SAVAGE VIEWS – ‘Tis the Season
For baseball fans, this is the season of making a wish,
dreaming of major trades and fantasizing. I hate this time of year. My weakness is reading every rumor involving
the Mets during the off-season. Seems that the team is tied to every free agent
and every day brings a new trade proposal.
PROPOSED DEALS
The latest trade proposal has the team acquiring Joe Ryan
from the Twins for prospects that would include Joshua Tong. Some other outrageous
trade proposals:
· Byron Buxton for Jett Williams, Jacob
Reimer and Brandon Sproat
· Pablo Lopez for Nolan McLean, Joshua
Tong, Brandon Sproat and AJ Ewing
· Tarik Skubal for Joshua Tong,
Brandon Sproat, Jacob Reimer and Johathan Santucci
· Corey Seager for Francisco Alvarez,
Carson Benge and Johathan Santucci
None of these proposed trades is appealing. I would not
include Tong in acquiring Ryan. However, a mid-level prospect such as Wenninger
or Warren plus a couple of lower minor leaguers might get a deal done.
RAY’S STRATEGY
There are those who believe in spending Uncle Steve’s money
to build a team to compete on the same level as the Dodgers. While I would love
to be the East Coast equivalent of the Dodgers, I would do so in a different
manner. The Dodger dynasty has been built through judicious trades, targeted
free agent signings and a strong farm system. However, few home-grown prospects
are on the Dodgers starting roster. No consideration is given to controlling
costs although I believe they run a profitable organization.
I’m a bit of a hoarder and hate to see topflight prospects
moved for established major leaguers with an expensive price tag. While I understand
there are those who would delight in having a Tatis or Buxton under the
Christmas Tree, I prefer a different approach.
My current exclusion list includes McLean, Benge, Ewing, Williams,
Pena and Tong. That means that I would consider trading away Vientos, Acuna and
Mauricio plus nearly anyone else in the system.
I would try to package several major league ready prospects for
grade A prospects who may be a couple of years away. I’d try to identify the
next Tatis, Yesavage or Jackson Merrill.
My ideal team would consist of mostly home developed
players. An infield of Alonso (or Clifford), Williams, Baty plus Pena in three
years. The outfield of Ewing, Benge and Morabito would be dynamite. Of course,
Alvarez behind the plate. The starting pitchers would be McLean, Tong, Scott,
Sproat and Santucci.
Not only would this have the potential of being a dynamite team
but also cost effective. Imagine competing against the Dodgers at a fraction of
the cost.
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16 comments:
Ray back... Tom gone... even up
Like you, I was a prospect hoarder. Even wrote lengthy RANDOM THOUGHTS pieces this year on how this team should make a run for getting under the penalties and target 2027.
Then reality set in when the Mets sign their new second baseman.
I pulled back, lit up a doobie, and remembered all those mid-range first rounders that went bust... no pop, no bat at all, TJS, etc.
I then judged this against losing that pick and, instead, signing an established star of the game using money out of the pocket of the Mets billionaire owner... not yours or mine.
It took less than three tokes for me to realize that depth of prospects gives the team the flexibility to trade for immediate needs... and signing a free agent star WITHOUT A LENGTHY INJURY HISTORY has so much more value, both immediate and longer.
So what do you want here?
A brand-new Korean factory built auto... or a rebuilt 1960's Chevy Super Sport?
So...
Now that the 2026 version of this team has no chance in hell of getting below the tax level, why not try and become a team like the Dodgers or Blue Jays? Why not shoot for the moon with other people's moolah?
I toke on...
Morabito is the 15th or 16th Mets prospect. That likely means he is about MLB’s 400th ranked prospect, give or take 50 spots. It is easy to overrate our prospects. Trading a bunch of them isn’t a bad idea, if it gets theMets deep into the playoffs.
The Mets have a number of high level prospects and the owner is the richest. Therefore, make up a proposal that has a shelf life of one or two years. The 2026 team may be a WS contender. Worry about 2027 next winter. Then the writers can all say how could the Mets do that deal that we suggested that is now so terrible. How stupid Stearns is.
We are witnessing a rare moment
DEPTH IN THE METS CHAIN
there are only 8 bat field positions
Use this depth effectively WHEN THE WINTER MEETINGS OPEN UP
Let's give Stearns the time in the Winter Meetings
Looking at your proposed line-up and compared it to Baseball America's future Mets lineup in the latest edition. BA considered players currently signed and was before the Nimmo trade. Therefore they had Lindor and Soto versus Morabito and Pena. They had Scott as the closer and Wenninger instead. Clifford at first. Sub out Nimmo for Reimer in their DH projection. The only player over 30 in their projection would be Lindor.
The proposed line-ups are interesting.
I may be part of the group that may over rate the prospects in spite of telling myself not to. I will however trade out a current prospect for a young established player under the right circumstances. Benge highlighting a trade for a player like Tatis. Sure. (Not a fan of the Tatis contract). Ewing highlighting a trade for Robert or Buxton. Ah, no.
No one at that rag has the ability to predict the future of this team than the writers here
They are the Popular Mechanics of baseball.
Not owners manuals
I myself would be considered a hoarder/over valuer of prospects....because they are mine.
As to the proposed trades I would say no to all. Not that I am opposed to any trades...just the right ones. I also fully understand you have to give to get.
Paxton: I wouldn't give up any top tier prospects for him.
Lopez: Sproat and 1 or2 mis tier prospects
Skubal: As much as I would love to have him, you would have to empty the system for a 1 year rental. If you want him, get him next year.
Seager: I actually like this idea, would even give up Alverez and Baty. But not much more top tier talent, with Texas picking up some of the contract.
So, It's obvious I wouldn't be getting of them. Tatis would be a different story altogether. You would have to give up something.
There is NO WAY we go 100% youth this year. Zero chance. They will have a mix of youth, developing players, some (hopefully minimal hangover from recent old/bad contracts, several prime-career superstars & a large payroll. If they resign Diaz, Lindor will likely be the oldest material player on the team at 32, if not then maybe an older established closer. They will set the team up properly for a 3-5 year run & their (rapidly) developing young pitching will emerge in 2026 & fuel the ride forward. Next year, Skubal could very well be the cherry on top.
I rather take the long view and not only build for 2026 but to dominate the next decade. Buying a championship is not the way to go.
Right there with you Rd. Make short term signings for this year and start incorporating over the next few years.
I still say that the best move for the Mets is to use money to improve the team this year. By 2026, the Mets can potentially have one of the youngest, most talented rotation in baseball with McLean, Tong, Sproat, Scott, etc. What stops the Mets from adding Skubal to it when you consider the other starters are all so cheap?
Are all the starters mentioned turn into a great pitcher?. Who knows but if you have a McLean, Tong and then add Skubal you have a great rotation already.
No more stupid trades for yet another CF what can't hit. We had enough of those and it never worked.
Build that killer BP right now.
A killer BP is a necessity.
No team should go 100% youth unless they are in a full-up rebuild. Prospects are great until proven differently, and many of them will fail at some level. They are like gold - valuable to have, but useless if not used at some point to receive the value.
Cohen Casino (his new name) and lots and lots of cash and he wants to win so trade for Tatis and SIGN Diaz for starters then let our super FO earn their money
I guess a point I was making was an affirmation of Ray's proposal. I lean towards what Ray wrote and used that rag as back-up.
None of us are owners and the best anyone of use can do is speculate on the game and the team that we follow.
Sorry I might have offended anyone
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