If you listen to people around the baseball world there is a general consensus. The Mets could be contenders in 2015 and all it will take is money. Sure, Sandy Alderson could get creative. He could trade some of the young talent and find ways of improving the anemic offense without spending money, but why should he? Why not keep hold of Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Rafael Montero, Dillon Gee and Steven Matz? Why risk depleting the impressive depth of pitching when there is no need to?
The Mets can fill their two greatest needs through free agency and enter 2015 with a legitimate chance of being major playoff contenders. All it will take is money, but how much?
Shortstop:
Hanley Ramirez – Not everybody loves Ramirez. He’s not the greatest clubhouse guy and he’s not necessarily the greatest fielding shortstop any longer. He is the most potent hitting shortstop the Mets could acquire and they could conceivably hit Ramirez 3rd in their order. Ramirez will cost some money as teams like the Yankees will be among those bidding on his services but with other options on the table anything is possible.
J.J. Hardy – Hardy has become one of the most consistent hitting shortstops in baseball. Part of his numbers being so good is likely his playing in Camden where home runs will fly more freely than Citi Field, but his hitting talent is real. He, like Ramirez will be in high demand, but the Mets could well land him.
Asdrubal Cabrera – Is a slightly younger option who has had a few down years of late. These down years blow Ruben Tejada out of the water. Cabrera is currently on a squad who could go deep into the playoffs and he could opt to return to Washington after the year, but he remains someone that Alderson may and should pursue.
Outfield:
Nick Markakis – Markakis is not a superstar, but he does extend the lineup significantly. He’s also one of the more consistent hitters available and not a player who is entirely reliant on speed or power for his game. I think of him like a Daniel Murphy bat in the outfield who actually plays plus defense in right field. He’s probably the guy I’d be most excited about the Mets getting.
Michael Cuddyer – He’s older and therefore riskier, but he’s a solid fit if he’s healthy. He can slot into left field and provide another nice middle of the order bat for the manager (hopefully not Terry Collins) to play with. Ideally he’d come on a two or even a one year deal.
Nelson Cruz – As much as he made sense for 2014, he does not make sense for 2015. Cruz will be getting a pay-day and is not an ideal hitter for Citi-Field. His name will be bounced around, but I think money would be better spent elsewhere.
Is it so impossible to think that the Mets could spend the $20-30 Million per season to bring on two impact players like the ones I’ve listed above? It shouldn’t be. This is New York and the Mets should be able to spend amongst the top 5 teams in baseball without blinking an eye. If the Mets could nab Ramirez and Markakis or Hardy and Cuddyer, they would instantly have a team who could go toe-to-toe with most National League foes. The time to spend is now.
I think you article misses the point, and reality. There is no way the Mets will come up with or intend to come up with the money for the players you suggest. Mike Cuddyer was on the DL almost all season. Cruz would have Granderson like problems, in the Mets Stadium, and he’s a poor fielder. Nick Markakis, comparing him to Murphy is unfair, will he get 150 hits?
On the shortstops, I couldn’t understand why the Mets didn’t look at Carbrara, at the trade deadline. Maybe him and Hardy, would help.
The Mets problem for next year is “will Wright be right,” They need to deal Granderson if they could. But with Alderson there he hasn’t the B—s to admit he was wrong on a player. I don’t see shortstop as than big of a problem, I think they have several options within the organization.
I agree with Wilponzi that shortstop is not as big a problem. We have options, even if they aren’t pretty ones in Flores, Reynolds, possibly Herrera if it came to it, and we still have Tejada. Left field is more of a black hole as it’s either MDD or Soup’s job to win, and neither appears to be an everyday player, as of this moment. Unfortunately, the free-agent market isn’t what it used to be because of the huge extension deals that have been signed over the last several years. That has in turn impacted the trade market as now few teams want to spend $100 million plus giving up prospects on a trade to get guys like Matt Kemp or Tulo. The best options for the Mets are internal or small upgrades. I like Markakis, always have. If he can be signed for $10 million a year, that would be outstanding, but he’ll probably cost more like $15+, I imagine. Ultimately, that money doesn’t seem to be there and the Mets are stuck rebuilding again with the same bricks they were using before.
I agree with the article’s statement of not trading away young pitching talent, if possible.
I think Noah S is better than we may all think. (for another time)
I agree with commentators that SS may not be the problem –I also think that Wilmer/Matt Reynolds may work out.
To contend in 2015, I think we need to move Granderson and the manager. We have Backman to replace Collins, though he will clash with Sandy Alderson.
One or two of our arms will likely be traded for an outfield slugger. Granderson has killed the offense far too often and should be J-Bayed yesterday.
It isn’t nerve that Alderson lacks, it is humility. His biggest signing did not work out. It does not matter how poorly Granderson is at bat, TC will continue to play him. I think Backman would stand up to Alderson. TC will not.
