The Mack Report - Noah, Aroldis, Trade Value for Relievers, Bubby, DJ

Noah, Aroldis, Trade Value for Relievers, Bubby, DJ

 

                                            PC - Ernest Dove

Kevin Manahan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com - Has once dominant ex-Mets pitcher lost his fastball? -

If you want to look for excuses, there are a few: Noah Syndergaard is still recovering from Tommy John surgery, he had a boo-boo on his finger and the mound was wet on Tuesday. 

But the numbers don’t look good. First, the velocity on his fastball, which was supposed to rev back up to triple digits this season, was clocked at 90 to 92 mph, once hitting 94. Second, his pitching line: five earned runs and six hits in 4.1 innings, with three strikeouts and a walk in a 12-1 split-squad loss to the San Francisco Giants. 

Mack - I have no love lost for Thor. I was a big fan until he became a wiseass on Twitter. 

Flamethrowers tend to burn out early. This might be one of them. 

 

Jim Bowden: Mets have trade options to find new closer after Edwin Díaz’s injury -

6. Aroldis Chapman, LHP, Royals 

Age: 35

HT: 6-4 WT: 218

WAR: -0.2 W-L: 4-4 ERA: 4.46 SV: 9

G: 43 GF: 19 IP: 36 1/3 SO: 43 BB: 28 WHIP: 1.431 

If the Mets don’t like the asking prices on the five relievers above, perhaps they should do what the Royals are doing now and take a flier on Aroldis Chapman. I recently asked Royals GM J.J. Picollo about Chapman and he was positive: “Aroldis worked extremely hard this offseason to regain and repeat his delivery from a few years ago, and so far (this spring) he’s been outstanding. 

Fastball is 98 to 99 (mph) with finish and his slider has been good. He’s using both his changeup and split effectively and is gaining a lot of confidence.” If the Mets can’t do a deal with Kansas City for Barlow, how about Chapman? We know he can handle the New York market and he does have a chip on his shoulder and would like to prove he can bounce back. Well, perhaps the Mets consider a trade if he agrees not to get a tattoo during the season? 

Mack - Please, no. 

 

Zac Wassink -MLB execs explain why Mets can't yet trade for replacement for All-Star closer -

In a piece published on Tuesday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post said that an unnamed National League executive told him opposing clubs would love to take advantage if they learned that the big-spending Mets already felt desperation after losing Diaz to a patellar tendon tear in his right knee. 

"Forget about paying $1.25 for $1 [in a trade], it will cost them $3," that executive told Sherman. 

Sherman also pointed out that many clubs think "they are better than they are" before April. Thus, the Colorado Rockies probably would only discuss a trade for closer Daniel Bard if they were blown away by an offer. 

"As a few executives I asked noted, no club wants to send a message of surrender to its fan base before a game has been played by trading its closer," Sherman wrote. Sherman also mentioned that the Mets "don’t seem to be" open to any big moves before the season starts. 

Mack - I have said this in various ways a thousand times… it takes two to tango and no one is going to help the Mets beat them in this season.

 

Rob Piersall - Bubby Rossman Newest Lottery Ticket Arm For New York Mets -

Rossman, 30, recently pitched for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic and struck out three batters (including Boston Red Sox star Rafael Devers) over two scoreless innings. 

The California native has a live fastball that sits in the upper-90 mph range and a slider that can touch 90, but hangs in the upper-80s. 

Rossman made his MLB debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2022 after originally being drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 22nd round of the 2014 draft. 

Mack - It seems to me that relievers from last year’s AAA and AA franchise are just not going to catch a break this season. The Mets keep signing vets that, I guess, they intend on stocking Syracuse with, thus holding up anyone at the AA level from being promoted. 

2023 Mets King of Spring Training, update #2 -

DJ Stewart - .385/.556/.538 in 13 ABs

A former first-round pick, DJ Stewart served as a backup outfielder for the Orioles after his promotion to the big leagues in 2019. His calling card is his power and he has hit two doubles so far this spring. Remarkably, he has also walked five times, which leads the team and buoys his on-base percentage to an impressive .556. He has had some defensive challenges so far this spring, but he has certainly impressed with the bat. 

Mack - As of 3-23, his BA is up to .417. 

I expect he is a lock for the opening day Syracuse roster,