On Monday we examined briefly the need to improve the pitching staff for the upcoming season. As a refresher, when the World Series ended the Mets were standing to lose 4 of 5 starting pitchers and everyone from the bullpen this side of Edwin Diaz and Drew Smith. That's obviously priority number one for the front office to address.
Despite the 101 win season, the Mets also had some issues to address on the offensive side of the ledger as well. While you can't complain about the efforts received from Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte, that solid group of five hitters only compromises 55% of the guys swinging a stick.
The missing components were not necessarily bad, but they could stand to be improved. Mark Canha in left field, Eduardo Escobar at third base, any of the catchers and the Designated Hitter position all under performed.
So the questions for the front office is how to deal with the contracts on the books already and how to address things for the team in the near future. James McCann is midway through a four-year deal and has not shown anything like what was expected of him when he was signed to a $40 million contract.
Tomas Nido has shown improvement in his game both defensively and in delivering sacrifice bunts, but no one feels he is starting material unless injuries force your hand. With Francisco Alvarez on the near horizon and Kevin Parada hot on his heels behind him, it's highly unlikely the Mets will attempt to pursue an obvious solution like Willson Contreras. Instead they might try to peddle McCann to another club, paying down his seemingly inflated salary, then opening up a role for a one-year deal for a veteran receiver who can fulfill the interim role along with Nido until Alvarez is declared ready with both his bat and his catching gear.
There are only three names from the list of available catcher free agents who look as if they could be suitable, though they might prove to be more expensive and seeking a longer deal than the Mets would offer. Omar Narvaez is going to turn 31 and holds a career .258 batting average. At this point he has played part time quite a bit and probably looks to be the number one guy a'la McCann, but there's no guarantee someone will offer him that role. He certainly seems a bit young for the one-and-done type of deal they likely seek.
Christian Vazquez is a career .261 hitter with better power. At age 33 this coming season he's also likely seeking a starting gig or a multiyear deal to serve as a backup or in split duty. He was earning about $500K less than the younger Narvaez and he's likely seeking a $5 million per season deal which could price him out of this role.
In-between age wise is the imponderable Mike Zunino who has catching skills and terrific home run power but struggles to stay above the Mendoza line. After starting off his career with Seattle, he moved onto a long stint in Tampa. As a hitter, he's only sporting a career average of .200, but has hit as many as 33 HRs in his career.
Right now although youth is still on his side, most folks would consider him a poor investment after his $7 million salary last year. He might be enticed into a discounted one-year make good deal, but it's hard for most professional athletes to accept taking less money.
So that brings us to an interesting and nearly perfect fit for the Mets for 2023. Catcher Kurt Suzuki has bounced around in his career between the Angels, Nationals (twice), Braves, Twins and A's. His career batting average is .255 and a half dozen times in his long career he was in double digits in home runs. Ever since 2012 he's been splitting duty with other catchers and will turn 40 during 2023.
Now who the Mets choose to fulfill the outfield will be examined in the third part of this series. Right now you will pencil in Starling Marte somewhere and have Mark Canha available as well. Until they know who is going to write the 2023 paycheck to Brandon Nimmo that challenge needs to be addressed as well.
6 comments:
Catcher is a tough call, but I think Alvarez is ready enough to team with Nido. McCann by the way means Mendoza in English.
Eppler has to decide if our kids are ready for day one.
Lots of teams look for defensive catchers to catch their rotation.
With the right amount of eaten salary, the Mets could find James a home elsewhere
I happen to disagree with Tom here since Alvarez didn't master hitting in AAA and everyone agrees his defense calls to mind a lesser version of Mike Piazza. Let him develop those skills, THEN call him up. If you name him starting catcher on day one you're just setting him up for either failure or a hostile reaction from fans and media when he hits .200 and doesn't handle the pitching staff particularly well.
I hope the highest Alvy gets our of camp is the backup catcher.
Reese is probably right about sending him to Syracuse but don't be surprised if Kevin Parada isn't knocking on the door there before the end of the season,
Bite the bullet,play the kids. If Baty and Alvarez are indeed elite prospects give them 100 ABsif they have good STs. Alvarez can share catching with both Nido and McCamn and DH in a platoon with Vogelbach. When Alvarez catches he can be subbed in late innings.
Reese right on.
I totally concur with your article on the NYM except for a couple of things.
First, Mark Vientos isn't just a one position player vying for a shot at third base starting. Mark is a more total player in that he has played third base, first base, and shortstop. What this means simply is that he can play multiple positions. Not everyone has that ability.
My point here is simply this, Mark Vientos is capable of playing second base or left field, same as Jeff McNeil. If you can play shortstop, the switch to second base is simply the shorter throw to first, learning the footwork around second base (from a different perspective than from short) on double plays, and then taking the cutoff from right field. It is all really easy to do. But with Vientos in the batting lineup, you are adding into it consistency (BA) and some decent and growing HR power. Mark is ready for this opportunity in my opinion. This would be a perfect move for this team to do.
Your assessment on the core from 2021 is also correct. But Nimmo is not a certainty to re-sign here, and Brett Baty "has got to start at third" in 2023, thus leaving Eduardo Escobar in either a DH or utility role. Personally, I'd move him via a trade.
You hit the nail perfectly on the head with the 2023 catcher position and perhaps having too much hype attached to Francisco Alvarez starting. Christian Vázquez I have watched a lot over the years. He is exceptionally smart and a game changer on the field as well. That's who I would get to start in 2023. Later on, he could also groom Alvarez here.
But the real issue with this team heading into the 2023 season is still at the starting pitcher position.
The NY Mets can go "old school" and add in another old much used arm to the ones already here. Or the Mets can begin a wiser rebuild, add in younger arms than Verlander heading into the next "few seasons."
Everyone loved Jake deGrom here, when he was healthy. But he's older now (35 in 2023) and a longterm contract (4 yrs.) for him really does not make a great deal of sense for this team. Over the past two seasons he has lost over a full season with arm injures, and his future as a MLB starting pitcher is not totally certain sustainability wise. He be great in Philly.
It may be the right time to take the monies that would have been afforded to Jake in a four year deal, and get started in the right direction acquiring younger and healthier arms now. Otherwise, you chance the big kaboom! within this four year deal time setting, if Jake goes down for good.
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