So...
You are Steve Cohen... or Sandy Alderson... whatever.
What are the first 5 things you put on your 'too do' list as soon as you arrive for Day 1?
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14 comments:
1. Call Confort's agent and set up meeting to discuss extension.
2. Ask Conforto's agent to hand his phone to Syndergaard's agent.
3. offer Schreve's agent 1.5mil for 2021 with a team option 2mil for 2022.
4. Inform Ramos's agent I will not be picking up option.
5. DFA Matz
1. Tell Sandy to create a staff equal to the Dodgers and Yankees in terms of analytics and scouting.
2. Tell every employee still working at the Mets their jobs are safe.
3. Call in the scouts to see what we have in the minors and to learn their recommendations on what other teams have that’s acquirable.
4. I would ask for a meeting with Luis Rojas to learn what obstacles he had this year and what his feelings are about every player on the roster, and every coach.
5. I would give this information to Sandy Alderson so he can take over from here and go back to my hedge fund managing.
1. Have a one-on-one meeting with Brodie Van Wagenen to ascertain what he has learned and what he has planned.
2. Make a decision about his future.
3. Ditto Luis Rojas.
4. Try to lock up the two pending free agents but know that their departures via QOs would bring a few draft picks the club desperately needs if their salary demands are not within the norm
5. Decline Wilson Ramos for his defense, not his offense (though 2020 has not been good on that front either)
Excellent lists so far, gentlemen.
1. Set up a meeting or two with your management staff to take stock of what is on hand and what is needed (in their collective opinions). This information will be vital for a successful transition and for Sandy's reintegration into the organization. This should lead to a PLAN for the upcoming offseason.
2. Keep the current management staff in place, to include the current coaches, for at least another year. You cannot underestimate the impact that COVID and some key injuries have had on the team. I think they deserve another shot to see how things will shake out under "more normal" circumstances in 2021 (fingers crossed, that is).
3. As stated above, copy from your successful brethren (i.e. Atlanta, LA, NYY) and really invest in the organization. Look for every advantage (other then the trash can method, of course), whether it be more analytics or increased scouting in other areas of the world and put an EMPHASIS on a strong and deep minor league system. The last two drafts were pretty good, so more of that, as well.
4. This will likely put a smile on John's face, but make it an organizational mandate to improve BASIC fundamentals. Teach and emphasize defense, base running and situational awareness. Maybe some bunting practice and playing for an extra run here and there instead of foregoing fundamentals in place of guys who can mash the ball (sporadically).
5. Keep your core group together, which will include new contracts for MC, Thor and Stroman (even though he bailed, there isn't anything much better in free agency). Having DeGrom, Stroman, Lugo, Peterson and eventually Thor is a nice place to start with your pitching staff before free agency and the Hot Stove season kicks in.
***Oh and a bonus.........I am praying for a successful owner's vote so that Steve Cohen is our new owner. Getting the rug pulled out (again) would really suck (not to mention it would be so "2020").
I don't trust ARod and his team of bidders. You know they are working hard being the scenes to sow seeds of doubt in an effort to sabotage SC's bid. ARod's statement that they are ready to match SC's bid should he fail to get approved is all the evidence I need. That dude (ARod) is a snake, IMO.
1. (Assuming firing Brodie is understood) hire a gm preferably one from the Tampa bay lineage or one with a real track record that is a noted mets fan ( a la stearin or Daniels)
2. Sign springer
3. Sign Bauer
4. Acquire a catcher (I am thinking McCann) but not someone who will block our catcher of the future
5 create the best front office / analytics stafff in the game
SNY reports that A's Assistant GM Billy Owens is being looked at as a possible GM.
I would make a serious play for Realmuto. More for defense than offense. It would also send a signal to the fans that I intend to do whatever it takes to win.
Bauer would be a bonus.
Conforto needs to be extended. Smith and Alonso should be bought out through their arbitration years.
Sign 3 quality pitchers. Every year this team flounders with its staff due to lack of depth.
Extend MC Hammer.
Get Realmuto, unless behind the scenes, one of the youngies like Francisco Alvarez is hurtling towards starting cather caliber readiness.
Trade Rosario for pitching. He has upside.
Really assess whether Pete is going to bounce back (I think so) or turn into Chris Davis. If any concerns about the latter, move him to some team that would covet his power and persona for elite prospect pitchers.
Oh, and do not re-sign Cespedes or Lowrie. Also, figure out if anyone can salvage Matz, but probably give him a change of scenery and start fresh.
Many fans still want Edwin Diaz moved. He goes NOWHERE unless a lock down pen can be created. My guess? He goes NOWHERE - how you rebuild that pen if Lugo is moved to a starter's role is beyond me. This season's pen, past Lugo and Diaz, has again been mostly mediocre to terrible. Avoid building a team where 1-15 career guys ever set foot on a Mets mound again.
But starters have to be reestablished. This team may barely miss the playoffs when Wacha, Porcello and Matz are a combined 2-15. 2-15 will kill a full season....but do that in a 60 game season?
1. Sign Conforto to a six year Extension
Improve the Teams Defense:
2. Trade JD Davis, P Mathew Allen and 3B Mark Vientos to Colorado for 3B Nolan Arenado
3. Sign C JT Realmuto and CF Jackie Bradley Jr (Moving McNeil to LF)
4. Start Dom Smith at 1B and Pete Alonso at DH
Improve your Pitching Staff:
4. Trade Brandon Nimmo and Amed Rosario to Cleveland for SP Zach Plesac and OF George Valera
5. Sign SP Marcus Stroman, SP Mike Minor, SP Robbie Ray
6. Sign RP Alex Colome, RP Sean Doolitle, RP Ken Giles (two year Contract)
I agree with Reese. The first moves MUST be to decide the fates of Brodie and Luis. IMO, both should get another year to show what they can do with a high budget and healthy team. Judging Luis based on a rotation missing both the #2 and #3 SPs is totally unfair.
Then the division of responsibility must be set. Will Cohen be able to restrain himself from day-to-day meddling, or trust Sandy for those?
How much responsibility will Sandy handle vs whoever the GM is? The last time I remember us having a President was the Dark Ages of Grant, which we all know the success of.
Going one step further, how much leeway will the mgr have vs dictates from above?
Once the above is settled, the decisions re: players are next. I don't know who Reese's "2" FAs are. I can guess that Lowrie and Yo aren't them, and he doesn't include Ramos. That leaves Stro (whom I definitely want), Frazier (a useful bench piece), Betances (who controls his fate with a player option) and various pitching and bench pieces. I'd bring back Porcello, and would offer Wacha only a MnL deal with a ST invite.
I'd do what I can to improve at C and CF, but I would not offer long-term deals to either Realmuto or Springer. I'd rather trade for quality guys under contract for 2 or 3 years.
And I agree with Mike F about stressing fundamentals. We already have (and are wasting) a guy who has proven his value in teaching those. Elevate Fonzie's role and bring him back to Brooklyn as the AA mgr there. Or put him on the Queens team as coach.
The look around for players we can sign as FAs or trade for. Our lower minors look great, and I expect many top players there to be ML-ready in 2-3 years.
Acquisitions are the final, not primary, moves for the off-season.
AM, that’s quite a well thought out plan. Very nice.
Bill, also well thought out.
Thanks, Tom. 👍
Thanks Tom!
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