Just as Santa Claus symbolizes Christmas hopes and dreams for little girls and boys, Mr. Met epitomizes them for the thousands of grownup boys and girls who root for the team from Queens. Our wildest dreams nearly came true in 2015 and we were all thrilled and excited to be back in the World Series for the first time in 16 years. But like the kids whose mom or dad got a big promotion, last year’s Barbie dolls and Lego sets won’t suffice. This year they want the Barbie Dream House and the X Box.
In past years, we left the winter meetings with reclamation projects (Shaun Marcum, Chris Young the pitcher,) fading veterans (Michael Cuddyer, Jon Rauch, Bartolo Colon) and lightning in a bottle candidates (Chris Young the outfielder, Frank Francisco). The notable exception was Curtis Granderson. We want another one of those.
The Mets have an influx of cash from their extended playoff run and expiring contracts (Colon, Daniel Murphy, Bobby Parnell, Dillon Gee, Tyler Clippard, plus the midseason additions Yoenis Cespedes, Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson. Yes, of course we could use a few complementary veteran pieces to round out the bench and bullpen, maybe a platoon partner. But what every Mets fan really wants and what this team really needs is a bopper. The perfect fit would be a right-handed power hitter who could slot between Curtis Granderson and Lucas Duda to balance the middle of our lineup (or perhaps Daniel Murphy/Ben Zobrist and Duda with Granderson remaining in the leadoff spot). Such a player would give our offense a chance to support what might become the best pitching staff in the league in 2016.
Seeing the monster contracts going out to front line pitchers, it’s clear that we have a three or four-year window that we must capitalize on. Cespedes, for all his flaws exposed in the post season, balanced our lineup with a feared bat. If we can’t swallow giving him or Upton a six-year contract, then our front office needs to think outside the box and pull off a trade – a good old fashioned blockbuster like the ones that put us over the top with Gary Carter and Mike Piazza.
Thinking outside the box, we can’t focus only on our areas of need as Omar Minaya did. That strategy pigeon holes you into overpaying and/or settling for second tier player (Oliver Perez instead of Derek Lowe, Jason Bay instead of Matt Holliday). If the rebuilding Reds and Brewers would be so delighted to unload the big contracts of Joey Votto and Ryan Braun, perhaps they’d be willing to eat half their contracts in a trade. Ditto for guys like Robinson Cano, Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, Matt Kemp and others. Perhaps Jose Bautista or Juan Encarnacion could be pried loose from the Toronto Blue Jays. This writer is not suggesting these players aren’t declining and overpaid, but they are still impact bats and lineup changers who could perhaps be had at a discount.
We simply can’t go into the season with fingers crossed that David Wright and Travis d’Arnaud stay healthy, Juan Lagares, Michael Conforto, and Wilmer Flores all improve, Granderson has another year like 2015, Duda and Cuddyer bounce back from disappointing years and Dilson Herrera has a great rookie year. That’s too many ifs and question marks to simply account for with the added depth of guys like Johnson and Uribe. This team needs a big shiny bat and nothing else will do.
Mr. Met wants a big gold trophy and a ticker tape parade and his fans want a potent offense to get us there. Mets players and coaches want a chance to finish what they started. The Wilpons no doubt want sold out games with big concession sales, higher TV revenue from SNY and merchandise flying off the shelves. If Sandy Alderson can play Santa Claus and give us all what we want for Christmas, he’ll make everyone’s Christmas dreams come true.
Bautista isn’t going anywhere. Especially since the Blue Jays just exercised their option on him. Why would they “give” him away? Pujois has a 10 year contract. I don’t think anyone in their right mind will touch him. Miggy is untouchable and Detroit would never discount their franchise star unless they get a king’s ransom in return. Kemp is just a shell of his former self, rapidly deteriorating defensively and injury prone. Juan Encarnacion? I think you meant Edwin Encarnacion had a club option (exercised) for 10 million for 2016. Why would the Blue Jays “dump” him? The Mets are paying Michael Cuddyer 12.5 million as a fourth outfielder. Hmm? I don’t get that part Matt. All I want for Christmas is new ownership.
well said Pete
Pete, there is no obvious move that I see. Mike Trout is not available. Have to think outside the box and I’m just spit balling around names. Though I did get the Encarnacions mixed up. Do you have a trade idea?
