The Mets made repeated inquiries on Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto during the offseason, says Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic in a video tweet. They also asked the Marlins about Starlin Castro. However, at that point in the winter, the club had just traded Christian Yelich to the Brewers, and they had also unloaded the contracts of Dee Gordon, Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna; they weren’t looking to cut any more salary at that moment in time. While the Mets are prepared to roll with Tomas Nido and Jose Lobaton for now, Rosenthal suggests that the club could attempt to revisit Realmuto discussions at some point.
More from Rosenthal…
- Although it’s early, Rosenthal suggests that Mike Moustakas looks like a hot trade candidate, citing his physical condition and low salary as selling points for the Royals third baseman. According to GM Dayton Moore, Moustakas is “running as well as he ever has.” Rosenthal figures that Kansas city will be among the most active trade deadline sellers in July, and could also dangle southpaw Danny Duffy, second baseman Whit Merrifield and closer Kelvin Herrera.
- The shifting power structure of Orioles ownership might affect the way the club approaches a potential Manny Machado trade, should they end up willing to deal him. Peter Angelos was always opposed to making trades with the division-rival Yankees, but the younger Angelos’ might not place such a restriction on the concept. There are a number of other reasons to throw cold water on the idea of a Machado-to-Yankees swap, as Rosenthal notes, such as the presence of Brandon Drury and the Yankees’ possible focus on pitching. Still, the idea seems more plausible now that Peter Angelos’ sons are more active in the running of the club.
- One rival executive estimates that there are “tens of millions” of dollars riding on the health of Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson’s shoulder. Rosenthal posits that the former AL MVP will be much less valuable as a free agent if there are questions surrounding his ability to play third base; much of his value lies in his defensive prowess. Being viewed as a first base/DH type for the bulk of his remaining career could eliminate some NL teams as suitors, and it doesn’t help that Donaldson is about to turn 33.
Do the mets have the pieces to pull off a realmuto trade? I’d have to imagine Nimmo would be involved.
I don’t really think they have the pieces. From an outside perspective, they don’t have any top 100 prospects. Unless the Marlins are in love with Peterson or Dunn, I just don’t see it happening. I’d guess that the Mets will acquire a lesser known catcher if they get one now or a bigger name like Jonathan Lucroy at the deadline. I suppose they could get a buy-low guy like Devin Mesoraco also, but I don’t know if the Reds would sell low on him.
Mesoraco is an upcoming FA on a team that has another solid option at catcher. I’m sure he could be had cheaply. I’m not so sure he can handle a full catchers workload either. Lucroy makes a lot of sense. Only so many teams are going to be willing to dump their guys this early though.
On an average team, I would agree with you about Mesoraco. But the Reds are notoriously reluctant to part with stars or former stars for a low price. And they still see Mesoraco as a star. Objectively, Billy Hamilton should have been traded, but the Reds price was too high. Zack Cozart should have been traded at the past two deadlines, but wasn’t and was lost for nothing. I don’t agree with the assessment, but I am not the one trading either. .
I HIGHLY doubt they see Mesoraco as a star (now or ever). He has had 1 good year in his career… In that year, he put up 4.7 bWAR. And to show just how horrible he actually is – he has a career bWAR of 3.6, including that year…
point he is making is that the reds greatly overvalue their players, making them difficult to trade with.
I also believe that was the point he was attempting to make, but if so, it was worded very poorly.
That is YOUR opinion of whether he is a star. Or actually, baseball reference’s opinion coming through you. Not the Reds opinion.
I GUARANTEE you they see him as a star because I watch the Fox sports broadcasts of the Reds every night and I hear what their announcers say about him. You might sell him for peanuts, and you would probably be right to do so, but you are not the ones holding his contract right now. THEY still see him as a star and in 2014 at 26 they saw him as a superstar . I mean, he did make the All Star team, so that kinda takes away your “now or ever,” doesn’t it?
Just because you can’t understand a point, doesn’t mean it is worded poorly.
