Morning Thoughts
Baseball has had some famous “cluster
nicknames” for certain players playing on the same team at the same time… some
to come to my mind are the Gashouse Gang, Murderer’s
Row, and the Big Red Machine.
The Mets had two famous nicknames for
their pitching prospects… Generation K (Paul Wilson, Bill
Pulsipher, Jason Isringhausen) and The
Fab Five (Jacob deGrom, Zack Wheeler, Matt Harvey, Steven Matz, Noah
Syndergaard).
And then came The
Baby Mets.
Francisco Alvarez, Ronny Mauricio, Brett
Baty, Mark Vientos… these guys were supposed to bring new,
exciting blood into a lineup that desperately needed both bats and youth. Simply
put, they haven’t. What they have brought are injuries, shoddy fielding and intermittent
hitting, something others on the team have also does consistently.
Given a choice, I would move on all four
of them. I would do everything short of trading either Jonah Tong or Nolan McLean for the services of the
Braves catcher, Sean Murphy. I don’t expect Atlanta to try and help
the Mets out here, but there may be one or two juicy prospects in our chain
they would like to get their hands on. It’s not like they need him anymore,
what with the development of Drake Baldwin. Ain’t gonna happen
but I can dream.
My 2026 second baseman would be Jeff McNeil. Luisangel Acuna can back him up and Jett Williams should be ready by
2027.
Right now, I have no idea where to go on
third.
They should have the outfield figured
out by opening day 2027. Carson Benge, Jett Williams, and Nick Morabito will all be ready to
step in. Next year is (hate this word) fluid. Starlin Marte and Jesse Winker will be gone. We know
who is in right. Brandon Nimmo will be the leftfielder. Jose Siri could still be around. Tyrone Taylor probably will be. And
there always is McNeil. My vote would be to bide time with a promotion of Drew Gilbert to fill either the OF5
slot or LHDH.
As for RHDH… another of this I have no
idea things.
Obviously. On my team, I would look for
a veteran third baseman and right-handed power hitter that could fill my holes.
Trades, free agents, whatever.
Lastly, the pen…
First, the elephant. Edwin Diaz has turned into one of
the dominant closers in this game and I am sure multiple teams will come after
him in his opt-out year. Will he bolt? I don’t know, but I have to build this
2026 team without him and, if he returns, it will be a bonus not planned on.
Baring injuries, LHP A.J. Minter (2026), RHP Reed Garrett (2029), RHP Huascar Brazoban (2028), and RHP Max Kranick (2027) will be back.
LHP Brooks Raley has a team option… snagging that dude. RHP Tyler Megill (2027) will be in my
pen. RHP Dom Hamel (2028) and RHP Dylan Ross will be promoted to my
pen. That’s eight relievers without Diaz. Two are lefties. Frankly, because
pitchers are fragile these days, I need at least two more. Another lefty would
be great.
So… my needs… 3B, RHDH, LHRP, and RHRP.
We’ll discuss shopping soon.
Let’s catch up on some graphics we missed so far this week due to Draft Week putting the In Focus posts on the backshelf:
From Saturday night:
Thomas Nestico @TJStats
Jonah Tong (NYM) took the Futures Game by storm
today with his high riding fastball and huge dropping curveball
Tong is one
of the best pitching prospects in baseball, and the stuff makes it clear why!
Scouting
notes on the Futures Game standouts
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6490692/2025/07/12/futures-game-josue-de-paula-scouting/
Mets
right-hander Jonah Tong has an ugly
delivery, really — it’s straight over the top and he comes across his body —
but my word what comes out of his arm is good: 95-97 with big ride and
above-average extension, a plus curveball at 78-80 with real depth (boosted by
the slot), and a solid changeup. He seems to get to his glove side better than
I’d expect given the slot and landing spot
Top 40
players on market as July 31 approaches
#17 Cedric
Mullins
Age 30
Position CF
B/T L/L
Fits NYM,
PHI, TB
Deal
likelihood
Value:
All-around center fielder
Analysis:
Mullins doesn’t hit for high averages, but he has 20-homer power and 30-steal
speed, and few center fielders have a more impressive highlight reel of
jaw-dropping catches. As a 30-year-old impending free agent, he might not be
part of Baltimore’s plans any longer.
Legit center
fielders with above-average bats are typically very hard to find at the
deadline. But the Orioles could opt to keep Mullins and take their chances with
draft-pick compensation via the qualifying offer. Either way, they won’t have
much motivation to move Mullins for a marginal return.
Owed in 2025 $2.8 million
Controlled
through 2025
#18 Josh
Naylor
Age 28
Position 1B
B/T L/L
Fits BOS, SD, SEA
Deal
likelihood
Value: Solid
middle-of-the-order contributor
Analysis:
Traded last winter to Arizona after making his first All-Star team, Naylor is
in the midst of perhaps his best season. His average is up around .300 thanks
to some better batted-ball luck and his strikeout rate is way down. Only a
dozen qualified hitters strike out less often than Naylor, and among them only
Mookie Betts and his old teammate José Ramírez hit with his kind of power.
(That’s never bad company to keep.) This is a robust market for teams in need
of first basemen.
Owed in 2025 $3.5 million
Controlled
through 2025
#19 Aroldis
Chapman
Age 37
Position RP
B/T L/L
Fits CHC, DET, PHI
Deal
likelihood
Value:
Flame-throwing closer
Analysis: Chapman’s fastball still regularly hits
triple digits at age 37 and he continues to be one of the league’s most
dominant relievers, with the added wrinkle that he’s working in the strike zone
more than ever.
He’s capable
of dramatically altering a contender’s bullpen as a setup man or a closer. And
this is nothing new for Chapman, who was traded mid-season in 2016 and 2023,
winning the World Series with his new team in both years.
Owed in 2025 $3.4 million
#20 Sean
Murphy
Age 30
Position C
B/T R/R
Fits SD, SF, TEX
Deal
likelihood
Value:
Long-term fix at catcher
Analysis :When the Braves traded for and immediately
extended Murphy in December 2022, it would have been hard to imagine they’d
consider trading him less than three years later. But Atlanta’s 2025 chances
keep getting slimmer, and the homegrown Drake Baldwin has emerged as a worthy
replacement behind the plate. All of that makes Murphy an exceedingly rare
commodity: an everyday catcher who was recently an All-Star and is in the midst
of another strong season. At a position of scarcity, Murphy could be a
short-term solution with long-term impact.
9 comments:
Mack,
Baseball America is reporting that 10th round selection, RHP, Tyler McLoughlin has signed for $ 7,500.
Makes sense
Seniors don't get great bonuses
Agree with you on all and thinking about your wife also keep in touch
Trae McLoughlin, a similar name, has been on the high minors 7 day IL, for 9 weeks.
There is so much movement of teams up and down, with the Wild Card in play. It is hard for teams to trade prematurely. The Mets have interest in Boston’s Durant, but may keep him, now that they’ve won 10 straight and are just a game behind Yanks - as one example.
Tong’s “ugly” delivery kind of reminds me of Lincecum’s. Anyone agree?
Thanks Gar
My projected 2026 team is way different than yours. MACK. Maybe my next post.
Except for the David Wright era, which ended quicker than it should, the Mets have spent forever looking for a bona-fide third baseman. That position is not traditionally the place you find the most talent on any team, but for some reason the Mets franchise just can't find good enough there.
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