It's another week and once again we are left scratching our heads regarding how the roster is being built.
Conversations alive this past seven days indicated that the Mets might be looking to add a bat for the DH role. Yay!
Then word came down that multiyear deals were really not on the table unless they are structured like the one given to Sean Manaea where there's a player opt-out after year one. That clause stands to minimize the long term capital commitment but also provides some risk in that a player who excels might very well try to sell his services to a higher bidder in 2025.
Given that philosophy, it's really not all that surprising to see expressed interest in red hot with the Rays Robert Stephenson to bolster the still beleaguered bullpen, but he wound up getting a three year offer from the Angels which is 2 more than apparently the Mets are comfortable providing. It's somewhat understandable in Stephenson's case as his great several months in Tampa may be sustainable but they also may be like an extended hot streak that will end. (For an offensive equivalent, look at the tail end of the season for D.J. Stewart).
So going forward we're again wondering what the front office is doing about building for alleged contention in 2024. No one expected them to make a run at Josh Hader with Edwin Diaz already on board. The fact he went to the Astros doesn't bear direct impact on the Mets unless they are fortunate enough to face Houston in the World Series. Plenty of arms are still out there for the pen including former players like Adam Ottavino, minor leaguer (for the Mets) Michael Fulmer, David Robertson, Aaron Loup, etc. Thus far nothing has happened.
On the DH front, the obvious choices for short term investments are J.D. Martinez and Justin Turner. Neither at this stage of their careers can hope for more than a one year deal with an option for a second year. A lot of buzz has floated this past week about the significantly younger (and inconsistent) Jorge Soler, but at age 32 the man is likely looking for a four-year deal.
That whole approach of an established bat may in fact help protect the middle of the order better than banking on the younger players like Mark Vientos, but didn't we also hear we were going to see these folks get a legitimate shot finally to play regularly? So which is it -- bring in someone applying liniment or someone still green?
Right now the main criticism of the front office is the less-than-aggressive stance they've taken towards free agency and the pretty much limited approach to the trade market. Yes, we know about the deal with Milwaukee bringing in a 5th starter and a reserve outfielder. Somehow this level of deal might be considered smart but it's not changing the core of the lineup nor the pitching.
Pitchers and catchers report on February 14th. By my calendar that is a mere 23 days away. There are still holes-a-plenty and skill sets that are unproven or simply missing in action.
Tick, tick, tick...
The clock is ticking, but as of today, we can find solace in that we remain tied for first place in the NL East. Sweet bliss.
ReplyDeleteCohen said that the agent for Ohtani never called him with a final opportunity to match the LAA offer
ReplyDeleteCohen has become the Rodney Dangerfield of baseball
I'm still expecting a bunch of last minute pen signings - known commodities like David Robertson. Let's see what happens. C'mon, spring!
ReplyDeleteI’d like to think that too. But I think Stearns and his past ability to build a good Pen from reclamation projects wants to prove that he can do that here. He seems to carry a little smugness and ego.
DeleteAlso if you’re a good RP do you want to sign here knowing you probably won’t be in a Playoff Race. Many FA’s are using Cohen and the Mets to drive up the price and not sign here. This team went from a team the last two years where FA’s would sign and now we’re used to drive up the price. Not sure the top FA’s are going to sign here next year either.
I know people are giving Stearns a pass for not signing major FA’s this year because of the Luxury Tax issue but not sure he’s meant to run a Major Market team. I hope I’m wrong but don’t feel good about this Season and next. The young prospects are the one thing that has me excited and he had nothing to do with bringing them here. I guess we’ll see and hope I’m wrong.
Bring back Robertson and let the Vientos / Baty split time as 3B/DH, otherwise we learn nothing about them and in 2025, the question will remain. Lets find out in 2024 if these two are the future starters, bench players or trade bait.
ReplyDeleteAgree. The one thing he should sign is at least one more top RP, if not two. Let the young kids play everyday. Baty, Vientos, Lavender as a Lefty in the Pen. Then when Gilbert and Acuna come up this year play them everyday. The only hitters guaranteed to be here past 2024 are Lindor, Nimmo, Alvarez, and maybe McNeil and Pete. We need to find out if Baty, Vientos, Gilbert, Acuna, Mauricio, Jett, and Parada are main hitters in this lineup or future trade pieces.
DeleteVientos and Baty,do the Mets believe in them? If they don’t come through there not good trade chips. There not good trade chips now after last season. If you packaged them,doubt they’d bring back a #3 starter.
ReplyDeleteAlex, if you packaged a cheap Baty and Vientos for an SP3 who would be a free agent in a year or two, I'd have to consider it if I was a club with more pitching than hitting
ReplyDelete