Mets GM Sandy Alderson traded for Yoenis Cespedes because he believed the club needed another hitter, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Alderson originally focused on Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez and Reds outfielder Jay Bruce because they came with additional club control. However, the Gomez deal was nixed after the Mets reviewed his physical, and the Reds pulled Bruce off the trade block on July 31. Alderson preferred Justin Upton of the Padres, but they refused to back down from demands for pitcher Michael Fulmer, shortstop Amed Rosario, and others. While Alderson still preferred a higher OBP hitter, Cespedes had the best acquisition cost. Per Alderson, if the Mets didn’t acquire a top bat, “people will point to the fact that we were not all in.”
- The Cubs will be a trendy pick to win the National League next season, writes Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun Times. However, Theo Epstein and crew have a difficult road ahead of them. Within their own division, they’ll have to compete with the always successful Cardinals and recently excellent Pirates. The Mets formidable pitching staff will return next year, the Giants have a way of appearing every even year, and the Dodgers spend the most money in baseball. Unexpected opponents could also jump to the forefront. As Epstein admits, “We have to put ourselves in a position where we have a chance to be great. So we can win the division and not have to go through the coin flip of being in the wild-card game. I’m not saying you can always get there. Some things are beyond your control.” To be great, the club probably needs to add an ace. A veteran to help stabilize the young lineup could also be useful.
- The Mariners have promoted Tom Allison to head of both professional and amateur scouting, tweets John Manuel of Baseball America. Allison had previously served as Seattle’s head of pro scouting so the promotion is an expansion of duties. Per Manuel, Allison had a strong run as an amateur scout with the Diamondbacks from 2007 through 2010. He also worked with the Mets and Brewers in a scouting capacity from 1996 through 2006.
I personally believe Philly is closer than many think. With Nola, Giles, Eickoff Franco, Altherr and Odubel already producing in the bigs and Thompson, Williams, Crawf, Knapp, Quinn and Alfaro in the upper minors, i don’t think they will be one of the surprise teams alluded to in 2016, but 2017 is possible, if this new GM supplements his roster with the right vets to fill holes and then act as trade deadline pieces when the kids are ready.
I wonder if they spend this offseason
I think they will compete in 2020. So you are saying they will compete in 2018.
To be relevant in 16 or 17, Phillies need a lot to go right. Astros and Cubs are both 4 years into the rebuild with veterans like Fowler and Gattis doing their part. Not to mention both teams have legit aces. Not a knock against Nola, he just isn’t in that league yet
It’s so relieving as an Astros fan to not have to argue anymore on how long it will take for them to be relevant again. All you can do is look forward to the new up and coming prospects but that’s all they are until they prove themselves in the majors. I predict it will be at least another 3 seasons until the Phillies have a chance to be a legitimate contender
With the Phillies checkbook they have a better chance at turning things around faster than mid market teams. With the haul they got from the Hamels trade plus having the #1 pick next year I wouldn’t be surprised to see them over .500 by 2017. Having a veteran like McPhail oversee the rebuild should shave a year or two off as well.
I’d wait for 2018 and focus on building up the farm and phasing out all the old money between now and then. Then if they think they are ready, use those mountains of cash (WISELY) to sign FA’s to complement the talent they have coming up from the farm.
The Phillies are definitely a sneaky team for next year. Remember, the Cubs and Astros weren’t expected to compete until 2016 at headed into this season, and look how that turned out.
While the Phillies don’t have as complete of a farm system as those two teams, they do have a large quantity of high level prospects. If Crawford continues his accelerated development, this team could be playing over .500 ball for the next 6 years starting around July or August of this year.
While I don’t expect any major signings that’ll result in a loss of their 2nd round draft pick, I do see them bringing in some good club house guys to help teach these youngsters how the game is played at the major league level, and they can start flexing their free agent muscles next off season. As unrealistic as it is, I’d like to see them do what the Cubs did by signing Jon Lester a year earlier than they expected to contend. A Price or a Greinke could go a long way to helping Eikhoff, Thompson, Morgan, and others developing into better pitchers, while also taking pressure off of Nola being unfairly labled as the club’s ace.
This team is going to be a lot of fun to watch, I suggest people hop on the bandwagon soon before it gets too crowded.
I don’t think Greinke will go to a rebuilding team like the phillies, but the cubs getting david price or jordan zimmermann would help them next season, I think the phillies go after a second tier type starter
Why wouldn’t Greinke go to a rebuilding team? He said it himself when the Dodgers signed him…”If a last place team offered the most money he would have signed with them.” Winning and losing has very little to do with where players sign…they sign for the money. And some, like Greinke, openly admit it.
“While I don’t expect any major signings that’ll result in a loss of their 2nd round draft pick”
It depends on the player. If I were the Phillies I’d be willing to give up a second round pick and possibly overpay for the right player—Jayson Heyward. As for other players they should sign a pitcher and there are enough who won’t cost compensation—Price, Cueto, etc.—that they can quickly turn things around, and all it’ll cost is money, of which they have plenty.
What do the Cubs need? A couple of starting pitchers, resigning Fowler or another OF, and stocking up on bullpen arms.
It’ll be a tough road considering all the teams in play, but 97 wins and still improving is definitely a great place to be.
I think the cubs re-sign fowler for maybe 2 years until Almora and Mckinny are ready , For the bullpen they could go after Clippard or Darren O’day , then for pitching jordan zimmermann or david price, then could look at trades for tyson ross sonny gray or andrew cashner
I think Dexter Fowler can find a 4yr/$50MM contract somewhere, especially given his age (29), so maybe the Cubs bring in someone like Denard Span for that two year gap – even though I find Fowler to be a better fit.
I’m with you about pitching. Maybe David Price is too much given that the Cubs already have Arrieta and Lester (though I think they should go for it), but to have Zimmerman and another would really solidify things immensely.
The Cubs already have two aces (at least Lester is paid like one even though he is just a solid #1 or outstanding #2 but a little shy of being an ace) why would you say they need another? Arrieta is going to need a contract in a couple of years and all of those young bats are going to require huge contracts in a few years. The only way they will be able to afford an ace is if they get someone like Greinke on a 4 year deal. Price is going to want 7 years or more which will hamper contracts down the road when he is in decline. They should target players like Chen who are solid mid rotation innings eaters. If they decide on an ace they should offer Baez, Almora and more for someone like Gray who is young and will add to their already outstanding young core. Regardless, they should get extensions done on a couple of their young guys and make them extremely front loaded so when the others get close to free agency they will have lots of money to spend on signing them long term.
Cespedes is coming back home to Oakland this off-season