After hitting .325 in AAA Las Vegas last season with a .390 OBP, then 22-year-old Gavin Cecchini got called up for the proverbial “cup of coffee” in September. In very limited playing time, he got two hits in six at bats. After failing to make the big league club out of spring training this year, Cecchini was again sent to Las Vegas, presumably to bide his time while working on his defense at second base.
While Cecchini has never been considered a top tier prospect, there have been discussions about him having a future as a major league ball player, be it with the Mets or elsewhere. Lest you think his 2016 performance was fueled by the hitter friendly environs in AAA, keep in mind that Cecchini also hit .317 with a .377 OBP in AA Binghamton in 2015. So far this year, he’s regressed at the plate, hitting just .245 with a .309 OBP to go with limited power and speed. Hopefully he can turn the season around and earn himself at least another September call up in 2017.
While his glove is less than spectacular, Cecchini has experience at both shortstop and second base, so should Jose Reyes leave after this season, he could take over as a backup middle infielder next year. The infield is very much in flux as, in addition to Reyes, Neil Walker and Lucas Duda are both in contract years, Asdrubal Cabrera has an $8.5 million team option and Wilmer Flores, will be entering his second year of arbitration. Top prospects Amed Rosario and Dominic Smith are making the case for promotions sooner rather than later and look like the team’s future shortstop and first baseman respectively. As the rest of the 2018 infield puzzle comes together, Cecchini needs to bounce back and show that he belongs in the coming offseason discussion.
The Mets will soon face the same decision they faced last winter regarding second base.
Right now, giving Walker $17.2 and having a mediocre (at best) bullpen seems like poor allocation of resources. I feel the same way about $13 million for Jay Bruce.
Next season, Mets will have choices at 2B of Cecchini, Flores, Rivera and possibly Cabrera. Or they can write a big check to Neal Walker.
It’s a finger puzzle, every move influences every other move, and nothing is made in isolation. I hope that Sandy is bolder and more creative in his decision making this winter, rather than simply sticking with the 2016 roster again.
I sometimes wonder if he’s up for the job.
I think Cecchini could be a decent option at 2B, but he’d have to be paired with another capable body. I’d use that Walker money in a different way.
Jimmy P – “finger puzzle” is a good way of putting it. Looking ahead to next year, you can pencil in Cespedes, Conforto, Rosario and Smith. Beyond that, you can make do with Lagares/Nimmo in CF, Flores/Rivera/Cecchini at 2B, TDA/Rivera at catcher and Cabrera at 3B. But I would first look to free agency before committing to any of those platoon/competition options. I think you can get away with maybe two of those but you can’t win with all four, plus two rookies getting their feet wet. This team is going to have a lot of FAs on the offensive side after this year and it’s hard to imagine most of them coming back. This is most definitely Duda’s last year as a Met and the same could hold true for some if not all of Granderson, Bruce, Reyes and Walker. I think Alderson should look at a CF/leadoff hitter like Lorenzo Cain.
Matt, I am in complete agreement except for the part about Smith. I just don’t have confidence in that decision — glad it’s not mine to make.
So many factors that go beyond “Smith.” The contract that Duda will want/receive on the open market (he’s a little frail). I’m not ruling Duda out yet, though I think Bruce might also be interesting at 1B — though not sure he’d sign here and/or at that position. We know the Mets are paying Juan a staggering $9.5 million next season. And Nimmo is around. That might “solve” CF as a matter of hard, cold reality.
There’s also the possibility of trading one pitcher, Harvey or Wheeler, if there’s a significant offer out there. Even Gsellman might bring back something.
Mets can’t, IMO, cobble together >all< the open positions with spare parts. They need at least one plus-plus addition to the everyday lineup. Cain is an interesting guy but I haven't looked too deeply into it.
I think they are 3 locks: Cespedes, Conforto, and Rosario. Then they have a lot of spare parts, complementary players, flexibility.
And a ton of money.
Oh, and obviously: Must resolve Wright issue once and for all.
Rosario is well in line—Smith will need to beat down the door—he has not yet done that.
yep
Oh boy,a new start! With all the money being saved get a catcher who can succeed Rivera (dArnaud has to be dumped) and a CF who can play the position (package Lagares,dArnaud, Flores).
With all of the injuries this year, I’m a bit surprised Cecchini hasn’t been called up.
Why, does he pitch?
He’ll eventually get his chance, but most likely with another team willing to roll the dice on him. The Mets seem to have decided he’s not a major leaguer, and it doesn’t appear the rest of the league is very high on him either.
The Mets are going to promote Rosario sometime in the near future. That will leave the Mets with five second basemen and no true third baseman. They will cobble third base together in 2017 and decide on second base this winter. There is 2/3 of a season to evaluate it. Much of the evaluation will occur after Rosario is promoted and it will be based on how the infield is realigned. Gavin Cecchini should get his September call up and by 2018 find himself being used like the 2017 version of Matt Reynolds. In 2018 the backlog of second baseman should clear up some and he also could be considered the back up shortstop. Gavin needs to work hard, improved his current numbers and assure himself of not becoming the forgotten man.
I’m making a prediction based on what other teams did:
The Mets will be out of it by the 4th of July and be sellers. Collins will be shown the door. The kids will come up and the lineup will have Conforto, Cepedes, Nimmo/Lagares, Flores, Rosario, Rivera, Duda, TDA/Rivera, deGrom, Thor, Matz, Gsellman, and Wheeler, and finally this team will show spark and energy and fundamental play to the point, the Mets will challenge for the wildcard by year’s end.
But, Bozo the Manger has to go, the windmills need to be lessened, the starters need to be healthy and the defense must improve. Also, it will be nice to see young players hustle.