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3/19/24

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.


19 comments:

  1. Trevor Bauer pitching into early May for a Mexican club, as part of his MLB Reunion Gambit. He faces the Yankees this coming Sunday, I read.

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    Replies
    1. Did he cross the border to sign with them and does that make him am illegal migrant which could earn him a bus ride to Da City?

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  2. Who will pitch better in 2024, Bauer or Megill? I have my doubts about the Megilla Gorilla

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    Replies
    1. Bauer hands down

      Make a great SP1 for the team at Rikers

      Delete
  3. If given the chance, Bauer. And I am a Megill guy.

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  4. Mack, they will fly him in like the other 320,000 that the current administration has flown in on our dime.

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  5. Anomalies of spring…LHP Tyler Jay was drafted 9th overall in 2015, had a lackluster minors career, and in mid 2019 got hurt (TJS?) and didn’t show up again in the minors until a few AAA innings in 2023. Mets then picked him up.

    This spring with the Mets, 4 superb innings, one baserunner, 6 Ks. Anyone know the deal with this guy?

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  6. Simon Juan 2 for 2 with 2 RBIs, and Luke Voit 3 for 28? Why is Voit taking at bats away from Simon Juan Soto?

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  7. So far this spring, the Mets are batting a collective .233, which is tied for 28th in MLB. Only the Angels have more holes in their bats. But their ERA of 3.09 is better than all of 'em.

    Spring is filled with batters and pitchers working things out with their approaches, so it does not become a predictor of the regular season. But why does it feel so eerily familiar to past seasons?!

    I don't think the Mets need a Kyle Schwarber. They do play in Citi Field after all. Mark Vientos needs to hit better than .209, or even .233. I think he can so I am rooting for him to succeed.

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  8. Re: Jay

    Very talented drat pick worthy of when he was picked

    mod 90s FB
    late breaking + 88-92 slider
    high floor as potential back end reliever due to 2 quality pitches
    as a starter has 4 pitch mix
    above average curve
    change effective against RHH

    just needs to take a cleansing breath and mentally start over with confidence

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  9. This post seems to be clutching at straws

    Whether the fans lije it or not, this is year two of a three year plan

    last year... big bucks for little results

    this year... little bucks looking for lightning strikes

    next year... the kiddie park opens

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  10. Jay’s sharpness in limited outings may indicate the Mets have found a relief arm in 2024.

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    Replies
    1. Very promising, but I'm hoping we won't need him.

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  11. I can hear his entry song now "Blue Jay Way" (Not Helter Skelter) gotta get the Beatles in here somehow and hoping in Sept. that "Maybe I'm Amazed" will be appropriate.

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  12. “No one will be watching us”

    “Empty Chairs and Empty Turnstiles”

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  13. Just got back from 18 holes of lousy golf _ too cold and windy. Should have stayed home. My man, Mark, is going to be just fine. Predict he has better season than Stanton.

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  14. Ray, he pulled a nice single tonight.

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