The latest out of Citi Field…
- The Mets faced a tough challenge from the Astros in the race to sign Yoenis Cespedes in the 2016-17 offseason, John Harper of the New York Daily News reports. The Astros reportedly made Cespedes a similarly-sized offer (four years, $110MM) that the outfielder was “strongly considering,” according to one Mets source. Another Mets-connected person tells Harper that Cespedes’ “considerations were [to play for a] contender, money, no-trade clause, and [to] train in Florida near his ranch,” and Houston checked off all of those boxes but was unwilling to provide full no-trade protection. Mets GM Sandy Alderson was also wary about the no-trade clause, yet ultimately agreed to add it to the deal in order to get Cespedes back in the fold. That “separator” in talks, as another Mets source described it, may have also been necessary to retain Cespedes given his issues with former manager Terry Collins, which Harper relates at length. It’s safe to assume that the Astros don’t harbor much regret about missing on Cespedes, as they instead spread out their money to acquire multiple players (Josh Reddick, Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran) that helped them win the World Series, while Cespedes has been hampered by injuries since re-signing with New York.
- Earlier this week, Joel Sherman of the New York Post floated a hypothetical trade of struggling players, with the Mets sending Jay Bruce to the Rockies in exchange for Bryan Shaw. There isn’t any indication that either team is considering such a deal, and a trade of either player would be pretty surprising since both Bruce and Shaw just signed three-year free agent contracts last winter. Sherman’s argument, however, is that this trade would solve some problems on both rosters — Colorado would get a veteran bat who could help in the corner outfield or at first base, while the Mets would add a long-term relief piece and clear up some of their own cluttered first base/corner outfield situation. Shaw could also be helped by a reunion with Mickey Callaway, his former pitching coach in Cleveland.
- Speaking of Bruce, the veteran hasn’t played in the last three games due to some lingering injuries in his back, hip, and foot. Newsday’s Tim Healey writes that Bruce had two days fully off before being available off the bench on Saturday, though he wasn’t used. These minor injuries aside, Bruce said that he has felt healthy this season, which makes his mediocre numbers (.216/.297/.327 with three homers in 232 PA) all the more frustrating. “I feel so close. I hit balls at people. Fly out, just miss the ball. Stuff you really can’t control,” Bruce said. Advanced metrics partially bear out Bruce’s assessment — he only has a .263 BABIP, and his .344 xwOBA is far beyond his actual .275 wOBA. His 32.7% hard-hit ball rate, however, is below his career average and his .111 Isolated Power (ISO) total is by far the lowest of his career.
That’s a terrible trade for Colorado….. Shaw has a strong track record and could easily turn it around. Bruce is clearly washed up and the Rockies already have too many veteran left handed OF (Gonzalez, Parra)
And Ian Desmond at 1st base.
Terrible trade proposals are a trademark of Joel Sherman. Last week on MLB Network he actually said the Red Sox are in on Machado. Sherman is a renowned Mets apologist.
Journalism is one of the few careers that you can be constantly wrong and still have a job.
Sherman is a prime example.
Kinda like a weather man
So is trump as well
Go to your Bunker
Sick grammar and even sicker job going political. Loser
Sounds like u don’t know what Bruce did last year…
He could easily bring some of that power back playing in COL. Shaw sucks this year too. The trade makes sense for both teams.
Or they could have 2 identical hitters in Carlos Gonzalez and Jay Bruce. I also don’t see how this can help both teams.
I gotta agree that Bruce isn’t that bad .. I feel like he gets a bad reputation for whatever reason. If anything I would ask for at least a lottery ticket prospect along with Shaw if I was the Mets considering his contract
Yup one bad year at 31 years old is definitely washed up. Good thing you’re not a talent evaluator. While not good his BABIP is indicating he’s having some bad luck too. Read the last paragraph again Junior
Yes, Bruce is currently having lingering back, foot and hip issues. Sure he may have an OK xwOBA and BABIP, but he’s also has a low hard hit %, and he has a career low ISO. I’m no scout, but I don’t see how this can be a good trade for The Rockies right now, especially since CarGo is having a similar year so far. Could Bruce turn things around? Possibly, but right now, this trade doesn’t help either team.
