Please use this thread all week to discuss any Mets-specific topic you wish.
Everyone knows what a disappointing year that Michael Conforto had at the plate. Coming off a season where he posted a 158 wRC+, Conforto notched a 106 mark in the same category in 2021. But it was also the worst defensive season of Conforto’s career. He had a (-4) DRS and a (-5.1) UZR. To be clear, that’s not awful, just below average. But when your hitting falls off a cliff, it would be nice if you could make it up some with your glove. And Conforto didn’t do that. And his baserunning wasn’t good, either.
Let Conforto walk, then sign a hitter,Bryant,Schawber or Castellanos come to mind.
I’m all in on Bryant, but he’ll be needed at 3B for awhile, before moving to the OF.
Castellanos will likely cost us our second first-round pick in the draft, when he probably gets a QO. So no to him.
Yes for Schwarber.
OF of Nimmo, Marte and Schwarber for now, with one of them sliding over to DH when Bryant moves out there.
Smith, Conforto and Davis should be gone.
Conforto is a nice guy, and maybe even will put it all together elsewhere. I’d offer 3/30 and see if he bites, but he’s not worth more than that
I’d also be careful with Schwarber He basically did exactly what Conforto did, just a year later. Completely outperformed his career numbers with an elevated BABIP (not quite as elevated as Conforto). Also, he’s not as good in the field as Conforto.
Boras would never sign for 10MM a year… that’s almost backup money. Conforto should go elsewhere and he will benefit from the change of scene… let’s just hope it isn’t in Philadelphia, where he would replace McCutcheon in LF and probably tear it up in that lineup. I could also see him going to Colrado and hitting 40 HRs.
He has two main issues:
1. Health. The guy has tight muscles and they strain easy. He might miss a third of every season in his career. That hurts his value number.
2. Too streaky. When he’s hot, he can do some real damage, albeit only for a week or so. But then he can go cold and go 2 for 40, with lots of Ks and DPs. He needs a good hitting coach who stresses more contact, especially with two strikes (who doesn’t?)
The long and the short of it is, Conforto is a supporting player, a nice 5th or 6th hole hitter with power. He’s not a star who hits 3,4 and is meant to be the main RBI guy. If he plays it right, he will end up on a good team looking to strengthen its LH hitting in LF… he’d be above average in that category and play another 6-8 years… he’s probably looking at only 3-4 yr offer, though. ( I can see the Yankees replacing Joey Gallo for more contact and a cheaper pricetag.)
Remember when Billy McKinney was anointed the RF of the future for the Mets?
RF of the future a stretch, but 5th OF he still isn’t a bad get. If they need a lefty bench bat in 2022 I’d certainly offer him an NRI and league minimum to compete for the spot…they could do worse. The only knock on him, in that role, is that he doesn’t have options. But, he does have some pop, can provide quality OF D, and had the best run in his career (lol) in a Met jersey!
Conforto has a career 124 OPS+ and a 255/356/468/824 and will be 29 next season. Gave him a QO and if he accepts it then play preferably in leftfield and sit him down against LHP. He has a career .695 OPS against LHP. If he refuses the QO then the Mets get a draft choice which they sorely need. Cohen has the money to gamble with this. To matter what, the Mets still need get another impact outfielder for the offense,
Totally agree on this Conforto strategy. It yields the most benefits with the least risk.
Most overrated and overpaid position 2020s MLB is the ace. Even the aces often don’t do 6 innings. Most underrated position is the relief pitcher. How many games do we see 4-5 relievers? And they often give up less runs than the starter.
The Yankees had that mentality for quite a few years prior to Garret Cole. They felt they can pay three lights out relievers what one ace would get.
Can you ever expect the Mets radio booth to interview Adam Wainwright prior to a wild card game between the Cardinals and the Mets? I would puke.
That is however what the Red Sox did. Prior to their game with the Yankees, the Red Sox radio booth was interviewing Bucky Dent! I was more than a bit surprised, to put it mildly. But, it actually was a very nice discussion on what was going through his mind at the atbat, has he ever spoken to Mike Torrez, and even if the Yankees have ever had him throw out the first ball prior to a playoff game (no). It was fun.
But, I don’t want to hear Wainwright… no matter what.
I will say one thing….I’d rather be talking about all these problems than lamenting about how badly the Wilpons as the team’s owners are.
What is money for? When you have billion dollars, which is a thousand million, you can pretty well never settle for anything you don’t want. n the case of Steve Cohen, the number one thing he should pay for is to get as fr from the memory of the Wilsons as he possibly can… to wipe then out of the organization’s memory and DNA. That means to completely remake this team how he wants to see it… the rest of us just have to hope that he has a good sense of what a good team will look like. Why settle?
Im still trying to understand this made of zillions and do as you please. So far Im Im not really sure thats gonna be the Cohen way. But let me tell ya, the DNA wipe out is absolutely necessary Wobbit. Im 100% on board.
After the disappointing season, Alderson/Cohen have now cleaned out the manager and coaching staff . Now they need to hire a POBO who the turn has hire a GM and staff. That is alot of people to hire before the decisions on QO’s and courting FA in the beginning of November. I hope Alderson/Cohen don’t those decisions. As ChrisF voiced, Beane would an extension the Alderson thinking. Going forward, I hope there is a different direction with organization and a different process. With the time restraints it will be a daunting task.
Totally agree Metsense.
I’m so tired of Conforto I hesitate to even give him the qualifying offer. 1) he’ll take as long as possible to decide and leave us in limbo, impacting our chances to replace him with another FA 2) if he surprises us and accepts, I don’t think he’s worth $20 million. He seems like a terrific guy and he’s got talent, but he’s streaky as hell, injury prone, and can’t hit lefties.
I like Starling Marte but he’ll be 33 on opening day. He’ll be like Lorenzo Cain and sign a 4-5 year deal and only have one, maybe two good years before becoming an albatross. I’d stick with Nimmo/Pillar in CF, Dom in LF and find a new RF.
I would only sign Marte for 3 years. While I’m OK with Nimmo in CF, I am not good with Smith in LF. They do need to sign 1-2 top free-agent OFers.
How in the world did the Rays steal Arozerena from the Cardinals? I know they traded a good young lefty for him in Liberatore, but… wow!
And Tatis to Padres (White Sox).It’s one reason fans and teams don’t like to trade prospects. Wonder how Kelenic will do next year on an on the rise Mariner team.