The conversion of my weekly Sunday morning post to a daily spring training recap seems to have been accepted, so this morning's Sunday post will remain on this theme.
My overall observation of ST at this point is the belief in the relaxed, positive, no pressure approach that both players and coaches are showing. I don't know if anyone in the organization gave the players a Frankie Goes To Hollywood speech, but it sure seems like they did.
What also helps is no one has been injured or shut down since arriving at Clover Park. Yes, Kyle Crick was put on the shelf, but that was prior to camp.
Injuries and shutdowns definitely wear on all the players. If you don't believe me, do the research and go to Baltimore Orioles sites and see what a shit show it is over there this spring.
On to today's observations...
Remember when I told you that the doors of the clubhouse have opened up in the past during spring training and new warm body would walk in?
Well, one was at the door today when it was unlocked.
Today's dart on a dartboard acquisition was 31-yr old LHDH Ji-Man Choi.
The Mets signed the Gee Man to a one year, $3.5mil split contract. Their intention is to have him compete for LHDH with DJ Stewart. I guess so much for the full time DH for Mark Vientos.
Oh year... last season for San Diego, Choi had 117 at bats, hitting six home runs and batting a gigunta .163
Pete Alonso and Starling Marte also reported to camp.
Pete did a little of everything... run, workout, stretch, take grounders, get in the cage, and sign autographs.
The same with Marte, with a little less intensity.
The pre-on the field workout gaggle interview was with Luisangel Acuña.
Acuña said that he sees himself as a long term second baseman and credits that position, along with short, as his two favorite.
Regarding his brother, he said that he was a talent you get to see every 100 years (which if true, he would be less than two all time).
Pretty much all of the bats in camp got into the cages this day.
There was a lot of observation done in the pen of Mike Vasil
The Mets added an addition to camp....outfielder Drew Gilbert. I'm thrilled about this, not only because he's going to play some this spring, but it will help him adjust to the top level some day, when he gets the call.
The post-workout presser was with Pete Alonso..Said he loves playing in New York. Has had no discussion with the brass regarding a long term contract, but they did discuss a one year deal with him. Said he picked Boras to rep him because he would be the best person for him and his family. Said he mentally not there yet to discuss free agency and laughed at a trade question, reminding that member of the press that he only just had his first BP session.
Me?
I still think the biggest bang for your buck here is to trade him for a package that would include both a top 30 prospect starter and outfielder and use the money you saved here on either Soto or Goldschmidt.
24 comments:
Happy birthday Mack!
Unless the bounty is worth it, you keep him. The Tigers are a team of much pitching in their system, second is Kansas City. Both would like him and both want to compete in an easy division…. I don’t want outfielders, starting pitchers only or forget it. Pete is a good bet to still be very good for a few years, but how many and how much he wants is the deal breaker. Telling was that Alonso is open to negotiation during the year. Telling also is that neither side wants to make the first move, but Stearns reads the Boras hire as a free agency foray. Read an interesting tidbit in an article: “If the Mets make the first offer, then Boras sees their floor. If Boras makes the first offer then the Mets see how many years they are looking for and change their offer to match the years and take out money.
I think Choi is a minor league stash in case Alonso gets moved. There is no way Stearns gave this whole speech about “giving youngsters a chance and sometimes more than one”, and already back off it. He would look stupid. Nope, Choi is here because he was hurt last year and Stearns may have found a good deal on some production.
Lastly, the balanced schedule may throw quite a monkey wrench into everyone’s plans. Gone are the days of the Central divisions’ leaders feeding on their guppies. Now, you may see a team with a less than .500 record make the playoffs as a division champ, NFL style. Oh, there will be bitching, but I like it better.
Cute is that they open at home against Milwaukee and finish the year in Nimmo’s home state. Meanwhile, I counted 13 games each with their division opponents, down from 19 each the old way.
Lefty Choi is .243/.349/.453 career vs. righties. Not bad.
But is he, soon to turn 33, washed up? He just might be better than JD Stewart. Problem with him remains: he is a 1B/DH, with just a smidgeon of MLB time in the outfield. JD fits better.
Mack's birthday? Time for a visit to 77 Sunset Strip. Happy birthday, big guy.
