By Mike Phillips | October 12, 2020 4:08 pm
The New York Mets face the prospect of an offseason that could monumentally change the direction of the franchise for years to come. The franchise’s sale to billionaire Steve Cohen should be approved shortly after the World Series, adding even more intrigue to the hot stove season. Let’s take a look at some big questions that the Mets will have to answer this winter as they look to build a contender for 2021.
1. What happens to Brodie Van Wagenen and Luis Rojas?
Cohen has already announced that Sandy Alderson will be the Mets’ president of baseball operations if the sale is approved which could lead to some changes in the front office. Brodie Van Wagenen would likely be a goner as Alderson could look to hire a younger GM who he could groom to take over the organization’s decision making process down the road.
The situation with Rojas is a bit more interesting since he is well respected in the locker room and got the short end of the stick by having to take over in February while only getting a 60-game season to show what he’s worth. The Mets could opt to bring Rojas back for another year since Alderson had a working relationship with him during his time with the organization.
2. Do the Mets pursue contract extensions with anyone?
The Mets were very hesitant to hand out contract extensions in the Wilpon era after a few bad contracts cost the franchise dearly in the early 2010s. That philosophy could change with Cohen’s deeper pockets which is a good thing to set the franchise up for long-term success. Michael Conforto’s deal is up after the 2021 season so extending him would be a no-brainer. Noah Syndergaard’s situation is a bit more complicated due to his Tommy John surgery but a two-year bridge deal could make sense for both sides.
3. Which free agents could be retained?
Wilson Ramos’ down year and $10.5 million option make him an easy candidate to let walk. Deadline acquisitions Todd Frazier and Robinson Chirinos should also be cut loose while the Mets won’t bother attempting to retain Yoenis Cespedes. Rick Porcello, Michael Wacha and Jared Hughes probably won’t be back either while Dellin Betances and Brad Brach will likely exercise their 2021 player options. The only real candidates to re-sign are Marcus Stroman, who should receive a qualifying offer, and lefty Justin Wilson.
1 comment:
Part 1: Rising Apple's Tim Boyle Article Today
Here's the thing I have got to vent.
Every NY Mets early off season (like now for the Mets), the sports press and most NY Mets fans repeat the same one thing. That is, they get hooked and reeled into whatever best players on the FA market are out there. They envision those guys playing here the next season. They do not care what it costs the team.
Hey, it's nice to dream, but for once can we go beyond this drudgery.
I think that it tends to stunt the team's thought processes sometimes. And then when those top FA players are not brought in, everyone gets upset and cannot understand that it's probably because every other team in MLB wants those same exact top free agents.
Is there life beyond the Free Agent Market?
"I thin' so Lucy."
Now, on Tim Boyle's article today on Rising Apple on not feeling obligated to re-sign Marcus Stroman.
Tim makes a case both ways actually, for and against re-signing Marcus Stroman. In the end he thinks that it makes some sense to re-sign Marcus. I disagree and here's why.
Marcus career stats are okay, he's basically a .500% win/loss guy but has a nice under 4.00 ERA. But he is not a prototypical strikeout starter and he does give up a lot of hits probably because of this. Marcus is coming off a $12.0 million contract in 2020 as an unrestricted free agent. The Mets have no obligation to Marcus, who opted out of his 2020 contract because of feras concerning the Corona Virus.
Personally, I wouldn't even entertain the thought of Marcus Stroman returning to the NY Mets. It isn't so much the opting out of his contract, although that doesn't help. It's because (to me) the Mets do not need another really good four starter as much as they do need a potential top 3 starter in lieu of the obvious fact that Noah Syndergaard return date to the Mets is not determinable.
The Mets have got to consider this very carefully and then go out and get a top three starter, which Marcus Stroman simply is not.
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