There’ve been varying reports about the connection Mets’ talks for Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez this winter, the most recent of which suggested that the Mets “seriously discussed” parting with Michael Conforto to acquire Martinez. MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, however, was told “emphatically” that the notion was not seriously discussed whatsoever (Twitter links). DiComo notes that New York did indeed touch base with the Tigers and discuss Martinez prior to re-signing Yoenis Cespedes, but the Mets “balked completely” once Conforto’s name was brought up by the Tigers.
More from the NL East…
- Asked about his first season in a Marlins uniform, left-hander Wei-Yin Chen bluntly told Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald that his performance “was terrible.” The 31-year-old, who signed a five-year, $80MM contract with the Marlins last winter, posted a 4.96 ERA across 123 1/3 innings in an injury-shortened campaign. Chen admitted to pitching through elbow discomfort that would act up without warning and also revealed that at times he felt “a lack of strength” in his fingers and arm. Manager Don Mattingly told Spencer that the Marlins believe Chen’s elbow has healed, but he also suggested that the Marlins may be more willing to have turn to the bullpen should they sense that Chen needs a reprieve on any given day. “That is one of the things we have a better idea of, how to keep an eye on him and be ready to pull that trigger a little quicker,” said Mattingly.
- Generally speaking, the Marlins could be quick to turn to their deep bullpen if the starters are struggling, writes MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro. Per Frisaro, the Marlins are planning to take a long look at how their starters are faring when facing the opposing lineup for the third time on a given day. Statistically speaking, starters tend to fare considerably worse as they turn a lineup over multiple times, due both to growing levels of fatigue and hitters’ increasing familiarity with their offerings. Miami’s starters appear open to the additional input they could receive from the team’s analytics department on the matter, as both Dan Straily and Tom Koehler spoke to Frisaro about how that type of data could potentially help to create an edge for pitchers. “I think that’s the way baseball is going with the analytics, with the data behind everything,” said Straily. Koehler added to that: “If there is something happening a third time, there’s a reason for it. So there’s probably a solution to it, too. … I think maybe if we dig deeper into it, we can find a solution.”
- MLB.com’s Mark Bowman tweets that Braves Rule 5 pick Armando Rivero is currently dealing with shoulder soreness that stems from his stint in the Venezuelan Winter League this offseason. Selected out of the Cubs organization, the 29-year-old Rivero pitched to an exceptional 2.13 earned run average in 67 2/3 innings with Chicago’s Triple-A affiliate last season. Along the way, the Cuban-born righty averaged a whopping 14 strikeouts per nine innings pitched, though he also averaged 4.7 walks per nine in that time.
Seems like the braved get all this good talent with control problems
The control problems are part of the reason they have been able to acquire a lot of this “good talent”
Welcome to modern baseball. No one has good control, just throw a lot of heat
While some teams like to draft guys who throw 94 with no idea, the Cubs like to draft guys that throw 87 or 89 with late movement.. It seems to work okay.
Then, grab bigger name/price guys with higher velocity and late movement.
What are the names of those guys? Andd why do I only remember flamethrowers in the playoffs?
Playing devil’s advocate here, but Rob Zastryzny is the only pitcher drafted by Thoyer to reach the big leagues. Sure, he’s not a flamethrower but he’s THE ONLY ONE. I would say it hasn’t worked out in the drafting department with respect to pitchers so far.
Kyle Hendricks throws 95 every time, right?
If you aren’t following the minor leagues, you probably won’t care. However, James Farris (one of those non-flame-throwers) fetched Eddie Butler.
Very astute point.
Theo drafted hitters first for two main reasons. They’re safer. They move quicker.
So, while drafting KB, Schwarber, et cetera, early, he drafted pitching by the bushel basket full later.
As these guys were drafted later, they were “deeper projects” than taking Jon Gray. Which is what the Cubs were “supposed to do”.
Since the later-round picks were longer projects, yeah. The results have been slower.
