The World Series is now over. With the exception of the infection (and irresponsible celebration) of former Met Justin Turner, the Dodgers got the big win and deserve the accolades they're receiving. The end of the season holds a very different significance to the New York Mets and their fans as the vote is upcoming allegedly Friday to find out whether or not the league is ready to approve the purchase of the team from the Wilpons by investor Steve Cohen. There was a preliminary committee approval already and aside from possible 11th hour machinations by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, it's pretty much a done deal. However, fans won't breathe the huge sigh of relief at closing the Wilpon chapter of the book until the vote is done and what feels almost real becomes the start of a new era.
Cohen has been fairly quiet during this phase other than the public statement that he wants Sandy Alderson back in the front office. Many folks are not sure exactly what that means. Will he have Alderson acting as GM, as a go-between for the front office and ownership, or will he truly act as a team president with someone else in charge of the GM responsibilities? More importantly, is that someone else going to be another round of super agent turned mediocre executive Brodie Van Wagenen, or will he be hitting the road along with many others?
Right now some noise has already been made about the Mets' pile of 11 folks slated for free agency. Some of them will not cause much consternation if they indeed go back into the open market. However, word filtered out on Wednesday afternoon that three of the players folks feared would be part of the team moving forward -- Wilson Ramos, Todd Frazier and Robinson Chirinos -- are all being bought out of their 2021 options. That announcement alone seems to suggest that Cohen and company are not all that thrilled with the in-season moves by BVW for 2020 as well as the fallback position of inking Wilson Ramos when a J.T. Realmuto deal was not happening and a long term FA signing of Yasmani Grandal was not in the cards either. To make these three go away means $4 million out of pocket for a pair of $1.5 million buyouts as well as one $1 million fee. That's not a huge number, but it surely spells displeasure at what Van Wagenen felt were good investments.
In addition to this mixed bag of expensive rejects, the club also is parting ways with other folks who were part of the 2020 last place finish. Dellin Betances is perhaps the most interesting of the lot. He would earn $6 million if the club retains him or will get a $3 million buyout. Given his poor performance this past year but also the additional time to heal, he's not a sure thing either way.
Brad Brach was also fairly awful for this past season, but retaining him would only cost in the $2 million plus range. He can choose free agency (and the Mets can let him go) but a 5.68 ERA isn't going to net big bucks nor a long term deal elsewhere.
The remaining pack of departing players is not all that chock full of tears by fans. In his very limited playing time, Jake Marisnick was better than expected, but it's unlikely he will do that again next year. Alongside him come pitchers Jared Hughes, Erasmo Ramirez, Michael Wacha, Rick Porcello and Justin Wilson. Good for them. Also in the mix are Eduardo Nunez, Rene Rivera, Jed Lowrie and Yoenis Cespedes. None seem worth a flyer nor a QO.
The one for whom the Mets must make a critical decision is pint sized pitcher Marcus Stroman. He would get close to $19 million if he accepted a QO, but the common belief is that a free agent class containing pretty much just him and Trevor Bauer is pretty thin and he's likely going to try to command a multi-year deal somewhere rather than settling for just one. It's no guarantee, of course, with the Mets having been burned in the past when Neil Walker indeed said yes and obligated the Mets to his expensive choice without receiving the draft pick compensation that accompanies QO rejection.
Either way, the Mets will get something out of Stroman -- either a year of starting pitching in which his incentive is to make himself look as good as possible, or a draft pick compensation for future growth should he opt to try to sell himself to the highest bidder. The Mets are indeed desperate for starting pitching, so having to swallow hard and pay him for one year is not awful. Of course, they could use the time between now and Sunday to offer him a longer term deal which he may or may not take.
First things first, of course...let's see the book close on the Wilpons and open on Cohen. Then we can see what kind of owner he will be. The Wilpons set the bar at limbo champion height so it's not going to take much to see improvement.
1 comment:
Reese, I think that Sandy Alderson might well not be the Sandy Alderson we remember. Think back to 2015. When he was able to wheel and deal in July of that year, he did. We just don’t know what he will do when the money shackles of the Wilpon’s Are removed. I hate the idea frankly of St Roman coming back because given the market it would probably take big money to do it. I’m not sure he would take a qualifying offer, but given the state of the Mets pitching staff, I would at least give him a qualifying offer for one year.That said this team has a whole lot of rebuilding to do and in that long list of players, I would consider only Justin Wilson to retain and otherwise starting over fresh.
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