Kevin Plawecki is already in the majors, proving the bevvy of talent that was stock-piled in AAA. Next in the queue waiting for a shot at the majors is Dilson Herrera. How long it takes him to reach the majors depends on many things but, at this point most of them are beyond his control.
Herrera was acquired as part of the trade that sent Marlon Byrd and John Buck to the Pirates. This trade is beginning to look like one of the best trades the Mets have ever made. For one thing, they got a talented young relief pitcher, Vic Black. For another, Herrera may soon be manning second base in Flushing.
When he was acquired, Herrera was thought of as a solid prospect with a shot to be a major league second baseman but few thought the Mets would get much more than a backup infielder. That tune has changed over the course of Herrera’s short tenure with the Mets and the current scouting report has him not only playing starting second base, but potentially with the output of an “All-Star.”
In 2015 Herrera is having a grand old time in Las Vegas. He’s currently hitting .364/.394/.485 on the season but over the last 10 games he’s actually hitting .413 and has netted 2 of the 3 walks he has for the season. The only thing that’s keeping
Herrera in AAA is a certain player named Daniel Murphy. Which brings around the question, what do the Mets do with Murphy? Do they trade him? Do they sign him long-term?
The questions surrounding the Mets this season are quite confusing, especially when it comes to the trade deadline. If the Mets are buyers, which it seems they would be, it also seems that they might have some quality pieces to sell. Come a Murphy trade or an injury to the starting Met second baseman Herrera will get his chance and, once he does, he may not be headed back to the minors ever again.
AAA:
Travis Taijeron still swinging a big stick – He’s up to 4 homers on the season and is enjoying his time in Vegas. I’m not sure the success is much more than the Vegas air, but he sure does look good.
Matt Reynolds keeps up the good work – He’s not slowed down from the torrid pace we talked about last week. He still needs to cut his strikeouts a bit more.
Steven Matz looking ready – Should Dillon Gee, Jon Niese or Bartolo Colon falter badly Matz looks like he’s major league material right now.
After stumbling Jack Leathersich back on track – He had a bad game but he’s looking like it was only a small bump in the road.
AA:
Brandon Nimmo heating up – In the last 10 games Nimmo has hit .325 but he’s also struck out once per game.
A+:
Michael Conforto is going to be a star – He’s got 5 home runs on the season and is has walked more than he’s struck out.
Akeel Morris could be the future closer – He has been very good in Port St. Lucie and is on track to move up to AA after half a season.
A:
Casey Meisner heads the class in Savannah – He’s been the most successful pitcher on the staff and will likely get the call to Port St. Lucie come promotion time.
I think unless Murph gets injured, he finishes out season at 2B. He could get traded but his pending FA status makes that more unlikely. Do not see Mets signing him long term because of guys like Herrera and Reynolds. Despite Murph’s recent fielding transgressions, the Mets owe it to him let him play out the season. He has been a good soldier.
Murphy will get traded. There are just too many other players better who are ready. I say that by the All Star, Murphy will be gone.
Bartolo, on the other hand, can become too valuable in the rotation and may just stick around until the end of the season.
Murphy, Gee and possibly Niese can all be traded depending on how Herrera, Matz and Montero perform.
It’s a strange situation for a team to be in. The Mets would be all over trading Murphy if they were “sellers” but as “buyers” I think they will ponder keeping him for the playoff run. Should an injury happen it could mean that Herrera is up for the long haul.
I agree with Joe that Murph will be moved in trade.
Just had an email exchange with a friend who wondered whether the Cards, having lost Wainwright, might want to trade for Dillon Gee.
Here was my reply to him:
I imagine almost every team feels it has a AAA kid who would be acceptable as a 5th starter like Gee who they’d only be paying the minimum.
It might be that the Mets will have to deal Gee + something to get something worthwhile.
I still think a reasonable fit exists with Seattle. T.Walker has been awful and they are getting no offense from 1B. Plus this is a team that always is in on any excuse for a DH.
How about Murphy + Gee for Chris Taylor plus a live minor league arm. Maybe even Murphy + Gee for Brad Miller.
Murphy could play 1b, dh sometimes, give Cano and Seager days off.
Then Mets promote Dilson or slide Wilmer over to 2B.
Thank You David for the update.
Question: Do you have any update on Cesar Puello? Since he had to be put back on the 40 man roster because of injury, does he have to be put on waivers again even if he passed unclaimed the first time? How does that work?
Regards
Puello has not gotten any ABs in the minors this year. I’ll see if I can track down his whereabouts.
Murphy needs to start hitting to establish any trade value. Then we can have that discussion.