Citing COVID-19 concerns, Marcus Stroman becomes the second Met to opt out of the season in over a week joining Yoenis Cespedes. He was supposed to pitch the last game of his rehab, but told Brodie Van Wagenen hours before he was supposed to face the Nationals that he could no longer continue. It was a family decision for Stroman, who was concerned about too many uncertainties to pitch. It was putting the health of him and his family first. He was concerned about playing a series in Miami, which already has been a spot of the coronavirus.
Stroman has a legitimate excuse, however Cespedes exit was met
with controversy of leaving the team without saying anything to team officials.
There was tension between Cespedes and team officials over playing time since
Cespedes has an incentive type of contract. He complained twice to Brodie and
Luis Rojas about being removed from the starting lineup. Cespedes’s agent
called team officials during the eighth inning of the game and notified them
that Cespedes opted out. Later that day, Cespedes was seen taking photos with
fans at Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City. Also, three weeks prior to walking
out on the team he was seen and allowed to salsa dance with a lady friend at a
bar despite, the area being barred due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Stroman’s situation is the opposite. He didn’t have a problem
with team management. He has been happy about his time playing in New York with
the Mets. He praised them for how they have been making sure the players have
the safety among the team area. Van Wagenen spoke about Robert Gsellsman or Seth
Lugo to be the choice to take the open rotation spot.
Stroman is in a
contract year, but he is not concerned that he opted out and won’t be able to showcase
his talents this year. He still is young and he considers himself to be one of
the best starters on the market. I think he will draw plenty of interest from
the other teams. I was surprised the Yankees didn’t show any interest in Stroman
last year when he was available to trade for. He could have helped them down
the stretch.
In other sports news, the New York Rangers won Monday’s NHL
draft lottery – and the right to select consensus No. 1 pick Alexis Lafreniere.
Congratulations to them.
11 comments:
Marcus who?
I would gladly welcome Stroman back in 2021.
Listen this might be the best thing for us if they wind up finishing the season. Hopefully we lose a lot more games over the next few weeks and trade some players and build up the farm.
Hopefully Matz pitches better so we can get something for him, also Ramos, Wacha, Porcello, Maresnick and Hamilton. I know it won’t be top flight talent, but anything is better than them. Also we could get better draft positioning.
Zozo, good points, but the scary thing is so many folks get in the playoffs this year. As a result, BVW might start vomiting more top prospects to chase fool's gold.
Zozo -
I consider this season an extended spring training at best.
I too like your plan.
No offense, but I hate Zozo's mentality with every fiber of my being.
I'd start Lugo.
In the past, I've valued him in the pen. But this year, things have changed. Pen is far deeper than it's ever been before. Team is short on starters. And next year is going to be tough filling out the rotation. Maybe Lugo is an answer.
2020 is the year to experiment, try new things, see what you can learn.
However, yes, this is not the time to make a desperate trade.
As a rule, in baseball today prospects are overvalued -- it's the new market inefficiency -- and I'm not against trading some. But given this is August in a weird year, I would not consider it. Too much uncertainty.
I want Mets to make playoffs and for the season to provide some entertainment and excitement. Strong offense, strong pen, and one stud on the mound. Maybe, with Lugo, two. That can get you pretty far.
So tired of the fans who want to wave the white flag. You've been conned. Try to win, try to compete. It doesn't come with guarantees, there are risks, and that's part of the challenge. Any dope can punt for five years in the hope that "the prospects" will take us to new heights. Remember waiting for the Five Aces. Where did that get us?
Start Lugo. That will lift the energy level and maybe help bring joy and good times to the season. If he's great, he can start next year, too. If not, back to the pen. This is the year when you try new things. The organization has to answer the bell.
Jimmy
Jimmy sorry but this years not like any other year. Even if you win it all, fans will always say the season wasn’t played up to the integrity of what we are used to. I just heard a good point on MLB radio, who gets the playoff spot If say cardinals and cubs are that divisions last playoff spot? The cardinals will probably never be able to play all their games and say the cubs do play all 60. Do you go by higher winning percentage or by most wins?whichever you choose, you will always have the other fan base pissed at the decision. So to me this a wasted year in regards to making the playoffs.
I see it as an extended spring training, like Mack said. Might as well trade the few pieces we can afford to trade or won’t be back next season and try and replenish the farm.
Lastly I’m also worried BVW will make another awful trade to try and win now.
I'm not ready to jump to conclusions yet. Stroman has said repeatedly how much he likes it here, and being unable to pitch this season certainly limits his asking price. Until I see /hear otherwise, he's a keeper.
We're not the only team with pending FAs, so if we don't re-sign Wacha/Porcello there are others out there.
Further, if Gimenez continues to show he's for real, with Mauricio getting closer, I'd say that Amed would be our most valuable trade bait. JDD looks great at 3B, and Cano isn't going away any time soon, so SS would be Gimenez' spot unless he flops between now and October.
And which of Brodie's trades (except POSSIBLY Diaz/Cano) are "awful"?
Every trade he has made beside JD Davis, I feel like we lost everyone. I would rather have kept the package we gave for Stroman than give it up at the time.
He gave away prospects for Marisnick when he could of gotten Billy Hamilton as a free agent. Then you go and trade another prospect for Hamilton.
And I can’t even think of the Name of the Outfielder from Milwaukee we traded more prospects for.
I have no problem trading prospects if the package is right, but most of these trades we could of picked up similar or close to similar for just money on the free agent market.
That’s my 2 cents
Zozo, It is a bad idea to wish for the Mets to lose most of the rest of their games to improve the farm system, because that is tanking, You play to win the game, It's early, there are 42 games left. The name of the Brewer outfielder Brodie traded for in 2018 was Keon Broxton.
Yes Keon Broxton, thx.
Let’s agree to disagree.
Post a Comment