Lol sounds like you have no clue what you’re talking about. Bruce’s BABIP is right in line with his last 5 years….. and he’s a completer liability on defense. No team would choose Bruce over Shaw. Do your own research instead of basing your opinion on one paragraph.
Yeah Bruce is washed up. Can you tell me who has hit the most home runs as a left handed hitter since Bruce came into the majors ?? (Hint: The answer is in the question )
I’m a Rockies fan. I would happy with trading Bryan Shaw for Bruce Jenner at this point. I just want him gone.
Guy set a career high in HRs last year with 36.. you don’t go from career year to washes up in 4 months, especially at 31 years old .. I think it’s pretty clear his foot issues are causing the lack of power ..
I bet Cespedes is beating himself up over signing with the Mets over the Astros.
Yeah, maybe he wouldn’t have gotten hurt if he signed with the Astros.
The ring would have made him feel better
The Mets just won 90 games and played in a WS. The Astros were an 86 win WC team. At that point they were both contenders. Yup I called you out
The article clearly states 2016-17 offseason. The Mets had just won 87 games and lost the WC in 2016. The Astros had just won 84. Yup I called you out.
Burn!!
Hey got hurt beating himself up for playing for a losing franchise. His mistake was thinking that a one year lightening in a bottle was a perennial winner.
“considerations were to play for a contender..”
….oops
They were both contenders at that point
Where’s Gregg Jeffries when you need him? The Mets were severely injured when Madoff stole a bunch of money from them. I think they may still be reeling.
Oh look, Jeff Wilpon stopped by to spread his big lie about Madoff.
The only thing that they are still reeling from are owners that use the team as a piggy bank. Wearing a mask over their eyes they steal from gullible fans by creating false expectations in order to take their money.
The past two months many have left this site, or have stopped posting. It’s time now to become proactive by note supporting the Mets financially and with viewership of SNY.
If you make that the topic of conversation (as opposed to this almost daily silly discussion of “what if’s and when will they be back’s”) you will get attention.
Imagine news coverage of (almost) empty Citifield, fans boycotting the first two innings of a game, or sponsors dropping their support of SNY because viewership is so poor for Mets games.
All of those are possible, unless you avoid truth and reality.
” fans boycotting the first two innings of a game”
How can anybody tune in to watch an inning? Remember “Old Timers” games? MLB must have got rid of them so as not to embarrass the Mets.
“Cespedes’ ‘considerations were … money, no-trade clause, and [to] train in Florida near his ranch,”
When’s the last time Cespedes played? When is the last time Cespedes played every game for one whole month? Has Cespedes ever played every game for one month since signing this contract?
This is the world of the Wilpon Mets. The only people the Wilpons are __ f i r m ___ with are Mets fans. Everyone making big bucks on the team can do whatever they want. It’s like the Wilpons sole enjoyment in life is screwing up the Mets and making them unwatchable.
“Cespedes’ ‘considerations were … money, no-trade clause, and [to] train in Florida near his ranch,”
When’s the last time Cespedes played? When is the last time Cespedes played every game for one whole month? Has Cespedes ever played every game for one month since signing this contract?
This is the world of the Wilpon Mets. The only people the Wilpons are __ f i r m ___ with are Mets fans. Everyone making big bucks on the team can do whatever they want. It’s like the Wilpons sole enjoyment in life is screwing up the Mets and making them unwatchable.
“Cespedes’ ‘considerations were … money, no-trade clause, and [to] train in Florida near his ranch,”
When’s the last time Cespedes played? When is the last time Cespedes played every game for one whole month? Has Cespedes ever played every game for one month since signing this contract?
This is the world of the Wilpon Mets. The only people the Wilpons are __ f i r m ___ with are Mets fans. Everyone making big bucks on the team can do whatever they want. It’s like the Wilpons sole enjoyment in life is making the Mets unwatchable.
Your trifecta repeat gets no rave reviews……
Hardly any players play every game for a full month anymore.
Hey metsking:
The point is not your comment below…it’s that the guy doesn’t play, period.
Don’t you wonder how a $25 million per year player can be in such bad shape that he keeps getting injured?
It’s time to just suck it up and join the conversation, which is reality based.
Mets just suck.