Waves go in… waves go out… seems so does the Mets depth future in the outfield.
I don’t know where you are regarding whether this team should stand pat this season, trade prospects for rentals, or sell off assets for prospects… Frankly, I have no idea where I am today. But what I do know is:
Starlin Marte, if you keep him, is gone in 2026.
Brandon Nimmo has not lived up to his contract extension.
Harrison Bader will never reach the potential they said about this guy when he came out of school.
Tyrone Taylor is filler at best.
Ditto D.J. Stewart.
Drew Gilbert no longer projects to be ready to roam Citi on opening day 2025.
Ryan Clifford needs to do more than hit an occasional home run.
Alex Ramirez has gone south again.
On the bright side, Luisangel Acuna looks like he will be ready to slot into center next season and Nick Morabito looks real, though isn’t projected until late 2025/OD 2026.
And forget Willy Fanas, A.J. Ewing, and Simon Juan. They are pipe dreams right now.
If I was sitting “in the chair”, the least I would send out of the dugout to play the first inning of opening day, is Nimmo, Acuna, and Marte or Bader under a new one year deal.
But...
Can we find someone one on the teams, that are out of the race, to trade an equally talented prospect at a different position.
Teams in this category would be the Marlins, Rockies, A's, CWS,and LAA.
We are looking for outfielders at the AAA level, or AA starters that can be bumped to Syracuse immediately after a trade so they line up for an MLB assignment next season.
Here they are...
(stats thru 6-21)
CWS
Wilfredo Veras 21/yrs. RHH
AA: 221 AB. 74 K. 10 HR
.272/.301/.472/.762
raw power. 30 HR potential
Too many whiffs
OAK
Denzel Clark 24/yrs. RHH
AA: 184 AB. 79 K
.217/.275/.364/.639
2023 - shoulder surgery
Strong arm. ++ speed. CF
++ Offensive potential
(So they say)
LAA
Nelson Rada. 18/yrs. LHH
AA: 224 AB. 61 K.
.223/.295/.259/.554
Average arm. Being rushed
COLO
Yanquiel Fernandez
LF 22/yrs RHH
AA: 189 AB. 42 K
.275/.330/.402/.732
5 HR. 33 RBI
middle lineup potential
Raw power
Jordan Beck 3-OF 23/yrs. LHH
AAA: 101 AB 24 K .307
MLB: 79 AB 30 K .190
huge power potential
+ arm/defense
Struggling with adjustment
Zac Veen 22/yrs. RF/LF. LHH
AA: 95 AB. 28 K. 5 HR
.326/.418/.568/.987
2023 - hand injury
currently 7 d-IL back strain
.superstar potential if healthy
MIA
Javier Sanoja. 2B/CF/SS
21/yrs. RHH. 5'7"
AAA: 194 AB. 11 K. 2 HR
.309/.367/.443/,810
Great contact hitter
Loves upper zone
Great runner and stealer
Victor Mesa Jr. L/R/CF
22/yrs. LHH
AAA: 253 AB. 58 K. 11 HR. 38 RBI
.261/.325/,447/,772
Great instinct at all 3 positions
Above average arm strength
Average speed.
Projects to corners
Jakob Marsee CF/R/L
22/yrs. LHH
AAA (SD & MIA): 219 AB. 56 K
5 HR. .187/.337/,315/.654
did well at lower levels
++ speed. Projected more pop
As you can see, there is some talent here to go after.
Veras at San Diego would probably be the easiest to obtain
Veen is just too fragile for me
I particularly love the power potential of Beck.
The toughest to obtain will probably be anyone on the Marlins.
Trade candidates: one of the Mets Latin catchers, Tidwell, Butto, McLean
I'm just so pissed at Edwin Diaz
The team was one game out of the Wild Card and he can't take five seconds to wash his freaking hand, go the ump a clean hand, and then go to the mound and dirty up your throwing hand with dirt, spit, and resin?
A 10 GAME during a pennant race
I would so trade this guy for chips.
Edwin was not present when they were handing out smart chips.
ReplyDeleteHis injury in WBC cost them the playoffs in 2023.
This suspension could cost them the playoffs.
That suspension IS without pay, right?
The other players? I am open to trades. Just not Scott and Sproat.
Diaz is yours for at least the remainder of this season. In the offseason you could make a case to trade him but he'd have to come back from the suspension and pitch lights out for the remainder of the year.
ReplyDeleteI have calmed down since I wrote this
ReplyDeleteI would not trade him
I would reassign him to laundry service in the clubhouse
Mack, put up “Employees must wash their hands” signs all around his locker?
ReplyDeleteI think if they appealed the suspension, he could play tonight. If they don’t, the Mets would have to feel there was no case to be made.
I am unhappy that the umpires have "discretion" to throw someone out for sticky hands without a solid criteria. I am unhappy that the Mets seemed to just accept this and move on. But I still want Diaz as our closer.
ReplyDeleteI am unhappy that Nimmo has not lived up to his extension. He deserved it by improving every year he played with the Mets. This slump has gone on too long - he has to break out and become the outfielder he is capable of being.
Any thoughts on my outfield ideas?
ReplyDeleteNimmo has played a lot better recently.
ReplyDeleteMack,
ReplyDeleteNo love for Jose Butto? he somehow gets ignored but he has been good.
Nimmo's contract should have never been more than 100M for 5 years. But the Mets like to overpay which they may do yet again with Alonso.
I still say the Mets need to trade for the best possible prospects and enhance the minor leagues. That is the future and how teams are properly build.
Yes, I would trade Diaz as I don't like his mental make-up.
Butto doesn't play outfield. But I love him and I would promote him to Citi come July
DeleteI agree with you re prospects
DeleteYou can bring a haul in with a rebuild or you can trade two of your starters for at least four
Mack,
ReplyDeleteWith Marte going on the IL who do you bring up?
My guess: Trace Thomas
DeleteMy desire: Ben Gamel
The Mets will probably play Steward in RF.
ReplyDeleteMack, I appreciate your work on these outfielders but I’m not trading Tidwell or Butto for these question marks. I say, plug in like they did this year and hold strong.
ReplyDeleteAs for Marte’s replacement on the roster, I would bring up a catcher and let Taylor and Stewart play more. Not only has Torrens played the outfield, but Taylor and Stewart are good soldiers and deserve the time.
I get the impression that the Mets won’t make a decision until one is made for them. All things being equal, I would rather go for it, but they didn’t sign all these one year contracts for no reason. The plan was made in September.
ReplyDeleteLook Stevie can buy what he wants and this would coincide perfectly with his 5 yr plan so how about in 25' 1b Alonso 2b Mauricio/Williams SS Lindor 3b Vientos C Alvy/Torrens and outfield of Nimmo Acuna and Soto works for me. Bader and Iglesias for backups. I would extend Sevy and sign Fried so our rotation would be Senga, Sevy, Fried, Scott and a mix of Butto, Peterson Megil and Sproat. BP Diaz, Nunez, Diekman, Smith , Garrett and Young and of course an additional cast of characters as the season progresses. Marte and McNeil are moved for whatever we can get and SC will have to eat some contract on Jeff. It will hurt for awhile on the luxury tax but leaves us with a killer team for years and still with some quality prospects down on the farm to supplement or deal. Hey 2 lousy Championships in 63 years so the time is NOW! So what do you think?
ReplyDeleteRight now, Soto doesn’t fit into the template. Plus, if the Mets don’t challenge the Yankees, I’m pretty sure they will appreciate that and remember it. Let him go. Stanton was a generational player too. Look at what happened.
ReplyDelete