Tom Brennan: Signings and Trades, Both Smart and Stupid

It sure seems the Mets did well with their limited signings this off-season.

They got P Adrian Houser and OF Tyrone Taylor from the Milwaukee Brewers, for not much in exchange. That’s looking like a total steal. 

And starter Luis Severino‘s pitching very well, too. 

The success of CF Harrison Bader? His offense showed up on Sunday, including his first jack, but even if he does not do really well offensively, he is a glove freak, and only signed for 1 year. No long term exposure. Nice.

Joey Wendle? Hitting well. Strong in many “game quality” respects. Should be a solid dude. And that’s a relief, compared to a litany of underperforming subs of seasons past.

AND THEY DIDN’T TRADE AWAY…

Tylor Megill…AND HE’S LOOKING GOOD, Sunday’s less-than-stellar output notwithstanding. (Hey, opening day starter Quintana was worse on Sunday…it is clearly a Sunday thing. Let Severino pitch Sundays).

No doubt, many teams would have wanted Megill. Thankfully, so did the Mets. Finders, keepers…and…

Nice collective pen output this spring, too, due to low cost shrewd pick ups by Stearns. What seems to be emerging is having a SURPLUS of solid, inexpensive pen arms. Good work. Baltimore signed Craig Kimbrel, who turns 36 in May, for $13 million for 2024. I guess we’ll find out if the older Kimbrel will outpitch the multiple and cheaper Mets arms.

Meanwhile, two other teams’ signings that I thought were highly risky at the time aren’t looking very good at all right now. 

Lucas Giolito?

He signs two years with $18 million this year, despite giving up 38 homers last year and putting up a 8-15 record in 2023 with a 4.84 ERA. 

Lance Lynn?

He was given $10 million, and he gave up a hellacious number (44) of home runs (roughly one every 4 innings) last year.

Giolito is now out for the year with an arm injury and Lynn, as of Thursday morning, had two innings in the books with an 18.00 ERA, with very crappy looking stats.

Yoko Ono saw those 2 signings and screamed “O NO!!” 

But those two silly acquiring clubs weren’t run by David Stearns.

Some are unhappy with the job David Stearns is doing. 

I think he’s done a very good job at not panicking and buying garbage.

Sometimes, acquiring garbage creates more garbage. Nastiness.

He is avoiding a garbage pile up even the Dept of Sanitation can’t rectify.

And…he did not trade Pete Alonso. 

This team at least early on is proving to have very good pitching. Very good pitching is a foundation for a playoff run. But you can’t get there without hitting, and Pete is a cornerstone for producing Mets runs. Very smart to have kept him, I’d say. 

If the wheels fall off, deal him in July. But only if the package is worth it.

MARK VIENTOS

I heard him being interviewed last week, and the one thing that came across, besides his confidence in himself, is that he appears to under a lot of pressure. 

So, may I suggest to you that we do everything we can to lighten up on Mark, make him feel welcome, expect the best, root like mad for him, and we may all be surprised at the fine results he produces.

I have a little doubt that he can hit 30 home runs or more in the major leagues, if given sufficient at bats during a season (like, say, 2024). I certainly think that he can hit a homer every 20 plate appearances, if not better.

Big power.

Through Wednesday, former Mets heart throbs Pete Crow and Jarred Kelenic were 7 for 63 this spring, and had 4 less HRs than Vientos’ 4 HRs that he’s compiled in half the at bats. 

Edgardo Alfonso in his rookie year of 1995 was good, but nowhere near as good as the tremendous Alfonso 1999 version. He got much better.

Aaron Judge was scary bad when he got his MLB cup of coffee way back when. He was up 84 times, fanned 42 times, and hit .179. He got much better. 

So, I believe, will Vientos. I also think he is almost there. Right now.

We got a hint on Sunday, when Mark doubled and added his 4th spring orbit shot. Off the light tower. 

Please be our Kyle Schwarber this season, Mark. Schwarber over the last 2 seasons hit just .208…but averaged 47 HRs and 106 RBIs. Mark does that and i’ll smile.

Time to realize you are now a veteran and take no prisoners, Mark.

Besides, Ray Savage loves Mark Vientos. And when is Ray ever wrong? 

EAGERNESS MAY NOT BE ENOUGH

Eager and athletic, 33 year old Trayce Thompson got everyone’s attention with a brief hot start in February, going 4 for 7 with 2 homers.

March has been another, and probably more projectable, story, given his background.  As in 2 for 17 with 9 Ks. My 5th outfielder would be someone else. Like Jeff McNeil, when he’s shifted from 2nd base. That “Trayce in March” output is too reminiscent of that of hole-in-swing-but-athletic Keon Broxton for me.

BICKFORD BRILLIANCE

Forget spring ERAs. Bad first spring outing for Bickford, but…

Afterwards, 2.2 innings, one hit, no walks, 6 Ks. Phil Bickford is on my opening day roster, unless he has options left in a generally options-starved bullpen.