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10/25/21

Reese Kaplan -- Build From Within and Supplement With Outsiders


Mack seems to reiterate a worthwhile theme in commenting on improving the Mets' roster -- that trades and free agent signings are not the only ways to build a team.  On the latter, I am operating in somewhat unchartered waters as the Wilpon family was never shopping in the steak and caviar section of the supermarket.  Steve Cohen seems willing to indulge himself and fans in some top tier talents, so free agent dreams are something in which Mets fans can and should indulge even if they never happen.


Who remembers last year when everyone was hot and heavy for Trevor Bauer and George Springer to come to Queens?  Bauer was coming off a stellar season and Springer could provide them a combination of speed and power in the outfield that they've been lacking.  Bauer was having a nice start for his new employer in Los Angeles with an 8-5 record and a highly respectable 2.59 ERA before his off-the-field behavior ended his season prematurely.  

Springer had an injury-shortened half year typical of a three-time All Star with a finishing line of 22 HRs and 50 RBIs in under 81 games.  


This coming season the Mets may be more inclined to trade away some pieces from the major league roster to help fortify their arsenal to help get back on a winning track.  If the rumors about a Javy Baez signing are indeed true, then Jeff McNeil will likely be on 29 other teams' radar as a highly effective hitter with better than average power who can play all over the field.  

Wouldn't it be nice to see the Mets for once be in the driver's seat for these types of transactions instead of peddling away all of their top prospects?

That thought brings us back to Mack's thought on how to grow and build a team.  It should happen from the inside with steady advancement as the best of the best make their way up the ladder instead of seeing them leaving on a jet plane.  

It's been a very long time since the Mets concentrated on building internally.  Jeff McNeil was a late arrival.  So too was Jacob deGrom.  Michael Conforto got his start due to a rash of injuries forcing them to promote earlier than planned.  Brandon Nimmo is about the only one who followed a conventional ascension and he's gotten better each year (when he can stay healthy).  

Part of the whole front office revision is not simply about who can demonstrate what he or she has done in the past at the major league level, but equally important is what is the plan for building long term success?  We've already discussed powerhouse rosters like the Big Red Machine and the Yankees teams of the Steinbrenner era where buying and leaning on the premier talent in the league helped make them into insurmountable opponents.  


However, is that the route being taken nowadays by the winning franchises?  How many $341 million player contracts are on the Tampa Bay Rays?  The Dodgers aren't averse to spending money but they also have developed a number of players internally.  The all minimum wage approach is no more valid than luxury threshold roster construction.  The better teams do try to build internally for both economic reasons and for building fan loyalty.  Then they supplement gaps with free agents or trades.  They don't rely entirely on outsiders to make them great.

So to come back to Mack's point...the Mets had better take a long and hard look at how to improve their drafting, their international scouting, their minor league development, their medical and exercise teams, and understand that all of that hard work can indeed result in long term success.  


It's nice to see the guys like Max Scherzer, Carlos Correa, Freddie Freeman and Clayton Kershaw hit the market and be readily available to the highest bidder.  The issue here is overpaying for past accomplishments when a player is often on the wrong side of 30 and your results, like EPA gas mileage ratings, should come with a warning about expectations.   

Oddly, think back to the Wilpon days when second and third tier free agents were the primary acquisitions and were not of the caliber to make for a winning team.  Now rethink that approach as supplemental acquisitions to help balance out a strong internal core at minimal pay and now it starts to make some sense.  

Similarly, look how the Rays, the Rockies and a few other teams routinely trade away good talent as it starts to get pricey or is starting it's second career half decline.  Hey, if it works, don't knock it.  

Going into this off season I expect a major roster overhaul with 13 people as free agents and a new front office eventually taking over the management of team development.  The issue of how it will transpire is still up in the air, and the longer the Mets take to address the POBO, GM and field manager resources, the easier it will be to make these types of changes.  Unfortunately right now everyone is on pins and needles awaiting something to happen and that's an uncomfortable place to be.  

13 comments:

  1. 11 of the stars on the current Astros team are homegrown.

    6 draft.picks

    5 International signs

    11

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  2. Seaver, Koosman, Gentry, McGraw, Jones, Harrelson, Swoboda, McAndrew, Boswell, Kranepool, Ryan, in '69 and Gooden, Strawberry, Dykstra, Wilson, Backman, Elster, McDowell, in '86. Look at the Braves, as well as the Nats and Dodgers, today and the talent they seemingly come up with every year. I've been saying this for years and fan response, which, unfortunately, the Wilpons heard, was always "they're just unproven 'mina leagas.'" The Mets should build like they were the Rays but with the financial wherewithal to be able to spend on the right free agent or make a trade for the right player.