Gus, if Alonso did get dealt at some point in 2024, a 1B platoon of Vientos vs lefties and Choi vs. righties might just be a productive one.
Pete is not indispensable. About 20 teams in 2023 had a better record than the Mets and they missed the playoffs. Pete could be Ralph Kiner II in that regard.
I think they are signing Voit today today as 1B backup
Thanks Gus
6 less games against the Braves is fine with me
Oysters and she crab soup on the dockside is my day of birthday today
Boras is never going to allow a big ticket item like this to sign before he can pass the plate around the league
No way
Wait and it's your shit show David
Happy Birthday Mack!
Have a great day..oysters and some sunshine sounds like a great plan
Back to Pete..what is the thinking amongst us commenters as to a fair contract for both Pete and the team?
Camp closed
Daytona 500 called off today
You can tell I don't live in Florida
Sorry..my phone doesn't keep my name..that last comment was from R69
I would offer NOW 5 yrs 120mil and no more
I think I would go more than 5/120 at this point. I would throw him a 7 year $200M with a couple of option years after that that would kick in based on stats.
I am in the 'keep him' camp. He has built his 'brand' in NY - it would be great for the organization to recognize him and keep him a Met for life. If he could average 44 home runs over those next 7 years, he will be at exactly 500 for his career. That is do-able. I have no issue with Alonso, Lindor, Nimmo, and Alvarez heading up this team for the next 7 years. The rest of the parts will fall into place, but keep that core.
I would change my tune if he did not show up and play every day - he is dependable and while not a gold glove first baseman, he doesn't hurt you much there either. He even swipes a few bags a year.
I am tired of the roster turnstiles and the filler players . . I don't want to hear anything about Choi or Voit or any other four letter word besides 'Pete' playing first base for a while.
Now, will 7/200 get it done? Not bloody likely with Boras, but it should show a good faith starting point.
It's not him
I just don't want to sign any 7 year deals with someone this age or older
The big problem is what would a team like the Cubs pay for Pete? Our old friend Big Dave Kingman had a career year there in 79' with a 48-115-.288 and 343 OBP which Pete could probably do in his sleep in a park where their not clamoring to bring the fences in for offense (right Tom). To me the fact they haven't signed him before now speaks volumes. I don't know their minor league system but PCA (another in along line of dum as a rock knee jerk decisions) and pitching would work for me.
I guess I don't see the issue with the seven year deal. Pete just turned 29 two months ago. He does not play a position that is particularly rough on the body and he has been healthy.
Seven years from today, Pete will still be younger than Goldschmidt is today. Goldschmidt held up pretty well through his early to mid-30's. There is no reason that Pete can't.
Pete said he is open to immediate negotiation and has said that Boras is working for him, not the other way around.
Good morning again guys, as I am fight a virus and sleep is inconsistent.
I like Mack’s offer, it’s both fair and generous. R69, this contract would start next year, age 30. If I want to show some love, add incentives for an option of another year. However, I think that’s a fair offer and many teams would give it based on his consistency.
Alonso has built his brand here and it would in his best interests to keep it, but he may be able to build a second brand as a two time homerun champ his name is quite recognizable. Plus, moving to a smaller park would really help his bottom line.
The one thing most often referred to is the Mets wanting to see if last year was an anamoly or maybe the beginning of a decline. That makes sense too.
I believe the large majority of big boppers in recent decades have downshifted in their 30s.For instance, Eduardo Escobar excellent at age 30, almost as strong at age 31, then a quick slide over the next 3 years.
Sorry guys but if Pete wanted to be a Met for life he wouldn't have signed with Boras. The mindset of I have to get the last dollar which of course comes from the players assciation has done it's best to ruin our favorite sport. Also his prior agent couldn't have gone management and proposed a deal that could have worked for both sides before getting to this point and don't get me started on the old "in the best interests of my family crap". Please 200 million should keep the wife and kids comfotable for the forseeable future. I saw an article about Pete donating $1000 to an animal charity for every homer hit....REALLY! Pete your making 20 MILLION DOLARS man that amount is embarrassing period.
There is a huge difference between Eduardo Escobar and Pete Alonso. There are a lot of great hitters that excelled through their 30s (and still are - Goldschmidt for one)
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