John From Albany – Mets News and Breakfast Links 11/7/2020

 

Good Morning. Happy Birthday Kris Benson and Glendon Rusch. Steve Cohen closes the sale, Sandy Alderson cleans house and COVID-19 forces 11 day Mexican Winter League shutdown. 

Section Links: Mets Links, MLB Links, Winter Baseball, and This Day in Mets History.

Mets Links:

As we had yesterday on Mack’s Mets: The Mets sale to Steve Cohen has officially closed.

Soon after it was announced: Brodie Van Wagenen, Omar Minaya, Allard Baird, Adam Guttridge and Jared Banner are all leaving the Mets.

Joel Sherman NY Post: Sandy Alderson’s Mets knockout punch is telling power move. “So when Steve Cohen approached Alderson about a return as team president, sources said, he accepted under the condition that he would have control of, among other things, shaping baseball operations as he desired.”

Alderson cleaning house jives with what I was told this week by people who know him: he quietly stewed about being forced out as GM, is now intent on putting his imprint on the organization as team prez and figures to be involved in all decision-making.

— John Harper (@NYNJHarper) November 6, 2020

Metstradamus: “First off, did we just witness swift, decisive leadership? Even with the caveat that Cohen had a few months to think about this … this level of decisiveness has long been absent from this organization.”

Sandy Alderson is expected to hold a press conference Tuesday, could be on the same Zoom call with Steve Cohen.

— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) November 7, 2020

Ken Davidoff NY Post: Mets should target these front office superstars. Chris Antonetti, Cleveland Indians president; Jon Daniels, Texas Rangers president; Derek Falvey, Minnesota Twins president; John Mozeliak, St. Louis Cardinals president; Erik Neander, Tampa Bay Rays president; David Stearns, Milwaukee Brewers president.

SNY.TV: 6 potential Mets GM candidates who could replace Brodie Van Wagenen. “A’s Billy Owens and Rays’ Bobby Heck are among the candidates.” Others mentioned: MLB’s Peter Woodfork, D-Backs’ Amiel Sawdaye, Former Mets Pitcher Chris Young, John Ricco.

SNY.TV: 5 players who could further define Brodie Van Wagenen's Mets legacy. Matthew Allan and Pete Crow-Armstrong are among those who could determine how Van Wagenen's tenure is viewed. Others are J.D. Davis, J.T. Ginn, and Edwin Diaz. 

Successes of Van Wagenen's two years at the helm include the J.D. Davis trade and the Justin Wilson signing.

His free agent track record as a whole, however, was not strong. None of Lowrie, Familia, Ramos, Betances, Wacha or Porcello worked out as the Mets envisioned.

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) November 6, 2020

SNY.TV: Ranking the three best and worst moves Brodie Van Wagenen made as Mets GM. The Jared Kelenic trade and the Jacob deGrom extension highlight the list. Also on the plus side trading for J.D. Davis and drafting Matthew Allan and J.T. Ginn while other minuses were Jed Lowrie and the Marcus Stroman trade. 

Mike Puma NY Post included Pete Alonso as a Brodie plus, and Rick Porcello, Michael Wacha, and Carlos Beltran as minuses.

Statement from Brodie Van Wagenen: "Congratulations to Steve Cohen on the purchase of your home-town team. I hope that your energy, competitiveness and resources will be welcomed by Major League Baseball. The sport can benefit from your fearlessness and aggressiveness." pic.twitter.com/rWrCPWmVO5

— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) November 6, 2020

There is skepticism within the industry that Brodie Van Wagenen would return to being an agent; he would have to get recertified, and his jump to the Mets didn't sit well with the MLBPA. More likely he ends up with a TV job. He doesn't have to hurry - he is still owed about $5M.

— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) November 6, 2020

John Harper SNY.TV: 7 bold predictions for Mets' 2020-21 offseason. 1. Marcus Stroman Accepts Qualifying Offer; 2. Mets Sign George Springer; 3. Mets Trade for Francisco Lindor; 4. Alderson Retains Manager Luis Rojas; 5. Mets Sign James McCann; 6. Mets Sign Brad Hand; 7. Mets Sign Jake Odorizzi.

Faith and Fear in Flushings’ 1984 Met for All Seasons is Wally Backman.

Mets Junkies: Another major concern about Francisco Lindor. They site the huge 2021 Free Agent SS class and how none of those will cost an established prospect.

Meet my dad, Ralph. Present at every home game 20+ years and life long Mets Fan. Happiest man in the world today! #MetsGrandpa #LGM pic.twitter.com/ygBjdvMgRs

— Alex Cohen (@alexmomof5) November 6, 2020

ICYMI Yesterday at Mack’s Mets:

Reese Kaplan: What Problems Must Steve Cohen Fix?

Tom Brennan - Part 2 of 5: What went wrong for the Mets from 2016-2020. Today 2017.

Mack - Scouting Report - RHP - Ben Kudma.

Mack - Scouting Report - RHP - Chase Burns.

MLB Links:

MLB.com: Each team's perfect free agent to sign.  For the Mets, they say it is J.T. Realmuto.  

MLB.com: Cora back as Red Sox skipper on 2-year deal.

MLB.com: Arenado, Gordon win 2020 Platinum Gloves. Best overall defensive player in each league.

MLB Trade Rumors: MLB Will Not Discipline Justin Turner.

MLB closes its investigation into Justin Turner. Per the statement, there were multiple miscommunications throughout the process and Turner will not be subject to any discipline. https://t.co/szbxTURbvh

— Kyle Glaser (@KyleAGlaser) November 6, 2020

Yahoo Sports: Report: Five members of Dodgers organization test positive for COVID-19, but none were in MLB bubble.

MLB Trade Rumors: Erik Kratz Won’t Play in 2021.

NY Post: Yankees moving Staten Island, Trenton minor league affiliates.  As part of MLB’s reorganization of the minor leagues, the Yankees will move their Double-A affiliate from Trenton to Somerset, N.J., and their short-season Single-A affiliate from Staten Island to Hudson Valley, which plays its games in Wappingers Falls, N.Y., according to Baseball America.

$78.5 million in draft savings

$165 million in international spending deferred to 2021

$307 million in declined options

Teams are drastically cutting expenses in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic—with the non-tender deadline still to come.https://t.co/3LVGzvPc1w

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) November 7, 2020

Winter Baseball:

Caneros.net: “The Mexican Pacific League will take a break of 11 days, from November 6 to 15 due to COVID Infections…this period will allow the current victims their due recovery until they can present their negative PCR tests that allow them to return to the field of play/”

In 17 Games this winter, Mets Minor League Catcher Juan Uriarte is hitting .277, with 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 2 doubles, 1 triple.

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Dick Stuart (1932)
• Orlando Mercado (1961)
• Andy Tomberlin (1966)
• Kris Benson (1974)
• Glendon Rusch (1974)
• Willie Collazo (1979)

Transactions:
New York Mets signed free agent Rick Reed on November 7, 1995.

Florida Marlins signed Brian Daubach of the New York Mets as a free agent on November 7, 1996.

New York Mets released Jason Bay on November 7, 2012.

New York Mets signed free agent Greg Burke on November 7, 2012.

 National Pastime.com:

2000	Receiving 25-of-32 first-place votes, the BBWAA selects Rafael Furcal as the National League Rookie of the Year. The Braves shortstop, who is the only player listed on all 32 ballots, easily outdistances Cardinal pitcher Rick Ankiel and Mets outfielder Jay Payton.
2012	With a year remaining on his contract, outfielder Jason Bay is released by the Mets after three very disappointing seasons with New York. The move will not save the team any money as they will be responsible for the $21 million owed to the former National League Rookie of the Year, who signed a big free-agent deal with the club in 2009.

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