SAVAGE VIEWS – LOOKING AHEAD
I came away
from the Prospects Game truly impressed by several Mets players. Those who stood
out include Nick Morabito, Boston Baro, Jeremy Rodriquez and Ryan Clifford. What was interesting is how well our lefty
hitting prospects did against lefty pitching. However, one player who stood heads
and shoulders above the rest is Carson Benge. He’s got the “it” factor and I would
be surprised if he’s not a candidate to play center next year.
Several
pitchers opened my eyes. While Josh Tong did not disappoint, I was impressed by
the firepower brought by Ryan Lambert and Dylan Ross. Also, Jonathan Santucci
looked good.
Following this year’s appearance in the World Series, major decisions will have to be made for next year. Several top prospects will be counted on to make major contributions.
It’s unlikely that Jeff McNeil, Starling Marte, Brandon Nimmo, Jose
Siri and Tyrone Taylor will be on the roster next year. Our graduating class should
include Jett Williams, Rony Mauricio, Carson
Benge, Drew Gilbert and LuisAngel Acuna. There’s a good chance that at least
two or three of these guys will make the jump later this year. In addition, I believe
Pete Alonso’s demands to remain a Met will result in his signing elsewhere. Ryan
Clifford may be ready to take his place.
Recently, there have been suggestions that the Mets do what it takes to acquire Sandy Alcantara from the Marlins. The cost would be huge and will require shedding four to five top prospects to make the deal. I’m on record of passing on this proposal. The Mets have at least half a dozen highly rated pitching prospects making their way through the system.
Braden Sproat, Blade Tidwell and Dom Hamel all may make
their debuts in 2025. Not far behind are Nolan McLean and Josh Tong. Further
away are Christian Scott, Jonathan Santucci and Calvin Ziegler. I like our
future and think we can remain on top with or without Sandy.
Of course,
developing and retaining our prospects means that we can better manage payroll
and not be subject to the luxury tax. However, the reality is that at some
point we will need to trade prospects to acquire select individuals who can improve
our ability to compete with the Dodgers.
It’s a great
time to be a Mets fan with the expectation that not only will be making the playoffs
this season, but for the foreseeable future.
Ray
March 18,
2025
21 comments:
Christian Scott is not "behind"
He is an established major league pitcher on rehab
Ray, you plan on disposing of WS MVP Brandon Nimmo? Can’t you find DH at bats for the guy?
Don’t forget, the Nationals best prospects are already on the MLB team. Let’s pump the brakes a bit on the takes of one game.
I am hoping to see more positive press about the catchers in the pipeline this year.
The Cohen Mets will always Sprinkle in free agent and trade established players
What current upper level prospects makes the grade next spring will be highly influenced on what positions will still be available
Gus, you may be right. But, I liked what I saw. Our prospects looked pretty good.
I was also wondering how Nimmo will be jettisoned off. Unless he has a great year, his contract is not particularly tradable and there is way too much left to eat it all.
For the record, Nimmo is under contract through 2030
I liked Benge too, Ray, You do get that vibe, and he emanates that vibe.
One of those 5 guys who you say won't be on the roster next year hopefully won't be on the roster THIS year. I get into that in my article tomorrow.
Nimmo better be healthy enough to play at 90% for the next few years at least, or his contract thru 2030 will be a disaster.
Ray, I also lean towards keeping the prospects and not blowing several of them on Alcantara. But it is not a strongly held position. I would like to win it all this year.
I want Sandy and Vlad
Fuk the penalties
Very encouraged by what is happening now. Hopefully 3 or 4 prospects will work their way onto the 2026 team. I agree on Benge, looks to be a solid player.
Marte, Siri will definitely be gone. Taylor, if he sticks will be 4/5 OF.
If I could trade Nimmo I would. Don't think there would be much of a market for him. He has to start spending time in the DH role. McNeil, I think we are stuck with him. I guess next year he really will be super utility guy.
As far as the pitching goes, we need at least 2 guys to make the jump to the rotation. Not that high on Scott, back-end starter at best.
All in all, I think we are definitely heading in the right direction.
Sorry Mack, there's no way we get Vlad. Jays are putting together a 600m offer, and the fat bastard is already hurt.
Now Sandy is a different story.
My biggest issue with this spring is how little hitting the team has shown. Hitters hit! There is no other option. Soto is hitting. Ohtani is hitting. No one else on the Mets seems ready to excel. When a guy is a free agent, he is locked in and hits .4 something in spring training but the season is harder. Other than Soto, the Mets players are hitting the interstate. I want whatever player isn’t ready to play on the IL and get the rest of them out there. I don’t want to hear coddling and kumbaya. If a player isn’t ready, shut him down and let’s see how long some of these prima donnas need to get over a boo boo.
Right now everyone is hitting .000
No they aren’t Mack. Right now they are working themselves into shape to be ready on opening day. However, I have seen players that are motivated to hit the ground running and players that have fattened up. Nimmo, McNeil, Marte have fattened up. Alvarez came in hungry and got hurt. Vientos came in hungry. Soto came in hungry. Can you find another one?
Gus, I take issue tomorrow with one of the "hitters" on this roster. They are hitting 96 points lower than the Cubs.
Entering the last week of spring training they should be going full speed. I have to agree with Gus, if Marte, Nimmo, etc. are still not hitting then they should start the year on the IL.
I am getting tired of coddling everyone.
Hi Ray. I agree with you on Alcantra. And with so many of their top prospects missing time last season, and a whole new player development staff on board, I want to let the minor league season play out, and give our prospects a chance to raise their value - and our FO more of a chance to evaluate their futures - before starting to trade them away.
That game was the most informative and interesting of the entire ST.
Sounds like Adderley & Lantigua are headed stateside out of the DSL this season. Do we know of any others?
I think there is a method to the quantity over singular quality when it comes to pitching trades. I am less inclined to give up prospects for a pitcher when health is a huge factor and is growing more important by the day. There was a story in the Athletic about how many pitchers are used in a season by teams. You cannot get by with five starters. You need nine. And hope five make it through a year. So, I am a no on Sandy today. At some point, however, it just makes sense. To think every prospect is gold and will make it is naive. And we do not have spots for some of these kids. Acuna and Gilbert would be easy adds to any and every deal. I'd add Tong in too, as I like others better.
Not sure where the Nimmo not being here came from. And we are a hard "no" on Vlad. Love the power. We need athletes. Vlad would give us another DH-only-trending player in five years. And we can only have so many of those.
Nickel, I am not currently aware of who is graduate to the DSL.
Denis, especially when it comes to prospect hitters, there won’t be room for all of them, so some are trade chips.
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