will be fine here as the new Mets manager. You'll see. By all reports and indications from people that know him, I am 100% confident in Luis too.

    Yoenis Cespedes. Saw the recent video of him working out. Looks to be progressing, maybe 85% in it. Has two months still. Could be ready to go.

    Look, even if Yo' were to miss the first 4 weeks of the regular season finishing up his rehab, so what. The Mets have an abundance of good players who can play the outfield now and hit with power. So say that Yo' comes back the first of May, AND is 95%. That is a lot of ability and power hitting right there more. He is a Fitness Center. Imagine Yo' and Alonso back to back, belly to belly in the same one batting order? Kismet." Kismets I tell ya'" Quote me.

    On Jeurys Familia and Jed Lowrie. Send someone to fly over to their homes unexpectedly right now. Check to see where they are respectively at in their own rehab work. Then maybe get rid of the one who looks the furthest from where they need to be right now, via a trade. I am banking on Jeurys staying. He's doing the work it looks like. He's slimmer than Sid Fernandez is right now doing the Mambo. But in reality here too, having both (Jeurys and Jed) in line for making the 25-man out of ST 2020, it's not such a bad idea either because it is a very, very long and demanding season. And a team can never have enough good talent. Can they NYY?

    As of this moment.

    The NY Knicks not going after player moves before the trade deadline expires. The Mets I think are stat and ready for 2020 now as is. But those foolish NY Knicks, not even a playoff contender attempt having been made.

    "Wasted days and wasted nights."

    Knicks really are not a total rebuild. Really just needed one more truly big man center (to go opposite Mitchell Robinson on the other unit) and they could have been fine.

    The Knicks have more than enough really good younger players. Those Players just needed to be allowed to finish their respective growing out of their own landlegs, here at the NBA level. Like who you ask?

    Ignas Bradzeikis and Kenny Wooten. Remember them? Why are they not here already. Let's see them play for once.

    Possible trade targeting: A center like a the Miami Heat Meyers Leonard or center Naz Reid from the same Minnesota Timberwolves. Why salivate over some knee-damaged salary dump Miami player who makes like $32.0 million a season. How is that supposed to help the Knicks really?

    I am liking (a lot) what I am seeing from Dotson and Payton. But the emphasis on the Knicks' backcourt side, now desperately needs to be applied over to the frontcourt side. Size, strength, and quickness is the new NBA now. Adjust to it.

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  15. I am still somewhat startled and emotionally drained by the Impeachment process thing that lasted way too long, and then too whatever Nancy was doing at the State of the Union Speech.

    Cannot politicians grow up too one day soon? I miss the days when the two sides came together and worked as one for the betterment of this country.

    What ever happened to that?

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