This is the 11th entry in MLBTR’s Taking Inventory Series. Click for entries on the White Sox, Royals, Phillies, Pirates, Giants, Padres, Reds, Braves, Tigers, and Marlins.
The Mets never expected to be in a selling position this year, but underperformance and a spate of significant injuries have destroyed any hopes of contention. Were it not for the runaway NL Wild Card race, New York might still have hope of staying in the hunt, but as things stand it seems quite likely they’ll move a few veterans.
Let’s see what’s in the cupboard for the Mets:
Rentals
Addison Reed, RH Reliever | Salary: $7.75MM
Reed has completely turned his career around since landing in New York in 2015. He has given up a few more home runs this season than he did in his dominant 2016 campaign, but otherwise has been much the same pitcher. With 9.2 K/9 (13.9% swinging-strike rate) and just 1.2 BB/9, Reed is thriving even as he has lost half a tick on his average fastball velocity. It probably doesn’t hurt that he’s back to working in the closer’s role, too. All things considered, Reed is quite possibly the club’s biggest trade chip.
Jay Bruce, OF | Salary: $13MM
Bruce only just turned 30 and is posting a strong .270/.339/.543 slash on the season, with twenty long balls already in the bank through just seventy games. He doesn’t run like he used to, but Bruce has received positive defensive grades this year after several seasons of questionable glovework.
Curtis Granderson, OF | Salary: $15MM
That’s quite a lot of coin for a 36-year-old corner outfielder who’s only hitting near the league average. But Granderson can also still play some center and has gotten hotter and hotter at the plate as the season has progressed. The respected veteran could be quite a useful piece for the right team.
Lucas Duda, 1B | Salary: $7.25MM
If there’s enough demand, Duda could potentially bring back something interesting. He has returned to posting strong on-base and slugging numbers after a lost 2016 season, and would represent a middle-of-the-order bat for a contender.
Neil Walker, 2B | Salary: $17.2MM
If he can make it back from a hamstring tear before the deadline, Walker could draw real interest. The veteran remains a quality hitter and was on a tear when he got hurt. That said, demand doesn’t figure to be strong at second base, and the big salary will present an obstacle.
Fernando Salas, RH Reliever | Salary: $3MM
He seemed like a solid value after a strong finish last year with the Mets, but Salas has struggled badly in 2017. Teams may still take a shot since he’s generating strikeouts (9.9 per nine) with a 12.5% swinging-strike rate. While his walks are way up, Salas has been unfortunate to carry a 5.88 ERA; he’s being tagged for a .357 BABIP and has stranded just 64% of the runners to reach base against him.
Jose Reyes, INF | Salary: $535K
The meager salary is nice, but Reyes just isn’t producing. After turning in a solid part-year with the stick in 2016, Reyes currently owns a meager .191/.266/.323 batting line — due in some part, at least, to a .202 batting average on balls in play. Though he runs well, his defense is a bit shaky. With the stain of a domestic violence suspension also potentially a factor, it’s not clear that there’ll be any real market here.
Rene Rivera, C | Salary: $1.75MM
The 33-year-old is a respected defender who is slashing a respectable .268/.305/.423 over his 131 plate appearances on the year. While he’s obviously not the sort of player who’s going to draw a major return, he could hold appeal to a contending team in need of some depth behind the dish.
Controlled Through 2018
Jerry Blevins, LH Reliever | Salary: $5.5MM; $7MM club option ($1MM buyout) for 2018
Like Reed, the 33-year-old has never looked better than he has when pitching out of the Mets’ pen. He’s currently setting down 13.0 batters per nine via strikeout with a 14.1% swinging-strike rate that’s easily his personal best. Blevins is also hitting the zone much less frequently than usual while battling through a league-leading 39 appearances. His value is enhanced quite a bit by the reasonably priced option year; the Mets have plenty of leverage, too, since they’d no doubt like to have him at that rate.
Asdrubal Cabrera, INF | Salary: $8.25MM; $8.5MM club option ($2MM buyout) for 2018
After publicly requesting a trade and airing some complaints about the team’s handling of his move off of shortstop, it’s no longer clear that Cabrera is in the Mets’ 2018 plans. At the same time, he’s not exactly at the height of his appeal as a trade chip. While he’s still hitting in range of his typically slightly-above-average rate, Cabrera isn’t a great baserunner or defender.
