The Mets and Indians very nearly pulled off a deal that would have sent Jason Kipnis to New York, according to Jon Heyman of Fan Rag. Upper management — Heyman hints on the Mets side — ended up scuttling a deal that seemed to be in place.
Kipnis was widely rumored to be on New York’s radar last month. For the Mets, the veteran would have plugged a hole at second base. And for the Indians, the considerations were mostly financial, as Kipnis is due $30.5MM on his deal (covering two more seasons along with a buyout on a 2020 option).
It was money, it seems, that caused the hang-up here. While the prospect cost was not prohibitive, Heyman says that “Mets higher-ups didn’t see Kipnis as good value.” Whether Cleveland would have paid down any portion of the remaining obligations in the proposed agreement is not known.
At this point, it would appear that the odds of talks re-opening are low. The Mets just landed free agent slugger Jay Bruce in a move that will occupy a significant portion of their remaining payroll availability. On the Indians’ side, moving the Kipnis contract likely would have helped facilitate their pursuit of Carlos Santana, but he reportedly agreed to terms with the Phillies on December 15th — right after the Mets/Kipnis talk heated up and before it died down.
In any event, the Mets do still need a second baseman — or, perhaps, a third baseman who’d bump Asdrubal Cabrera over to second. As Mike Puma of the New York Post wrote this morning, it seems the club still has a variety of open-market possibilities to consider in the infield. Todd Frazier, Howie Kendrick, Neil Walker, and Jose Reyes are evidently still on the team’s radar, while other trade options are presumably still on the table. (Puma does suggest that free agent Mike Moustakas and trade candidate Starlin Castro are not seen as viable options.)
For the Indians, meanwhile, the latest indication is that the team will utilize Kipnis at his native position of second base after having bumped him to the outfield late last year. Presumably he could still be moved in the right deal, but the organization may also mostly be preparing to hang on and hope he can return to form. While Kipnis limped to a .232/.291/.414 batting line in an injury-limited 2017 season, he carried a composite .289/.357/.460 line over the prior two seasons and has typically graded as a quality defender.
Mets are crazy. He is certainly worth the full value of his contract, unless their are medicals saying he can’t get back to what he has been.
He’s overrated
When he’s healthy he’s an all star second baseman… he’s most definitely worth that contract and a big market team with a hole at 2B would love to have him.
Hey Nats…this was a rumor fabricated by Sandy. Privately he told a few writers, “were done with free agent signings this year. We’ve learned to come up short in contracts and sprinkle in rumors to make believe that we are really trying hard. Our fans seem to go for that combination and it saves Fred and Jeff a boatload of money.”
Now you KNOW it’s a slow offseason when the stories are a trade “almost” happened for player “X” when spring training hasn’t even started!
You must not be a Pirates fan. Pirates fans are screaming that the Pirates are going to go into 2018 having done nothing to change a roster that had a losing record last year. They act like the off season is done and the season opener is next Monday. Hate to listen to sports talk anymore in Pittsburgh,.
Rob Biertempfel is the only person in Pittsburgh media who knows anything at all about baseball. Literally, the only one.
No one else has anything informed or intelligent to say about it but that doesn’t stop them.
Awesome … from a Phillies phan perspective! Still get warm and fuzzy thinking about that 07&08 seasons with that rivalry. Hopefully it heats up again.
Hope the Mets will finally stuck Wilmer Flores at 2B and give him 500 AB…
Exactly. No need to buy another infielder. Flores has always produced for them in the limited playing time they have given him. He deserves a shot to play every day. Although, I’d play Cabrera at 2B and Flores at 3B.
Smith at 1st cabrera at 2nd flores at 3rd, That’s fine and all if you don’t want to go to the postseason again.
What an embarrassing organization.
Stop trying to fight me
– The Mets
Instead they struck out. lol
Hope the Mets will finally stuck Wilmer Flores at 2B and give him 500 AB…
Hey Stef. No way sticking with Wilmer. They are doing the same thing as they did with Conforto; tank his chain so that the value of his contract isn’t so large down the road.
Typical Mets haggling about money. Thankfully they were actually correct for once. Production hasn’t been great with Kitnis and I’d MUCH rather have Wilmer Flores (field warts and all) at 2B and spend that money elsewhere. Of course…being the Mets…the $ will likely just go back into the Coupons/Wilpons’ pockets.
he’s had 2 years out of his career that his “production hasn’t been great” and both were bc of injuries and has been a solid defender his whole career so not seeing what you mean at all
As a Tribe fan I find this news very depressing. It isn’t that I don’t like Kipnis or his potential, but he struggles with consistency and injury issues. Just like Michael Brantley he’s great when he’s completely healthy. The problem is those windows of complete health have shrunk to the size of a porthole.
