The Mets have seen their vaunted young rotation display its mortality this season, particularly with the loss of Matt Harvey, and have also suffered a number of injuries throughout the starting lineup — most notably, David Wright and Lucas Duda. Nevertheless, the team feels that another relief arm is its top need at the moment, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.
New York’s National League entrant isn’t necessarily prioritizing a premium closer or setup man, per the report. Puma lists Ryan Buchter and Brad Hand of the Padres, Chris Withrow of the Braves and John Axford of the Athletics as plausible targets for the Mets. (For what it’s worth, the guess here is that Buchter would require quite a bit more than the other names, given his skyrocketing strikeout rate and lengthy, cheap control.)
The report also names Jeremy Jeffress as a possibility in the event that the Mets wish to pursue another club’s closer, although the asking price on Jeffress is said to be quite high. One name that GM Sandy Alderson and his staff did not pursue, according to Puma, was Fernando Rodney — who recently went from the Padres to the Marlins in an early July swap.
While some fans may prefer to see the Mets pursue some help for their ailing rotation, the club’s current plan is to use Logan Verrett in the rotation until Zack Wheeler is able to return to next month. Should Verrett falter, Puma lists Triple-A righty Gabriel Ynoa as an alternative option. Any further setbacks for Wheeler could also change the calculus.
Having already moved to shore things up in other areas, and having cashed in some notable trade chips during last season’s run, it’s not surprising to see attention move to the pen. The unit rates quite well by most measures, but that’s mostly driven by late-inning righties Jeurys Familia, Addison Reed and Hansel Robles, who are joined by southpaw Jerry Blevins to form a solid core. Beyond that foursome, though, the results have been uneven. Alderson was quite successful in rescuing Reed a summer ago, and may be on the lookout for another chance to harness a talented arm at a reasonable price.
Still don’t see why they haven’t called up Josh Edgin…also, it’s very unfortunate that their highest pay reliever is also by far their worst.
By no means am I saying the Mets should tear anything down, BUT it feels as if there isn’t another second half run in the Mets this year. Maybe I’m wrong, but it’s just a faulty team that’s had some hard luck with injuries this year. With Cespedes certain to opt out, I wonder if the Mets are considering extending some years to his contract to entice him to stay. If not, then he instantly becomes the top bat were New York to shop him in order to improve the overall balance of their team. It never hurts to restock the farm a little more or get some more bats. I’m thinking St. Louis always has a good surplus of batters, some younger players have struggled this year, but remain potential exciting players moving forward. Maybe Grichuk and Wang for Cespedes? Eh, disagree or insert any random fan-created trade proposal that won’t happen, but my point is…you’re a good team who’s in a position to be a great team next year if you’re smart about the moves you make at the deadline and in the offseason. Don’t go out and grab another Cespedes. That only depletes your farm a little bit more. You got your big bat last year and it worked. If your intentions aren’t to keep him long term, don’t lose him for nothing. After years of rebuilding and acquiring assets, that pitching rotation has already proven it can compete at a championship level. Now, if you can muster a league average offense or better depending on the moves you make in the next 8 months, you give yourself a better chance to win each year moving forward. Always tricky when thinking go for it now, or potentially go for it for the next decade.
No way Cespedes get Grichuk and Wong, especially with the opt out.
The whole point of Cespedes was to try to win now while letting the young guys develop. It seems as though they wanted Ces to opt to appease the fan base and giving it another run. Trading him would destroy such perception. They can slap slap the QO and try to play the low ball/someone made him a better offer. It seems to me that bringing in bp arms that are controlled will allow them to still let Conforto/Nimmo/Herrera to move them forward. Cabrera is still in play next year. Harvey can still be moved for a potential bat in the offseason. It seems to be that a Duda/Wright/Reyes/Flores mix the you’ve ones have them in the mix next year. A Walker trade may be more beneficial.
Cespedes has the same “no QO” clause as he had last year.
Why do you say that? The first one was a quirk of his international deal and the rules forbid efforts to skirt the QO.
He actually doesn’t. He can be offered a QO this season if he chooses to opt out.
Cespedes has a no trade clause and even if he didn’t there’s no way the Mets trade him. They’re trying to contend. You NEVER trade a guy like that when you’re trying to contend! Billy Beane did it and look what happened to his team that year!
Trading him is the way to
The Mets should prioritize calling up Neil Huntingdon and offering up a broken bat for Jon Niese.
Maybe they could package something up to send to Minnesota for Abad and Nunez? Don’t think either would hurt
People forget with all the injuries the Mets are tied for the second wild card spot so they are far from done. Though I don’t see a World Series appearance. I stand fast and try and figure out 2nd base next year along with a high average 20-25 type home run guy
Karma
For winning the National League? For having terrible owners? For being beat up by your big brother for 20 years and beyond that?
Mets are 6 games out now and with their schedule, will likely be 10 games out by Sept. 1. They need to make some tough decisions now instead of waiting until its too late.
They have the wild card spot as of today and their Sept schedule is a joke. While I hope they aren’t 10 out by then, their Sept cake walk makes anything with five games very interesting.
Keep in mind WAS has had very few games lost to key players. The Mets lost their starting C, 1B, 3B, LF, and 1 TOR pitcher. That’s literally half their starting lineup and a top arm…yet they are still in the hunt.
7 v Philly (.467)
6 v WAS (.600)
6 v ATL (.348)
4 v MIA (.534)
3 v MN (.364)
3 v CIN (.360)
Mets face a lot of questions in the second half, the biggest being around health and injuries. Assuming they can stay/return healthy, a key is Conforto. Can he return to what the Mets saw last year and in April this year? If he can, It adds length to the line-up and makes DFA’ing DeAza a no-brainer. The other key is shoring up the bullpen so Sandy is right to address it. In the end, the biggest decision to impact the Mets 2016 playoff chances may be Murphy signing with the Nats in the offseason.
They should look at veteran lefty Sean Burnett for bullpen help he’s been putting up great numbers and is 100% healthy and is available just a thought
Is Burnett available, though? Last I heard he was on a minor league deal with the Twins and hadn’t opted out.
He’s 100% available and can sign with any team plus 100% healthy and putting up good numbers, I’m just hoping a team out there will sign him he has proved himself that he is back to form
He would be a great pick-up for any team. I am rooting for him to make it all the way back to the majors also.
Thanks I’ll pass that on he would appreciate it
Would the Mets consider trading for Vizcaino??
Probat not bc there will be too much competition for him. I expect the Mets to only make a minor upgrade to their BP. Blevins/Reed/Familia are a solid backend with Robles as the rubber-arm multi-inning option. Terry only uses Blevins situationally for a batter or two, which needs to change. He has the #’s to warrant a full inning (7th). I can see the Mets looking for a setup guy for the 7th (or 8th if Reed pitched a couple days in a row).
Too bad Bastardo has been underwhelming. i was against that signing, but Sandy was bound to miss on a couple guys (de Aza being the other COMPLETE flop).
Edgin has been a ghost. Henderson faded. Gilmartin was stretched out for a starter.
Viz for Wheeler and let’s get ready for next year!
No way. Wheeler has multiple yrs of control left and could step into the bullpen if he doesn’t stick as a TOR starter. There is ZERO chancevthe Mets trade him after waiting this long for him to come back.
Tough break with all those injuries Met people… Hope it all works out for the best. Some amazing talent in that franchise!
The Braves are just now getting their bullpen settled. I hope they leave it alone for a while.
Should bring back Vic Black