The New York Mets, like many of their fans, love to get new toys around the holiday season. Cyber Monday has now eclipsed the popularity of Black Friday in US markets. Essentially, you’re able to stay home to get the kind of deals you would have to fight zombie hoard-like crowds on Black Friday. With the Mets seeming to be lurking in the grass this offseason, not major players on any big name free agents but also not completely out on most. With that being said, the Mets are known to bargain hunt for free agents, so here are some deals they should look out for on Monday (and the days after).
Jeurys Familia– When you are successful shopping at one store, it definitely increases your chances of shopping there again. Familia would normally be a top name in the reliever market. This offseason however features names like Craig Kimbrel, David Robertson, and Andrew Miller, making it more likely that Familia will receive less of a lucrative contract. The Mets, desperately needing bullpen help, would receive a pitcher that is not only familiar with the franchise, but also there for the last time this team was successful. While his ability to close games during the post season is still questionable, he has proved that he can pitch in the New York atmosphere.
Alcides Escobar– The Mets have Amed Rosario beginning to blossom at the shortstop position. Alongside him, Jeff McNeil emerged as a second baseman with a penchant for hitting for average. The Mets will need to have someone to back up those players however, and that is where Escobar fits in. Escobar toasted the Mets during the 2015 World Series, and has been a mainstay in Kansas City because of his speed and ability to flash the glove. He has also remained healthy during his career, never playing less than 140 games since 2010. Escobar could become an affordable backup for a team that expects significant production from its middle infield.
Adam Ottavino– As in the case when you are shopping, sometimes name brand stars are not the way to go. Ottavino quietly had one of the best seasons by a reliever last season, all while his home park was Coors Field in Colorado. His stats are finish either at the top or second in a list of some of the most important statistical categories for relief pitchers, including strike out percentage, walk percentage, hard-hit percentage, and ERA. In a bullpen in desperate need of a renaissance, Ottavino could be the player that makes all of the difference.
Whether or not the Mets shop at the top or the bottom of the barrel, it is imperative that they get bullpen assistance. The starters last season lost many close games due to the inconsistencies that the bullpen brought to each game. As a whole, it is not expected that the Mets will be major players when it comes to signing free agents. That’s why it would make sense for them, a team consistently looking for a bargain, to turn to some potential Cyber Monday steals.
The Cyber Monday deals like the ones that the Mets have made in the past like Reyes, Gonzalez, Vargas and friends make me nervous. Vargas should have been a one year deal.
Familia and Ottavino would be great pickups. Who knows, they may even be more in demand because of their affordability than the other suspects. I would also like to add Marwin Gonzalez to the list, even though he will be in higher demand because of his versatility.
Go cheap at catch,sign Maldonado, and resign Mesoroco. Get two relievers,one top tier, Robertson,Familia, or Britton and one second tier, Soria, Warren, Kelly. DFA Flores, DArnaud. Get a couple of RH bats for the bench. One of Harrison,Walker,Cabrera, and trade for an outfielder. Maybe wheeler for Billy Hamilton.
If you do this, I think the teams has the same record next year as we did this year. Hamilton can run fast, but he has a big problem getting on base enough.
Good god man – no. Billy Hamilton stinks. It was okay to take a flier on him after the 2014 season but how many bad years in a row does he have to put up before we stop thinking he’s an option? He’s got 2,700 PA in the majors and a .631 OPS. That’s horrible. And to give Wheeler for him?!?
If a Reds fan on a Reds blog proposed that deal, the other readers would tell him to quit being such a homer and there’s no way on earth the Mets would make that trade.
There is only one position that Hamilton is suited for. It is designated runner like Herb Washington was for the A’s in the 1970’s.
Hamilton doesn’t just bring crazy speed on the bases, he also grades out as a good outfielder. I’d love to have somebody like that as a reserve but not as a starter and I wouldn’t give up much for him.
I loved Familia but I’m not up for a reunion. He makes me too nervous with the gimmicky pitches he sometimes can’t get over for strikes.
I don’t think ownership needs any encouragement looking for cheap options. I do like Familia and Ottavino and think we need at least 2 very solid relievers to accompany Lugo and Gsellman, so these two would fit the bill.
Since I have a couple of pennies laying around, here’s my take on what I read above:
– Mets have enough outfielders, unless he has an MVP in his arsenal.
– Mets can be successful signing free agents, but the best bet would be to add $30MM per year or so on three relievers. This will add depth and give you flexibility with Lugo and Gsellman. One of the relievers should be a lefty.
– With a couple of nice catcher additions available, why go cheap? However, with the Mets having about $140MM in commitments for 2019, it’s hard to see too much being added on. They either is to invest the insurance money, or they need make room by non-rendering Flores and TDA and thus creating a $9MM opening. I still think Flores can be traded for a decent prospect, but TDA is not a reality since he is to come back in mid-year.
Alicides Escobar… because We all miss Ruben Tejada