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11/11/23

Reese Kaplan -- Are More Roster Cuts Coming Via Non-Tenders?


November 17th is now less than a week away and it's time to do by ourselves what David Stearns and company have already been doing.  It is on that date that the tender/non-tender decisions need to be made.  Towards that end, the Mets have already reduced the number of 40-man roster members down to 32 but there's a strong possibility that more departures will occur.  Towards that end, let's take a look at some of the people who are on the bubble.


Daniel Vogelbach

The big man has been on the waiver wire before and has worn out his welcome with multiple clubs who realize that the negatives outweighed the positives.  Yes, he does get on base.  Yes, he does have home run power.  However, he cannot field, cannot run, cannot hit lefties and has never really won a full time role.  His best ever season was 2019 in Seattle when he hit a mere .208 but clubbed 30 home runs and drove in a paltry 76 in his 500+ plate appearances.  Since then the power has dropped, the at-bats have dropped and his usefulness has been limited to half of a DH.  As a career .233 hitter who doesn't offer much else, it would seem that the inexpensive but marginally useful player has likely donned a Mets uniform for the last time.  David Stearns has bounced him once before while in Milwaukee.  Stearns has been vocal about defensive skills so that would also count against Vogelbach, though he is also a fan of OBP which for everything else you say is a problem with the big man, he does get on base.  Still, the experiment with him in New York demonstrates why he has never been kept around very long anywhere he's played.  We'll miss his smile but not much else.


Luis Guillorme

While everyone enjoyed Guillorme's defensive exploits earlier in his career, he initially was regarded as a play only when necessary category as his bat wasn't nearly as lethal as his glove.  His offense did seem to improve over time and he's upped his career average to a respectable .261.  He never had any power and his already limited baserunning ability got worse as his weight increased.  He's missed more time than he's played the last few years as injuries mounted yet his paycheck kept getting larger.  In 2023 he had his worst output since his rookie arrival with the average down to .224 with again ample time on the IL.  What was different, however, was his defense which went from highlight reel level to embarrassing.  So, like Vogelbach, if you have a guy who can't hit as expected, can't run, can't field and can't stay healthy, why would you want to see what an arbiter would offer him as a new salary?



Relief Pitchers

If your name is not Edwin Diaz nor Brooks Raley, then your future on the Mets roster is uncertain.  Many are ready to throw in the towel on Drew Smith, but with the free agency decision made by Adam Ottavino it likely bought the more good than bad Smith based upon career numbers some extended life.  However, the rest of the relief corps had better not take out any long term leases in the New York area as the bullpen is just as vulnerable as is the starting rotation.  

Truly Borderline Cases

After seeming to come out of nowhere to write quite a story for most of 2023, D.J. Stewart finished poorly in September which didn't help his cause.  He made some interesting defensive plays but overall seemed below average defensively.  Given his bulk, his baserunning was pretty non-existent, so you have mainly his power as his calling card.  For his career he's logged 687 ABs which is a bit more than a full season and during that time he's smashed 37 homers while driving in 97 but only hit .220 and struck out a whopping 223 times.  For all the good he did for the Mets this past season he still hit just .244.  He doesn't appear to be a starting outfielder on a good team and he's a bit one dimensional to keep around as a fourth outfielder.  It wouldn't surprise me if the Mets tried to trade him away rather than take the heat for a non-tender decision.

In the "find a taker" category you also have to look at last year's projected starting catcher, Omar Narvaez. The team did eat money to rid themselves of James McCann and it may be that they will look to do something similar now that Francisco Alvarez has established himself as the starting catcher for the present and the future.  In a backup role they can seek out a glove-first catcher to take those days that Alvarez needs rest who would cost far less than the $7 million you'd be paying Narvaez for suspect defense and inconsistent offense.  His long injury last year didn't help his staying power either.  

Starting Pitchers

With David Peterson shut down for half a season, you would think that Jose Butto, Joey Lucchesi and Tylor Megill have all earned some necessary extra life.  That is unfortunately it as far as starting pitchers go with the rest of the minor leaguers not yet at the level to warrant promotion to the majors.  It is unlikely to see any of these three departing.  


18 comments:

  1. Not sure how Luis could have allowed himself to become portly. Hoping Mets can do better. He and Vogie have real substandard gaps in talent as compared to your average MLB hitter. But talent is slender after the top several Mets, until a few stand up and prove otherwise.

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  2. In my opinion...

    The need for Guillorme will be determined on who is chosen as the starting THIRD baseman

    Baty's only future past third is probably first base. He is not a multiple position infielder that can play second.

    Mauricio is but if he is picked to start at third, the need for Guillorme to hang around until either Williams or Acuña graduate is greatly increased

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    1. I don’t see Baty as the starting 3b of the be future but he may have a role if he can play a decent OF. He should bet working toward expanding his versatility all off season. Last season he worked on his 3b defense. To me it didn’t work. But doesn’t mean he still Doesn’t have a chance. He has to hit but even JD Davis improved so baty could too
      Eddie

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    2. Guillorme is garbage he needs to be non tendered ASAP

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    3. Guillorme is garbage he needs to be non tendered ASAP. He's not playable.

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  3. How much is a portly non-hitting, non-running and apparently now non-fielding utility infielder worth (particularly when you factor in his inability to stay healthy)? Could the extra bulk he's carrying be partially responsible for the latter problem?

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    1. I agree Reese but who would play second in 2024 if Mauricio is moved to third?

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    2. Are you saying McNeil is not a option?
      Eddie

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  4. McNeil...and I expect Mets to sign a veteran 3B in case the baby Mets don't claim 3B

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  5. I do expect Mauricio at third
    Baty to OF
    and Vientos at DH

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    1. McNeil could do it but that would currently leave the Mets with one healthy productive outfielder

      And Baty in the outfield?

      Lucas Duda played better out there

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  6. Keep Drew Smith and fix him. He could be better than Sewald.

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  7. Can't believe that were still talking about Vogelbach who with Ruf and Naquin comprise probably the worst deadline deals in our history so can we please move on. When money is no longer an issue then the days of suffering through any playing time for the likes of the 3 above and a list longer than there's space for here DS must correct this failure ASAP.

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  8. I'm still torn on whether we should trade for Soto now or wait till seasons end as he's a must have along with Yama because players this good and this young don't come along very often and who you build a winner with. I know we can match or beat any offer but the advantage of having him here in his walk year is inticing so if you would do this deal what players would you trade?

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  9. Over time we get enamored with players based upon their past contributions so it is easy to overlook their decline. The front office cannot fall victim to that behavior or they will block the path to improvement. The process must be a continual search for the best pieces to fit the vision of a superior team. David Stearns proved he could do that by building a perennial playoff team in Milwaukee.

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    1. Paul, you are right, but a perennial playoff team in a division when no one except the Cardinals is trying until this past year isn’t the same as having Atlanta, Philadelphia and Washington in your division. Or the west, where everyone also -except for Colorado - are trying.

      My hope is that he doesn’t think with his heart.

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  10. Voglebus "Des Hitter" on his card...I think it really means Designated Pitch watcher...the guy makes Rob Deer look like a Hall of Famer

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  11. Vogelbach and Guilorme are goners. McNeil is a trade candidate for a starting pitcher. New GM means no loyalty.

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