1/21/20

Open Thread - A Nolan Arenado Trade Scenario

                                       

The off-again, on-again rumors about the Mets being interested in Starling Marte continue to not go away.

Acquiring Marte would give the Mets a mighty crowded outfield, with Marte, Conforto, Nimmo, the increasingly nimble Cespedes, JD Davis, Jeff McNeil, and Marisnick.

Yeah, yeah, some of those will grab a lot of time in the infield, but that group makes the outfield:

Just too crowded.

Meanwhile, media reports indicate Nolan Arenado, the great fielding 3B with a Colorado-inflated offensive resume, is deeply unhappy with the Rockies.  He wants out.

Question:

Should the Mets propose a trade to acquire Arenado, including in return two aging vets, Yoenis Cespedes and Jed Lowrie?

Cespedes has hinted he could hit 52 homers for the Mets this year.  

In Colorado's rarified air, in 10 career games, his split is .341/.386/.805.  He really MIGHT hit 52 homers in a salary drive season out there.  And he'd likely LOVE to be there to put up big #s in a salary drive year.

Jed Lowrie had a pretty great 2017 and 2018 and a missed 2019.  If healthy, might he not put up hefty numbers in 2020 for the Rocks in thin atmosphere Denver?

What do you, the readers, think of this perhaps unconventional trade thought?  

What are your thoughts, and proposals, for acquiring Arenado?

12 comments:

Mack Ade said...

Tom

I LOVE this idea.

Yes, we would have to take on Arenado's 35K per yr deal thru 26 but I actually believe he will hold up physically for the length of this contract.

If not, we could replace him with either Vientos or Baty down the road and shed him off on a new bad money deal.

This would free up McNeil to split time in left field and second base.

And... let's say his legs do hold up... what great trade bait those two kids would make down the road.

Love it.

Tom Brennan said...

Mack, if Colorado wants to cut salary and try a reset, why not?

And honestly, while both are question marks, both Cespedes and Lowrie could have big 2020 seasons in the most offense-favorable park in baseball.

They'd probably want a prospect too - maybe Vientos.

Arenado would really help rebalance the Mets with this trade and make them better offensively and defensively.

John From Albany said...

Love the trade idea but only if Arenado opts out in a few years and all we give up are Cespedes and Lowrie (what no Cano as well). Arenado's Home and away splits are pretty scary and don't think his Citi Field numbers will improve.

Tom Brennan said...

John, those "away" splits for Arenado are a real and genuine concern. Absolutely. The Coors Effect is pronounced for him. But his glove is the real deal at all altitudes.

John From Albany said...

And if all it will cost us is Steve Cohen's money one day - then we should go for it.

Reese Kaplan said...

I know I'm alone here but why not simply give 3B to Jeff McNeil instead of banking on the very expensive "Away" numbers of Nolan Arenado?

John From Albany said...

I'd actually prefer McNeil at 2nd and JD at 3rd. Cano to the bench -as if.

Tom Brennan said...

Cano should (as I see it right now) play in no more than 120 games next year.

Bob. W. said...

I would love to see Arenado in the Mets infield (I would've gone for Rendon if I were the Mets). I just don't see the Rox doing the deal without more than Cespedes/Lowrie. The Rox would be looking for McNeil for openers. Keep in mind that teams like the Cards and Braves are still in and can offer a lot more in return.

TP said...

I don’t think he is worth both the financial commitment and cost in players.

Zozo said...

Yeah i would trade too much for him because he can opt out in 2 years. I would offer them Cepedes, Lowrie, Giminez, Peterson and Dom Smith.

Tom Brennan said...

Bob W, good points. I think his great glove and decent bat would be very positive. TP, and Bob, yes, I think we could be outbid for Arenado. Zoloft, if it took that much, I would pass, I think.