I guess this falls into the category of my earlier posts regarding “if I was the GM”.The all-star break is coming up and there’s a good chance Omar & Co. will be managing a fourth place team. Add that to the doctor’s report of very few players coming back, and this would be a good time to decide whether the team were buyers or sellers.Let’s not waste any time on buyers.
No one is going to trade anyone of any importance, with the ability to turn around this dreadful season, for three or four of the Mets prospects, unless all four are named Fernando Martinez, Jenrry Mejia, Brad Holt, and Wilmer Flores.
That being said, I’ll assume that deal isn’t done.
So, I turn to my selling plan:
1. Trade SP Livan Hernandez while he still has some value. Hernandez has started to go in the wrong direction, and I don’t expect much in return, but I’m sure the Mets can wrangle away a AA-level prospect that either catchers, plays first base, or roams the outfield. Replace that roster spot with SP Jonathan Niese for the remainder of the season.
2. Trade C Brian Schneider, again, for what you can get. Once again, he’s not in the Mets future, and I’m sure the Mets can get, at least, an AA-level catching, outfield, or first base prospect. Replace him with a full time Omar Santos for the remainder of the season, and bump up Josh Thole from Binghamton, to be back-up catcher, and pinch hitter. Tell Thole that this is a no promises one-time early shot at sticking, but explain to him that he will most probably return to AAA next season for more maturing. My team will operate with one less infielder, so feel free to promote Mike Nickeas, who is the best defensive catcher in the system and would make a perfect third catcher for the remainder of the season.
3. Trade 1B/3B/LF Daniel Murphy for two AA-level prospects. Try to get someone that can play defense while you’re at it, but, concentrate those prospects on talent/ceiling, rather than position played. Remember, you can always trade them again later. In his place, name Nick Evans your full time first baseman for the rest of the season and promote Ike Davis to back him up. Davis can play first the days that Evans is needed as the 5th outfielder. Also, tell Davis the same thing you told Thole. Tell Carlos Delgado quietly and professionally he can chill, and slow down his rehab. He ain’t coming back.
4. Release P Tim Redding. Nice idea, but didn’t work. Replace him for the rest of the season with a guy that deserves the shot… SP Nelson Figueroa. Tell Nelly he’s got the season to prove he should stick next year, drop Fernando Nieve to long man, and rotate Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez, JNiese, and Figueroa for the rest of the season. While you’re on the phone, switch over to John Maine and tell him to chill and slow down his rehab. Also tell him he’ll be back next year as a Met.
5. Outfield wise…a. Keep Ryan Church around unless you can get something real decent in return, like a real SP3b. Release or demote Fernando Tatis. He was a find last year, but, like others, he doesn’t represent the future and we’re going to deal with his position come free agent time.c. Play Gary Sheffield until his legs fall off. He’ll go away on his own in the off-season.d. Play Fernando Martinez every day unless his boo-boo gets worse. He needs all the practice he can get until next season.e. Call up Carlos Beltran and tell him the same thing you told Mainef. Release or demote Jeremy Reed when Beltran returns. Evans is acting as your 5th outfielder
6. Infield wise…
a. Release or demote Argenis Reyes when Jose Reyes comes back.b. Play Luis Castillo at second base for the rest of the season and start negotiating with his agent for an off-season buyout.c. Play Alex Cora at shortstop until, Jose comes back, but don’t be afraid to tell Jose the same thing you told Beltran.d. Play David Wright at third base.e. Move Cora into the utility spot when Jose comes back.
7. Pitching wise, we have a new rotation, so on to the pen:a. Release Sean Green. Too much money, no future. Replace him with AA-prospect Roy Merritt. Tell Merritt the same thing you told Davis.b. Release or demote Pat Misch and replace him with AAA-prospect Eddie Kunz.c. Release Elmer Dessens and replace him with AAA-project Adam Bostick. He’s pitching great and he deserves another chance.
8. Tell your minor league suits to figure out what the hell to do down there for the remainder of the season.
9. Slot in the prospects you got from the trades mentioned above, which would be a minimum of four players.
10. Now, find a new a manager.
Mack’s Mets – the premier site for information on the New York Mets talent pipeline and dialogue on Mets prospects, Mets news, and Mets opinions.
25 comments:
What a sober, thoughtful assessment of the situation. I agree with almost all of this. It's refreshing after reading all the posts elsewhere indicating the end of the world is at hand, and failing to acknowledge that when 6 of your top 8 or 9 players are on the DL, you simply can't win. You have to take this time as an opportunity to find out what you've got, as you have outlined.
You could certainly trade Sheffield to a contender, or does that violate our agreement with the Tigers?
