The Mets appear to have ended their comically shameful search for a new GM after being seemingly turned down by every eligible candidate on the market. What made so many targets shun the Mets is still a matter for speculation but the Mets and the former Angels GM have come to terms and the saga is mercifully at an end. Looking ahead here is some advice from the Mets360 minor league commentator for the new Mets GM.
Learn From Your Predecessors Mistakes
Eppler should look back at the eras of Zack Scott and Brodie Van Wagenen as a lesson in how to do various things wrong. Obviously, the Mets moved on from both these former GMs quickly, but what mistakes, specifically, should the new GM be watchful for.
Don’t be Baseball News – This goes as an anecdote but in general, things like DUIs are not terribly hard for responsible adults with high paying jobs to avoid. While he’s at it, he should avoid stealing signs for the Houston Astros as well.
Don’t Look to Put Your Stamp on the Team Right Away – Van Wagenen wanted to start his time with the Mets with a splash and did so by trading the top prospect (Jarred Kelenic) and a promising prospect pitcher (Justin Dunn) to Seattle for the fading shell of Robinson Cano (who had to use steroids to even be a shell) and Edwin Diaz. The deal was big and splashy and immediately seemed to bite the Mets as both Cano and Diaz disappointed. Eppler has a thin minor league system to start with and cannot afford to trade away the future to make his mark on the team.
Draft with a Plan – Zack Scott thought that his ship had come in when Kumar Rocker dropped to the Mets in the 2021 draft. Nobody was expecting it and the Mets felt compelled to take a player that they probably didn’t thoroughly scout (because they didn’t think he’d be available). Long story short, the Mets saw something in his physical that they were very afraid of and decided to pass on signing Rocker essentially drafting no big name talent in their 2021 draft at all. This further complicates Eppler’s job as the Mets don’t forfeit their 2nd round pick if they sign a QO free agent but will lose the 14th overall pick.
Don’t Trade Big Prospects for Rentals – In Scott’s defense, the Mets were leading the division when he made a trade for Javier Baez and sent their top outfield prospect, Pete Crow-Armstrong. At the end of the day, the Mets were winning but were not the best team in their division and most people knew it. The Baez rental got the Mets some meaningless wins in the dismal second half of their season but did nothing for the Mets in 2022 and beyond.
Learn From Your Predecessors Successes
While nobody will look back at the Scott or Van Wagenen eras with wistful tearfilled eyes, there were a number of things that the two briefly tenured GMs did right.
Draft Creatively – The 2019 Mets draft still appears to be a master class in maximizing value with your top picks. Van Wagenen made his top selection of Brett Baty before selecting Josh Wolf and then stealing Matthew Allan with a 3rd round pick. The Mets made their draft budget work to somehow fit three players ranked amongst the Top 50 prospects though Josh Wolf would later be sent away for Francisco Lindor and Allan would spend 2021 injured.
Build Plenty of Depth – One thing the 2021 Mets did right was their depth. Scott’s signings of Jonathan Villar and Kevin Pillar, not to mention Aaron Loup should all look brilliant in hindsight and the Mets early season success was due, in large part, to this depth as the team suffered a slew of injuries. It seems that most baseball teams should plan on having their AAA rotation staffed exclusively with major league depth these days and that you can never have too many spare parts.
Spend Cohen’s Money
The biggest advice I can give Eppler, from a minor league perspective, is to build his 2022 squad through Free Agency. While you have two (2) qualified third base prospects near the majors and a shortstop prospect who is most thoroughly blocked by the Team’s high paid acquisition of 2021, there aren’t enough prospects overall to trade anyone and maintain a future. It goes without saying but Francisco Alvarez is irreplaceable and Eppler would not be mad enough to consider him as available.
Because of this the Mets can look to any Free Agent not tied to a Qualifying Offer as a target dead in their sights.
Kris Bryant 3B/OF – Bryant is not protected by that damning QO and the Mets would certainly love to have their hot corner manned by a perennial all star instead of the positionless J.D. Davis. Once Brett Baty or Mark Vientos prove ready for promotion they could shift Bryant to the outfield, though he might be the best defensive option of the three.
Kevin Gausman RHP – The highest ranked pitcher not protected by a QO, Gausman is going to be expensive and likely make the most of this Free Agency. The Mets have every reason to be part of that bidding.
Max Scherzer RHP – The gut says that Scherzer does not want to become a Met but the soon to be 37 year old pitching in a rotation with Jacob deGrom instead of against him would make for a good story.
