The Mets are currently third-to-last in the NL in runs scored, and they’re without David Wright, Travis d’Arnaud and Dilson Herrera, who are all on the DL. Even with a win today, they’ve lost five games out of their last seven, slipping behind the Nationals in the NL East. GM Sandy Alderson says the team is interested in acquiring more offensive help, ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin tweets. As with several GMs who’ve fielded questions about the trade market so far this season, Alderson says it’s probably too early in the year to strike significant deals. Here are more quick notes on the Mets.
- Wright, who was recently diagnosed with spinal stenosis, is going to California to see a doctor, Mike Puma of the New York Post tweets. The Mets should know more about his condition in the coming days. The extent of his issue is currently unclear, although the Mets do not seem overly concerned, as MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo notes. “The doctors aren’t that worried about it,” says assistant GM John Ricco. “It’s just something that seems to be taking longer than we initially thought. The way it was progressing, they thought it would be gone by now.”
- It’s unclear how the condition will affect Wright, but if it does become a long-term problem, Wright’s contract could become another costly headache for the Mets, Joel Sherman of the Post writes. If Wright’s $138MM deal goes south, the Mets could be less inclined to trade for Troy Tulowitzki’s big contract, sign Ian Desmond on the free-agent market next winter, or ink Matt Harvey long-term. The Mets have already had expensive deals for Johan Santana and Jason Bay go terribly in recent years. Wright, meanwhile, is already 32 and coming off a 2014 season in which he hit just .269/.324/.374.
Why would they want Ian Desmond? His career OBP is .316. Yes he has some pop for a SS but he’s not a fit for the Mets. They need to find a high OBP to put at the leadoff spot and then another middle of the lineup bat. The Granderson signing was a huge mistake.
well, right now they’re fielding Wilmer Flores and Ruben Tejada at shortstop. Flores’ offense is okay, but his fielding isn’t even average right now and might not ever be. Tejada is..Tejada.
I agree, it wouldn’t be prudent for the Mets to acquire Desmond OR Tulowitzky, but you know how it is with impatience.
Flores has a UZR/150 of 6.9 this year. His range makes him better than average.
UZR is a flawed stat, though. Even as my “eye-test” goes, he seems okay for short, but not everyday. Let’s put it this way, he’s not Rey Ordonez there. Of course, I don’t mind his sub-par ish defense as long as he hits.
He’s not Rey Ordoñez but he’s a much more useful baseball player since Rey couldn’t hit his way out of a paper bag. Elite defense but epic futility with the bat.
granted, but I’d still rather have Ordonez than Tejada any day of the week, heh. I prefer the hitting, of course, especially considering how putrid the Mets offense is.
I’d rather have Tejada. Better hitter and half-decent human being.
better hitter? I can’t argue the second half of your statement, but Tejada is not a better hitter than Rey. Comparable yes.
Ruben Tejada is unquestionably a better hitter than Rey Ordoñez was.
Flores will be moved away from SS…his future is at another position.
People like to scream “Mets need a SS!”. But if you compare Flores to the rest of the league he has been slightly above average, has made some costly errors (which is what people seem to remember) but his range has made up for it and actually ranks pretty decently. The guy can hit for power and I believe he will become a more disciplined hitter in the future. Just let him play. It’s not like he has been costing the team runs, and the Mets do not have to give anything up to keep him
I just looked at his BABIP and it’s the same as his batting average. Which suggest he will likely have a higher batting average as the season goes on. I’ll rather keep him
I’m not too worried about Flores. He’s on pace for 20+ HR and 2-2.5 WAR and he’s more or less a 23 year old rookie. I like that they’re giving him a chance and they have much bigger problems (Cuddyer, Grandy, injuries in general).
that, I can agree with. I don’t think Flores is an issue anyway, he’s just an easy scapegoat.
Desmond makes no sense for the Mets. I’d go with Flores and than Cecc instead of wasting so much money on a guy cratering before our eyes.
true. Especially when Desmond is a free agent real soon, if they wanted him, they can just sign him.
