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11/26/23

Remember 1969: Construction Ahead - Part 2

 

In my last post, I presented a possible offseason blueprint with the current free agents and some players rumored to be available via trade to accomplish the “pitching first” tradition of the Mets.

As we saw in the 2023 World Series, the option to build a winner with an offense first approach is certainly very viable.  Texas added some very good pitching, but their calling card was their offense.  No free outs there.  

So, let’s take a look at how the Mets might accomplish that.

This approach is somewhat limited in this year’s free agent market.   Obviously Shohei Ohtani is the best of the best out there, but for the money, he does not solve a lot of the Mets problem.   He would fill in at Designated Hitter and instantly strengthen the line-up, but does nothing to plug their other holes in Right Field, Second Base, and Third Base.   This is assuming that Jeff McNeil is the starting left fielder.  

A couple of assumptions are being made here: 

First signing Ohtani uses most of the budget for Free Agent signings.

Second, they need to now go all in on Mauricio and Baty at second and third, respectively.   They may (and should?) do that anyway, but there may be other less expensive ways to mitigate the risk if the 2023 years were all they had.  

Let’s leave Ohtani and his half-billion dollar DH spot behind and build an offense-first team without him. 

To build a truly dynamic offense, the best bat out there is Juan Soto.  There are a lot of very strong opinions out there with regards to trading for a one-year rental, but getting him in the line-up to one of the corners in the outfield (left is more suitable) is a must when building an offense-first team.   And passing on Ohtani leaves the funds to sign Soto to a long term deal.

Once Soto is in the fold, it’s time to look at the free agent market.   Cody Bellinger would be a nice bat, but he is going to be too expensive for the fix that he brings.   Also, he is a lefty, and with Soto, a righty would probably be a better focus.

So to finish up, Rhys Hoskins should be signed as the DH, bring in Lourdes Gurriel to play the other corner while keeping McNeil at second base.  

Brett Baty remains as the third baseman, as Ronny Mauricio has gone to San Diego in the Soto trade.

The other option is to include Baty in the Soto trade and sign free agent Matt Chapman to play third.    This is not my preference – the final three months of Chapman’s 2023 year were really poor.   They can get that from Baty. 

Two more pieces of business that must be done in this approach:    Sign Pete Alonso to be the first baseman for the next few years, and fill in the bench pieces.    They need a left handed hitting 5th outfielder that can run.  You obviously cannot build a team around a Travis Jankowski, but late inning speed and defensive substitution is very valuable to have.  A reunion with Jankoski would not be the worst thing. 

 The final ‘normal’ lineup looks like:

Nimmo CF

Lindor SS

Soto  RF

Alonso  1B

McNeil 2B

Alvarez  C

Gurriel  LF

Hoskins  DH

Baty  3B

The four subs are Jankowski, a catcher,  Nick Senzel (can play multiple positions) and a left handed hitting backup infielder that can play shortstop in a pinch. 

Starling Marte was packaged up in the deal with San Diego. (hey they had to take something back for the Mets to pay Soto's entire salary).   DJ Stewart flopped in spring training and was released.  

There are still a few too many strikeouts in the lineup, but with Nimmo and Soto being the on base machines that they are, they should get plenty of opportunity to score runs.  

This approach eliminates Yamamoto and any other big salaries for the starting pitchers, but they will be able to add some solid (and healthy) arms for a lot less money.  

I'm guessing this won't be the most popular option, but all comments are welcome to tweak this approach! 

22 comments:

  1. I like your approach. I really do. But I'm a pitcher first person.

    Agree with your free agent money for Ohtani eating up another team's budget. Let it be LAD so Moto becomes even more of a lock for the Mets

    I vowed that the last time the Mets traded for someone with only one yr left was the last for me so Soto would not be on my lineup card

    I'm sticking to my "give the Baby Mets 2024" plan

    So

    My free agent money goes to pitching and a corner outfielder

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  2. I say, get under the cap as fast as possible and stop penalizing the team. Bye bye to Alonso for two elite prospect arms. Sign Trevor Bauer and Yamamoto; if his nose it too up in the air, go to Giolito instead. Wait for Soto, like you did Stearns. If he wants to come, he knows the way. Play your kids and sign Hoskins or Hernandez, or both. Sign some relievers… come get us!