The Indians have had a few guys like that. Really nice talents that couldn’t stay on the field or consistent. Brantley, Sizemore, Kipnis
like I just commented a couple spots up, kip only had 2 unproductive years out of his entire career and both were caused from injuries. Every other year has been solid
tl;dr
Mets are poor.
6 extremely small paragraphs is too long?
It’s good for Cleveland. If they trade him now, they aren’t getting the 4+ WAR player that he’s proven to be. With the injuries and his .256 BABIP, there’s certainly a reason to think he’s going to bounce back. This may be the best move that Cleveland makes this off-season.
Kipnis had two consecutive season where his WAR was nearly 5 (2015 and 2016). He suffered from at least three minor injuries during the season while changing positions and only seeing a little more than half the season. He is now fully healthy and ready to play.. Wouldn’t a 2B that brings a nearly 5 WAR look good in a Mets uniform?..
Everyone already knows the answer…
To be honest.. it isn’t the performance that’s the problem with the Mets.. it’s all about the “…money.. money… money !!!……” Exchanging expiring contract players with an added prospect would be a good deal for the non-completing Mets. Not making a deal will keep the Mets from competing long after the Kipnis contract runs out.. and everyone knows this is why the Mets are second class citizens in their own city…
Wonder is Steinbrenner would’ve been irate if the Mets landed Kipnis
Hehehe…..
Aaaaaand somehow the Yankees get brought into the conversation. Smh.
I’m a mets fan and I’m lmao. Thanks for that
Hey Met fans. What level of interest do you think the Mets have in bringing back Reyes? I think he would be a perfect fit for the Yanks on a 1 year deal.
Do you think they want to reunite for 2018?
You are getting too much sun bully. The Yankees don’t need nor want a map content who has slowed up in the field as well as with his bat. You should invest energy in having your locals bring him back for a rendezvous.
Mets are a joke
I love Mets rumors. They are usually so wildly optimistic, or just misses that unforeseen events prevented beyond the control of ownership. Like the time they nearly landed top tier quality players that actually plug gaping holes, and upgrade their team to elite status.
I love reading comments of all the fed up Mets fans. It is very funny and gets me through this dreadfully slow offseason.
The Mets make the misery of being an Os fan go away
Where is the lead cheerleader, metseventually? He’s been laying low during this hot stove season. Maybe he has conjured up another new identity here, just like he did during the 2016 melt down.
Surprised more didn’t come out of the basement recently with the Bruce signings. Usually filled with delirium for something that won’t really matter and then adding predictions based upon fantasy.
I’d rather have Todd Frazier at $10M/year but the Mets are too cheap.
If I’m the Mets I would go get Todd Frazier and bring back Jose Reyes
The Mets needa step tf up and go out there and make a few more if they’re serious about competing this year
except their ownership would rather be richer than compete seriously. which makes no sense bc if they competed, more fans would actually be interested and go to games, and they would have more revenue to shove under their mattresses
reyes has no place in baseball anymore
Frazier has had a taste of a winning environment. He will sign for less for that again rather than get more and suffer through a season of misery like the Mets can provide.
I’d be content with bringing back Neil Walker. He was a good fit and shouldn’t cost that much (but still too much for Wilpons taste)
Frazier would be nice…but i feel Eduardo Nunez is a better fit…can play 2b or 3b..has decent power and has some speed…which the mets sorely lack…
The mets have enough power…
Cespedes…Bruce…Conforto are the boppers..Cabrera..Flores..d’Arnaud and Smith are close to double digit locks with Rosario not too far behind…nobody on the team is a lock to steal 10+ bases..
Thats why Nunez and Reyes should be signed
Leaving this as our lineup
1. Nunez 2b
2. Conforto cf
3. Cespedes lf
4. Bruce rf
5. Cabrera 3b
6. Smith 1b
7. d’Arnaud c
8. Rosario ss
Bench
1. Reyes ss/2b/3b
2. Flores 3b/1b
3. Plawecki c
4. Lagares cf
5. Nimmo of
Alot of versatility for good lineup matchups
If healthy..rotation is top 10 in the league and im fairly confident in the bullpen
This is definitely a team that can contend for the playoffs…with the right trades at the deadline…maybe more optimism
We shall see
PRetty sure Rosario will steal 10 bases in his sleep. I’d bank on Jose getting past 10 too.
I love mets fans that project lineups and results. They should be charged for errors in judgement to limit the fantasy stories.