Longer-Term Assets
It seems rather unlikely that the Mets will really go out looking for deals for any longer-term pieces, at least for core players such as Yoenis Cespedes and Jacob deGrom. Pitchers Josh Edgin, Hansel Robles, and Rafael Montero could conceivably end up changing hands, though none seem likely to be targeted by contenders. Juan Lagares could hold some appeal, but he’s probably slated for some kind of timeshare in center at Citi Field next season. It’s anyone’s guess just how things will turn out with Matt Harvey in the long run, but he’s on the DL at present with another fairly significant arm injury.
Zero hope
Zero ownership commitment
Zero guts in the front office to manage the players
Zero brains in the dugout
Zero confidence to let young talent play
Over rated farm system
Destroyed dream team pitching staff
Summary: stop financially supporting this team until the Fred and Jeff are forced to to sell.
Everyone has a right to an opinion I guess
Even Jays fans!
And trolls
Socialists always start things they can’t finish!
Dude, mikeyank55, give your anti-Mets obsession a rest.
Wow. Just wow. What’s next? Cody Bellinger should be fired? He’s worked to hard for that. He’s a good boy
MikeYank
Zero knowledge of how to evaluate farm systems
Zero knowledge of the Mets despite compulsively posting about them
Zero understanding of baseball
(And yes, every Mets fan wants these horrendous owners to sell the team.)
Well from where you sit (on the toilet if you have the runs), you may need to leave the bathroom and get some fresh air. You evaluate farm systems by looking at talent that it develops.
All you need to look at is how the team looks up the middle:
Zero behind the plate
Zero at short
Zero in centerfield
And before you run, your posting lacked your own conviction towards the team. Does “every fan wants them to sell” include you, or only adults. I’m not bashing the Mets. As you read from posts endorsing my position, it’s up to YOU to take a stand.
You can no longer hide behind the facts; the incompetent management and lack of commitment by the owners causes every day drama.
Just read the NY Tomes article today where Terry Collins admits that he enlists both of his over the hill shortstops to get Cespedes to listen to reason. Come on. He’s a major league manager with minor league leadership. Can you imagine ( ) fill in the blank with any of the top managers in the game having no say on his own authority?
“stop financially supporting this team until the Fred and Jeff are forced to to sell.”
Well said. Those two are stashing at least $150 million per year in their bank accounts from the Mets fan base. They both belong in prison.
I’m not even a Mets fan and I agree with this assessment. I have 2 good friends who grew up die hard fans. Neither have watched a game this year. It’s worse than 2007
Throwing out a few fun trade proposals.
Twins get Addison Reed, Curtis Granderson, and Cash 5-7 mill
Met’s get: Tyler Jay, Nick Burdi, and Wander Javier
D-Backs Acquire: Jay Bruce and Cash
Mets Acquire: Jasardo Chisholm
Here’s the Big One
Astros give up a kingsome for DeGrom
Astros: Jacob DeGrom, And Lucas Duda
Met’s: Alex Bergman, Francisco Marte, David Paulino, and Preston Tucker
This one hurts as a Met’s fan, but Astros can move Gurriel to 3B and get a solid 1B and Ace
These are fake proposals. Don’t roost me!
twins have one of the worst run differentials in baseball. any semi intelligent front office isnt sending farms hands anywhere in their situation. obvious fluke
How about mets trade syndergard, Harvey, and Curtis granderson for Cody bellinger?
Man, I’d give up Alex Bergman and Francisco Marte for DeGrom in a heart beat. The Astros would have to go out and sign guys with those names of course, because they don’t exist in the Astros Organization, but seems like a great deal!
Even Terry Ryan wouldn’t make that trade. Why would the twins want Granderson? They need pitching, not aging outfielders. Dream on.
That’s the wrong Tucker.
Reed is a viable closer option for any team with a need in that area, yet the Nats jump all over 9th inning arsonist Francisco Rodriguez. Miami’s AJ Ramos is also available, but WAS prefers to shop for this critical need at Dollar Tree.
While trades within a division are not impossible, they would cost prospects and taking flyer on Rodriquez at this point. does not.. Still time for trades to happen if he fails. Maybe, even if he doesn’t.
I doubt the Nats view F-Rod as answer. He’s depth move with likely more forthcoming. It’s only June 26th.