The Mets do not have the prospects or players the Marlins would want for Realmuto. The Mets would be better off trading with the Rays for Wilson Ramos since the Rays want to give him up to save the 10 mil. he is owed. The Mets could easily pay him that amount plus they could get him for a decent but not great minor league prospect. Ramos is a 260 hitter plus he throws out runners with an over 35% success rate which is just what the Mets need. You sign Ramos and have Nido learn from him and back him up. There are several decent defensive catchers on the DFA list that the Mets need to sign as they need back;up protection at the catcher position. Miguel Montero was released from the Nats as he was not hitting but he has always had a high rate of throwing runners out. He is a 34% catcher at throwing runners out. He also has a 256 MLB batting average for the years that he has been playing. The Mets could take a chance on him, and send him to AAA/Vegas to work out his hitting snafu. The Phillies backup catcher, Cameron Rupp has been DFA and released. Rupp also is a good defensive catcher who throws out runners and hits for power but not for average, Also DFAed and released are catchers Chris Stewart and Chris Hermann. Hermann has a really high average at throwing runners out and Stewart Is not bad either. These guys are Mendoza line hitters so their defense is what sells them. If I was the Mets I’d at least sign Montero and Hermann or Rupp as backup/minor league guys. The Mets need to plan ahead for injury to their catching staff but once again they have been caught unawares.
Montero hasn’t thrown well in 4 or 5 years.
Look at both Montero and Ramos’ stats for 2017. They both threw guys out at above 31-to-34 percent. No neither guy is Yadier Molina but no one has the talent or ability of Yadie. which includes Realmuto. Montero throws well but the Mets need Wilson Ramos because the price for Realmuto is way too expensive. It would cost someone like Peter Alonso, Marcos Molina or Anthony Kay, plus Luis Guillorme and Brandon Nimmo. That is way too much to pay for a catcher that is a bit injury prone.. The Mets just don’t have that type of talent to trade away especially not Nimmo. You know the Mets have a very fragile minor league system with very few stars
They could have Ramos for free if they pay that salary. He’s not worth the money he’s getting paid right now. He may bounce back but right now he’s easily overpaid.
Lots of issues here. Most of the guys you talked about have been picked up by other teams. The mets could get them but it’s going to have a cost of some sort.
Ramos is at a 31% rate and plus he’s not the same player he was since the ACL injury.
Ramos at 31 percent is much better that Plawecki or d’Arnaud. Case closed.
Why trade Nimmo when they could just as easily trade for Wilson Ramos? Ramos is a really good defender plus has power and usually averages 260 as a hitter. The Rays want to get rid of him because he costs 10 million dollars for the Rays to pay, and since they want to save that money they are very willing to trade him to the cheapskate Mets but only if the Mets pick up his 10 million dollar salary. Tell the moron owners to pick up Ramos’ salary. Once they do that the Mets also need to sign other backup catchers that have been DFAed and released. These catchers are Cameron Rupp, Miguel Montero, Chris Stewart, and Chris Hermann. I’d sign Montero, and move him to AAA/Vegas to work on his hitting foibles. All these catchers know how to throw runners out but Montero has the highest average at throwing them out so he is who I would sign but you can’t go wrong with Cameron Rupp as a backup catcher either.
Pitchers supposedly hate throwing to Montero, for some reason. There was a lot of talk about it when he was with the cubs.
Do not trade Nimmo. To do so will be one gigantic mistake. Lagares, Lugo, Giselmem yes but not Nimmo.
Ramos, Realmuto, Lucroy, Wieters
Would the White Sox part with Welington Castillo?
You’d think with a need at catcher, one’s options would be limited, but I see more supply than demand this year.
Wieters isn’t supply and the nationals have a demand. That’s an 11 million dollar sunk cost. Ramos is probably not a real attractive option at this point either. Mets could use a catcher. I only see lucroy or realmuto as real upgrades if you look at it objectively.
Upgrade over Lobaton? Kind of early for anyone to be selling but:
McCann, Castillo, Ramos, Castro, and Ellis should be available early.
