The Mets may have a new option in their pursuit of a second baseman. Following today’s Giancarlo Stanton trade agreement, the Marlins are on track to acquire Starlin Castro, meaning they could be marketing a new second baseman just days after trading Dee Gordon to the Mariners. According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, the Mets plan to speak with the Marlins regarding Castro. The 27-year-old Castro is a great hitter (.300 batting average in 2017), but his offensive value is somewhat held back by his lack of patience (4.9 BB%). Furthermore, he hasn’t provided much in the way of defensive value over the past two seasons. Still, Castro would be an upgrade over any of the current options on the Mets’ depth chart, and he’s been a roughly average big-league player on the whole during his eight-year MLB career. Castro might not require much in the way of a prospect return, either, and he can be controlled through the 2020 season if his club chooses to exercise a $16MM option.
More items from Queens…
- Marc Carig of Newsday throws some cold water on the idea of a Mets-Marlins deal involving Castro. He tweets that although it’s possible the Mets could check in on the Marlins’ newest acquisition, it’s “not likely” that a deal will come together. The Mets reportedly prefer other second base options, so it sounds as though Carig’s sources believe they would exhaust those options before engaging in any serious negotiations with Miami.
- In news of other Mets pursuits, Carig reports that the Mets are interested in a reunion with Addison Reed (Twitter link). The two sides apparently discussed an extension last spring, and for good reason; Reed was perhaps at his best during his tenure in New York. The righty reliever struck out 139 batters 126 2/3 innings with the Mets while walking just 19. His ERA was a pristine 2.20 during that time, though his xFIP (3.28) suggests there was some luck involved. Still, a 4.47 WPA is a great mark for a reliever over a season and a half, and Reed’s 12.1% swinging strike rate is impressive as well.
- In a third tweet, Carig reveals that the Mets are open to trading any of their starting pitchers besides Jacob DeGrom and Noah Syndergaard. While there’s nothing brewing yet, Carig speculates that the Amazins could shop a starter in exchange for a second baseman. From my perspective, this hypothetical strategy could prove difficult. The Mets have reportedly shown interest in Jason Kipnis, but the Indians’ rotation is an area of great strength for the them and they don’t need to trade for another starter. The Tigers and Marlins are in the early stages of rebuilds, so they might be looking for minor league returns for Ian Kinsler and Starlin Castro, respectively, rather than players already at the MLB level. The Mets have shown reported interest in Josh Harrison of the Pirates as well, and the Bucs could use some help in the rotation; perhaps they’d be the best partner for this theoretical strategy.
Harvey for Harrison
The Pirates are looking to get rid of Harrison. If the Mets give cash they can keep Harvey and get Harrison.
send Matt Harvey to the Mets
pirates not mets
Matt Harvey to the Mets for the rest of Bobby Bonilla’s contract.
So accurate, so ironic…
send Matt Harvey to the Pirates
send Hatt Marvey to the Mets
Write it again! Write it again!
He’s a brewers fan, he’s probably drunk off miller lite. ( not that there’s anything wrong with that )
Harvey would not get Harrison. Too funny.
Phillies Cesar Hernandze for Mets LHP Steve Matz
As a Mets fan, never.
So the Mets are open to trading any pitcher except any of their good ones. Wow what great trouble Craig must have gone through to uncover that amazing news
I get what youre saying but.. Steven Matz, Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Seth Lugo, and Robert Gsellman have all shown a lot of potential in the majors at some point recently. Just none were particularly good last year. Plenty of teams would be interested in those guys though.
Rangers could move either Odor or Profar for a starter. Could possibly work something out with the Mets.
I don’t think any one is taking Odor’s contract and I doubt Profar alone will bring back a starter of quality.
Some form of Harvey/Profar deal would be interesting. Great risk, great reward on both at positions of need. Both with limited control left.
So who are the most likely 2B buyers out there? Anyone else besides the Mets, Brewers, Angels, and maybe Toronto?
Yankees?
Yeah, but they probably won’t want to absorb any salary
Nah, I think they’d just have Gleybar play 2b. Maybe acquire a utility-style placeholder while he transitioned, but I doubt they’d be in the real 2b market.