I also think Backman will tell sluggers to slug and not be utterly devoted to working late counts. I wonder how many hitters are freaked out by not drilling first pitches, psychologically, so that even if they are swinging, the brain’s normal process is interfered with due to all the lecturing.
There is so much wrong with the Mets, but so much potential.
I’d rather see if Wilmer can play RF than see Granderson. I would rather see Kirk N and Matt D Decker on either side of Legares, than what we see now. I would rather see a young hitter struggle than a vet who’s age is working against him, while the young player may continue to develop.
Thank you for the article…it got us talking.
Cuddyer + Reynolds would be OK, but I’d rather sign Josh Willingham for the OF. I like the idea of a rotation of Harvey, deGrom, Wheeler, and Syndergard as the top four. That leaves us with Gee, Niese, Colon, and Montero to keep/trade.
We need to pray that Wright and Granderson will be OK next year though to get us to 90 wins….
Steve if the Mets keep Colon, Gee and Niese as you pointed out (not get traded), 1 will start. What happens to the other 2? Can’t see the Mets using Gee in the pen at 5 million+ or Niese at 8 million+ to relieve. Harvey is going to have his innings capped the same way the Nationals did with Strasburg.
The Mets are not going to become the powerhouse team from spots 1-8 and then on top of that have a great rotation. This will never be the ’98 Yankees.
Get a competent LFer (or SS. It really doesn’t matter which one), let David and Grandy recoup just a modicum of their previous selves, and you are set.
TDA has shown 25 HR strength, Dudas hits 30 HR, you have the best defensive CF in baseball in the last 30 years, a hit producer at 2B. All you need is one more guy, just one more.
If you think Baez or Soler or Castro or whatever Cub is the guy, give Epstein his pint of blood and move on. Don’t try to “win” every trade, try this one time to simply break even.
Yes Grote! Not every trade is going to be lop-sided. If we see a guy that can put us over the top, we may have to bleed a little. Excellent point!
The Mets have the money. The question is their willingness to spend it. Of the three shortstops you mentioned, One will sign with the Yankees, the other one goes to the Dodgers. The Drew trade to me was a favor for Boras and it gave the Yanks 2 months to kick the tires on Drew to see if he will be their SS in 2015. Cuddyer will be 36 in March. He missed a large portion of this season so if the Mets were to sign him to a favorable contact ( 5-10 million) I’d say maybe. Makakis has a team option for 2015 I don’t think the Orioles will pick it up (17.5 million). He seems to be on the decline so I would like to see the Mets pass on him. Not too many quality FA’s this off season so teams are going to move fast and sign whomever they target.
The Mets have plenty of SS options. They also have a competent LF in Campbell who does nothing but rake! I can see him hitting .300/20/90 if given a chance, as long as Duda isn’t having his career year and we can string some good hitters into a lineup. Once you get some bats that pitchers fear, it’s like a domino game. You aren’t hoping to get to the next guy, because the next guy can hit too.
Hererra came up and is hitting like he’s some kind of Godsend. Of course, hitting is the one thing that seems to send young players to the bench by Collins standards.
I think the best possibility for the Mets is to get rid of Collins ASAP! Unfortunately, I can’t see Sandy going with Backman because as many have already said, Backman will stand up to the GM. But, there are little tricks Wally can use to get his game played and once the wins start piling up, Sandy will have no choice but to let Wally have the power.
If you want to know the truth, this is the perfect team for Bobby V to manage. Young players who are jerked around by the current manger. Bobby could take control as he wouldn’t have to deal with hard headed vets who think they know more than he does. I know there are those who hate V and those who love him. I happen to think Bobby is perfect for a young team and he always gets the best from kids.
Did I mention firing Collins? I really can’t stand him! He’s been inept since the day he was hired.
A lot of people need to come down to earth. All this talk of 90 wins next year is pipe-dreaming. First of all, everybody has to start to realize Harvey is coming off Tommy John surgery, and he has 12 lifetime wins. I don’t know of any pitcher who was better his first year after TJ surgery than Adam Wainwright, and he was 14-13 with a much better hitting St Louis team than the Mets. Can Harvey win 14 next year? Sure. Would I bet on it? Nope. Niese has won in double figures once. Gee, twice. Both miss 6 to 8 starts almost every year. Syndergaard himself has said he is not ready for the majors. Not exactly brimming with confidence. Montero has had one good outing out of 6 in the majors. Colon will probably be gone. That leaves Wheeler and deGrom. Pencil them in for 12 to 15 wins each next year ( if the Mets get some hitting help and Wright recovers to his old self and Grandy is having an off year this year) and the Mets could win 81 to 85 gams next year. Of course if this is what Wright and Grandy have become, they are destined to win 75 or less again.
Gee will have 55 starts over the last two years – so roughly averaging 28.
Niese will have 140 over the last five years, so also pretty much 28.
Roughly speaking, the top 40 pitchers in baseball get to 30 starts over a 3 year period. Stop dreaming about Justin Verlander.