The best strategy is one that results in lots of wins over lots of seasons.
A smart team thinks of the assemblage of its 2022 team - and also rosters in the years to follow.
Javy Baez and his 6 year requirement were passed on.
Smartly, I think.
Instead, they anted up 2 years on Ralph Kramden's favorite player, Eduardo!
Eduardo Escobar. While Escobar will be 33 next year, the move to me seems smarter than 6 years of Baez, considering Double E's robust bat in 2019 and 2021.
Why else smart?
To me, it seems unwise to lock up a second infielder (after Sir Lindor the Perpetual) for an extremely long time when, before too long, Messrs. Baty, Vientos, and Mauricio, all currently candidates for 2B/3B, will be truly ready to start in the field for these NY Mets.
With Pounding Pete and/or Smith at 1B and Lindor at SS, in 2 years, two of the above 3 aforementioned minor leaguers ought to be manning the 2 remaining spots at 2nd and 3rd, with the other member of that prospect trio playing infield and outfield much as McNeil and Davis do now.
By 2024, both of the latter duo will be far more expensive than the 3 kids. If not traded this off-season, McNeil and Davis will certainly have to be markedly better than the far cheaper prospect trio by 2024.
Some want IF/OF Kris Bryant brought into the fold. He'd be married to the Mets for many years. I just wonder if his future career direction is going to be marked with slow decline. When, the next shopping aisle over, the aforementioned prospect trio could be in sharp incline within a few seasons and in need of (and deserving of) beaucoups at bats.
If it was my team, and I truly believed that the trio of Baty, Vientos, and Mauricio were all likely to be impact major leaguers, I would stay with McNeil and Davis on this team for at least 2022, and bide my time until the kids are ready to be major leaguers and then MLB studs. Which I see as being not that far over the horizon.
Again, you need to plan for the future seasons, not just the next one. At this point, I would not be disappointed if the Mets' 2024 line up was the following:
Lindor - SS
Alonso - 1B/DH
Nimmo - LF
Baty - 3B
Mauricio - 2B
Vientos - DH/IF/OF
Alvarez - C
Marte - CF
Alex Ramirez - RF
A fine, mostly young, strong line up. I could be dreaming, but I could envision 80 to 100 HRs from Alvarez, Baty, Vientos, and Mauricio in 2024. They all have significant pop.
Perhaps an aging McCann and a pre-free agent McNeil and a versatile Khalil Lee to round out the top 12 offensive players. (Smith does not feel like a long termer with the Mets to me after 2021, nor does Davis).
A fine overall offensive/defensive hitting squad.
Those are my thoughts. What's yours? Wish we'd signed Baez? Still want Bryant? Or do you (as I do) want and prefer a wide berth for the kids in 2023/24?
Strategize, folks. Let's hear it. Powerpoints are optional.
9 comments:
I personally feel like Bryant should still be brought ino the fold. Unless Cano is a man on fire during spring training cut him (or if we don’t have the NL DH just cut him regardless). You bright in Bryant in a 5 year deal. Maybe 22 per year will get it done?
From a next year perspective we would have so many options. Assuming no Cano AND the DH we can line up behind DeGrom as follows on opening day.
1B - Alonso
2B - Escobar
SS - McCann
3B - Bryant
RF - Nimmo
CF - Marte
LF - Marte
On the bench is McNeil, Guillorme, Nido with room for 2 more of the youngsters when they’re ready. When they get up they’ll get at bats because of the DH. They can cycle into playing the field while the veteran DHs to keep their legs fresh etc. until then find your best veteran on a bargain 1 year deal to hold down the fort.
I feel like this team would be so incredibly versatile. Bryant can play all the corners and is passable in CF in a pinch. Nimmo can play the entire outfield if needed. McNeil can play anywhere but 1st, CF and SS. The DH really opens this up so whoever is the best of the kids can come up and we can mix and match to get everyone their at bats while keeping them fresh.
Davis and Smith are gone in my world. Trade then to the A’s who will likely be trading away Olson and get the best ML pitching you can from them. I’d even be willing to throw in 1 of our blue chips (not Batty or Alvarez) if it’s a good enough pitching return
Forwarded to Mr. Cohen
Dan B, that is no Plan B. It has a lot of merit. I just fear Bryant fossilizing in a few years. But the market demand for Bryant seems solid.
I love young guys getting a chance - if and when they’re ready. If not, I have limited patience with failure. Failure prevent playoffs. Thanks for your input.
Great post Tom...finally a voice of reason. I can't understand everyone's fixation on Bryant. Why would or should we lock up someone directly blocking our best prospects. Bryant, is average at best at all positions. He appears to have peaked and we would be looking at a slow decline as he blocks our prospects for the next 6 years. We passed on Baez for the same reason.
I am not totally against Bryant, but I would max out at 3 years and 18 per year. This way he would shift to a super utility player. I'm sure that would not be enough to get it done, so I would move on. If McNeil returns to form, I believe he is a better all around hitter.
I love the short term signings. Hopefully our best prospects will be ready and actually be good...lol.
Great teams have to reset their payroll every few years or you will be perpetually over the tax thresh hold. I know everyone thinks Cohen doesn't care about the money, but you can't run an organization like that. You get stuck with 4 or 5 again vets that are untradable.
Joe, guys in baseball look great…until they become old. Often overnight. You make great points. Thank.
yes, I understand that Bryant may decline in a couple of years, when the youngsters are on the incline; however, it's even more likely that deGrom and Scherzer have limited shelf life, and it's more important to benefit from those two top pitchers while we can.
I’m not totally married to Bryant. We could also get 2 years of Matt Chapman from the A’s. We can give him a QA and send him on his way in 2 years but in the short term his glove next to Lindor would be awesome.
Jon Messinger, that pitching ace durability is a true all or nothing lynchpin. Baseball is a game where successful risk takers are deemed geniuses, and unsuccessful one are vilified. Tough job.
Dan, great point. And 2 year Chapman segues right into Cohen’s kiddie corps.
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