Major league baseball general managers have some things in common with high profile politicians. They both have a public profile used while facing the press or, in the case of politicians, in debates. But they also have to answer to the “money interests.” The politicians have the big donors to court while the GM’s are answerable to the ownership that has hired them.
It is undoubtedly the case that what these people say to the press is measured and likely differs from what they are telling the money interests.
In the case of the Mets and specifically their GM Sandy Alderson their public line regarding Matt Harvey (and his three top running mates Noah Syndegaard, Jacob deGrom, and Steven Matz) is that they will be not trading any of them this off season.
Mets fans and bloggers are divided a bit on this point. There are the absolutists who say that the Mets must keep all four pitchers together going into the 2016 season. They do not believe that there is a single young player or pair of players who are good enough in value to make it worthwhile for the Mets to break up the young pitching quartet they have assembled.
Personally I respect that notion but disagree with it.
This is not the same as saying, “Yes. Go trade Matt Harvey.” But rather it recognizes a few things.
One is that he is going to become a very expensive commodity in the next four years. For the last three years of pitching for the Mets – yes 2014 was a Tommy John related washout – he made a total of about $1.7 million. He is now arbitration eligible and his salary will be going up dramatically until 2019 when he is able to become a free agent. By that time he well could be a $20 million a year player or more.
As a Scott Boras client it is practically a certainty that he will become a free agent and almost as sure a thing he will go to the highest bidder, undoubtedly not the Mets. Don’t buy the line that Boras and the Mets front office are all buddy-buddy since the Harvey/innings brouhaha. Their confrontational relationship only increases the chances that Harvey is out of here at the earliest possible moment.
It is very likely that the team will trade Harvey some time before he hits free agency. It’s a question of when, not if.
One possible trade that has been speculated about would have the Mets sending Harvey to the Red Sox in return for young stud center fielder Mookie Betts. While I am a huge fan of Betts my hope would be that the Mets not make a trade like that. This is not to say that he would not be a terrific upgrade at CF. It is just that this is not, in my humble opinion, where the team needs the most help.
It is very unlikely that the Mets could get Carlos Correa from the Houston Astros or Francisco Lindor from the Cleveland Indians.
It is possible that the Mets could get Addison Russell from the Cubs or Xander Bogaerts from the Red Sox in return for Harvey. Were the Mets offered either of these young shortstops in exchange for Matt Harvey I would hope they would pull the trigger.
In all probability the Mets will keep Harvey and the other three top starters. Hopefully they leave the door open just a crack to a possible opportunity to make their weakest position on the field their strongest one.
You don’t trade the heart and soul of a franchise just because you don’t like his agent. I’m sorry Larry but if you’re going to worry about how expensive Harvey will become that’s down the line. Grandy will be gone by then. You can never have enough pitching! If the team is consistently in the playoffs for the next few seasons then there is no rush to trade Harvey. We as fans have patiently waited for the SP’s to mature and come into their own. Now that the time has come is no need to rush any of the 4 horsemen out unless you’re talking about a trade that includes a Trout or Donaldson it’s just back page fodder. Addison Russell? For Harvey? Just for the sake of an upgrade at SS? I would hope not. Please take note how the Met starters effectively disposed of the young and talented Cub hitters.
You hit the nail right on its head (or the ball out of the yard), Pete! Russell—no way! Betts—forget it! You don’t trade a top Cy Young guy for one of these guys! Any trade should be better than the Dickey deal for us. Anyway, the money should be there to make a great offer to Harvey and Boros to extend him long-term! Make a trade like one of Larry’s, and we get a fan revolt, with attendance going done again…..
I think it pretty much goes without saying that unless ownership changes there is not a shot in the world that might Harvey will be a met in 4 years. I would only trade him if we got blown away. For example if we were able to get Mookie Betts and Bogarts if we threw in jlag, Flores and a shortstop prospect I think you have to do the deal. Those two guys would add speed defense and offense that is desperately needed. We would still have three aces to start the season with a 4th one coming in June or July. I would do it in a second
You keep Harvey, win a championship and worry about him leaving as a free agent when the time comes. If he continues to improve and becomes the premier pitcher they believe he will be then you pay the price to keep him. With attendance climbing there will be dollars to spend. This rotation could rival what the Braves had for many years and keep the mets in the hunt for the next decade. I wrote in spring trainer that I did not believe the mets had enough bats and the moves at the deadline confirmed that. We need to pick up some bats this off season and may start the season in first place and never look back. Let’s go Mets!!
I hate the idea of trading Harvey, but I see your side of the argument. At a certain point we know that either Alderson or the devils we call the Wilpons will reject the idea of extending Harvey- or signing him to a large contract during free agency.
It’s my understanding that he will be a free agent after the 2018 season, which means that the Mets should trade him after the 2017 season- if at all. Which by then, as Name pointed out, the Mets will have all sorts of contracts off the books. The Mets should then invest their money into Harvey, Syndergaard, and Wheeler/Matz.
