Though the free agent market has basically not yet budged, that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been movement behind the scenes. The Mets, for instance, are working hard to land multiple veteran relievers, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.
There’s particular interest, Puma writes (expanding upon his prior report), in veteran righty Bryan Shaw. The durable veteran worked with new Mets manager Mickey Callaway, who was previously the Indians’ pitching coach. That fact clearly gives the organization some added insight into a hurler who has steadily produced excellent results.
Another pitcher with a recent connection to Callaway has also caught the Mets’ eye, according to the report. Sidearmer Joe Smith, who broke into the big leagues with the Mets, is closing in on his 34th birthday but has a track record of consistently good innings that’s similar to Shaw’s. Interestingly, Smith exhibited a big jump in his swinging-strike rate (11.4%) and strikeout rate (11.8 K/9, against just 1.7 BB/9) in 2017.
Two others on the Mets’ watch list, according to the report, are lefty Mike Minor and former Mets righty Addison Reed. Both of those pitchers are in the same general range of sub-elite relievers as Shaw, though MLBTR has predicted that each would be able to secure an extra guaranteed season on the open market. It seems unlikely that the Mets would be able to take on two significant relief contracts in one winter, so perhaps the hope is to land one of those three (or another, similar pitcher) while also picking up a slightly cheaper option such as Smith — who just missed inclusion on MLBTR’s top fifty list but could certainly be a candidate for a significant, multi-year deal.
It’ll be interesting to see whether the Mets are able to strike an early deal with one of these pitchers. There’s surely broad interest in all of them, and getting something done now — before more significant dominoes fall — could mean extending an offer that meets or approaches the typically steep initial asking price. To take but one example, the Cardinals landed Brett Cecil last winter by giving him a fourth year and a no-trade clause, neither of which were anticipated when the market opened.
With $80M falling of the books, and the team willing to spend $50M of it, I think they could swing 2 of the mentioned relievers. Reed may be the one out of reach as I’d expect him to get the highest contract of the group.
Actually I wouldn’t be shocked if Mike Minor ends up with the best contract of the three. Left-handed relief pitchers who can effectively go multiple innings usually command a premium price. Although Minor has had health issues in the past, he is still arguably the best left-handed relief pitcher available in free agency.
Yes I think Minor will clear $30m and maybe even $40m, not so sure about Reed.
I think Minor will be a close second, only because Reed has closer experience and can step in if necessary.
Minor already announced that he would NOT sign with the Mets. “Do you guys think that I’m crazy? Would a guy with my injury history sign with a club that is also jinxed with pitchers blowing out their shoulders and elbows?”
You do realize that news exists as a real thing that you are not the creator of right?
While I agree that Minor may be the best of the lhrp’s, his recent health issues may make him affordable although he might command 3 or 4 years which Alderson may recoil from. As an excellent alternative consider Jake McGee. I think he could easily be as good as Minor and affordable.
? Only about $62 million came off the books, and the Mets have indicated that they will spend about $330-35 million of that. You are . about signing only 2, and that Reed is probably too expensive to be one of them. I am betting on Shaw and Smith, both of whom Callaway knows well from Cleveland.
Only about $62 million came off the books, and the Mets have indicated that they will spend about $330-35 million of that. You are . about signing only 2, and that Reed is probably too expensive to be one of them. I am betting on Shaw and Smith, both of whom Callaway knows well from Cleveland.
If you include the Bruce and Granderson deals, it’s over $80. Going from start of year to off-season.
Respectfully, I don’t know where you are getting your figures from. I have the following reductions: Granderson- $15M, Bruce- $13M, Walker- $17.2M, Reed- $7.75M, Duda- $7.25M, Salas- $3M. That adds up to $63.2 million. If you are counting the approximately $15 million they saved in current payroll by trading all of those players, don’t. They are savings (which, of course, could be applied to 2018 payroll, but it won’t.) Unfortunately, they can’t even utilize the entire reduction in payroll to sign free agents or acquire players in trade, due to contractual increases and arbitration raises from 2017 levels.
According to Cot’s Baseball Contracts, the Mets have $120.6 million committed to 2018, which includes estimates of what arb eligible players will get. That roughly leaves between $30 – $35 million to bring payroll back to 2017 levels, which Sandy has said he will probably not exceed.. Even if that figure is a hard limit, there are several excellent options to fill the holes that need filling.
Ef it. Get reed minor and Shaw. Pair them with familia Blevins and Nunez. Solid all way through behind a strong but broken staff. I know I’m gonna day it, injuries aside, that side of the team can then be done and focus can be on the infield.
Could maybe then package familia to the twins for dozier too.
Why would the Twins who are a contender trade away a key piece?
Dozier only has 1 year left on his contract.
They both have one more year and if everyone noticed I said package familia. Find something the twins would want with familia. He is healthy. He showed it by coming back at the end of the season. Sorry. Thought it was a good idea lol. Sheesh.
I hope you’re kidding. We’re looking for controllable relievers and it’s not like Familia has peak value right now after last year.
Well if we’re talking about the same Familia he’s not controllable. An everyday impact player for a guy who is coming off a major injury? There is absolutely no way that trade makes sense.
WOW!!!!!! It’s Thanksgiving time to spend time with family and friends. NO BASEBALL talk today please guys. Come on just for one day PLEASE
Practice what you preach! Get back to your family!
Lol exactly
Thank you @tim4!! And the holiday is called Thanksgiving…The holiday is meant for us to take some time to celebrate and appreciate what we are thankful for!!
Maybe some of us lost our families, and we just find peace and solace in talking with others about baseball!?!?
Or…Maybe some of us are just thankful for baseball, ever thought of that??
How about considering what the holiday actually stands for, before making such an ignorant comment…Not everyone has a family to spend time with..
Look at the idiot posting on a message board for people not to post…
I’m Canadian we had our Thanksgiving in October. It’s not our fault you guys celebrate in the wrong month. Let’s talk baseball every day!!
We get it, you’re Canadian but what part of Canada is the “Real Texan” from?
Calgary?
well, maybe not wrong month, but different month.
Nope, wrong month. 😉
What if we’re thankful for baseball, and want to read more about it?
You nailed it! Everybody here is truly thankful for baseball.
everyone here but the real texan
Can’t I post while dropping the kids off at the pool
I hate my family. I love baseball
Smith will stay in Cleveland to be near his ailing mother.
It’s not going to matter mets fans. Once they get to the end of spring training you will see the DL list get out of control. Plus no sustainable offense.
To bad it is “tc’s” fault too right?
Another Wilpon off season. Looking through the scrap heap of relievers in their 30s with inconsistent careers and health records hoping to find a bargain. This is the only pool of FAs they look at because they generally don’t require long term deals.. All those guys and $$ coming off the books are great, but only if you’re committed to replacing them. In baseball and all other sports, salaries don’t come down year over year, they go up. If a team’s payroll stays the same, it’s really going down (relatively). If it’s actually going down, it’s falling off the table. If the payroll projections are as stated, it’s a bottom 10 payroll (even counting Wright’s $$ which shouldn’t count) and the Mets will be a bottom 10 finisher (again).