Good morning.
The future of the Mets remain fluid, especially since we don't know what management is going to do in second half of the season or come October.
The Mets went into Thursday's game ranked for the 7th pick in the 2025 draft. It's even more imperative that they get below the luxury tax penalty. Seventh would be a prime meat pick in a talented draft.
This is my first update to that Blow It Up post that caused all that hubbub and even made Fox News. Must have been a slow news day.
Mark Vientos - wow... what a great return. Amazing what a second reboot can do. I'm still trading Pete Alonso during this season and moving Mark, at least until we see how much Ryan Clifford may be an option here in 2026.
Brett Baty - what a development. This is the second year of bad hitting and, if he played all year, he probably would have led the league in strikeouts. I would send him to Syracuse for a second reboot, but not for an eventual goal of bringing him back to Queens. No, I would move him this year for a chip or as part of a bigger deal.
Jose Iglesias - I would immediately DFA Adrian Houser and bring up Jose. Once acclimated, I would return Baty to Syracuse and let this former all-star and Gold Glove infielder be the backup for all three infield positions.
Second Base - now fluid for 2025. I'm still moving Jeff McNeil, especially now that his trade value is improving with his current bat insurgence. Luisangel Acuña is an option here but he needs to show me more this season.
Outfield - even more fluid. I'm moving everyone other than Brandon Nimmo and Tyrone Taylor. Any hope of Drew Gilbert seem lost due to his ongoing IL status. Acuña also plays center and needs to step it up to be considered an option here. Ben Gamel could be a one year add while they wait for Clifford and Nick Morabito to develop. Helium alert Rylan Thomas. Currently very fluid.
Pen - Changed my mind now on Brooks Raley. Gonna pass on signing him for 2025 due to recent injury.
20 comments:
Mack,
Bringing up Jose Iglestas and sending Baty down are just common sense movements. Baty has got to get his stroke back to be successful for any team he plays for. I still believe in him and want to see him do well, hopefully for the Mets.
I agree that Iglesias would be a common sense move to the major league club. But I would bring him up to start at third rather than being a backup. Pete gets more time off to figure out why he can't stop chasing pitches out of the strike zone, and Vientos alternates starts between DH and 1B. Martinez has to get enough ABs to be valuable at the trade deadline. There is no reason to keep him around for the rest of the season because attempts to get this club to the playoffs are futile - they are not going to win any championships with the lack of mental toughness they have demonstrated.
Good points, Mack.
Everyone was ga ga that Alex Ramirez got off hot this year in AA. He is now hitting .250 with just a .327 OBP. He is not on the fast track.
I was annoyed that Rhylan Thomas only got to pinch hit last night. I would get him playing almost every day, before Gilbert returns to AAA, whenever that is. Jett's extended time in the airport hangar has given a forgotten guy another chance and he is running with it - more on that tomorrow.
The salary reduction target is this: First Round Picks dropped 10 spots for exceeding competitive-balance tax threshold by more than $40 million.
- so they need to get down below $280 million next year. That will be tougher to do if Verlander vests at 140 innings and his $35 million 2025 option kicks in, half of which the Mets would owe. The Astros, while just 22-28, are rebounding and hence are unlikely to squeeze Verlander's innings. He has, however, sucked in 2 of his last 3 outings, so one can hope. He is at 34 innings with 112 games to go.
BLOW IT UP...IF THERE IS NO DRAMATIC METS TURNAROUND IN JUNE.
DJ
Julio may not be an all-star anymore but he still plays Gold Glove defense at moth MIF position (no, that's not your friend's hot mother) and knows the difference between AAA and MLB pitchers
As for Baty, I expect the Mets to work overtime on improving Vientos' defense, like they did in the past for Baty and Alonso
I agree with recalling Iglesias and demoting Baty. Iggy can hit and he is hot at the moment.
*both MIF positions
Iggy is primarily a short and second guy
I think there is plenty of talented outfielders in the Mets chain but they all look like they need time.
2025 might bring on one or two one year deals
Remember: the Mets still have 113 games left, Diaz could pivot, McNeil may be pivoting, Pete has had average improvement of late, JDM has hit his stride, Vientos may be a net plus, unlike Baty, and Alvarez and Senga should be back within 4 weeks, and Peterson healthy will surprise people pleasantly.
Then we'd be in on the Wild Card. So they shouldn't blow it up just yet. But they'd want to get the team salary under $280 this year for the draft pick, so if this malaise in Metsville persists much longer, call in the dynamite experts. It appears from Spotrac that #30 million in reduced 2024 payroll would be necessary to avoid the 10 slot draft penalty.
Mack, I truly think the first 4 to 5 Mets outfield promotions for 2025 from the minors are Gilbert, Rhylan, Acuna, Jett, and Mauricio. Probably too much to expect Morabito to jump into that mix for April 2025, but I'd not rule it out.
Ramirez hit .324 in April. But in 17 May AA games? .167/.263/.227. Slump, or is this a replay of 2023?
In 2023, .294 in April. For the rest of the year, he hit .208.
He is 7th on my outfield prospects list.
Blow It up
There is a good chance that Acuña will open up next year in spring
Hey Mack. The Mets would actually pick 5th as A's and White Sox are ineligible to pick better than 10 this year.
Didn't realize that
Thanks
Mack the only place I disagree with you is we Should be trading Nimmo
1 he probably has the highest value
2 he has never lived up to what his selection was
3 to me he is a avg player making 20 million
That’s money that can be repurposed
Bad arm
no speed
Avg defense
Decent hitter
Avg power
He was a mistake
New rules dictate that a team that is not part of MLB revenue-sharing cannot pick in the lottery in back-to-back years
Then you have no starter outfielders
Eddie agree with you he was an overpay like who was going to pay him that really? Nice player but not worth that contract. Stevie also made a mistake signing Lindor in a year with 5 All star SS reaching free agency that winter he should have waited and we wouldn't have lost Gimenez and Rosario but with boys and their toys he couldn't help himself and I'm sure wanted to make a statement as new owner.
What are the payroll rules? I've thought (probably incorrectly) that the luxury tax is based on the OD figure. If so, dealing someone away (as we did last year with Max and JV) in mid-season wouldn't lower it for tax purposes.
What is the actual ruling?
Better singer than player.
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