Josh Smoker was a former first-round pick who the Mets plucked out of the Independent Leagues. He ran into injury problems and lost his fastball, which caused his fall from grace. Smoker recovered his fastball and made it back to the majors, where he was a forgettable reliever. The main issue was that the Mets thought since he was a lefty reliever that he should be a LOOGY. But Smoker had no great ability to retire lefties. In frustration, the Mets sent him to the Pirates in return for another lefty reliever, one they hoped could be a replacement LOOGY.

In return they got Daniel Zamora. Last year Zamora made it to the majors and pitched pretty good in a short sample. Overall, he had a 3.00 ERA/2.38 FIP/2.41 xFIP in 16 games and a grand total of 9 IP. Yeah, they got him to get out lefties, remember.

Zamora allowed a .763 OPS versus LHB and a .466 OPS versus RHB. It seems worse than it really was. He allowed a triple and a homer in his four hits allowed to lefties, who he also fanned nine times in 19 PA.

Hard to tell what he is at this point. But it would be nice if the Mets could just use him as a low-leverage pitcher out of the pen, instead of forcing him into the LOOGY role. Maybe he’d give you 60 acceptable innings if you’d give him the chance to do that.

17 comments on “Monday catch-all thread (1/14/19)

  • Artie

    There’s a mystery team in the Machado sweepstakes. You don’t think it could be the Mets?

    • MattyMets

      Artie, definitely not.

    • Brian Joura

      Not unless they find a team willing to take on all of Cano’s contract.

      • David Klein

        He wouldn’t waive his no trade anyway. He only was going to a NY team.

    • Chris F

      Definitely not. Although on a team with over abundance on infielders, it seems like a move the Mets might just make. Now if BVW can get two bases removed from the game, we may be on to something!

  • Laurence Smith

    More so than most other teams it seems the Mets, be it the Alderson administration or the new Van Wagenen one, it seems to me that even when changes are made they rarely address their bigger problems.
    As the off season began who among us thought 2B had to be improved? Didn’t we think that Jeff McNeil had what it takes to cover the position both offensively and defensively? So the big move brought in Robbie Cano and his humongous salary. Yes, I know Edwin Diaz was the key to that deal but still….
    And in the outfield they desperately needed a solid CFer to punch up the offense and the defense or at least a legit platooner to pair with Lagares. And in comes Keon Broxton who really is Lagares 2.0.
    I hoped they’d upgrade catcher to Grandal but give them a pass there. If they really offered him 4 years/$16 million per then I think they give it a good shot. Wilson Ramos is a more than reasonable consolation prize.
    I like the Lowrie signing except that he’s really still another 2Bman who probably will get the bulk of his work at 3B. If you need help at third, get a 3Bman.

  • David Klein

    Was hoping the Mets would sign Derek Holland for the rotation.

  • Mike Walczak

    You never know. Maybe the Mets are the surprise team, but I highly doubt it. Theoretically, he could replace Cespedes contract. Cespedes will miss most, if not all of the 2019 season, which will be covered by insurance and will only have one season left on his contract in 2020.

    • MattyMets

      Andy Martino is reporting that the Mets May be shopping TDA. Not sure what to make of this. I just know that BVW is not done. The market is slow again like last off-season. Not only are the top FAs still available but most of the rumored trade block guys are still out there as well (Bumgarner, Kluber, Realmuto…). A few teams, like the Giants and Cubs have been too quiet.

      • Brian Joura

        I’ve come to view Kluber’s “availability” much like that of Syndergaard, where the club was just taking the temperature of the market much more so than a real intention to deal him.

        I wonder if any team would offer the Giants enough for them to deal Bumgarner. The emotional value he has for that franchise far out-strips his real value on the field.

        Realmuto seems like the one to be dealt. But are there enough suitors left to get anywhere near what they were asking for back in November?

        • Herb Goldstein

          Ramos should take the Mets out of the Realmuto market, and I really don’t see them giving up their assets for Kluber or Bumgarner. However, all the talk of trades, (now Td’A being shopped) makes a guy think. Padres need a 3B. Could BVA make Frazier an attractive target for SD? And with Brox in the fold and Nimmo a capable CF too, is Lagares available? Shedding those 3 would free up $21.5 million in payroll.

          And $21.5 would cover a substantial portion of year 1 of a Harper deal, perhaps all if it were sufficiently middle or back loaded. Wouldn’t it be nice to put an outfield of Conforto – Broxton/Nimmo – Harper out there every day at Citi in 2019?

          • Remember1969

            I would be very surprised if they could trade those three for prospects. The only way I could see those trades is for like type contracts that may be a better fit for the team. I cannot imagine any scenario where they could just shed 21M of those contracts.

          • MattyMets

            Players like those 3 only get traded for propects in July (if they’re healthy and productive). In the off-season players like that get swapped for similar contracts in a “change of scenery” trade. Perhaps a rebuilding team has a high paid reliever they don’t need and could swap him for a veteran hole plugger like Frazier.

  • TexasGusCC

    Flores to D-Backs, $4.25MM and a $500K buy-out making it essentially a guaranteed $4.75MM, or what the Mets wouldn’t offer. Good luck buddy, light up that stadium. Looking forward to seeing you on SportsCenter often.

    • Chris F

      Ill take Jed Lowrie at 10M$/yr all day every day over 5M$ for Mr. Cement Feet for 1 year. But Gus, good for you that your buddy made it back to the Show. I had him pegged for a different career after being let go.

  • Eraff

    There’s no reason to Bash a Guy for what he is as a Player, but I’m surprised that Wilmer got $5 million. The DBacks are National League…correct? I thought his best shot was with a “bad” American League club—get lots of ab’s…play some DH…get a chance to play and improve as a fielder.

  • Brian Joura

    Did a podcast with historian Steve Treder last night. Steve’s a Giants fan, so we talked about Mays and McCovey, Marichal’s record against the Mets, Ray Sadecki, Robinson Cano, a 4-man pitching staff, MLB Over/Unders and more! You can listen to the podcast here – https://lennymelnickfantasysports.com/podcasts/mets360/mets360-01-16/

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