While all the New York area columnists are painting a picture of gloom and doom about the Yoenis Cespedes injury news, this blogger think it could prove to be a blessing in disguise.
The Mets are clearly not sniffing the playoffs this year and due to his is contract and recent injury history, Cespedes was completely untradeable anyway. Looking ahead to next season, when Jay Bruce and Juan Lagares have returned from their less serious injuries, the Mets will have four other outfielders under contract, including Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo. In that regard, we don’t really have an outfield hole to plug and we don’t have to worry about a logjam problem that would otherwise force us to either play someone out of position, trade a young player we don’t want to part with or force a trade of Bruce or Lagares by likely having to either package them or eat half their salary.
Yes, there is certainly the matter of filling the massive hole in the lineup where there was once a right-handed power bat. What’s that you say, we have a first baseman in AAA mashing home runs from the right side? There’s also a monster free agent market coming that includes big boppers like Manny Machado, Bryce Harper, Josh Donaldson and many others. And there are a lot of good second tier players hitting free agency like D.J. LeMahieu, Marwin Gonzalez, Eduardo Escobar, and Yasmani Grandal.
Given the eight-month minimum time table given for Cespedes’ return from heel surgery and lengthy rehab, insurance will pick up a nice portion of his salary. Along with Wright’s salary being paid for by insurance and about $40 million in salaries coming off the books (Jeurys Familia, Jerry Blevins, AJ Ramos, Asdrubal Cabrera, Devin Mesoraco, Jose Reyes) the Mets should have money to spend next winter. With a productive Conforto and a healthy Bruce and Frazier sandwiched around another proven bat, Cespedes can return next summer for what could be a huge boost in a stretch run. And if we’re not in the thick of things, this will still give us the depth to trade another outfielder in July.
When asked about the insurance money the other day, Ricco did not indicate it would be rolled back into payroll, so don’t get your hopes up. A lot can change of course, but that outcome is far from guaranteed.
fantasy
After being waved about like “Business Assets”, I’d fully expect the Jake and Thor would refuse to throw another Pitch without measuring their owen value as a Business Asset.
If the Met’s roill back in with all of the Pitchers back, then they must measure their ability to put a team around those pitchers. I’m all in if they do that…it includes money and Baseball Management talent. Show Me!!!!!
I do not believe the Mets will be “in” on Top Shelf prospects. If we think about it, they haven’t really been since the days of Omar Minaya.
Manny Machado coming to the Mets with Yasmani Grandal would solve two major offensive holes in the Met offense but the Mets aren’t going to eat Todd Frazier’s contract to make it work.
I am back, firmly, in the camp of “Change begins with the ownership.”
Could the FO ask Frazier to play second base?
I’d rather Jeff McNeil be the everyday 2B
I want to like Machado; he seems to be the perfect fit. But I read some reviews of his 2018 play and his defense is below average. Maybe it’s a fluke or maybe it’s playing for Baltimore, but part of Machado’s value is his defense.
The insurance pays back the Wilpons not the Mets as per Gus. It doesn’t technically come off the books since the Wilpons did not expand payroll this year even with the extra 50 million they got from Disney’s purchase of BAMtech.
Pete,
Insurance money to the Wilpons is the same as paying the Mets. There is nothing prohibiting them from using it for player salaries. While the 2018 payroll is closer to $130 million than the $150 million stayed, given insurance and trades, they did spend close to $40 million on 2018 free agent salaries with virtually no return.
Business is risky but they certainly have the resources to field a competitive team in 2019.
As I remember, Jim Bowden once said on the radio that insurance is usually between 5-15% of a player’s contract.
From January 23 on SNY.com
In addition, Jeff Wilpon explained that the Mets do not reinvest their David Wright insurance money due to the cost of the policy, and the concern of over-budgeting in the event Wright returns. The Mets are covered for 75 percent of Wright’s yearly salary each year (he’s earning $20 million in 2018) in the event his games-played falls below a certain threshold. Wright will earn $15 million in 2019 and $12 million in 2020, after which his contract is up.
https://www.sny.tv/mets/news/jeff-wilpon-discusses-mets-payroll-overall-spending-strategy/265192710
This guy says that insurance is “as high as 10% of the contract”. Basically, by saying they put the money aside in case the player comes back, they cover themselves and technically aren’t lying.
https://www.quora.com/How-much-do-MLB-teams-pay-to-insure-their-players
TJ that depends if they’re re-investing that money on the Mets and not another venture. So how are the Wilpons investing their 50 million dollar windfall from Disney buying MATtech?
They bought the AAA Syracuse franchise to end the Vegas nightmare next season. That needs to be noted. Now, the Wilpons clearly are the primary reason for the lack of success over time, and for countless dopey actions and inactions, but there have been some decent steps. However, given the 2017 and 2018 debacles, there is very little margin for error, and throwing money at mediocrity has proven to have poor returns. I will repeat, anyone can be dealt, but dealing quality better bring back a ton otherwise it serves no function.
Maybe,after Wright, Ces, Santana, watching how the Marlins signing of Reyes worked out, and the Harvey’s collapse they’ll realize FA signings don’t often work. Trade DeGrom for 3,4,pr 5 prospects and trade Syndergard next year (if he stays healthy) . Maybe that’s the good that comes from Ces’ injury.
Interesting point I heard made on MLB radio – if Mets decide to trade a top pitcher they’d be better off doing it in the offseason if they want any big league talent in return. Mid season trades typically only net prospects.
Of Course—a Contending Team isn’t trading from it’s Major League Roster!….maybe a ready to play/almost ready flyer, but usually AA and down