Closer to the deadline you could see a play for Hundley, Flowers, Suzuki, or Lucroy for depth. Or the Mets look at the high end and look at Martin, Cervelli, Gomes, or Grandal. Depending on sellers and what the Mets are willing to offer.
Martin high end? 4 years ago maybe, but he’s been on a downward spiral since
Cervelli would be a good fit. Played in New York before. Only thing is whether he can stay off the DL.
Defensively he is still there, and I believe it’s something Callaway would put a premium on for someone coming in mid-season
The Rays have already reached out to the Mets, and are willing to trade Wilson Ramos who is a 260 hitter who is a really good defender with a high percentage of throwing base runners out. The Mets need to fully pick up his 10 million dollar salary and send a decent but not great prospect to the Rays, and the deal would get done. Unfortunately Alderson moves like a snail and the Mets owners are likely too goddamned cheap to pick up Ramos” salary.
Hey if you think Martin is high end and you want him, he is yours. Jays would give him away for free to clear up the 20 million in salary for the next two years. Since he joined the jays I haven’t seen a single pitch he doesn’t think he can hit into the 5th deck. I
I also haven’t seen him actually hit a pitch into the 5th deck either
Nobody will want to take on the remaining $20+ mil for next year.
There’s also Montero and Perez. Wieters is trash though.
No way Cash is giving up on Drury. He has elite potential.
“elite potential” Cashman acquired him as a stopgap until the kids were read is it.. He’s a fill in player at best.
Not sure about elite but is a useful controllable piece in a trade for machado.
Drury is legitimately the replacement for Torreyes once Torres is ready. With Wade and Drury as utility infielders. Andujar at third.
So angelos sons are more open to trade machado to the yanks then their father. Interesting
As a Red Sox fan I hope not, but the Yankees definitely have the prospects to land him
It would be insane to trade anything of real value.
Considering the fact that the Yankees will probably need to add pitching at some point this year and definitely next year you’re probably right
I’ve never been against trading with in your division. Granted I’m not a GM nor do I play one on tv, but you take the best deal you are presented no matter who the team is.
Royals fire sale: Moustakas, Duffy, Merrifield, Jay, Duda, Herrera
I would say basically everyone not named Salvador Perez is available. Really need Duffy to catch fire though.
Screw all you guys who laughed at Colon signing with the Rangers.
In 2017, 8.14 ERA in 13 GS getting paid $12.5M for ATL…hope Colon spent that money well. 🙁
I thought it was a good signing. He’s a great pitcher to sign when you’re trying to rank
It’s still early.
Part of the reason many including myself suggested to trade Donaldson in the offseason. They can succeed without him, and the package he would have brought back would have solidified other areas of weakness on the team.
It was all about keeping fans happy and watching the team. Without JD there would have been a drop in revenue that ownership didn’t want to lose. Currently the Maple Leafs are down 2-0 to Boston in hockey. If the Leafs lose, Jays ownership will take a hit on the hockey playoffs as they own the hockey TV rights. They do not want to lose more $$$.
Montero has baggage and declining skills. He is an old 33.
I promise the presence of Brandon Drury will have nothing to do with the Yankees getting Machado
Right!
Chris Stewart? Cheap,solid defensive catcher. Hits his weight.
The Mets certainly have the pieces to trade for Realmuto but, they’re at the MLB level. Trading for a healthy Realmuto would probably start with a conversation around Nimmo and Vargas. Instead of giving up a King’s ransom for Realmuto, I can see the Mets reaching out to Oakland for Lucroy, should they need a C; Plawecki is scheduled to return in 6 weeks. Lucroy’s contract is only 1 yr $6.5M which would be nothing for the Mets to take on and I’m sure it wouldn’t take too much to get him.
Is Cirvelli hurt in Pittsburgh ? I think he would cost Mets less to acquire and a good fit.
Why would Miami give up Realmuto for 35 year old Vargas? It would take Gimenez, at least 2 of their pitching prospects (Dunn, Peterson, Kay, Skapucki, Molina), Nido, Alonso. Even that’s not enough for what Miami wants.