12/15/24

MACK - MY Sunday Observations Report

 

MACK – Sunday Morning Observations – Future Pitching, Kodai, Ronny, McNeil, Marte, Yuhl

 

There is a lot of speculation out there about the possibility of Brandon Sproat being traded this off season. I truly hope this doesn't happen.

I think that Sproat and Jonah Tong have a legitimate chance in being a viable member of the 2026 rotation. Add Christian Scott and one could make a good case that the Mets are successfully growing the roster with team controlled talent.

I also thing that Douglas Orellana has an outside chance and am thrilled he survived the Rule 5 draft.

I want to believe in Nolan McLean.  I really do, but I have to see another season first.


Michael Baron                    @michaelgbaron 

David Stearns said Kodai Senga has not begun to throw as part of his off-season program. They expect him to be a pitcher on opening day for the #Mets.

"He is a healthy player progressing through his off-season," Stearns said. 

Mack - It’s two month away from pitchers reporting to camp and the ace of the staff hasn’t started throwing. Does this sound like a “healthy player” to you? I know Stearns isn’t a bullshitter and maybe this kind of routine is normal for Kodai, but, to me, an opening day stint by this guy is still up in the air. 

 

Mets Batflip                        @metsbatflip1

NEWS: Ronny Mauricio is starting baseball activities, per David Stearns.

Mack -who? Oh yeah, I remember him. He’s the guy that went down and no one would say what he went down with or how he was progressing. Is he back in the mix for 2025? And, if he is, where? Or, if he does look like he’s good to go, do you trade off Acuna and slot McNeil into the utility outfield position still open? Lot to determine here.

  

With the addition of Juan Soto into the Mets outfield for the next century, one needs to look at the current status of what’s going on out there.

Soto will be a fixture in rightfield for, at least, the next five years.

Brandon Nimmo will be the leftfielder through 2030.

And the new centerfield defensive tandem of Jose Siri and Tyrone Taylor is set for center through next season.

So where does Starlin Marte and Jeff McNeil fit in?

From here it’s guesswork. Marte can still work a bat and, overnight, becomes the odds on favorite for Designated Hitter. The first thing McNeil is going to have to do is prove he should remain the starting second baseman. If he beats out Luisangel Acuna, then Acuna will probably become a swiss army knife that includes OF5 (remember… many still project him with outfield skills that include center).

As for the prospects in the chain, there really is no room for any of them in 2025, so let them mature and improve their skills in Syracuse. 

 

Mets sign RHP international free agent , Yuhi Sako, to a minor league contract.

Yuhl Sako

25/yrs old                5-10               180

Came from Japanese Industrial League

Spent 2024 in Indy ball

2024 - 6-3, 3.23 ERA, 92-K, 28-BB, 103.0-IP

Two appearances in Mexican League this past year

Mack – some are calling him the “Sasaki Walmart Addition”. Another no risk addition to the system at a minimal cost. You have to fill your affiliates with players and once in awhile you strike gold. Will this be the one? 

16 comments:

Reese Kaplan said...

Other than Soto this offseason has more questions than answers. Hopefully Stearns will start answering some of them before the players report to St Lucie.

Mack Ade said...

I have to agree here. Hopefully, we get a couple of more quality signs

Tom Brennan said...

I feel very good about McLean as a pitcher, ignoring his record. He propelled quickly, and he has good plus stuff. I surely hope Sproat and Tong are the next Seaver and Gentry (without the latter’s arm problems, of course). Or David Cone as a comp.

Tom Brennan said...

If someone picked up $8-$10 million on Marte, I could see him leaving to reduce total payroll. If Mauricio can be ready to go by May 1. I’d think of assigning Mauricio to St Lucie for 2 weeks forthe warm weather, then 2 weeks in Syracuse, then call him up.

Mack Ade said...

I too like McLean but I like him better as a backend reliever or closer

Mack Ade said...

Ya'll like rumors... one of them out there is that the Mets are touting Marte for a sale with them eating a share of his salary

RVH said...

What about Marte for Montgomery straight up? Think that’s possible to pull off?

D J said...

Mack,
Paying down a player's salary and trading him worked 2 years ago, that may well be our best approach with Marte.

Mack Ade said...

Sounds reasonable

Mack Ade said...

And maybe McNeil if you feel Acuña is ready to take over at second

Remember1969 said...

I like the idea of swapping the similar contracts of Marte and Montgomery.

My personal opinion on McNeil is that if he is traded, trade the entire salary and do not eat any of it. I don't like the idea of paying a guy to play for another team. For his cost (~16M for each of the next two years), he is valuable to keep around.

I would like to see McLean's walk rate go down a bit more, but he could end up being a good major league pitcher.

I too, am high on both Sproat and Tong.

Mack Ade said...

You got good points son

Rds 900. said...

I always felt McNeil could be a super utility player.

Mack Ade said...

He could but his head would never accept that

TexasGusCC said...

This morning, I was the first to comment on this post. I don’t know where that comment went.
But, to summarize I wondered what the Mets would do with outfield prospects if they are good in the corners until 2030.
I also said that this team needs at least a piece or two, but no team was perfect last year. Not the Dodgers that had no bottom of the order or starting pitching in the playoffs, not the Yankees that had some huge holes in their lineup all year, not Cleveland that clutch hit their way to the ALCS, and certainly not the Mets that made it to the NLCS, but how many of you without know the result would accept exactly the same team back? There are no guarantees.
I predict that the Mets pitching staff in February will not satisfy most of the fan base. Even if they sign Sasaki, we will hear gripes about the bullpen. And the lineup, Alonso is not a sure thing because I bet he takes a lesser deal somewhere else to use the Mets like others have despite his BS lip service, but I don’t see any options available for a DH that I would endorse.

Mack Ade said...

To me, the bats have improved over last season but I would sleep better at night with Alonso aboard in a lesser role

I need to see more.pitching Gus.