Everyone watching the Mets these days are somewhat mollified by the surprising offensive output they're getting from a variety of players on the roster. Some, like Dominic Smith and Michael Conforto, were expected but perhaps not at this level. Others like Robinson Cano and Andres Gimenez came from straight out of nowhere to help the team put runs across the plate.
As a result of the bats, many feel the club has somewhat turned a 50+ year corner in which they survived more on strong pitching an occasional hitting. This club is just the opposite, with almost no starting pitching beyond what you can rely upon Jacob deGrom to do, but serious contributions from nearly everyone on the roster. Even criticized acquisitions like Todd Frazier and Robinson Chirinos have been a part of the bat attack, while others who have been invisible for most of the season like J.D. Davis, Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil finally are starting to remind people of who they are and what they can do.
The problem going into 2021 is that the already paper thin pitching rotation gets far worse. We all know that Noah Syndergaard is out for at least half the year. Marcus Stroman is going to want to see what he can net on the open market that's pretty thin when it comes to starting pitching. Neither Michael Wacha nor Rick Porcello have shown enough to commend bringing them back. That leaves a one-man rotation of deGrom plus whomever the club feels could exist there. Is Seth Lugo for real? Can David Peterson take some significant steps forward? Can Franklyn Kilome remain healthy and become effective? Are any of the younger, recovering pitchers like Thomas Szazpucki advance through the system to become a second-half option to help bolster the poor starters?
Now many of you will immediately say that with billionaire Steve Cohen about to assume charge of the front office that top notch free agents are the way to go. Cincinnati Reds starter Trevor Bauer may be the crown jewel available as he's doing quite well this year, will still have up to five good years left and is only 30 years old. He's currently earning $17.5 million but that figure will see a major bump once he hits the auction block.
Other notable free agents tend to be in the latter stages of their careers. Some have been impressive and some are starting to deteriorate. This group would include Jake Arrieta of Phillies, Masahiro Tanaka of the Yankees, Jeff Samardzija of the Giants, Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals, and a variety of others whose investment probably isn't going to be justifiable given what they have already earned. Instead, second tier options like Drew Smyly of the Giants or Taijuan Walker of the Blue Jays wouldn't cost a fortune and should provide a sizeable number of innings.
The other option for the Mets to consider is one that has not been used in quite some time. Would the GM (whomever it is) consider trading some of the higher profile bats to get higher profile pitchers? Consider the first base dilemma with Pete Alonso and Dom Smith. There is not room for the two of them to share the spot and unless we're told the DH is indeed here to stay, that makes Smith into the world's worst outfielder. Could one of them net a solid starting pitcher or two?
What about the free agents to be like Michael Conforto and (later in the year) Noah Syndergaard? Would one of them in a deal bring back multiple pieces to help while someone else pays the bills and assumes the risk of ongoing development?
In the BVW era there hasn't been much movement of established major leaguers except as salary dumps (like Jay Bruce and Anthony Swarzak moving to the west coast temporarily). They have been more of the exchange of prospects for quick fixes. Mostly that approach has not worked with the exception of J.D. Davis, and it's left the Mets minor league organization bereft of many upper level prospects who promise to aid in the pursuit of the post season.
Going forward the club needs to explore all avenues to improve the club, including taking chances on international free agents when they become available and making the right moves for the long term, rather than just trying to catch lightning in a bottle for immediate benefit. That approach is going to be something challenging for new owner Steve Cohen and it would appear that the man currently in charge is not the right fit.
The starting pitching is woefully bad. They have a real challenge in front of them to fix it. That Stroman trade was a killer in the pitching Dept.
ReplyDeleteTrading bats, now that we finally have good ones, for pitching would be a darned shame.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteDo you think Cohen will have control of the team by the time the international prospects are to be selected starting in January 2021. If so, do you think he will influence Brodie’s approach? Because I do not think he will change GM’s by then.
Another well written post. Have to disagree on some points. Frazier and Chirinos are not positive additions. You are right that either Alonso or Smith should be trade bait, unless the DH continues. I'd keep Alonzo because we don't have enough right hand hitting. We should try to upgrade @ 3b by moving on from Davis. I'd also consider moving Gimenez and Nimmo to acquire SP depth, a CF who can hit and improve defense and better performance from the catching position.
ReplyDeleteThank you, RDS 900, for the compliment about the column. I agreed I was incensed that they went out after losers like Chirinos and Frazier. I am not fond of reunions when I was celebrating the loss of a player the first time around. In terms of backup catchers, well, most of them can hit or field but not do both. Ramos is looking awful and I am hoping his option is not exercised in 2021. Chirinos is a warm body in the mold of Anthony Recker or Rene Rivera -- someone to wear the uniform and occasionally get it dirty, but little else. What surprised me is that both of them have had a little bit of productivity with the stick early on in this Mets tenure.
ReplyDeleteI hope when Nido is ready to play that he gets the majority of starts.
ReplyDeleteI too was incensed about Frazier. I feel like he takes at bats from Guillorme, Giminez, Smith and Davis.
ReplyDeleteI'm not in love with Davis with his defense and while productive bat I think he is a guy you can replace easier. I think you shop Davis & Rosario, both guys are just terrible defensively and are easily replaced. Mets have a really solid core of Smith, Conforto, Nimmo, Alonso, McNeil, Gimenez who are going to really rake. Ideally you find a better defensive CF and a better C.
DH - Alonso
1B - Smith
2B - Cano
SS - Gimenez
3B - McNeil
LF - Nimmo
CF - find defense
RF - Conforto
C - upgrade