Paul Articulates – When do we have enough?

This weekend brought news that Manny Machado signed a $350M deal with the San Diego Padres that would cover the next 11 years of his career.  Last week while he was still “available”, there was a great deal of discussion amongst baseball followers and particularly Mets fans as to whether the Mets would try to sign him.  This was something that would never even be discussed during the Wilpon era when the money was very scarce for acquiring big stars.  

Now, we seem to have been so spoiled by Steve Cohen’s spending on the team, that fans want EVERY superstar free agent out there.  

Well, not all Mets fans…I’m in the other camp.  I didn’t want Machado.  Let me explain.

I believe that any well-balanced, sustainable winning team needs to have some big stars that bring in the fans and drive other revenue streams from merchandise, media deals, and advertisements.  But those teams also need to have some role players, some up-and-coming prospects, and some cagy old veterans that rule the clubhouse.  Without that mix, there is not enough spotlight to go around even if you can afford the players.  

Eventually the morale dries up because someone has to bat 8th and someone has to be pinch-hit for when the game is on the line and the matchup is more favorable for a bench player.  Your $350M stars would not accept that.  Role players say, “I get that – I don’t hit lefties well”.  Prospects say, “Let me learn from this”.  You can’t build a team with 9 silver slugger shortstops.

The Mets have some superstars on their team right now.  They have some role players.  They have some prospects.  Yes, they have a few areas of weakness like outfield depth, DH, and 3rd base.  But if the Mets paid $351M to lure Machado away from the Padres, they would never be able to evaluate whether Eduardo Escobar was in career decline or just had a bad season.  They would never be able to see if Brett Baty could hold his own on a MLB roster.  They would have too many utility infielders with nowhere to play them unless Buck sat the stars.  

This would make the team very reliant on a small set of high power high paid starters, who over the course of a 162-game season might not hold up.  Then what – take an atrophied player off the end of the bench and see if they still have the eye?  Would fans welcome those players trying to fill the shoes of the big guys?  No – the downward spiral would begin.

There is something exciting about a young prospect stepping in on a big-league roster and achieving.  Remember when Reyes or David Wright came up? They were talented prospects that won a spot on the roster where there was a need.   Right now the Mets have a great lineup and solid defense, so when the latest group of young guys get their shot there will be very little pressure for them to perform.

Now this article does not intend to state that Paul is against signing any more big names.  If Shohei Ohtani wants to live in New York City, it would make me very happy.  He is extremely versatile, and the Mets could use him in many ways and still have room to give the prospects a look.  

How about you?  Do you think we have enough?