That said, his second pick was Pierce Johnson, an 88-92 guy at Missouri State. Now a reliever, he’s up to the mid-90’s.
His third choice (Paul Blackburn) was a prep that was high 80’s low 90’s when drafted. He helped fetch Mike Montgomery.
Quite a few have gotten injured, or run into the rocks. As with any team. However, the Cubs pitching depth is the secret nobody knows about. If Eddie Butler, Alec Mills, Ryan Williams (He has some velocity, but is very boring on the hill.), and Zastryzny (Threw 86-92 at Mizzou. Changes speeds really well.) hold it together for a year or so, the cavalry is on the way.
I’m amused when people criticize the Cubs pitching depth.
Yeah, the top-side can be criticized. But the depth is what might make them a really good in the rotation sooner than people think. Without nearly as many trades as expected.
Because Bosio teaches four things.
Throw strikes. Work quickly. Change speeds. Field your position.
That works at your local 12 year old league in your hometown.. Or well up the MiLB ladder.
Throw 93 or 94.. You can get people out with good location and changing speeds on that just fine.
Mets would be dumb to trade away someone like Conforto for an older rental like Martinez. The Mets need to trade Bruce and Granderson and have an OF of Conforto Nimmo and Cespides
Agree about Bruce, but Granderson has one year left and he’s been really great to the franchise. Nimmo can wait one more year.
Unquestionably! Unload those vets–Nimmo shouldn’t have to wait any longer. Even keep Bruce for 1B–Duda’s a zero, and Granderson’s old.
How many times does a team go through a season without any starting players in the lineup and their five starting pitchers and bullpen ace….14 ballplayers….ever make it through a season without losing one or more of these guys for more than a month??? With questionable health for Wright and Duda, having six starting infielders and four starting outfielders is a deep roster that will be fun to watch. And that’s not counting Rosario, DSmith, Nimmo, and Cecchini grooming at AAA. And, as Randy Niemann told me while I played at Mets Fantasy Camp a few years ago, seven starting pitchers is what you need to get through a successful season and that’s what the Mets have now. Next stop…the postseason!
See I think the opposite. Sure, the Tigers would win that trade, but the Mets are just behind the Nats in a lot of projections. An acquisition of JD Martinez would allow them to platoon him with Bruce, have Céspedes and Granderson. That way, Bruce doesn’t play against lefties (which will help him out). Not only do you pick up an all star RF in Martinez, but the acquisition would help the team in total win the NL East
you give up conforto for a short side of a platton!!!! no way
JD would be the full time starter.
Low-key hoping that Rivero ends up back in the Cubs system somehow.
I’m not even sure he makes Iowa’s bullpen.
Pena/Rosario/Leathersich/Floro/Pierce Johnson/Rodriguez/Rollins/Sarianides/Perakslis
I’d rather get a recently drafted pitch from Atlanta in trade, or naaah.
And our first “soreness” injury to a rule 5 pick, great now stash him on the dl all year until someone notices…. No, seriously though he was extending his arm out at a McDonald’s drive through and the employee at the window made him stretch too far, they didn’t even meet him half way, I know Mr. Manfred Mann it’s ridiculous. What bad luck
So like Dan Winkler. Except you can’t just stash a Rule 5 player on the DL.
From MLBTR just last week on Winkler:
“Because of the time he’s missed, the 2014 Rule 5 draftee still must stay on Atlanta’s active roster for about two months in order for the organization to take full control of his rights.”
Which he absolutely will be on the Braves active roster for a few more months. Would be stupid to risk losing him after investing this much into him.
He needs 90 days on the active list.
And not being optioned the first season.
This one I believe. Wilpon would never authorize a trade of a guy who he can pay nothing the next few years for a guy who’s going to be looking for 25 mm per year after this season.
The Mets pursued Martinez as a “rental” if Cespedes didn’t resign. It was never about playing him and Cespedes together or trading a guy they control for the next 5 years for him.