Back in 2012 the Mets traded R.A. Dickey, Mike Nickeas and Josh Thole to Toronto for John Buck and three minor leaguers. R.A. Dickey had just won the Cy Young award and was the knuckle-balling darling of baseball and Sandy Alderson traded him for a handful of magic beans. Those magical beans have proven pretty valuable in recent history.
Travis d’Arnaud has had an unfortunate habit of getting hurt in freak baseball accidents but, when healthy, he’s proven that his bat can be productive in the middle of a lineup. Noah Syndergaard has gotten his call to the majors and made the most of it. He is already regarded as a top pitcher and a cornerstone of the future pitching powerhouse the Mets will possess. The last magical bean is Wuilmer Becerra.
When the Mets made the trade, it seemed that d’Arnaud and Syndergaard were bounty enough and that Becerra was included as an afterthought. He had only played in the Gulf Coast League and at 17 years old was an eternity away from cracking into the majors. Fastforward to 2015 and R.A. Dickey is pitching himself out of the starting rotation and Becerra is proving to be as much of a major piece as the others.
In 2013 Becerra wasn’t anything special. An OPS under .700 and more Ks than games played is not exactly something for scouts to salivate over. 2014 was another story. He was promoted to Kingsport and saw his OPS rise to .819 supported by a healthy .469 SLG. Now in 2015 he’s boasting an OPS of .794 and an SLG of .451 in a terrible hitter’s park. He’s also striking out a little less (72 times in 82 games) so there is reason to hope that Becerra could have a big future with the Mets. 2016 will be a big year for him, but if his OPS remains around .800 Alderson might look very very smart.
AAA:
Dilson Herrera is stuck – He’s smacking the cover of the ball in Las Vegas but is now blocked by Juan Uribe, Kelly Johnson, Daniel Murphy and Wilmer Flores.
Why not T.J. Rivera? – Rivera is hitting in AAA and has spent the majority of his minor leagues as a “bat-first shortstop” why not give him an audition when Ruben Tejada slows down again?
AA:
Gavin Cecchini is begging for a promotion – he’s been a steady hitter all season but with Rivera and Matt Reynolds in AAA, he hasn’t moved.
Michael Fulmer is back at it – He had a mediocre start last week but he bounced back nicely with a 9 K game.
L.J. Mazilli has found his stroke – He did not start the season well but he has started hitting of late. (.348 over his last 10 games)
A:
Eudor Garcia has put together a fine season – He’s slugging .450 on the year in Savannah. That’s pretty impressive.
Martires Arias is a pitcher to watch – Arias is going to work his way into some part of the Met’s top prospect list.
R1:
Patrick Mazeika has been a revelation – Exactly how good he winds up being will be determined higher in the minors. Expect him to start the year in Savannah in 2016.
Kevin Kaczmarski keeps hitting – He’s showing great contact but at 23 years old he’s way too old for Kingsport.
Luis Carpio is making the most of it – He doesn’t start every day but he is hitting .389 in the last 10 he’s played in.
Eudor Garcia has to be one of the top surprises of the year. His development helps make up for the wasted year of Jhoan Urena.
It does but it also forces a logjam. You want to promote Garcia but want Urena to repeat High-A. It’s a bad situation.
Agree, Kevin Kacz shout be at least in Brooklyn (and they are short of LH bats)…
..then if Lagares gets elbow surgery, take the F, G & 7 to Willets Point 🙂
Dilson Herrera year is 2016. Murphy, Johnson, Uribe may be all gone and Flores is playing himself into a bench role.
I see Russell in Chicago is playing through his struggles as a 21 year old with a mid 600 OPS. I believe the Mets should have remained on course with Herrerra and Flores—plenty of ab’s for both of them early on. How it’s go time, and neither will get ab’s.
I’m all-in on Herrerra— I’m hopeful that he stays.
I have noticed that Jayce Boyd the converted 1B to LF is not getting consistent at bats and is playing behind older non prospects. I like Jayce’s gap to gap stroke. Do you know what gives?
The other night I mentioned in the chatter that LJ Maziilli has gotten past his suspension and is hitting his stride. I like his make up and expect him to make it to the majors (but probably not as a Met).
I am so glad Garcia was not the player to be named later in the Alex Torres trade.
Thanks for the update David and highlighting Becerra.
Meisner for Clippard? Awful
Says the guy who keeps harping on the Mets using pitching depth to add MLB talent. Ha. Kind of feel like Meisner was a bit much for a couple months of Clippard, though.
Again, this seems like a deal a team going for it this year makes. So….which bat will they get?
Keith Law not a fan of the move, either. Heh
Remember, Mejia isn’t eligible for the playoffs.
I take this move as a precursor to another offensive deal. I really hope it isn’t one of the core 5, but I would wager the deal will be larger.
Gavin Cecchini being block for promotion by Matt Rynolds and Rivera. Do you read the papers? Reynolds has been on the DL for six week. Rivera plays 3rd base at Vegas.
Dilson Herrera had every opportunity to make the big team, glad he’s doing well. I’m sure I’m sure the Mets have big plans for him in the future.
Having top affiliate in Vegas coming back to bite the Mets. Of course Herrera is smacking the cover off the ball, it’s Vegas. Wish it was more of a neutral or pitchers’ park to emulate Queens.
At the time the trade was made, there were a few who thought Becerra would be the true steal of that trade when all is said and done. The Mets haven’t had a true power hitting RF since Strawberry left town. Might be time to get another one.
For the kids coming up I just wonder if they have been prepared for the brutal bashing they will get from the NY press and especially from Mets fans. If the current Mets pitching talent remains in NY after they qualify for free agency I will be shocked. Enough is never enough for NY fans. Look at the horrible treatment Daniel Murphy has received after being in most of the top 20 all-time Mets statistics. He’s plays hard with a lifetime .288 batting avg with well over 3K at bats. Hopefully, he is smart enough to go elsewhere where he will get respect & appreciation he deserves. Too many Mets players are getting much the same disrespect as the old Giants and Dodgers (aka Bums). Sadly, as long as the Mets remain in NY, long term if fear they will always be at best a.500 club. Look at the success the Giants and Dodgers have had after they went to California. The Yankees are NY and Mets just a little brother. I wish it could be different.
These summaries keep me excited that the Mets will be good for a while yet. All of a sudden we have middle infield depth!
Infield Depth Primer:
1B: Lucas Duda
Zach Lutz
Dominic Smith*
Dash Willingham
2B: Daniel Murphy
Dilson Herrera*
L.J. Mazzilli
Jeff McNeil
3B: Juan Uribe (David Wright)
T.J. Rivera
Jhoan Urena*
Eudor Garcia*
SS: Ruben Tejada
Gavin Cecchini*
Amed Rosario*
Milton Ramos*
* = Star Potential