Granderson has so far produced to the value of the contract. Not really sure what Met fan expectations of Granderson , he is what he is a .235 hitter with some pop.
I think because of his Jason Bay-ish contract, fans thought he was a clean up hitter? I dunno.
The Mets FO didn’t help that misperception touting him as such. He is playing the role that the team is asking, and if he hit 6th or 7th I think you would see a more aggressive approach sacrificing OBP for SLG with similar total OPS
yes, that is true, Curtis transformed himself to a lead off hitter when they asked him to. I have no idea what most fans expected though. I certainly didn’t expect him to be what he was with the Yankees.
As long as he’s putting up an OBP in that .340-.350 range, he’s a solid leadoff option. Unlike most lefties, he also has reverse splits which means he can be used to lead off everyday. He’s not what we the team was expecting at all but he’s producing well enough for it to be considered an okay contract at this point. At this point, he’s basically Dexter Fowler with worse defense and a bit less power.
You do realize that SS offensive production is non-existent? Tell me where the Mets will find this magical high OBP SS that can leadoff and play solid defense?
They’ve got a high contact SS with some pop, solid defense, and prospect pedigree (first rounder) raking at AA. If the team is aggressive, they’ll have him skip over Vegas, since a guy with a ~140 wRC+ and elite K-rates (less than 9%) is worth a look.
Who is that?
Gavin Cecchini.
I’ll take Flores over him
Flores also plays 2B/3B. So we can have both, and get the corresponding improvements in defense at 2 positions.
It doesn’t matter where they would find that. But there’s no point in paying Desmond big money for those numbers.
Well, the O’s could trade JJ Hardy for Harvey…
Okay seriously, the Mets should do something, but their current team might hold together enough for a Wild Card.
Their OF is still pretty good. Their pitching is good. Their bullpen is better than I gave them credit for during the beginning of the season.
They still have a winning record.
They should be good enough to hang with the Nats. At least that is how I feel about it.
Now if they match up well with the Rockies and are able to cut a nice deal for Tulo, then they should do it, if they can’t just be patient.
Maybe the Mets can buylow on someone like Jimmy Rollins or Juan Uribe. Corey Seager/Olivera is gonna have to play somewhere.
Very much doubt any team in the NLE hangs with the Nats this year.
Oh, I don’t know.
Strasburg doesn’t seem to be the same.
Werth is hurt again.
Their bullpen isn’t the best.
There might be some resentment to Scherzer’s contract.
Harper has been red hot, but that might not last forever.
Mets are a good team and they seem to play well together.
That counts for something in my book.
So, we’ll see.
There are 12-3 recently and 17-10 if you want to go back a little more. The first figure was without Span and others, the next figure is with Span back but with Werth and Rendon out. The Nationals are easily the class of the NL. Their only problems have been how to play well in cold April, and how to get over the hump in the playoffs.
Mets are 6-1 against the Philadelphia Phillies.
19-20 against everyone else.
The Mets are good. But not even their biggest supporter would put them up favorably against the Natinals.
The Mets have gone 12-18 since starting out 13-3 – with numerous injuries. With Their “cornerstone” possibly out for an extended time the chances of the Mets hanging with Washington is extremely low. The Wilpons rarely make significant moves, and I wouldn’t count on one this season.
Regardless of how the Granderson/Bay/Santana/Wright deals panned out, that shouldn’t effect how you approach a Harvey extension. The guy is the new face of the franchise and arguably the 2nd best pitcher in the game after Kershaw.
You aren’t signing Harvey, you’re investing in him. You’ll make the money back through marketing and merchandise sales. Extend him at all costs when he gets close to FA.
What you wrote was the Mets thinking when they gave those 4 players long-term contracts.
True, but Harvey is younger than all of them with a higher ceiling/longer prime.
Ceiling sure. We can’t predict health, though.
After Kershaw it’s only Felix…..or vice versa…..
I said arguably, but yeah. Harvey’s a top 5 pitcher in the game.
Yes, now. 5 years from now who knows. Justin Verlander anyone?