And we could get something for Sean Green as well, many teams would like an extra bull pen arm.
Well Done- A voice of sanity amid a sea of wackadoodles.
I certainly like your idea better than this one: http://www.dugoutcentral.com/blog/?p=2552
But I'm not sure I'd pay Citi Field prices to watch the Buffalo Bisons play.
I love the ideas. This season is doomed and I've become slightly apathetic to this group of nobodys. Its a shame to be saying the season is over but lets be realistic, these guys STINK.
One thing I may do differently is push very hard to get prospects for Church. He is a good bat to have either off the bench or as a 7 or 8 hitter on a contender.
Also, you could not bed more right about Figueroa. This guy has been busting his hump in the minors and taken his assignments and gone out and pitched. Get that bum Redding out of there. And does Omar actually believe that Elma Dessens should be in the majors instead of Nelson?
Lastly, Want to hear something 100% unrealisic? here we go:
Let Mets fans play instead of this group of losers!
"But I'm not sure I'd pay Citi Field prices to watch the Buffalo Bisons play."
This is the reason you will not see your plan come to fruition. No one is going to pay $700 to see the Bisons play...no one. Whats more, many fans with season tickets would be extremely upset and with the economy in the shape it is Omar will not risk losing any ticket holders, he wants them back next season.
Meant to add, FIRE MANUEL!!!!!! Yes, yes, yes.
Only problem I have is calling up guys like Ike Davis and Josh Thole. They need to be playing everyday.
Also, I see no reason to cut ties with Sean Green.
Other than that it makes sense.
I do not understand how you can suggest trading Schneider and Hernandez for scraps and just cutting Sean Green, who could surely fetch more in a trade - everyone needs bullpen help.
Back to the drawing board, fantasy GM.
some of the stuff is ok, but you gotta be kidding me about davis...
he needs to play every day! when the minor league season ends he will be up bringing him up now is dumb...
Release sean green?? hes been our better reliver of late. He has more value, and could get you something in return...
I think you could send mitch down and bring kunz up tho....
Thanks for the comments... I'm going to ellaborate on this on the blog in about an hour...
Mack
I agree with the concept of selling, but some of your points I disagree with. I'd play Murphy every day at 1st base and Nick Evans every day in the outfield. I'd love to experiment with anyone we could find at 2nd base.
Definitely agree that Niese should be starting for the rest of year.
I'd send Martinez back down -- he just isn't ready and there is a point were it is counter-productive for him to be in the bigs.
And you can't bring up players like Ike Davis just to sit on the bench. This is the problem Murphy is having now -- he just isn't playing enough.
As to Castillo, there are no buyouts in baseball since it is a guaranteed contract. Just doesn't happen. Mets have to eat the contract.
I think the player we have to think about trading once he is back is Beltran. He could get a lot in a trade and that would be a real makeover for the team. Beltran would have to approve, but he probably would.
Nobody else that the Mets are really willing to trade will get anything much back, unless they are going to trade Reyes. (I wouldn't.)
Agree with trading Church, Schneider, potentially some bullpen arms, and really anyone else.
By the way, Murphy would have no trade value right now. He is too inexperienced to be of any value to a contender. Trading him for other prospects makes zero sense.
Feliciano should be on the list.
He has value. Teams always need a lefty in the pen. Pat Misch could be the guy to replace him
I would gladly pay Citi prices to watch the Bisons if it meant we would get the current team off the field as quickly as possible. The thought of watching this team play under the pretense of "contender" or "potential contender" any longer makes me sick. And don't think for a minute that it is all about the injuries. This team was crap from the start and I was saying it then. Perez was a terrible signing, Castillo was among the worst decisions I have ever seen, EVERYONE knew or should have known Delgado was not gonna make it the whole season, Santana is definitively NOT the pitcher he was 5 years ago and never again will be, Beltran is 5 years older than he was when we signed him, I could go on and on. Don't give me crap about hindsight being 20-20 either. Omar Minaya is a general manager of a major league baseball team. He gets paid to understand this stuff, and, frankly, he stinks at it.
Sean Green is making 471K, which is slightly above the rookie minimum, and is eligible for arbitration the next 3 years. There is definitely not "too much money" involved, and he does have a future.
Though I agree with the basic thought, your plan is full of holes -
1.) Nobody will give you anything of any value for Livan or Schnieder.
2.) You don't call up top prospects to be bench players. That retards their development and makes no sense if you are looking to the future. Besides, Thole isn't ready - he has a lot of work to do on his defense before he can play that spot in the majors. Same with Davis - no way is he ready.
