Here’s the latest from around the NL East…
- The Mets haven’t approached Matt Harvey about a long-term extension, agent Scott Boras tells The Record’s Matt Ehalt. “I always leave it up to the teams to approach us about those things like Washington did with (Stephen Strasburg). We just keep our doors open and evaluate things as it comes,” Boras said. Offseason chatter indicated that there weren’t any talks between the two sides, though since Strasburg’s extension rather surprisingly came out of nowhere, it wouldn’t be as stunning to see a Harvey contract negotiated privately. Harvey, of course, still has two more arbitration-eligible years before hitting the open market after the 2018 seasons, whereas Strasburg was scheduled for free agency this coming winter. An extension is likely less important to the Mets than simply getting Harvey on track — the righty has a 4.93 ERA through his first eight starts, though his peripherals indicate that he been somewhat unlucky (.373 BABIP, 3.35 FIP, 3.75 xFIP, 3.95 SIERA).
- In the latest Baseball America mock draft, Hudson Belinsky projects the Phillies will take Florida southpaw A.J. Puk with the first overall pick. Pat Gillick and other Phils executives, however, have been seen scouting high school outfielders Mickey Moniak and Blake Rutherford, and sources tell Belinsky that the Phillies could draft a slightly lower-regarded player in order to save slot money on the first overall pick. Philadelphia has a draft bonus pool of just over $13.405MM (the second-highest amount of any club) and it could be the latest team to strategically deploy their draft spending by spending less on a top pick in order to spend more on a harder-to-sign talent in a later round. Ultimately, however, Belinsky feels the Phillies still go with “the safer option” in Puk given “the importance of this pick in the club’s rebuilding effort.”
- While the Braves are disappointed by their poor 2016 record, David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes that the club has played a tough schedule. Big picture-wise, the Braves are still in good shape, as O’Brien observes that many of the big names Atlanta has dealt (such as Justin Upton, Shelby Miller or Jason Heyward) are currently struggling, while the Braves received several building-block prospects to aid in their rebuild.
I’d understand Phillies taking Puk but he doesn’t seem like a safe prospect at all
I think the idea is that hes a college pitcher with ace potential. If the Phillies were to take Groome, you’re talking 3-4 years at least of minor league ball before hes up. Puk could potentially be an Aaron Nola-type. Draft him and give him 12 months or so.
Puk isn’t safe, but there isn’t really a Harper/Strasburg type in this draft class.
I would think Rodon type – control issues with a lot of upside.
Is there a reason we can’t post these comments on facebook instead of having to come to your website and log in?
Do you want interest or what??
And as for Harvey, he sucks and the Mets are not giving him a dime until he wakes up and pitches much better.
First world problem. Just leave yourself logged in.
I hate when sites make you use facebook to comment, I don’t have one and I’m not making one to comment. Also, have you seen the NFL comment sections, or 95% of the ones that involve facebook? Stupid people making hateful comments with bad grammar and poor reasoning.
Omg, please no Facebook. I don’t even read the comments of those sites as I refuse to get an account.
As far as this article points out, of course the braves are going to point out that the players they’ve dealt away have struggled. They will do anything this season to put positive spins on things since the team is difficult to watch on the field. I do think that the future will be good however.
The main reason likely is that Facebook comment systems reduces the ability to moderate. So when popular sites use it they can get flooded with spam and horrible behaviour which tends to reduce genuine discussion.
Facebook is garbage. Do you really want comments like “my sister made $9,000 last month working from home on the Internet! You can too if you click here!” And at least half of you brain farts will click there and get all the malware.
I have been on the fence with Freddie, but these past two weeks I have realized there needs to be a change. He does not have a a lot of talent but he is getting nothing out of them. Every day they find a new way to get beat, there is no consistency even with getting beat. The announcers talk about the outfield defense and we lose a game because of it
This “he doesn’t have a lot to work with” excuse saving Fredi is a cop-out considering he managed the highest-budgeted team in franchise history in 2014 and missed the playoffs. Fredi doesn’t get the most out of his players, though its funny that we do with our pitchers (ie Roger McDowell). If the FO evaluated him based on what he’s done with the team, and not on his personal relationships with the franchise, then he would have been gone a year ago. Fredi is an anagram for fired for a reason.
Was confused at first, had to read a couple times. You mean Fredi the manager and not Freddie the first baseman right?
We are terrible, fredi needs to go and go ahead and let Eddie manage the team and keep him everyone loves Eddie Perez
Just because everyone loves Eddie Perez doesn’t make him a good manager. There is a lot more involved than just having your players not hate you.
Freddy the manager, I feel sorry for our first baseman
Mets aren’t going to extend HARVEY until he turns it around