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10/9/23

Reese Kaplan -- The New Mets GM Needs to Cast a Wide Net


I'm not even going to begin to speculate on the alleged misuse of the IL that MLB was investigating which included now former GM Billy Eppler.  I also won't speculate on who David Stearns might be looking to hire as a replacement.  There will be countless speculations on both issues between now and the end of the World Series when the off season truly begins.

The aspect that intrigues me now is how losing Eppler who had a strong connection to the Japanese baseball league and thus had something of a favorable position compared to other teams is no longer in the Mets picture.  Up until now everyone had assumed the Mets would be formidable front runners for the services of top pitching free agent Yoshinobu Yamamoto.  Now that edge is gone and it would see to be an open field among potentially 29 other competitors.  That same Japanese advantage is gone for other players identified as upcoming free agents.

Going forward it would be helpful for Stearns to embrace the internationality of the game of baseball.  While the Mets did look to Japan recently for talent, there are also resources in Korea, Taiwan, Australia, Europe, the Caribbean, South America and elsewhere.  One avenue not explored too much by the Mets is talent in or having recently left Cuba.


On that note, make yourself aware of a new free agent recently made available from Japan who ironically is from Cuba.  His name is Yariel Rodriguez and the 26 year old relief pitcher has been putting up some eye popping numbers.  

Initially he was floating between starting and relieving, but in 2022 he was made into a full time relief pitcher and he responded in a big way.  In 54+ bullpen innings he finished his season with a 1.15 ERA and struck out over 27% of the batters he faced.  Given his performance, age and comparatively low cost, he would certainly be worth a long and hard look, though Rodriguez may have a closer role on his mind which won't happen with Edwin Diaz owning that slot on the Mets roster.

If you think about some of the players who have made it at varying levels of success in the majors, you have to understand that it's possible to find talent anywhere.  Does anyone remember when the Braves went to that less-than-prolific hotbed of baseball talent on the island nation of Curacao to pick a guy by the name of Andruw Jones?

Or there was another club pursuing baseball talent over in the Netherlands and picked up a guy whose career lead to a plaque in Cooperstown, Bert Blyleven.

Go back a little further in baseball history and you know of the famous shot heard 'round the world by Bobby Thomson?  What you may not know is that the slugger was born in Scotland.


Now naturally not everyone who makes it to the majors from a foreign country is guaranteed to be a star.  For every Ichiro Suzuki there's a Tsuyoshi Shinjo.  Still, that's no different than with American ballplayers except perhaps the native English speaking ones may get a bit more attention on their route to the majors.

With a new GM hired and Steve Cohen's ample spending budget, free agency will most definitely be a route the ball club will be taking.  What we don't know is about the future of prospects and regulars who may or may not need to be included in trades.

16 comments:

  1. Ya Ma Mo To

    We need him, and then let's stay aggressive in international markets. We got several apparently good hitters in the DSL this year, most notably 17 year old catcher Julio Zayas, who did not strike out much, hit around .300 and drove in 42 runs in 46 games.

    One can only hope this crop stays strong as it is promoted.

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  2. What will be Stearns first transaction? Guess!

    hire more FO staff? (my guess)
    fire coaches?
    hire mgr?
    hire GM?
    sign a FA?
    other?

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  3. I would think a manager is first order of business as Stearns himself has GM experience,

    You could argue that an incoming GM would want to have some say in who the manager is but getting a manager seems a much higher priority.

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  4. I don't think that the Mets fall out of the Yamamoto race just because Eppler left. Kodai Senga may be the most influential person in attracting Yamamoto. So David Stearns should get a GM on board first so the pursuit of a talented international pitcher can resume.

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  5. A Lon so. We need him. And then sign a 20 HR guy to bat behind him.

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    Replies
    1. How about a 30 HR guy behind him or a 25 HR guy? We've already got three of those.

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  6. A bit off topic and this may be an open thread by itself, but sort of following the script. I caught an article on the internet yesterday titled "The perfect trade for Pete Alonso" - from a Cubs perspective ==> https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/the-perfect-pete-alonso-trade-cubs-must-offer-mets/ar-AA1hQZgY?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=04dd3aa2809b448dbf232d8f8b24408e&ei=19

    My question is: would you do this one? Now? At the mid-season trade deadline?

    Suppose the next seven months go by and signing him looks like a lost cause, what are the steps? If they trade him at any point, what is the minimum return?

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    Replies
    1. Well...

      First... I do not want to trade him. I want the Mets to work out a deal with him

      But...

      If they don't solve this by the all-star star break I would trade him in a deal that would include a decent starter

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    2. To save the click bait, here is the trade that Remember is referring to:

      Cubs receive: 1B Pete Alonso

      Mets receive: RHP Ben Brown (Cubs’ No. 5 overall prospect), LHP Jackson Ferris (Cubs’ No. 8 overall prospect), RHP Javier Assad, RHP Adbert Alzolay

      I like it, alot! But, don’t need relievers in Assad and Alzolay, give me another starter.

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  7. Back to the topic. I do not know exactly what the 'roles and responsibilites' of the POBO and the GM are, but it seems like a GM hiring would be at the top of the list if they are truly planning on making a hire of that position. Let that person be involved in the decisions of the manager and the player roster.

    Once that is done, I think a manager would be high priority before the free agent season begins.

    Once the mgr is in place, get the coaches and start building the roster.

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  8. I agree with you Mack. . I think they need to get a Corbin Burnes type. I have to say that the four pitchers in the Cubs deal in the article look interesting.

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  9. Thanks Gus . . should have done that to start with . .

    I actually like those two relievers - they are MLB level and both have had decent seasons in 2023 - a lot to like about Alzolay.

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  10. And don’t forget the Rule 5 draft. Lots of talent there.

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  11. Stop and really take a look at Alonso, "the player" vs what he wants salary wise. Alonso did not switch to Scott Boras to give the Mets or any other team a discount.

    Having said that, compare Freddie Freeman 2023 stats vs Alonso's and realize that Alonso wants even more money and years. Then compare the Braves Olson vs Alonso. Get the point?

    Alonso is already batting 221, what do you think he will be batting 2, 3 years from now?. He would probably be the full time DH by then.

    Take the prospects and trade him. Vientos can give you 20/25 hrs for less than a million until someone better comes along.

    Manager? the Mets should have kept Showalker for 2024 and find a replacement after that.

    GM? Steal one from the Braves or Astros or Dodgers. Basically steal one from any winning organization and work on becoming the best team in the NL East.

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  12. That fifth OFer just might be available in the Rule 5!

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