He’s trade bait to get Cody bellinger. That’s it
If you keep it up then you need to know that you are officially pissing off the Fred & Jeff team who is obsessed with ANYTHING Dodgers. Citifield is so close to Brooklyn.
Last year they traded for Melancon, and now that trade has haunted them as Melancon left as a FA and the piece they used to acquire him is closing for another team.
Shouldn’t the Mets keep Blevins and resign Reed if they plan to contend next year? Unless they get big prospects in return I think trading either is a bad idea
Familia is expected to be back towards the end of the season (we’ll see)……but he’ll be back in the closer role in 2018. Reed would be a nice set-up guy, but probably will command more than the Mets should pay.
Let someone else pay him “the big money”.
Blevins needs to stay, for sure.
Blevins for Cody bellinger maybe?
Enuf is too much.
Fine. We’ll throw in Harvey
I kind of agree. Blevins should definitely stay. Reed, unless you get something “almost” as good as the yanks got last year, almost, then I think he has more value being offered an extension during the season to again pair with Blevins and maybe familia next year.
The others need to be traded. Maybe keep Bruce if he can agree to a contract similar to what grandly got four years ago.
No need to keep any of the others beyond the deadline as none of them will be back on the team next year. Even if u get a bag of balls. It’s worth dealing them.
The savior is on his way to save their season and is now in single A!!! Like Wilbon said,I don’t want to hear about Puig disrespecting the game when you have this junk.
2017 is over for the Mets but, that doesn’t leave them in a bad spot. They rid themselves of all the high cost less desirable free agents at the end of the year (I don’t include David Wright). That leaves them with Michael Conforto, Yoenis Cespedes, possibly Asdrubal Cabrera and most of their SPs. The worst is that Addison Reed is the lone bright spot in the bullpen is likely moving too.
Bu, for 2018, it looks bright: Of course, Matt Harvey has to go even if they have to sell low but, I see this as an opportunity for the Mets to acquire the right players via free agency and trades and they stand a chance to improve the most of all teams in 2018. Just hope the Management has a plan. If they don’t, they need to go.
Ya they’ve been really unlucky this year. With a couple of moves there’s no reason that they can’t at least compete for a wildcard spot next year with a core of Thor, Conforto, Degrom, Cespedes, and Familia. A couple of good position player acquisitions and a healthy matz and they’ll be fine
As long as they acquire speed and up the middle defense to support that pitching.
Rosario’s going to help up the middle defensively, offensively, and speed-wise. Going from Bruce to Conforto everyday in right field will also help with all three.
Here are a couple of moves to wish for:
-Wilpons well the team.
-new owners completely clean house of front office, training and medical staff.
-AAA team is moved to the east coast.
-young baseball minds are hired to set out a new course.
-clean house of dead weight and sell whatever useful parts you can to stock the farm system.
“They rid themselves of all the high cost”
The highest and most unbearable cost to Mets fans is Fred and Jeff Wilpon.
Let’s talk specifics. What do the Mets need for next year and what free agents should they go after this offseason?
Catcher, CF, Innings eater and a full bullpen.
I’m with you. With all the money coming off the payroll they can afford Cain and Lucroy and should still be able to add a veteran to the rotation. That would allow Gsellman and maybe Lugo to move to the bullpen and give your the needed depth there
Don’t think the demand for Reed is all that high. Other than Washington, that’s balked at Robertson so far, on what contenders is Reed an upgrade as a closer? He’s given up a hit an inning. That doesn’t scream lock down closer to me. Yet he’s still getting paid like a closer. A team like the Brewers with an low payroll and a need for late inning non-closer help might be interested, but not at a big price.
He is an outstanding reliever. There’ll be lots of demand, even if he won’t displace a closer.
The only way the Mets will get anything significant back is if they include cash in each deal. I realize reflexively anti-Wilpon fans will immediately scream it will never happen, but they did it in the Beltran/Wheeler deal.
Even so, I’m not convinced that any of the above pieces really brings back a top 50, or even top 100 prospect.
Their situation reminds me more of the Marlon Byrd trade. The Mets got Vic Black who was an effective reliever for 2 years and Dilson Herrera who headlined the trade for Jay Bruce. You don’t have to bring back a “haul” for a trade to be beneficial. That’s how the Mets have to approach trading what they have