Marcus Stroman RHP – Bringing back Stroman seems like a no-brainer for the Mets who got a ton of value out of their 2020 qualifying offer recipient. Like so many pitchers on this list, Stroman will be expensive but the Mets need to bring in two front-end starters to be competitive and one of the two should be of Gausman, Scherzer or Stroman’s caliber.
Javier Baez SS/2B – Please don’t make the assumption that the Mets are getting more value from trading Crow-Armstrong if they sign Baez but they do need some star power on offense and Baez likes playing beside Lindor. The best home for Jeff McNeil is second base and signing Baez would shift the “Flying Squirrel” back into a nebulous floating position once more.
Starling Marte CF – Brandon Nimmo was good for the Mets in centerfield last year but the Mets would be well served if they could bring in Marte on a three year deal.
Carlos Rodon LHP – Why would the White Sox not make a qualifying offer to a starter who is under 30 and coming off a career year? The Mets should be kicking the tires and hoping Chicago made a big mistake.
Anthony DeSclafani RHP – DeSclafani was very good in 2021 but his track record makes him more of a number three starter. As a second starter signing, he would be an okay fit but fans should be concerned if he’s the best pitcher the Mets sign this offseason.
Steven Matz LHP – A Matz reunion would be nice but one wonders if bridges were burned when Matz left town. He showed flashes of his old stuff with Toronto but Matz will likely never be a consistent front-line starter.
Michael Conforto RF – The Mets might be better served by allowing Michael Conforto to be signed by another team to gain the compensation pick. If Conforto comes back I think he’d be taking less money than he expected to make in Free Agency.
Clayton Kershaw LHP – The Dodgers did not extend Kershaw a QO and the lefty has made waves about retirement but if he were lured to Queens there is a chance for more greatness out of this Hall of Fame lefty.
Corey Kluber RHP – The Yankees weren’t too pleased with what they got from Kluber in 2021 but another year past his injury makes Kluber a good target as a reclamation project. Making him the fourth or fifth starter and hoping he gives you more.
Aaron Loup LHP – One player that the Mets really want back is Loup. He was phenomenal in 2021 and deserves a hefty raise.
Will Billy Eppler heed my advice? Time will tell.
The Mets really wanted Loup back, but now, he is an Angel. Did the Mets ignore him like they ignored Syndergaard?
I will be really angry if free agency goes by and the Mets dont make some big moves.
Nice call Mike. They blew the Loup signing. Did they think he did not deserve a raise based on last year? Such a Wilpon move not locking him up especially when money is no issue. Why isn’t Stro signed?
And now, all I am reading about is a reunion with Matz. I am only a fan, But put aside the metrics and analytics and his 3.82 ERA from last year. I am tired of the same old same old. I don’t want Matz. I want some new players to root for and preferably better ones. I know he is 37, but sign Scherzer for two or three years and put him behind deGrom, which would be a great one two punch. Draft some good young pitchers, so in two or three years when they both wear out, you have young arms to bring up.
Just look at the Dodgers, with Walker Buehler, Julio Urias, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May and even Josiah Gray, who they traded. It is a consistent formula for winning.
Word is that the Mets were in tuned to Loup’s market and decided the price exceeded the value. Time will tell, as it always does, but I reluctantly do agree. The key for Eppler is really simple – replace every single departing player with a better player. We fans miss a guy sorely, right up until someone better comes along. Yes, Loup had a historical season, in well=managed use, but there are better lefty pen arms out there. Go get one, or two for that matter.
+1
Good, and….
Sign Chafin at a LH reliever.
Bid on Suzuki.
Really good overall advice. I especially like the “Don’t Look to Put Your Stamp on the Team Right Away” concept. Brodie had daddy issues. I hope Billy is more secure and is smart enough to know it takes time and smarts.
Get the best option at each position, and wait for opportunities to improve again. Don’t throw money at problems… make strong, confident moves. In general, take the young guy on the way up instead of expensive, oft-injured, aging players. Choose speed whenever possible (a lot of what we liked about Baez was his speed).
Good advice to draft creatively and draft with a plan. Trading big prospects for a rental is crap shoot. It work in 2015 with the Cespedes trade but is a high risk move. I guess it depends on the circumstances. Alvarez should be untouchable because a catcher is a premium position and Alvarez has a good scouting report. Even if the is an average major league catcher in the end he would still be valuable because of his position. Batty ,on the other hand, could be traded in deal for Ramirez or Chapman so therefore they should investigate all options to improve the team.