Reese Kaplan -- So What If This Is It For The Roster?

You’ve heard people describe themselves as a glass half full kind of person, always relishing what remains of whatever they’re enjoying.  Then you’ve heard of the glass half empty people who spend more time focusing on what’s lost forever and never on what is leftover.  Personally, though I tend towards the second definition, I have long since gotten past the thoughts about the glass breaking and causing injury and realize that the glass is actually refillable, though not always when you want it done.  

Today, I want to take a third tier scenario and examine the roster as it is right now and figure out how good or bad the team would be in 2021 if there was no trading frenzy or free agent spending spree happening.  After all, we learned that several high caliber players have already moved and a few free agents who would have fit nicely (including a Korean infielder who’d better like truly nice weather in San Diego).  Now word filters down that the Mets are out on Tomoyuki Sugano, so that dream appears to be up in fan smoke, too.

Well, at first base the Mets may not have Freddie Freeman, but I don’t think anyone is complaining over the duo of Pete Alonso and Dom Smith.  One bats righty, one bats lefty and each are capable of destroying the opposition with a single swing.  No, there doesn’t appear to be an issue at Keith Hernandez’ former post.

At second base everyone assumes Jeff McNeil will return to fill in for the chemically penalized Robinson Cano.  After finishing the season hitting .316 and operating on a 30+ HR pace, not nearly as many people were making those vicious remarks about the trade.  In his place is a guy with a career .319 average who plays solid defense, so the $20 million in salary savings from Cano is in retrospect a good thing.  

At shortstop the club is having something of an embarrassment of riches.  If you want speed you can pick between Andres Gimenez and Amed Rosario.  If you want power, the choice would appear to lean towards Rosario.  If you want batting average it would appear between Rosario and Luis Guillorme.  If it’s strictly defense, then it’s Gimenez and Guillorme.  While at this point in their careers none are going to make you forget Francisco Lindor or a healthy Corey Seager, the fact is that any of these three choices would be sufficient to field a winning ballclub.  

Now third base is something of a mystery for the upcoming season.  If the strong bat of J.D. Davis magically returns, is it sufficient to withstand the lead glove he brings to the position?  If not, then does Amed Rosario try his hand at a position he’s played not a single inning in the major leagues?  If his defensive challenges are deemed too significant, do they look to a sure handed buy like Luis Guillorme (or do a flip flop at 2B and 3B with McNeil returning to the hot corner where he looked a bit overmatched as well?)

Catcher is still something of a weakness for the team, but that’s no reflection on newcomer James McCann.  He didn’t just have a hot streak over a 60-game season like Trevor Bauer did on the mound, but he’s put together back-to-back solid production with his bat while simultaneously developing his ability as a catcher.  The hurlers are going to love having him there as a huge step up from Wilson Ramos, but I am a bit concerned that as it is right now we would have to rely on long stretches of Tomas Nido when McCann is unavailable.  

The outfield is still a work in progress, unfortunately.  Brandon Nimmo showed he does not belong in centerfield, but would be perfectly adequate in left.  Michael Conforto is playing for a contract extension or free agency, so right field is his as long as he stays healthy.  That leaves center as a big open void with the also-ran members of the roster and minor leagues not looking like good answers.  Remember the innings played by guys like Billy Hamilton?  Yes, he eclipsed the 50 SB mark four times in his career but is a lifetime .241 hitter.  We don’t want more of that type as a long term fix, but fringe players could be perfectly adequate on the bench.  

I’ve spent a lot of time discussing the starting pitching which was pretty abysmal last season other than Jacob deGrom and sometimes David Peterson.  This year Marcus Stroman is back, so three of the slots are filled.  If we assume Seth Lugo gets a fourth, that would make Steven Matz the fifth.  That caliber of rotation is what still makes folks somewhat nervous after deGrom and Stroman.  

The bullpen is a huge mystery right now, but Edwin Diaz sure looked dominant in 2020.  Coupled with the newly acquired Trevor May, the last year of Jeurys Familia and the returns of Dellin Betances and Brad Brach, it’s possible they have sufficient depth there.  There are a number of unproven pieces who will vie for a spot, but none jump out as significantly better.  It’s also possible they’re relying on too many suspect arms in general.  

So the question is whether the team is better or worse than it was in 2020?  I would say better if only for the return of Marcus Stroman for a full season, the break even of Cano/McNeil, the two free agent additions and theoretically the ability to build in the future via spending or trades.  Will it be much better?  Well, that depends primarily on the pitching to start and to relieve.  The offense is fine almost everywhere but centerfield.  And remember, John Fogerty didn’t have a hit singing about the great desire and need to be a LOOGY.