Yet the Mets’ offseason under rookie general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, though notably not featuring Harper or Machado, will still generate union enthusiasm. Partly because their $130ish million of expenditures place them second (for the moment, again) behind the Nationals. Partly because their faith in 36-year-old Robinson Cano and soon-to-be-35-year-old Jed Lowrie bucks the analytical trend of not trusting anyone over 30. And partly because Van Wagenen himself, the former agent with expressed player sympathies, serves as a test case in a time when so many team decision-makers cut their teeth in — and absorb the mindset of — Major League Baseball’s central office. Success by BVW could open the minds and the purse strings of other teams.

Source: Ken Davidoff, New York Post

It’s not that you don’t trust anyone over 30 – it’s that you don’t pay them expecting their production to be what it was when they were in their mid-to-late 20s. When he was 29, Cano had a 7.3 fWAR season. The chances of him doing that at 36 and above are about nil. The pay and the length of contracts those guys get should represent their likely production.

Generally, I’m opposed to the idea of doing something just because everyone else is doing it that way. But if everyone else is refusing to give lavish contracts to guys in their mid-to-late 30s, I’d say that’s a trend worth following.

9 comments on “Monday catch-all thread (1/28/19)

  • Eraff

    I like “Direction and Decision”, acknowledging that their are no guarantees.

    The Cano deal cannot be viewed by focusing only on Cano…that said, his 2018 “Half Season” was exactly in line with his Lifetime Stats. The projection may be that time will take its course….he has not yet declined, and it may be overlooked that He’s still a great player!

    On a Roster (Hopefully) filled with Prime Years Starting Pitching, the Addition of Diaz and the re-insertion of Familia are dramatic commitments. If Diaz is Diaz and Cano is Cano….. Boom!

    I like a team with unanswered questions in February—room to Perk, with on hand competitive talent…and assets.

    I’m entusiastic about this season…more than prior years. The last three roster spots have talent. The Pitching looks Healthy. They’ve gained some direction that is distinct from the “Begging and Hedging” that was a staple in the Alderson Years… a predilection for “Perfect Planning” that can rarely succeed.

    The Sun Has been Hanging Around longer and longer!!!!!….. Let’s Go Mets!!!!!!!

    • Steve S.

      Agree on the Sun—and your other comments!

      And the Mets also got rid of soon-to-be 32 Jay Bruce and 33 year-old Anthony Swarzak.

      I think they still need to sign another reliever of worth, freeing up Seth Lugo to replace an injured starter, if and when that happens.

    • Aging Bull

      Well said and I concur completely! I have high hopes for this season. The question marks about the roster and lineup are much less dramatic than in years past. Adding a piece part to the BP at this stage is a manageable challenge, and who is to say that one of the several pick-ups they’ve made already won’t emerge? That seems to happen every year. Relievers are so unpredictable (and yes, I know it works both ways.) I’d like to see them improve in CF, to be honest. Lagares, Broxton aren’t a not quite adequate, in my opinion. I am hopeful that McNeil turns out to be an average LF, and then Conforto/Nimmo can split the other two spots. I’d love it if they signed Grandy for a 1-year deal.
      Another area of improvement, I am hopeful, is Chili Davis. I want to take a closer look at the results of his coaching, but I like what he is saying at least, about making contact and about not following the trend of launch angles. Pitchers are figuring out how to throw high heat to take the launch angle uppercut out of play.

  • Chris F

    Eraff, that was just awesome.

  • TJ

    It gets a little boring when all the comments are seem to agree, but I’ll just have to be boring.

    • MattyMets

      Saw that about checcini. I’ll bet he gets scooped up. Mets just have way too many second baseman now. A once promising prospect will now be a blip in Mets history. In other tidbit news Jack Reinheiner got picked up by the Orioles.

  • Name

    I don’t know why teams don’t do this, but a team could have theoretically signed Hunter Strickland, Blake Parker, and Shawn Kelley, 3 guys with closing experience in the last 2 years – for just 1 year and 5.6 million combined.

    That’s stocking nearly half your pen with a quality track record for less than what the Mets gave away to the charity known as Anthony Swarzak.
    Instead, teams like to overpay for a few supposedly good guys to and then are forced to scrap together other innings with crap like Tim Peterson and Jacob Rhame. At least in my case, you still get a good deal even if only 1 of the 3 gives you a solid season

  • Chris B

    Or you could have signed 29 year old, formerly lifetime banned, Jenrry Mejia to a minor league contract. Meija now has an outside chance at pitching for the playoff Red Sox.

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