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  3. 2022 ETA

    Oller
    Walker
    Vientos

    2023 ETA

    Alvarez
    Ginn
    Baty
    Mauricio

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  4. I have a feeling Steve Cohen is going to swing for the fences (which should be brought in closer - thank you) and break out the checkbook big time. What that means for our stable of prospects is open to speculation. No question that Alvarez, Ginn, and Allan are keepers. Beyond that, it is how fast the mgmt team really thinks Baty and Vientos can help when they are ready.

    Timing-wise, I think Baty will hit the ground stampeding in 2022, and be ready for call up by the ASB. Vientos might be ready opening day, but if that stupid rule still applies, he'd not be up until late April.

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  5. Do we have any information available regarding which International prospects the Mets are looking at signing during the 2023 signing period?

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  6. Sorry that should be the 2022 signing period.

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    Replies
    1. Yes

      The Mets will be signing online ONE OF THE TOP 30 PLAYERS, an outfielder.

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    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  7. All good thoughts. There are many ways to approach building a good team, and when you develop a comprehensive strategy at the top, fortify it with knowledge of when your top internal prospects will be "ready" to step into the spotlight, there will be a better understanding of what free agents to move on and which to let pass. It is hard for ownership to deliver on the strategy, as it sometimes takes years to get there - and all the while the fan base is clamoring for immediate change to win "now". Patience is important, and if we don't win it all in 2022 that's OK with me as long as we have taken solid steps towards winning it in the near future.

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  8. Remember not long ago the Mets had mainly left handed batters here? Everyone noticed and complained about it.

    Now look.

    1B Alonso - right handed, 2B Wilmer Reyes - right, SS Lindor - Switch hitter, 3B Vientos - right, LF JD Davis - right, CF Nimmo - left, RF Khalil Lee - left, C Alvarez - right

    Two lefty batters plus Lindor who can switch hit. I like this.


    On building around your draft picks.

    Mets did recently, this 2021 team was one. But the pitching was not there for them aside from Noah and Jake, and add-ins like T. Walker. Wheeler was not drafted by the Mets, but developed by them. He was drafted by SF Giants.

    But this current 2021 addition of a Mets young team is knocking on age 30 now. It isn't a young team anymore really.

    If the Mets were to say, go out an get like 38 year old (in July) Max Scherzer, 41 Rich Hill (again), J. Happ 37, Justin Verlander 37, Charlie Morton 37 or any other golden oldies (although some still are very good I do admit, but for like how much longer?) then the Mets get older than they already are. Plus, how many times has this same strategy worked out well for these NYM? See my point?

    I just don't think that's a wise move to make now and it is exceedingly salary budget draining.

    Do you remember not too long ago when the NY Yankees all got old together with Jetes and how that turned out? AARP like.

    That's why I like adding in younger players into the lineup. You want to build for now, but also for the future after key guys have retired. You want a new base of good younger players on your team each season really, to take this over down the road.

    2023 will be all about Brett Baty I think. He just needs to add a little more bat power. He will.

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  9. Mack:

    I agree on Vientos, and Oller. Josh Walker is not 100% certain quite yet but could fit in nicely from the pen in 2022.

    But I also think Khalil Lee and Francisco Alvarez could become starting players right out of 2022 ST. Just a hunch. Either Lee or even possibly too Jake Mangum.

    I want these two guys to vie for the right field opening after the Mets let Conforto walk. I do realize that Michael and Dom are fan favorites here, but sometime you have to move on and get your team younger so that the NYY Jetes team does not happen to your team.

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  10. I definitely bring Francisco Alvarez to 2022 ST and see what he has. The job is his anyway in 2023. Scouts say he is a lock talent wise. It doesn't sound like he is missing skills. We have three catchers available here right now that collectively were so-so in 2021.

    There is nothing to lose by this idea (I don't think) of Francisco Alvarez starting at catcher here in 2022.

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  11. And don't forget a favorite Mets pitcher of mine...


    Drew Smith.

    This guy is a little hard to figure at times, I admit. But I watch his mechanics and abilities, and I just think that he will become soon something major one day. Hopefully here a NY Met.

    Do not trade this guy like you did Chris Flexen. Drew is next up.

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