Well, how if I just guarantee a World Championship for you? There are no guarantees in life, therefore we all must take chances including the Mets. I don’t think Zobrist qualifies as a big, shiney bat. CF is the only spot realistically where we can add a big bat because Conforto must either play or be traded for a big bat.
If the Mets had the financial resources for a Cespedes or Heyward and still could improve the team elsewhere then that would be the primary target. I am too old to believe in Santa Claus for that to happen.
I’ll adjust and be practical and put Denard Span, Tony Sipp and Kelly Johnson on my wish list.
If I was a good enough boy then I would want an upgrade at shortstop but there aren’t many comfortable choices. Maybe Sandy Claus could find a better choice than what I am leaning toward on my shortstop list.
Sandy Claus could attempt to trade for a shortstop that is major league ready and cost controlled with a strong minor league pedigree. This would cost him one of his starting pitchers. Until Wheeler comes back, this could be considered a risky and premature move and seems to be more appropriate at the trade deadline.
The other alternative would be be to sign free agent Asdrubal Cabrerra (est. 3/30 contract). In Cabrera’s “worst” year he was a better offensive player than Flores and Tejada were in their “best” years. He is a poor defensive SS with a – 7 Rdrs. He is an upgrade over Tejada and if signed would replace Tejada thus relegating Flores to utility role. He is not the best fit but a stronger option than the Flores/Tejada/Herrera mix at an affordable price without losing a draft pick.
we can easily fill the holes defensively, but we have to figure out how to replace at least one of the bats – Murphy and Cespedes – without mortgaging the future or trading away one of the big arms. That’s a serious challenge. If I had to guess, I think Sandy wants Zobrist but if he gets outbid he may turn back to murph or else to Cabrera. Between Wright’s health, the uncertainty of Herrera, Flores’ glove and Duda’s slumps, they really need a versatile vet in the infield. If we have to settle for Cabrera, then we’ll need more of a significant upgrade in the outfield. With Tejada tendered a contract, I’m not sure Cabrera makes sense as a fallback option.
Span over his career averaged 2.48 oWAR per 500 at bats while Murphy’s average was 2.04 oWAR. Span replaces and exceeds Murphy as an offensive player. Cabrera has a 2.70 oWAR per 500 at bats while Tejada’s average was 1.49 oWar. It is an improvement. Of course Heyward or Cespedes is the stronger but unobtainable choice. Even while tendered, Tejada can be traded or cut at a minimum cost.
There’s no obvious solution on the FA market. I admit even my preferred option – sign both Zobrist and Heyward – requires some fingers crossed.
Heyward would be earth-shattering. The chance of it has got to be microscopic that it happens though.
Niese, your pick of a top minor league prospect (Nimmo?) and ? for Puig. Too much? Not enough? I would have non-tendered Tejada and Mejia using Flores as a super sub and signing Cabrera for SS.
Pete – i love the idea of using Flores as a super sub, but really wish we had a great defensive shortstop.
The problem is the Met’s are handicapped by Cuddyer and his 12.5 million for 2016. You couple that with Niese being traded and you would free up 23 million. Would of been more than enough to sign someone to shore up the offense
Metsense, i agree about Tejada. I think it was smart to keep him in the fold til we see how things shake out. Our infield is really a jigsaw puzzle
The Mets don’t need to field a Chapmpionship Ready team in March—that’s an impossible Goal………But…..
… the Reality is that they are on the Cusp of losing at least 4 Major League bats —K Johnson, Uribe, Cespedes, and Murph.
I would add my high doubt that David Wright is a sustainable MLB bat—I’ll be surprised if he is.
That’s alot to replace…. and the High Impact Bats are going or gone.