Most Players ,when they get close Big money will go to the Market if nothing other than to run it up Price , Harvey’s agent is no different, Mets must offer about 8 years 28,000,000 after 2016 season. If not lose him to Big Money team come free Agency
You don’t give 8 years to pitchers. You give 7 years to the elite, but never give 8.
Somebody will, that’s how desperate the General Managers are these days, besides all these guy have massive Private Insurance polices to cover these Players.
7 year deals never work out either.
They Mets will try to extend him. If he refuses, I don’t see them giving him a market value free agent contract. That’s probably the right move. This F.O. doesn’t make moves based on emotions, as we’ve seen with Reyes (translated into Plawecki and Reynolds) and Dickey (Syndergaard, d’Arnaud, Becerra).
The Met’s should send Harvey too Chicago for Rizzo & Russell or Baez…then have deGrom step into the Ace role…..
Better throw in Bryant too
never heard of him…..
The cubs say no to rizzo straight up for harvey! Castro, baez, almora and vogelbach would be a package more close to what they would offer. 3 top 100 prospects and a slightly above average starting shortstop. But it wont happen
The Mets wouldn’t trade Matt Harvey for prospects, period. Hes way to valuable, not just on the mound, but to the fan base, to the PR, to the marketing department, to trade away within getting proven MLB talent back. You’d need 1 of Bryant or Rizzo to even start the discussion.
Rizzo had a 5+ WAR season last year and is on pace for a 6 WAR season this year. Playing every day and being a clubhouse leader. Oh and he’s also only 25.
I’m just saying. Obviously whatever we say is just speculative, but in a fantasy world where Matt Harvey is available in a trade, he’d acquire proven, young, controllable MLB talent mixed with prospects. Rizzo or Bryant would be in the conversation, I would think.
Russell would be the guy. The Mets have 1B/3B mostly covered. It would be deGrom or Matz going to Chicago, though, not Harvey.
The Mets have a first baseman already. He’s not as good as Rizzo but he’s solid (3rd in the league in homers last year). The Mets need to upgrade elsewhere.
The Mets need to upgrade the OF, 2B or SS. Or a combination thereof.
Right. So Rizzo makes absolutely no sense – we agree.
Yup. We agree. Absolutely.
Where would the Mets put Rizzo? They’ve got Duda already. And sure, Rizzo’s better than Duda but only by a bit. He’s not nearly “one Harvey” better than Duda.
If the Mets got Rizzo (not happening), Duda would have to be involved in said trade. He can’t play anywhere else.
So why would the Mets do that? Duda’s their best hitter.
Exactly. They wouldn’t, hence my post.
“The cubs say no to rizzo straight up for harvey!”
You’re either overvaluing Rizzo or undervaluing Harvey. I say the Cubs do that in a heartbeat although it’d be fairly even for either team. The thing is the Mets don’t have as much of a need at 1B as much as an upgrade as Rizzo would be.
Rizzo is a perrenial mvp candidate. Harvey plays once a week
Perennial? Relax man he only received MVP votes one year so far. Also comparing him as an everyday player to Harvey, a pitcher, isn’t fair. Harvey would easily slot in as either the ace or 1A next to Lester in the Cubs rotation.
Actually, Lester isn’t even the best pitcher in that rotation. That’s Arrieta. And Harvey’s pretty clearly better than both of those guys.
Duda plays 1B. Rizzo is better than Duda but he’s not a Harvey better than Duda.
Rizzo forms the backbone of that lineup. The Mets also have Duda who isn’t quite as good but is still a solid first baseman. There’s no deal there.
harvey has barely two years of service time and hasn’t completed a season healthy..I can’t see the Mets doing for him what the Angels did for Trout….too much risk.
Check my Friend , C.C. Sabathia got 8 years with the Ninth being an Option year for the Yankees !
Spinal stenosis doesn’t go away. Its narrowing of the spinal column and many times indicates ongoing disc issues. It’ll be ongoing with Wright. I live this issue everyday
How do we know what the doctors told Wright and the Mets? Do you think maybe that’s WHY they are not that concerned??