10/2/19

OPEN THREAD - Michael Conforto



The Mets would not have almost made the playoffs without Michael Conforto.

He would up in the top five Mets that had 30+ home runs, 90+ runs batted in, and 80+ walks in the same season. 

He will play 2020 as a 27/yr. old and the last year he will be under Mets control is 2021.

Do we trade him now because he will get the team at least two premium players?

Or do we extend him three years past his 2021 year so he plays in CitiField through his 31st birthday?

What do they do? 

7 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

The only way I would consider trading Conforto for at least 2 premium players is if I felt that Dom Smith could be his equivalent in the OF as an almost every day starter.

Then, the OF would be Nimmo, McNeil, and Smith, and perhaps Cespedes.

I wonder if there is a righty hitting OF somewhere who is Conforto's salary and talent equivalent, that a team looking for a lefty hitter would want in exchange. Or, perhaps, a legit catcher prospect significantly better than Sanchez, Mazeika, and Nido, to eventually replace (or currently supplement) Ramos.

Mike Freire said...

I just said the same thing in Reese's thread (but I am usually late to the party), so it is an interesting topic, IMO.

I don't want to deal MC, but it might be the best way to address the team's weaknesses without using more farm resources or dealing a pitcher.

Is Davis playable as the regular LF'er? I would love to get his bat in the lineup on a more regular basis.

Reese Kaplan said...

Hmmmn...Tom wants Smith, Nimmo and McNeil in the outfield and Lowrie at 3B. Where does that leave Cespedes and JD Davis? Personally I think you help the outfield logjam immensely by sending JD Davis to play all winter long at 3B, taking grounders until his hand can no longer take the punishment. Get him to learn to play at least a non-harmful version of 3B and you may have delivered to the Mets their next Howard Johnson or Robin Ventura or, dare I say it, David Wright. Lowrie then becomes the supersub. (BTW both Davis and Cespedes are right handed power bats). :)

Tom Brennan said...

Reese, I agree with Lowrie as super sub - I still think, if healthy, he will work his way into something along the lines of Frazier's 500 PAs last year - because of what they are paying him in 2020. Maybe 300-400 will be more the case. We pay you, we play you.

If Davis hits EVEN BETTER in 2020, though, he will have to play almost every day. Just do a "Pete" and improve the glove, both in the IF and OF.

Too bad there is no DH in 2020 - other than for the about 10 road games against AL teams - this team would do well having one.

Mack Ade said...

FWIW

The 'question guy' wants to extend Conforto.

Don't break up the core.

Tom Brennan said...

Reese, assuming Smith stays, we have as lefties Smith, McNeil, Conforto, and Cano - and really Lowrie, as most of his ABs would be as a lefty. That is pretty heavy on the lefty side.

Give Pat Mazeika 500 at bats as catcher in 2020 and that would really mess things up lefty-wise. Of course, that is not happening, absent a catching calamity.

bill metsiac said...

I'd rather move Cano to 3B and give 2B to McNeil. Save wear and tear on Robbie's legs and don't get hurt by his shrinking range.

Much as I love what JD has done, I feel his greatest value would be in trade to an AL team for a true CFer and pen help. Or a SP if Brodie foolishly lets Wheeler walk.