Reese Kaplan -- The Front Office Hasn't Done Too Badly

While people sometimes shake their head in wonder that the Mets find themselves 9 games over .500 in first place with the horrible slaught of injuries they’ve suffered, the fact is that they let plenty of people go on their way here.  It always seems that when the Mets let someone go, that person goes on to flourish in a new uniform.  Many times the headlines induce bad stomach acid, but this time around the Mets seem not to have suffered very much.

One of the most conspicuous moves was sending lefty Steven Matz north of the border to Toronto.  He started off like a house afire, but has cooled considerably since then.  He still has a very good 7-3 record but his ERA is at 4.26.  The control is better than usual.  Of course, this is all for naught as he’s now on the COVID sidelines for the next interval of non-playing time.  

Sean Reid-Foley seems to be the jewel of that trade thus far with a 2-0 record, 20 Ks in 15 IP and a 2.30 ERA.  Yennsy Diaz only pitched a couple of innings, so it’s too soon to tell and his 0.00 ERA is not going to last forever.  The third man acquired in that deal -- Josh Winckowski -- has since been dealt to Boston as part of the multi-team trade that brought Kahlil Lee to the Mets.  Lee hasn’t shown much, but Winckowski is pitching to a 3.10 ERA which is better than his minor league aggregate of 3.32.

The Cleveland Indians trade I’d mentioned recently with Amed Rosario heating up while Andres Gimenez was playing more to his minor league profile.  Recently Rosario eclipsed the .280 mark playing mostly outfield while Gimenez remains strictly sub-Mendoza.  19 year old Josh Wolf is at a 4.66 ERA and Isaiah Greene hasn’t yet logged any stats.  

On the Mets side we are starting to see the player we though Francisco Lindor was when the trade (and record setting contract) were executed, but right now his numbers are below what Rosario is producing.  Carrasco is still not pitching and there’s no clear answer as to when he will emerge from the IL stint.  Right now that trade looks like a deal for the Indians but it’s really too soon to tell.

The rest of the Mets transactions seem to fall pretty clearly in the GM-of-the-day’s camp.  Ryder Ryan was sent packing to complete last season’s silly Todd Frazier acquisition as the PTBNL.  He’s not doing anything of note and Frazier can’t even get a job.

The up and down Mets career of Justin Wilson has been all downhill since signing on with the Yankees.  He’s got a 6.08 ERA and not looked impressive in any facet of his game.

Several former Mets have not found jobs, including Yoenis Cespedes, Rick Porcello, Jared Hughes and Robinson Chirinos.

A few others have latched on and not performed particularly well in their new homes.  This group would include Jed Lowrie, Michael Wacha and Robel Garcia.

Then there are a few who are in the short term showing something.  Reliever Paul Sewald is sub 2.00 in ERA for the Mariners but is having a very tough time with his control.  Reliever Brad Brach is at 3.38 for Cincinnati but similarly is suffering wildness. Outfielder Jake Marisnick landed with the Cubs and is hitting an unexpected .270, but his baserunning stupidity in this series cost his team the tying run.  Outfielder Guillermo Heredia is hitting .265 for Atlanta and even Ali Sanchez has a 3 AB trial in St. Louis hitting .333.  

The one name not yet considered here is catcher Wilson Ramos who got cut loose recently by the Detroit Tigers after hitting just .200.  Some people have advocated that the Mets make a play for him, stashing him in Syracuse, but not all veterans are ready to admit that their best days may be behind them.  

On the whole, after looking at how the Mets acquisitions have done and how their banished players have done, you’d have to give the front office at least a B+ for their efforts.