During his first off season as the NY Mets President of Baseball Operations there have been a great many people questioning exactly what he has done other than pay lip service to building a competitive ballclub. Mets fans and media types understood the team's ineffective pursuits of the Japanese duo of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto who both instead landed with the Dodgers. Hey, it happens. You can't win every free agent pursuit.
However, after the high end of the market pretty much collapsed we saw Stearns go off in a different direction, looking like a Wilpon era executive who was trying to uncover comeback candidates from the scrap heap or banking on injury recoveries from players who had a hard time staying on the field. Yes, some of the acquisitions were well known names like Luis Severino, Harrison Bader, Sean Manaea and Adam Ottavino.
Next came folks whose stat sheets were at best inconsistent but whose best days could indeed help. This group would include Jake Diekman, Adrian Houser and Tyrone Taylor. Still, what was conspicuously missing was that difference maker who would likely transport the club into a newer level of competitiveness.
Of course, then came the late Spring acquisition of strangely still available slugger J.D. Martinez. Not only did the Mets bring in a guy coming off a 33 HR, 103 RBI season with a .271 average in only 113 games, they negotiated a deferred contract to minimize the impact on the 2024 payroll. We won't rehash the third base issue nor the DH issue nor the where do the kids play issue. Martinez strengthens the Mets lineup and gives protection to Pete Alonso, Fernando Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, Fernando Alvarez and others.
However, as refreshing as this move was for the New York Mets, perhaps a predicted but unexpected roster change when another David Stearns 26-man team flying north from Florida would not include his long shot flamethrower free agent Shintaro Fujinami. Going way back in team history, everyone recognizes that a magical arm like Nolan Ryan doesn't necessarily soar to the top in his first few years in the majors, history repeated itself.
Fujinami had very limited opportunities in this Florida audition. In less than 4 innings, he racked up an ERA over 12.00, struck out nearly 13 per 9 IP, but also walked nearly 10 and threw 5 wild pitches while also plunking a batter. His WHIP was well north of 2.00, so while he very obviously deserved to use one of his minor league options to straighten himself out in Syracuse, Mets fans are far more accustomed to front office ego surpassing common sense and a desire to win.
Of course, there are still other difficult moves that need to be made as well as trying to ascertain who else deserves to land in LaGuardia. It is understandable that a temporary move must be made while Martinez works his way into regular playing shape which at age 36 will take at minimum the 10 days required for the demotion to the working period in the minors.
On this day, however, let's tip our baseball caps to David Stearns who has had a good weekend for the club's present and future.
8 comments:
Bickford still puzzles me. Maybe the Mets were unhappy he won against them in arbitration.
I guess that the Mets were a bit concerned this early in the season with Mark Vientos perhaps getting off to a decent start and then having to send them down so they just cut bait with them early. It is way past time for him to get pissed and hit with a chip on his shoulder. I may be in the minority, but I think he’s still gonna be very good with the bat. Even this year. Mark was part victim, and that, relatively speaking, JD Martinez’s salary demand dropped into their shopping price range. Clearly, if that didn’t happen, Mark would’ve been on the team. But on the other hand, Mark did not have to compete with Roni Mauricio.
I don’t know what the roster number is down to right now, but it’s a good thing that you actually have cuts that are difficult. The converse is having no painful, cuts, and having guys make the team who really should be in the minors.
I like our depth compared to other teams.
I was disappointed by the Bickford decision. I had really come around to like his velocity and arm angle - thought it would make for a good mix in the pen. I think that with him and with Vientos the Mets' brass seemed to undervalue them for some reason. That is part of the subjectivity of baseball. They will have an opportunity to flourish elsewhere (assuming Vientos doesn't remain with NY much longer).
Playing every day with gaudy AAA numbers will convert Vientos into a desired trade option. It's a shame he didn't get a real chance here, but them's the breaks.
I was surprised by the Bickford move, too. Hopefully, he'll clear waivers and accept a MnL assignment.
On the bright side, the fact that there promising arms rated higher than him is a good sign.
Bill, I have not really focused on the bullpen, but I think part of it is a number of guys don’t have options. If Bickford does stay with the Mets, he will undoubtedly get called up then he just has to pitch well to stay up. But, will soon see I guess.
I am a bit confused by the comments. Bickford had a 5.79 spring ERA and wasn’t exactly lights out last year as he has bounced around. Last year his ERA was 4.59 and the year before it was 4.72. There are two spots and four people… what am I missing?
As for Vientos, save the Kleenex. 56 At Bats, 19 strikeouts. Tom, aren’t you the one clamoring for players to hit the ball and not be windmills? I feel Vientos EXPECTED the right to be on the team. His mistake. A 35% K-Rate is unacceptable. And that’s in the spring, when teams want to see the lesser pitchers and he has been seeing some AAAA type arms too. Imagine when he sees only MLB types. I think he has talent and ability, but doesn’t have focus.
Reese, will have to see how JD Martinez does this year. He does turn 37 in August and the Mets may well feel that in 2025. They’re much better off with Vientos and JD Martinez. I still think that if Pete Alonso leaves, it would not be beyond the realm of reason to have Vientos at first base. I would like to see Vientos hit .320 in AAA, with a home run every nine at bats . I Do think that if he has a chip on his shoulder as he says, he does, that’s a real possibility. I just go back to the fact that he’s hit 11 home runs from the start of September last year through string training this year in just 140 at bats. He’s probably been overthinking things trying to please people, and he’s probably at the point right now he’s thinking I’m just gonna let it rip. I still look at Kyle Schwarber the last two years: 93 home runs and he’s hit about 205. I don’t think that’s beyond What Vientos is capable of
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