At that point, the Mets will likely have cheap players at every position. Alderson is banking on young studs like Dominic Smith, Dilson Herrera, Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo, and Gavin Cecchini/Amed Rosario to be starting everyday by then. If in fact the dream comes true, the Mets will want to invest in the one end of the market in which you can never have enough of: pitching.
By the way, I see it as a 60% chance that David Wright is still playing by 2018.
I have a question for you Guys!.
Who do you think of all these studs pitchers truly wants to remain a Mets for Life.
Do you know who wants to stay. Check recent Thor posts. Wheeler, when he called Alderson back in July. Matz, is a Long Island Poster Boy. DeGrom, he’s here long term as well.
Alderson, has a chance to cash in, on trading Matt, and Scott Boras, at next year Winter Meeting, to the Boston Red Sox, and acquire, Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and a minor league pitcher (AA).
It was just this week that Noah Syndegaard said that he’d like to be a “Met for life.” This is nice to hear. Unfortunately we do seem to be moving away from the era of hometown discounts. When the Wilpons are offering him X dollars and other teams are at X + 30% I would expect that Thor will head out the door. So will the other three when it’s their time.
Coming so close to the Prize this year I don’t see the Mets giving up any of their 4 strong starters. Keep them and improve the team in other places. Even if Harvey were offered up for one of the 3 young ss’s you mentioned, I don’t see any of those teams letting go of very talented, young ss”s with star power.
Always enjoy your pieces and writing style. You are not reluctant to float ideas out there that prompt debate/discussion.
Don’t remember where it was, but I read something after the World Series about Harvey. Experts in the field said the trade return on him this offseason is only marginally better than trading him next season, while he offers ace caliber pitching talent. This may suggest Sandy will hold onto him, unless bowled over by an offer, for now and sell high next winter.
What you say about his trade value well may be correct. But one has to wonder whether the top guy or guys available next year fill the position of greatest need. The point here is that where I feel the Mets need the greatest boost is at shortstop and I am not convinced that the Mets have anyone in the pipeline who will be an above average major leaguer at that position, let alone a star.
That’s why if opportunity were to knock and somehow a Bogaerts or Addison Russell could be acquired now I would not wait and hope those guys would still be an option a year from now.
Thanks for the comment.
Saturday morning news and rumors have it that the Mets have contacted the Dodgers about Yasiel Puig. Supposedly Kershaw wants Puig off the team and it is therefore probable that LA will trade the talented but frustrated outfielder.
First let me say that I would definitely want to see the Mets break up the big four pitchers for Puig. He is no sure thing at all.
OTOH if the Mets could get him for Lagares plus an arm like Montero or Ynoa I would be happy with that.
Already Twitter is buzzing with Mets fans who want Puig and others who want no part of him.
You definitely want to see them break up the rotation? Wow.
Puig is a nightmare. There’s zero chance I lose any of the Fab 5 for Puig. Total Trojan Horse.
No. I didn’t proofread my comment. I meant to write that I definitely would not involve any of the big four in a trade for Puig.
As the article states I could only see trading Harvey if the return was Bogaerts or perhaps Addison Russell.
At this point, it’s all about egos and how badly he burned bridges last year. It’s not about talent or production or money.
Personally, i’m in the trade him camp. Here’s a interesting trade scenario, Harvey for …Bryon Buxton (plus more)? Would be interesting because of the Santana connection.
I’m tired of hearing about the matchups witht the Cubs. Russell and Baez have’t proven themselves yet and Castro is not much of an upgrade. Harvey has had two very good seasons and is playoff tested. i wouldn’t trade Harvey for 2 of those guys.
The Mets have three more years of control of Matt Harvey. He is a number one starter on a pitching staff. The Mets should be attempting to extend his contract during the next two years but if he refuses the extension during the next two years then the Mets should trade him during the winter of 2017. Sandy has already traded a Cy Young Award winner and got back two blue chip prospects 1 major leaguer and 1 future prospect. I am sure that he could duplicate that for Harvey and keep the team strong for the future. When that type of a deal presents itself then that is when Sandy should trade him.
Bogaerts and Betts, for Harvey ? Let’s “get it on”, TODAY in fact.
But, unfortunately, that is a dream.
Bogaerts and Bradley for Harvey ? Time to step back and think about that. Upgrading two positions while slightly diminishing another that happens to be a source of strength is indeed intriguing. Both players from the Sox add speed as well, a trait these Mets have none of. Defense ? Upgrade as well.
In a perfect world, the deal is done next year after the Mets have a full year of the BIG 5, yes, I am including Wheeler here, and win the WS !
Meanwhile, Harvey would be another year closer to F/ agency and Mets fans already know he won’t be staying… Funny how the Mets “problems” are so different from a year ago, two years ago.
Winning changes everything.