Reese Kaplan -- No One Saw That One Coming!

If ever I’ve said a good word about David Stearns some of you here might have concluded I overindulged on my evening drinking.  I could understand that conjecture as I have routinely supplied the facts about the things the man has done wrong and the great frequency of doing absolutely nothing to correct problems when they are readily apparent to any fans who show signs of having a pulse.

During my Monday column I gave the man some faint praise by identifying the facts around the somewhat surprising decision to place oft injured outfielder Luis Robert on waivers.  There was no risk in doing so because he would remain Mets’ property when the 48 hour period after being assigned there came and went.  I gave an example of the New York Yankees being an example of a team in desperate need of a solid outfielder due to multiple injures on their roster.  At no point did I anticipate they would pull the trigger on Robert, but it explained a point.

However, much to everyone’s surprise the Baltimore Orioles actually made a waiver claim to put Robert on their active roster.  Doing so cost them the remaining $7 million for the remainder of this season plus need to pay him another $20 million for 2027 or exercise his $2 million buyout. 

So the first mistake was trading away real players to the White Sox to obtain Robert at all.  Consistent with his playing career he slumped badly and missed most of the season while earning his $20 million paycheck.  Right alongside allowing Pete Alonso to walk away without making any effort to retain him, you could argue that this move was even worse as he paid for a non-productive player who didn’t play more than he did while also giving up players to get him. You could argue Jorge Polanco was worse but no players were given up to obtain him via free agency.

Now to be fair to Robert, since returning from the IL he has shown more in these few weeks than he did previously.  Five of his ten home runs occurred since his July 20th activation.  He was hitting a bit better, too, but not at the level worth of a $20 million player. 

Losing him via the Orioles’ waiver claim helped the Mets recoup $7 million of their very poor investment and save next year’s assumed $2 million buyout.  All of the sudden the $20 million mistake ($22 million with 2027 buyout) that also cost prospects was now down to a waste of only $13 million. That’s a $9 million recovery over the poor roster decision made in the pre-season. 

Rather than give David Stearns praise for this highly unexpected turn of events, I will instead suggest he buy a lottery ticket because he’s demonstrated that good luck is shockingly on his side for the last day of August. How the Mets will use that third outfield spot now is anyone’s guess, but precious few are lighting candles nor holding vigils for the Stearns mistake that is no more.  

A tip of the cap to you, David Stearns.  You dodged a transactional bullet.