Okay, the deal is still pending approval, but overnight Steve Cohen swooped in while on vaca in Hawaii and signed superstar Carlos Correa to play third base for the next 13 years.
So...
What's the 2923 future for:
James McCann
Francisco Alvarez
Brett Baty
Eduardo Escobar
Mark Vientos
Luis Guillorme
Ronny Mauricio
Darin Ruff
Daniel Vogelbach
Alex Ramirez
Kevin Parada
Jett Williams
Mack - some of my initial thoughts...
1. The owner of this team is not going to wait around and see if his draft picks, both stateside and Internationally, pan out. He will build the team by usage of his cash laying around (remember... his take home pay in 2022 from his day job exceeded 11 billion dollars).
2. This entire remarkable off season has been built without trading a single so called "prospect", yet, there doesn't seem to be any place left for any of them to play this season.
3. I see no reason why this spending program will cease prior to the 2024 season, but the more 10+ year contracts you hand out will limit the amount of new players you will sign.
4. The Mets are building an internal public relations department like no other in baseball. Friends will attract friends... players from Puerto Rico will want to play together... and I expect the Mets will dangle Kodai Senga on the hook to get Shohei Ohtani
5. Utility infielders need to be able to play multiple positions so my guess is that will strengthen both Eduardo Escobar and Luis Guillorme remaining on the 2023 team (feel sad for Luis. He deserves to play every day somewhere).
6. Mark Cahna will be the every day LFer in 2023... past that I have no idea.
7. My hopes is Ronny Mauricio is targets to be the next 2Bman in 2024.
8, As for trading the likes of Baty, Vientos, Alvarez, etc. for what? There's no place for anyone else to play in 2024.
9. Ruf and McCann are history, though I don't know who would then be the backup 1Bman if Ruf goes (Vogelbach?).
10. Both Jett Williams and Alex Ramirez are so fukkked.
12 comments:
Crazy how much this team’s behavior has changed in the last few years!
I would love to see Correa (provided he passes his medical testing this morning) play 2B, while McNeil moves to LF and Canha becomes your 4th OF’er. That way, you keep a path open for Baty, etc.
In reality, we all know Correa is our new third baseman……which is equally interesting (and should be lock down defensively). Maybe Escobar is now our utility infielder and back up for all four spots?
Maybe the Mets move Baty to LF in Syracuse for 2023? Or, maybe he is trade bait?
I think Alvarez is safe, but the team has slowed his ascent a bit, which is wise.
Ramirez will be fine……he will bump Nimmo to one of the corners when he arrives (and when Marte moves on).
Jett? Future second baseman?
So much to think about now…….crazy is the best word I can come up with.
Mike
You and I go back.
You know I started this site because of the void online covering the Mets minor leaguers.
THAT'S where my love is and I have enjoyed meeting and writing these guys since 2005.
Did I get to see the Mets have much success during these years? Frankly no.
Now I have a store bought championship team and I have seemingly lost my writing compass.
Being pulled in two directions.
It feels weird, for sure
I still see a path for some of the kids……none of our rotation pieces are signed long term, and outside of our closer, the pen will turn over pretty regularly.
Not sure if we lock down Alonso and/orMcNeil now?
If we do, that closes up the infield and Alvarez should take over behind the plate.
Nimmo is going to fill one OF slot for a while, so two OF slots could be open long term?
Strange days, indeed.
Hey,Ramirez in CF I 2025,Williams at 2B in 2026…
The acquisition of Correa is a move to bolster the strength of the 2023 team. As noted in my piece last Thursday, the NL East has become a very powerful division and the Mets need to do everything they can to compete. Third base was a hole that needed to be filled and Correa is a great bat to add to the lineup. Navarez was also a great acquisition that gives us immediate gains. Both will help to ease our two top prospects Baty and Alvarez into a MLB role instead of throwing them "into the fire" and paying a higher price for their growth.
We are spending a lot of money in the short term, but the player development process is being groomed for the long term. I am not worried about the future for our prospects - they will get their shot. It is a long season, and things will happen. There will be injuries, some players will have bad years, and those will produce opportunities. Meanwhile, competition in training camp will be intense which will have the Mets ready to play in a much tougher April than we had last year. At the break this team will have many chips to play as needs for the post season emerge.
