If healthy, we all expect Robinson Cano to get 130 or more starts in 2020. But it seems that almost none of us would manage the team that way if we had any say in the matter. But, what would be the ideal way to approach it, assuming that all participants are healthy and ready to go?
Would you put Jeff McNeil or Jed Lowrie at second base? Would you put the remaining guy at third base or would you put J.D. Davis there? Or would you try something off the wall and put Amed Rosario at third and install Luis Guillorme at shortstop, hoping to improve the infield defense and figuring that Guillorme’s .839 OPS the final two months of 2019 might mean he could put up something close to Cano’s .736 mark last year?
And what would you do with Cano? Look to utilize him in a strict platoon with Lowrie or a much smaller role than that? And would it be possible for his role to be too small?
Finally, if Cano’s numbers in 2020 declined from what he put up in 2019, would you want to approach new ownership about cutting him outright?
Or do you write in Cano’s name every day and wait for the big bounceback season?
I would give Cano until the ASB and see what he’s got left. If he’s slashing 256/307/428 again (his slash line from 2019), I’d do the bold thing and cut him.
With a new owner coming in, the BVW era will continue or halt based on the success of this apparently ill-advised trade. If the stench of this deal lingers into the middle of 2020, they should do whatever it takes to move on.
McNeil should be the second-baseman. Lowrie could hold third for the rest of the year, but I kinda like the idea of LG at SS and Rosie moving to the hot corner.
With the current roster, I’m ok with an infield of Alonso – Cano – Rosario – McNeil, with Lowrie and Guillorme as the middle subs and Davis/Smith covering corner/LF. I would give Cano a shot at regular play, enough to stay sharp but with routine rest, especially vs. tough LHP. He’d bat lower in the lineup until team circumstances dicated otherwise…no defaulting to the middle of the line up.
I would do is see who my best players are. That should take place during spring training and the first month of the season. During the first month, I’d play everyone sort of evenly and let it work itself out. Then, I’d play the hot hand a bit more, but give the playing time to the producers, no matter who they are. Further, if any player lally-gaggs it out there and embarrassed the team, he will gets lots of rest to be stronger next time. I’m tired of the ass kissing, I want a Bochy-Girardi-Showalter approach: play hard or go home.
Boston is rumored to be trying to dump salary. Betts and 30 million for one year gets you what? Who would Boston take in return? Arenado from the Rockies is a more interesting fit but would require a lot more in return.I’d like to BVW try to pry him away from the Rockies.Would have to include Familia and or Lawrie in the deal to offset some salary ans some of the Mets top farm hands. But I’d do it in a heart beat.
Pete, word is they would prefer to move Price and keep Betts. Bloom would have a hard time moving Price to the Mets however, as his agent Bo McKinnis, isn’t part of CAA.
What would be be ideal way to approach it, resuming all participants are healthy and ready to go? Put Cano and Lowrie in a platoon at second base.
Cano’s career OPS spilts vs RHP 885 and vs LHP 760 and 2019 vs RHP 799 and vs LHP 569.
Lowrie’s career OPS splits vs RHP 745 and vs LHP 762 .
It is the best utilization of these aging players.
Just a final thought on 2019 Mets payroll. It was posted (as per Cot’s) that New York’s 40 man payroll sum was 184 million+. What I find so fascinating with that amount is if you deduct half of Cespedes’ salary and insurance from David Wright’s policy you get a number close to 160 million which is the same amount from 2018 40 man roster.
14.5 million from Cespedes with holdings
11.25 million from insurance