3.) Like others have said, a buyout doesn't exist in baseball. You sign him, you pay him. Castillo is our second baseman, we have to live with that fact.
4.)Sean Green makes $470,000, barely above the minimum and he is probably our 2nd best reliever, why in the world would you release him?
5.) I'm not sure why you would release veteran backups on one year contracts like Redding and Tatis. You have to get a bench somewhere, and they are better than guys like Lamb or Broadway who would replace them.
The team needs a change, but you have to be realistic. Right now, the best move really seems to be waiting this year out, letting our young guys develop in the minors, and using the money available from expiring contracts to get younger, faster and better defensively.
I generally agree, jettison guys like Hernandez and Tatis, and give Nelson Figgy a chance for a change. However, I am opposed to rushing up guys like Thole, Davis and even Fernando Martinez. Look what happened to Murphy, his game has fallen apart. He was rushed because of injuries and I have to wonder if his confidence is shot. What about Martinez? Is that .171 BA on the scoreboard hurting his confidence? Let them learn in the minors, no forcefeeding. It only works if your name is A-Rod or Griffey Jr.
While there are some very interesting ideas here, the one idea I have yet to hear floated about (while perhaps unconventional) is the use of Billy Wagner as trade bait.
If his rehab is going as well as it is, I'll bet that there are several teams in contention who would take a risk on a tenacious guy like Wagner coming off of Tommy John.
Lets face it, the Mets would probably get more for a post surgery Wagner at this juncture than anyone else on the current playing roster, sans Wright, Sheffield, Santana, Rodriguez, Pelfry and perhaps Church. Yet, I haven't heard this option mentioned at all?
I'm going under the assumption that Omar has at least looked at this option and if he hasn't, I'd be surprised if he hasn't been approached by other clubs.
Let me add that this is going under the grand assumption that Wagner's workouts are going as well as the Mets have been boasting. But, when it comes to that and touting minor league prospects, the Mets are suspect at best.
all good points, especially the one about Wagner.
Though everyone doesn't agree with exactly what I would do 100%, there seems to be universal agreement that selling is the way to go this year...
I'll write more on this in my "Wednesday Minor Thoughts" tonight.
Mack
You start off good then go bad on what to do.
1. Trade Hernandez and replace with Niese. Agree
2. Trade Schneider agree. Bring up Thole, who has only being playing C for 1 1/2 seasons and Nickeas is a terrible idea. They both need to play everyday and they are currently not on the 40 man roster. There is no reason to add them so they can be UFA's sooner. Promote Cancel (who does suck, but he is on the 40 man roster already). But why have 3 catchers and not an extra infielder? Wright is tired and Castillo just looks tired.
3. Murphy has no real value right now. Promote Davis who isn't ready either? He is not on the 40 man roster yet. There is no reason to add them so they can be UFA's sooner.
4. Agree Redding blows. Cut bait or try to trade for some balls. Fig is better, but he is 35. You having the mets "he’s got the season to prove he should stick next year" doesn't make sense. Moving Neise to the pen is fine.
5. Sheff should be traded. If this team is going no where there is no reason to hold him if they can get something in return. Plus Pagan is returning and should get some playing time. Reed is a good fielder and shouldn't just be released. Martinez is not hitting even his weight. He is overmatched and needs to go back to AAA. It is one thing to play a rookie for experience that will help him in the long run, but this is not helping him. Then you want Evans to play right? He doesn't have experience in LF and you want to try him now in RF?
6. A Reyes has already been demoted and apparently this article was written after knowing the J Reyes won't be back any time soon.
7. Release Green? He is worth something. Bring up Merritt, Kunz and Bostick and release/demote Misch and Dessens? Why Misch and Dessens are pitching well.
I am glad you are not the GM. Omar is bad, but you will kill this team in that we are releasing way too many guys with nothing in return and bringing up guys who are doing ok in the minors.
Thanks expo... next time try to be a little specific about my abilities :)
Mack
i'm sorry but this is way too extreme. Trading Livan and Schneider is fine but Ike Davis??? the guy has only a handful of AB in above class A. Thole is a little more along but he needs to be in the minors until their season is over.
release Sean Green??? what for?? its not like we are pressed up against the Wilpon's pretend salary cap...
ive been looking to trade Murphy since the offseason. The kid just isnt that good...
i think its time to trade beltran and putz to the cards for colby rasmus and brett wallace.Then trade reyes and ed kunz to the red sox for mike bowden, clay buchholz and jed lowrie.Try like hell to get jordan zimmerman from the nats.
if its time to rebuild lets start with the pitching staff.
it may not be the 80s but i liked frank cashens way of building up the farm system
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