Brett, Francisco, Mark, Ronnie, Jett, and Alex will do fine. They should relish the idea that they don't have to be rushed into the role where the probability of failure is higher.
I really wanted to comment this morning on this - but two things prevented me:
(1) I've been away from media all day.
(2) I am at a loss for words
Ok, now that (1) has been resolved - back at the computer, I'm still struggling with (2).
I saw this news just as I got up this morning and roughly 9 hours later I still don't know what to think. I agree with Mack on most things. I think pretty much every Mets prospect is now somebody's else's prospect.
This team in 2030 is going to be pretty old.
This team in 2023 is going to be pretty good.
Most teams are limited in how they are built by money. The Mets are limited in how they are built by the fact that they can still only have 26 players on the roster and 40 players on the '40 man'.
They are now Narvaez, Ottavino, and Correa over the 40 man.
If A. Ramirez and J. Williams are eff'ed, certainly K. Lee must be feeling some heat today. B. Baty has to be disappointed.
I think A. Ramirez takes over center field for Nimmo in 2025. And I agree that Jett Williams could be the second baseman in 2026.
Jeff McNeil and Pete Alonso must be having a lot of mixed emotions about now. "We're gonna have some fun this year" . . . "Wonder if there will be anything left for me?"
I am not sure Cohen is done yet. When K. Lee is the 4th outfielder on the depth chart, this team ain't finished.
Overall, I love me a really good Mets team, but I have always been a proponent of a good mix of home-grown talent and good signings. This leaves me puzzled on whether to like or dislike the move.
It has to be a good move for the Mets, doesn't it?
All the kids start in the minors. Got to hit their way to the big club. Which one will do it first?
I agree with parts of Mack's and Mike's postings today regarding the kid Mets players.
The Carlos Correa signing, if official yet, kind of rubbed me the wrong way actually too. It isn't because Correa isn't a terrific player, he is, but what about the three new Mets rookies in: Bret Batty, Mark Vientos, Ronnie Mauricio? Will they ever get a fair shot to play here (as NY Mets) with these long term NY Mets players from other teams here now? The inn is now full, and there is nowhere for them now to compete for a starting position unless certain players (like for instance LF Mark Canha) are moved for another team's younger AA and AAA pitchers.
If this 2023 NYM team were to surprisingly go belly up, at least we will have the makings of a very good Old Timers Game NYM team in 2028.
I like an age balanced really good team better myself.
From instituting that, a team has the possible opportunity to have consecutively season playoff teams. Going for it all now is nice, but I the like longevity of a good team much better. Finally, what was up with the SF Giants refusing Carlos Correa's physical findings?
Super excited about this obviously. This is an interesting shift in philosophy regarding trying to build home grown players. The Mets now have 3 players on the team for at least the next 8 seasons and I believe there will be one more (Pete).
One note:
I believe Brett Baty will be the everyday left fielder if he figures it out early this season. It is a lot to ask from a young kid but hey lets see.
LFGM
How about a trade with the Marlins for Alcantara? Carrasco, Escobar, Vientos and Mauricio.
Regulars who are starting locks:
Pete, Jeff, Lindor, Correa, Marte, Nimmo - but there are 9 spots.
Filling the other 3 are Alvarez (why not, plenty of hitting protection, won't be the great rookie hope; Nido/Omar; Escobar/Vogelbach; Canha; Guillorme - for now).
Baty? Hardly had any time at AAA.
Vientos? Some more AAA time could only help the still very young man hit better.
Mauricio? 2B or outfield, or both. Very solid season in 2022, but as yet, no AAA.
All 3 will be very viable on opening day 2024, when Canha and Escobar will be gone.
You have two stellar gloves in Correa and Lindor, so you no longer need punchless Luis Guillorme. And heck, the Wyatt Young clone is there.
2024, Vogelbach will be gone.
McCann ought to be traded soon - if not, only that could delay Alvarez (til mid 2023).
2025, Marte still under contract, but probably sliding at least somewhat, so it could be Ramirez time.
Seems manageable to me.
In the meantime, DRAFT PITCHING, MACK. PITCHING!!
The DH issue is unresolved, the outfield is unresolved unless you feel Canha is the equivalent of the top picks at other positions, the catching surplus is unresolved and the bullpen could use one more veteran arm. Being over the 40-man roster means some multiple players leaving in trades.
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