Reese Kaplan -- You Need a Foundation to Support Heavyweights

 

The uncertain feelings about the Sandy Alderson increased involvement in the management of the Mets’ roster construction came to the surface earlier this week through the contracts extended to Steven Matz, Robert Gsellman, Jacob Barnes and Guillermo Heredia.  These moves kind of caught some folks by surprise as if Alderson was still operating under the Wilpon “Do Not Spend” mantra as none figured to be major parts of the 2021 available selection of players. 

 

None of the other folks extended contracts came as a huge surprise, though a great many feel more like filler than actual major league players.  There are return engagements for Corey Oswalt, Franklyn Kilome, Daniel Zamora, Tomas Nido, Ali Sanchez, Patrick Mazeika and others.  There are currently 34 members of the 40-man roster, so there is plenty of room to add players through free agency or multiple player trades. 

 

The ones let go included the less-than-stellar Paul Sewald (of a career 1-14 record with a 5.50 ERA), Ariel Jurado (and his one NY Mets starting assignment), Nick Tropeano (who actually pitched well for Pittsburgh before the Mets acquired and dispatched him without a single inning pitched), and Chasen Shreve.  That last one was a bit of a surprise since Shreve during 2020’s dumpster fire of a pitching staff was able to contribute 34 Ks in 25 IP while delivering a non-cringeworthy 3.96 ERA.  Given the fact that lefty Justin Wilson is no longer a Met, it was puzzling for the Mets to hang onto other inferior pitchers but to show Shreve the door. 

 

Now some people feel that the team is a bit focused on the ancillary pieces like setup reliever Trevor May and hot rumors regarding the interest in bringing good but not great catcher James McCann.  Neither are bad choices at all, but the fans have had their appetites whetted more for the likes of Brad Hand and J.T. Realmuto.  Some folks are already whispering about where is Steve Cohen’s money? 

 

Again, without a GM in the front office, it’s a bit much to be splitting your time between building a business plan, interviewing baseball executives, reaching out to player agents and preparing for next week’s online Winter Meetings.  Sandy Alderson has by necessity bitten off quite a bit of work for himself and the rumors regarding a GM becoming part of the Mets empire have suddenly become fairly silent.

 

Part of me is very excited about the return of baseball.  Part of me is even more enthusiastic about not having to anticipate how the Wilpons and Brodie Van Wagenen would create back page embarrassment in the New York tabloids.  Part of me is fairly certain that some decent players will indeed become part of the roster.  But no matter what, part of me is still anxious about the fits and failed starts of the new regime thus far. 

 

While I’m anticipating many more Mets transactions will be taking place during or immediately after the Winter Meetings, the fact is that the lower tier deals may be necessary, but they don’t generate the huge headlines nor infuse the fans with any kind of pre-season bragging rights.  It’s not going to be a magic, overnight fix, but the small moves are necessary as well as the large ones.  Just keep those stories coming, Sandy…we all want to dream of October baseball.