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  3. R69, a very interesting plan. With foresight, I like Gus plan better. I want Moto.

    I could live with Bauer if he promises no repeats. Save your fetishes until your playing career ends.

    Pete is the shiny object. He will decline starting around 2026 or 2027. Lot of $$ for a future DH.

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    Replies
    1. I've got your new first baseman already.pickef out

      Big power hitter

      + hits 99 as a weekend starter

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  4. All Star first baseman, Mack Ade? First rounder.

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  5. Jac Caglionone

    Unv of Florida

    (recognize the school?)

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  6. At this point I am not really even sure what my preference is. I like options that don't have a ton of unknown to them, although realistically, every free agent signing is unknown.

    I am concluding that Yamamoto is the top target this year and should be signed.

    I also really like the idea of Soto in that line-up. Guys who gets on base 42% of the time don't come along often. If a reasonable package can be put together to bring him in for his age 25 season, I will listen. If they hold out for Acuna, Gilbert and Williams, then nope.

    Final thought for this comment: A very hard pass on Bauer. No, No, and No. I don't know if the guy can still pitch and do not care. Not going there. (I guess i'll agree to disagree with Gus :-) )

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    1. I hope Yamamoto doesn't wait until Ohtani signs

      I love Soto.. Okay. One year for Vientos Marte and either Hamel or Vasil

      How the hell did Bauer get into a perfectly intelligent article?

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    2. Remember69, you do realize that it was proven in the courts that the whole tale was fabricated and her case was thrown out, right? Not only that, but Bauer had video showing she was never forced against her will or abused and she was found to have sent texts to her friends telling them that she wanted to frame Bauer to extort money from him. The man was innocent of all charges and the case dropped.

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  7. Mack, I wish Jack Bauer was our GM. He’d have the roster finalized in how many hours? 24

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  8. Mack, that guy Jac looks interesting.

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  9. R69, do you think Gourriel’s age is accurate, being from Cooba? Good hitter, fielder.

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  10. Funny, I read San Fran REALLY wants Ohtani, but it’s inhospitable right field dimensions could deep-six their bid. Dimensions can matter.

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  11. Vientos the key man in a trade for Soto? Don’t think so.

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  12. Tex why are you so worried about the Capp? Cohen has all the money in the world . He’s Steinbrenner.

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    Replies
    1. Because you get punished with drat pick position, you lose international signing bonus money and you lose draft picks. Has nothing to do with just money.

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  13. You bring down the whole house of cards by signing a low integrity guy like Bauer. I don't care if he settled without a conviction, he had zero class before he was accused of sexual assault. Fortunately Steve Cohen is too smart to make such a horrible "talent over character" decision.

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  14. What Paul said.

    I have seen (but cannot cite at the moment) comments from Dodger players that they do not want him back in the clubhouse, regardless of his legal status. I am a huge believer in culture and chemistry and my sense is that Bauer will not contribute positively.

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    Replies
    1. Ok. I didn’t know that. Thanks for letting me know.

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  15. Bottom kine is can we end up with Soto and Yama a year from now?

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  16. My thinking is that if they want Soto a year from now and want to sign him to a 10 year deal (2025 will play at age 26), they should look hard at a trade now to have him for a one year trial in his age 25 year. That will give both parties a good chance to determine if a long term deal is the right thing for each. Why wait? I certainly would not overpay, but if SD is in that dire straits for salary relief, perhaps he won't cost as much in prospects as some people might think. They should at least be 'kicking the tires'.

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  17. The Mets have 27 players on a 40 man roster. They don’t have a surplus of talent. Trading prospects for a one year rental doesn’t seem like a good idea.

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