The Mets figured to have 2B as an area to focus on in the offseason once they traded Asdrubal Cabrera. But Jeff McNeil, who has always hit in the minors but who turned it up a notch with power this season, came to the big leagues and has continued his strong play. Now everyone is wondering if McNeil is this year’s version of Eric Cambell and Josh Satin or is he something more?
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The Mets need to solve the black hole at the Catcher position and need to figure out 3rd base and 1st base, though Dominic Smith, Peter Alonso, Andres Gimenez and Amed Rosario all hope to sort the latter two out.
Here is what I have for a 2019 lineup at the moment:
1. Brandon Nimmo CF
2. Amed Rosario SS
3. Michael Conforto LF
4. Peter Alonso 1B
5. Jay Bruce RF
6. Todd Frazier 3B
7. Jeff McNeil 2B
8. Catcher
And when Frazier is gone after next year, I would go for Arenado over Machado. Sign a catcher this off season and extend both Jake and Wheels. They can make some noise in 19, but adding Ces back with Arenado (along with improvements from Rosario and Gimenez ascending) they could be very strong with their Staff
They’ll probably move Rosario to 3b and Gimenez at SS
The Metsecutives are not likely to bring up Alonso until May due to putting off his arbitration eligibility. Platooning Smith and Alonso for most of 2019 would not be off-putting. And while I agree with Nimmo at the top of the lineup, moving a bat control guy like McNeil to the bottom of the lineup makes no sense. Unfortunately, it will be hard to move Frazier and Bruce. It appears that Nimmo may actually be the better all-around player than Conforto. Why not try to move Conforto and a couple of pitching prospects for a stud centerfielder, catcher or closer? Flores to an American League team could yield some prospects. Lagares or Jackson can be excellent platoon CFers or 4th OFers. Guillorme and/or Reinheimer could be decent infield backups. Mets can use one or two solid lefties out of the pen. Still not sold on Vargas. Sign Wilson Ramos and, what about bidding for Mike Trout for something like Conforto, Matz, Lagares, Oswalt and prospect. More likely, the Halos would want Conforto and Syndergaard.
My lineup…
1. Nimmo, LF/Rosario, SS
2. McNeil, 2B
3. Trout, CF
4. Bruce, RF
5. Ramos, C
6. Smith/Alonso, 1B
7. Rosario, SS/Nimmo, LF
8. Frazier, 3B
Bench: Plawecki, Jackson, Guillorme, Reinheimer
I think McNeil will be the Mets’ second baseman for the next few years, he hits, he runs, he hustles, and his fielding is improving
Well said
Many weak spots on this team, but at the very least McNeil has earned first crack at second base. Seems to be a hitter, runs well, and while he isn’t very good on the DP seems an adequate defender in the era of the shift. Biggest hole to me is CF And fortunately Callaway seems to agree, hence the tryout for denDekker and the acquisition of Jackson. A team based on starting pitching needs to be at least above average defensively in center if not better. First base is the next biggest hole but Bruce seems like a good candidate and Alonso should be ready in June. Imagine if Alonso could be our Judge! Cather needs an upgrade but almost every team needs an upgrade. Conforto,dArnaud, and Smith for Realmuto? Conforto and Matz?
Maybe.
I mean seriously, he has Sure, let McNeil run ot out at 2B and see if he has the chops to be passable as an every day guy. We simply dont know enough to envision an outcome.
2. The Mets are more serious about contending. The new GM is given a 2019 post-season hurdle to meet and at least a 160M$ budget.
–> Ummmmm, No. I think you look for a young known quantity to help develop Rosario at SS. I cant see Rosario and McNeil being a post-season keystone. It doesnt matter, because hes shown enough promise that someone is looking tp play “lets make a deal”, and he’s in a different uni for 19 and beyond. Neither Rosatio nor McNeil have enough raw skills to make the heroic plays winning big demands. Someone like LeMahieu makes sense. I get he’s 30, but that cant be too old.
3. The Mets sit in140M$ budget purgatory, with 93M$ committed before arb agreements, and hire emasculated new GM wondering what in hell he took the job for. As he turns to Omar, he asks, why arent you GM?
