The Mack Report - Hunter, Tylor, Ronny, Nimmo, Yacabonis

Hunter, Tylor, Ronny, Nimmo, Yacabonis

 

2023 Mets King of Spring Training, update #2 -

Tommy Hunter - 0.00 ERA, 0.60 WHIP, 5 Ks in 5 IP

A familiar face, Hunter’s dominance this spring has lasted long enough that he now deserves a KoST shoutout. The Mets might have some tough choices to make with their final couple of bullpen slots, as Hunter could opt out if he does not make the bullpen and take a shot with another team. The veteran righty has yet to be scored upon this spring. 

Mack - I sure hope we see more of him this spring. Five innings is not enough to determine if he should come to Queens next month. 

Still, I would have him on my 26. 

 

Mets’ Tylor Megill taking ‘foot off the gas,’ putting together strong spring at vital time -

The 27-year-old is continuing his strong spring, posting a 1.08 with six strikeouts across 8.1 innings of work — and it couldn’t be coming at a better time. 

The right-hander is showing the kind of stuff that made him an invaluable member of the Mets’ starting rotation early last year when they were bitten by the injury bug. Over his first five starts of the 2022 campaign, he was 4-0 with a 1.93 ERA until a shoulder injury derailed his season. After going on the injured list in mid-May, Megill made just two more starts in June before returning in September as a reliever. 

Tylor Megill Putting Together Strong Spring For New York Mets -

It's easy to forget, but just last year, Tylor Megill was the Mets' Opening Day starter. 

Yes, it likely would have been Jacob deGrom or Max Scherzer if either of them were healthy, but Megill came up huge when called upon. 

The right-hander struck out six batters in five innings while holding the Washington Nationals lineup at bay as New York won 5-1. 

Megill continued to build off that success, but went down with injury in the early part of the season and wound up sitting out until September when he returned as a reliever. 

Now healthy again, Megill has gotten off to a strong start to Spring Training, including four shutout innings against the Miami Marlins on Monday. 

In 8 1/3 spring innings so far, Megill has a 1.08 ERA and six strikeouts. 

Mack - This favorite of mine has been a real breath of fresh air this spring. 

Right now, David Peterson is slotted to replace Quintana in the rotation, but let’s not discount what is going on here. 

If nothing else, there is no reason to rush Senga. 

 

4 NY Mets who should already be on the trade block - 3. NY Mets shortstop Ronny Mauricio should already be on the trade block

This feels like a trade the New York Mets should have made last year, or even the year before. As it is, Ronny Mauricio has probably lost a little bit of his trade value, but New York could still use one of their top prospects in order to trade for a position of need. 

Let’s be real, Mauricio is never going to take over shortstop in a Mets uniform. Even if Francisco Lindor misses extended time due to injury the Mets will just turn to Luis Guillorme. New York is set up the middle. 

Even if the decision was made to turn Mauricio into a centerfielder, which some scouts have suggested, how is that going to help this year’s team. Brandon Nimmo, who just signed huge contract extension, will be the Mets everyday centerfielder in 2023 and beyond. 

Mack - This is a perfect example of someone writing something just to cause a reaction. 

The last person to be traded is someone that is beginning to look like Daryl Strawberry in the batter’s box. 

 

                                                 PC - Ed Delany

What would the Mets look like with more early contract extensions? -

Brandon Nimmo

Current contract: eight years, $162 million

Theoretical contract: one year, $11 million with a club option for $15 million in 2024 

For the first couple of theoretical contracts here, we’re going back to a story I wrote way back in 2018 about rebuilding the Mets. At that point, Nimmo was in the midst of a breakout season and was still four years away from hitting free agency. I suggested a five-year, $33 million contract with that club option for 2024. That wasn’t a bad estimate: By the end of the 2023 season, Nimmo will have made $34.725 million — slightly more than what I proposed back then. 

The two key differences are that the Mets would have Nimmo under relatively inexpensive team control for next season and Nimmo wouldn’t count nearly as much against the luxury tax this season. Instead of counting for $20.25 million under his new deal, he’d count for $6.6 million. 

Mack - I think this extension came at the right time in his career. 

And I am finally happy with this guy. 

 

https://theathletic.com/4245052/2023/02/24/mets-bullpen-candidates/?source=user-shared-article -

Jimmy Yacabonis (31)

Acquired: Signed as a minor-league free agent, December 2022

Status: Not on the 40-man roster and without options.

Repertoire: Sinker, slider, changeup

2022: 8.36 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 14 major-league innings

 

Yacabonis has had cups of coffee with four different squads, with his best work coming as a rookie under Showalter with the 2017 Orioles. His sinker is unusual in that he can generate some ride to it, especially in to left-handers, and then work a sweeping slider off of it. The changeup is new this year with a two-seam grip to give him another weapon with depth. 

2023 Mets King of Spring Training, update #2 -

Jimmy Yacabonis - 0.00 ERA, 0.27 WHIP, 6 Ks in 5 IP

Yacabonis remains unscored upon this spring after five appearances and thus still in consideration as a KoST dark horse. He is among a handful of relievers who could still snag one of those final slots in the Mets’ bullpen, especially with Brooks Raley’s timeline uncertain and none of the candidates for the Trevor Williams swingman role distinguishing themselves out of the bullpen. 

Mack - Don’t expect to see much from Yaca this season.