Happy birthday to Noah Syndergaard, who turns 22 years old today. Syndergaard likely won’t be celebrating with a Major League debut, however, as the right-hander is already close to his innings limit for the year. Here’s the latest from the Mets…
- Zack Wheeler doesn’t want to be traded, telling Kevin Kernan of the New York Post that “I was part of the rebuilding process and I want to see it through.’’ While the Mets would undoubtedly need a huge return to trade the 24-year-old righty, it has been speculated that the Mets could deal from their pitching depth to acquire a top-tier shortstop or outfielder in the offseason.
- Travis d’Arnaud’s concussion history has Mets upper management at least exploring a shift from catcher to left field, Andy Martino of the New York Daily News writes. Terry Collins said the issue had been discussed, though not at length or in any serious depth, so if a position switch did happen, it wouldn’t be anytime soon.
- A d’Arnaud position switch is also discussed by Metsblog.com’s Matthew Cerrone. Beyond just d’Arnaud’s health, a move from behind the plate could be inevitable since the Mets are “in LOVE” (capitalization added by Cerrone) with catching prospect Kevin Plawecki. Cerrone isn’t sure if d’Arnaud’s bat would play quite as well in left as it does at catcher, so he suggests that d’Arnaud could also possibly become a trade candidate this winter.
- That said, Newsday’s Marc Carig (via Twitter) hears from a team source that the Mets “have little to no interest in trading d’Arnaud.”
- While many of the Mets’ younger players have performed quite well this season, the team has underachieved due to David Wright’s off-year and GM Sandy Alderson’s misses in the free agent hitters’ market, John Harper of the New York Daily News opines. Curtis Granderson has only a .688 OPS and is still owed $47MM from 2015-17, while Chris Young has already been released.
d’Arnaud is a faster runner than you’d expect, which is why left field is even kinda sorta an option. I don’t see it happening, though.
problem is an average to below average left fielder with 15-20 homers and 70-80 rbi is not good enough. I’m tired of putting players out of position.
Those numbers would be nothing to scoff at, considering he’ll be pretty cheap for the next few years. But he’s a catcher who should stay at his position. If he breaks, he breaks.
Those offensive numbers would be a pretty high end offensive left fielder.
In what era?
That would be a border-line all-star in todays game.
Actually… looking around the majors… despite Hundley, Piazza,
Hojo… this is what you do when you have a dearth of young talent.
Plawecki seems to be the better defensive catcher and TDA the better
(more flexible) athlete from top to bottom. St Louis comes to mind the
most… they play guys all over the diamond when their bats are ready
and they’re blocked at their primary position. They did that for Pujols
in 2001 as he played 1B/3B/OF- Milwaukee did that with Braun- Biggio
played OF & 2B in Houston plus many many more examples around the
majors… hey… the Cubs likely *WILL* do that with their abundance of
SS talent. While spinning our wheels on another 74 wins I say “hey why
not!?!?”
Marcus Semien for Zack Wheeler?
Why would the Mets do that trade?
Better defense, more flexibility, younger player. He is almost Major League ready as well. If the White Sox would accept a deal like this it would be a very solid one for the Mets.
Because Zack Wheeler is getting old?
I’m pretty sure the White Sox would accept this sort of deal, but I’m even more sure the Mets would laugh at the idea.
Oops, though it was Murphy for Siemen. Gotta read more carefully!
Nice try, White Sox fan.
If the Mets move d’Arnaud to left field. Then they should go hard after Russel Martin.