–> Yes. There insnt much money to fill holes, and so this is nearly a free option, with TJ on the bench, also free. As it stands, we can watch McNeil at 2B and its not like staring at the sun. Maybe he turns into an everyday major leaguer; then again, maybe he doesnt.
Yikes, there was obvious cut/paste disaster there.
1. New GM is given time.
–> Yes. We have time to let this guy blossom in his late 20s. Maybe he becomes an above average dependable guy in a 2020 post season run.
I want a team that is in the mix in late June, at the very least. I don’t like Planning for Perfection in February, much less August.
The focus needs to be strengthening the Bullpen, and adding a Rotational RH Bat for the Outfield, and more Infield/Versatile Rotational Position Player RTalent.
I don’t believe the defensive offset of Lagres or Jackson makes them an answer, beyond being 5th outfielder. Gold Glove with 660 OPS is not an everyday or rotational player—Lagares is a 9 million dollar 9th inning glove until proven otherwise. It’s a better problem to assume that he’s just that, instead of begging him to be your 3rd or 4th outfielder. If he prooves otherwise, it’s a wonderful problem
(I love Crowded with talent Rosters!!!!…not enough playing time for good players)
Conforto and Nimmo need to have starting points at 800 ops and above–Conforto has a Major Course correction to make…. he needs more contact. 750 OPS is not good enough, especially from Conforto.
A 2b/IF addition?— That would add to McNeill/Chechinni/TJ—I’m in…..whoever gets pushed to the bench learns a few Gloves and gives you more than Reyes and Flores did.
Flo— Time to move him…or let him find a slot elsewhere..Non-Tender.
d’Arnaud/Catching: I would try to sign Mes to another year…it’s a good “Prove It”. I’d like a L/R Platoon, but reality is reality—there are not many Catchers to be had. d’Arnaud is my elast favorite—cost and value
Starting Pitching was an If at the start of the Season…. that’s a great starting point for next year.
No context of batting order here.
1. SP. deGrom, Wheeler, Lugo, who knows
2. presently unknown. KP or TdA as back up, Nido #3.
3. Bruce
4. LeMahieu
5. Frazier
6. Rosario
7. Conforto/Ces
8. new CF
9. Nimmo
RP: Yeah, theres a lot of work there
Corrections:
1. JDG, Syndergaard, Wheeler, Lugo, Matz
2. Presently unknown (Ramos is the best fit)
3. Alonso
4. McNeil
5. unknown
6. Rosario
7. Bruce for 6 innings and Lagares in CF for 3 innings for the first four months.
8. Nimmo
9. Conforto
Lineup:
Rosario, Nimmo, McNeil, Ramos, Conforto, 3B, Bruce
Sorry, forgot Alonso.
Put Alonso after Conforto and drop Rosario to 9th, or just leave Rosario leadoff and put Alonso in #6 lineup spot.
Best 3B fit is Donaldson for a make good contract, maybe two year deal.
Bruce platoons with Lagares. Sorry, no pity for crappy veterans.
For a bunch of pessimists, you people sure are embracing McNeil. After 81 votes, it’s 78-3 saying he’s a starting 2B
Until he proves otherwise, he is a starting second baseman. Do we have any better options ?
LeMahieu, Dozier…
Dozier is a diminished player so the Mets do not need to sign him. They should sign LeMahieu and either Adam Jones or Charlie Blackmon to play CF>
No, let’s not trade or sign another aging veteran just at the point of his downward spiral. Give the kid a chance!
The Mets need a CFer so if they sign DJ LeMahiue to play 2B then you have to move McNeil to CF. McNeil can cover the ground, and is an above average runner but his arm is only OK but knowing the Mets they will move him around, and since he has played in both various IF and OF positions CF might be a position he can effectively move to and play? McNeil can stay at 2B if the Mets sign either Adam Jones, Charlie Blackmon or AJ Pollock to play CF. If they go cheap then they will leave Nimmo in CF, Conforto in RF and McNeil in LF.