Can the Yankees still get Machado too?
That would make for an expensive “Win Now” season.
“The Tigers and Marlins are in the early stages of rebuilds, so they might be looking for minor league returns for Ian Kinsler and Starlin Castro, respectively, rather than players already at the MLB level.”
Don’t think that’s a huge problem. Sounds like it would just need to be a three-team trade. Kinsler or Castro to the Mets, Mets pitcher to Team C, prospect(s) from Team C to the Tigers or the Marlins. There should be lots of candidates for Team C among teams looking to full out a starting rotation this off-season.
I’d love to see Reed back with the Mets. He was solid. As for 2B, wouldn’t mind working a deal for Kipnis.
Yes, because we need more players past their prime who didn’t even hit .250 last year. Why is this what we are chasing?
He was injured. Solid previous years otherwise. Who would you suggest then?
No interest in kipnis. Castro I bought of immediately when he was in the trade. Otherwise are these other options THAT much better than the platoon of guys the Mets currently have? I know they are better, but worth giving prospects up for? I don’t see it.
The Rangers could trade Profar for Steven Matz or the Cardinals could trade Kolten Wong for Steven Matz. This can be beneficial for both teams.
It probably would take Profar and a time machine for the Rangers to get Matz at the point.
Matz and Profar – A DRs dream. Both would get hurt stepping on the foul line
Why would the Cardinals do that?
Why? I tell you why Carpenter does not have a permanent position. Carpenter began playing second base, then third base and now first base. If the Cardinals trade Wong, they can give second base to Carpenter. They can possibly acquire a first baseman like Jose Abreu.
I don’t see Carpenter moving back to 2B as an everyday player, and I don’t think that it would be a wise move. He was at competent there defensively a few years ago – not great, but competent – but that was when he was 28. Now he’s 32.
I also don’t see the Cardinals with much need to acquire another starting pitcher.
The Opening Day rotation currently looks to be Martinez, Wacha, Wainwright, Weaver, and Miles Mikolas. Behind that there’s injury depth in the form of Reyes (once he’s back) and then several players in the upper minors: Jack Flaherty, Sandy Alcantara, Dakota Hudson, and Austin Gomber. Even if one of more of those minor league starters are traded – as part of a package for Yelich, for example – I don’t see that the Cardinals have much need to add a starting pitcher.
Better yet, why would the Mets do that?
The Pirates might bite on some sort of Matz for Harrison deal because they don’t have a left handed starter, but…I still don’t see that.
Unless they trade Cole or Nova, the Pirates rotation is pretty much set with Taillon, Kuhl and Williams.
I think they need to look to trade Cole. And if Glasnow can get it together, maybe Nova by the deadline. This would go along with dealing Harrison and maybe Cutch, too. I just don’t see this team making any headway with the current roster. The good part is we have enough young, quality pieces to avoid a total rebuild…more of a retool.
Starlin Castro is two years younger than Gordon and a year younger than Stanton. Crazy, huh? And he’s better than you think….
Matz for Villar and Broxton get it done
There’s no way the Marlins are going to keep Castro. They’re still shedding payroll and he’s way too expensive.
Harvey would be a great fit for the pirates. Not sure about the financials but the pirates have an awesome pitch coaching staff, and could be just what Harvey needs. Not sure what the Mets are targeting besides a second baseman but pirates have plenty of depth in the infield especially if Kang can manage to get back in the country.
knowing the Mets they will target Kang and get him. And he’ll never be allowed in the states again.
Mets are locked in, most of their pitching is coming off injuries and can’t be traded. They need to upgrade their position players with young controllable talent instead of retreads. I can see them rebounding this year, but it all depends on their starting pitching. They should be able to improve this team.with free agents, but they also could be in trouble.if the pitching doesn’t pan out.
Mets would make a huge improvement to their infield with Starlin Castro. Imagine a full potential Dominic Smith, castro, Ahmed rosario and God willing a healthy D. Wright for their infield. Even just castro and rosario would make a nice middle infield combination.