SAVAGE VIEWS – PROJECTING THE 2021 METS LINEUP

SAVAGE VIEWS – PROJECTING THE 2021 METS LINEUP

Where have all the young Mets gone, long time passing.  Where have all the young Mets gone, long time ago.  Gone to other teams everyone. When will they ever learn? 

I’ve long been an advocate of building a team internally through the draft and international free agents.  Under BVW and other administrations before him there has been a tendency to look for a quick fix.  What especially galled me was trading Jordan Humphreys for a washed-up Billy Hamilton.  Too many assets let go for marginal returns.

There has been a lot of discussion on what the Mets roster for 2021 should look like.   Some would dismantle the team and start a rebuild.  Heard suggestions to trade deGrom to the Dodgers for prospects.  Shades of the Midnight Massacre whereby the Mets would get the current day equivalent of Pat Zachry, Doug Flynn, Steve Henderson and Dan Norman.  I could understand trading deGrom if the team was devoid of talent.  However, that is simply not the case. Others have suggested trading Conforto and McNeil.  These are our core players and should be retained at all costs.

Taking a look at the NL East, the only team that currently worries me is Atlanta.  From my perspective, neither the Nats nor the Phillies will be contenders in 2021.  The Marlins are a young team on the rise but at least a year or two from being series contenders.  Therefore, my objective is to build a team that has the ability to top the Braves next year. No one can dispute that the 2020 Mets were a powerful left hand hitting team while the right hand hitters under performed.  To address that situation and improve defensively, here are my recommendations.

SIGN JACKIE BRADLEY.  Having Bradley platoon with Jake Marisnick could solve the CF situation.

SIGN DJ LeMahieu   If that attempt fails, go after Justin Turner.  Either one of these two would shore up third base defensively and provide a solid right hand bat in the lineup. 

These two moves would result in the following lineup.

1B       Pete Alonso

2b        RobinsonCano

SS       Amed Rosario

3B       LeMahieu or Turner

LF       Jeff McNeil

CF       Bradley/Marisnick

RF       Michael Conforto

C         Nido/Chirinos

DH      Dom Smith

My goal is to achieve a balance between righty and left hitters.  Many prefer Smith over Alonso after Smith’s breakout season.  Let’s back up for a moment and compare the two of .their careers thus far.

   AB       BA       HR      RBI     OPS

Smith              644     .258    35        104     .811

Alonso           805     .252    69        155     .909

Many want to give up on Alonso after a mediocre campaign.  I think it’s premature to move on from Alonso especially when you compare him to Smith’s performance after two seasons. Also, we need Alonso’s strong RH bat.

My choice is Rosario over Gimenez to get another everyday right hand bat in the lineup.  I love Rosarios’s potential and believe he will continue to mature and improve.  He can be trade bait in two years when Ronny Mauricio will presumably be ready.

The combination of Nido/Chirinos provides good defense and this powerful lineup can carry their perceived lack of offense.  While I would love to see Realmuto on board, I’m afraid the price might be too high.  I have a concern over surrendering draft picks.

Putting on my GM’s hat, I am open to trading Nimmo, Gimenez, Davis and even Smith to address the need for starting and relief pitchers.  My first move would be to extend a QO to Stroman to supplement deGrom and Peterson.   No question we need to add another two SPs with no high level prospects ready to step up next year.

I am really reluctant to part with Nimmo and Smith but trading either or both could bring in some fresh quality arms.  I see no place on my team for the defensively challenged Davis.   Giminez also should be an attractive trade chip.

I remain optimistic for next year assuming the management team is willing to be aggressive in reshaping the roster.