The Mets figure to be one of the busiest sellers in the league in the leadup to (and possibly after) the trade deadline, though assistant general manager John Ricco doesn’t believe his team is embarking on a long-term rebuilding effort. “I don’t think we’re looking at a two- or three-year thing,” Ricco told reporters (including Newsday’s Laura Albanese, the New York Post’s Mike Puma, and The Athletic’s Tim Britton) yesterday, noting that the presence of Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard atop the Mets’ rotation allows them to “be competitive really quickly” with the addition of a few more pieces.
There is certainly some room for debate over Ricco’s stance, as the Mets currently have the fewest wins of any NL team and have so many question marks around the roster that a quick turn-around for 2019 may be far-fetched. Puma’s piece makes the argument that the Mets erred last season in assuming that the team could contend again if it avoided injuries, and thus more a more extensive retooling is necessary at this year’s deadline to ensure that 2019 isn’t another lost season.
Beyond just taking inquiries about pending free agents, however, Ricco did say that “you’ve got to be open to maybe moving some guys that are not necessarily just your expiring assets.” In any trade, be it moving free agents or more controllable players, Ricco said the Mets would be looking for players that would be ready to contribute at the Major League level as soon as next season.
It was just a little over a week ago that Ricco said the team would be open to listening for trade offers for deGrom and Syndergaard, at least in the name of due diligence as the Mets try to get the team back on track. In his latest comments, Ricco reiterated that “We’re not out there actively looking to move Jacob or Noah by any stretch,” and that it would take an “overwhelming deal” for either pitcher to be dealt.
That being said, Ricco didn’t close the door on dealing another arm, noting that “Generally, starting pitching is tough to come by, so we know we have a pretty valuable commodity in that regard.” There has been speculation that the Mets are using deGrom and/or Syndergaard as opening salvos in trade talks to aim negotiations towards a deal of Zack Wheeler or Steven Matz. Britton’s piece, available to Athletic subscribers, examines the trade value of the four starting pitchers and argues that trading Matz “may represent the best value move” for the Mets at this time.
And next year, the Mets will be in the hole again. When 68% of your roster gets injured every year, and it’s another disappointing season. The Mets will continue to add pieces but, still have 0 depth behind those pieces. I can’t see them making the playoffs for a while.
The pieces they do add have no cohesion with the current players on the roster, and are the type of players other teams pass by.
The Mets have a lot of work to do and are further to being a playoff team than they let on. I agree, no playoffs next year.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:
Lol Mets.
Jokes aside, as a braves fan it’s fine with me if they continue this “retooling” effort, because it just means they’ll be in 4th place in the NL East for the next half decade at minimum.
Kinda akin to what the Giants are doing.
So roughly the same amount of time as a complete rebuild. Interesting.
At minimum. A full rebuild if successful is bottomfeeding for 4-5 years, but then the talent comes up and you make a sustained run. This scenario best case is in 5 years you’re the 2018 giants for a year or two, and there will be a ton of 2017 giants along the way, and afterwards.
That’s why it will be longer for the Met’s. Ricco and the other Stooges won’t admit in public (or to the Cheap Wilpon’s) that their farm system stinks and that it must be rebuilt first. For the past two years they have been taking on water like the Titanic and giving the impression that their plan to remove water with Dixie Cups is working.
@bravesandcrewfan
You would like that, but I don’t see that happening.
I see a competitive team as soon as next season. With the conservative and predictable GM Sandy Alderson out of the picture, they can now make aggressive moves to stabilize the pen and add athletic players who perform well on both sides of the ball.
They can also dump a bad contract or two as sunk costs, even DFA, to open spots for better players.
Dude do you actually believe that?
Absolutely. They have the rest of this season to develop and assess some of the younger players including key call ups while making July and August deals for major league ready players.
They then head into the offseason with better idea of who they have, who they trade, who they pursue in free agency after determining who will be the new GM and front office.
Did you write this today, last season, in 2016 or all three?
I’m sorry, Nimmo looks decent, and a few guys have potential, but they aren’t the next judge/sanchez/Torres. Nor are they the next albies/acuna. Nimmo/smith/conforto under proper ownership could be pretty good, but they aren’t ready to be great. Sell off degrom and syndergaard for a ransom (for degrom you could even get Frazier or Hiura) and wait. The Mets in 2021 could be great.
That is what I don’t understand about the Mets. They should be all over trading DeGrom to the Yankees. They could easily get Frazier, Sheffield and more for him. Frazier is MLB ready and Sheffield is very near ready. Sheffield will be a solid #3 or possibly a #2 to slot behind Thor next year and Frazier looks like a possible #3 hitter. Plus they could get a couple of high ceiling pitchers like Abreu and Medina who have the ceiling to become TOR pitchers. The Yankees have a loaded farm and DeGrom seems to be their missing piece. The Mets could make the Cubs trade for Chapman look like a bargain with the haul they could get from the Yankees.
I could not agree more. Frazier is going to be a stud if he can stay injury free. Sheffield projects to be a 3 or 4 pitcher. I would also want Drury in that trade and another prospect. The Yankees have the depth to do this and the Mets would get guys who can help them immediately.
This is a case where LongTime should be renamed TooLong because of the loss of reality. When a franchise leads the league in stats as in LAST in each category, and the farm system is also ranked at the bottom, all that quick fixes do is prolong the ineffectiveness of the team.
Plus the people “assessing the players” are also in official denial. So with more insanity from the Three Stooges-banging each other’s heads to get the owners’ attention, and Abbott & Costello completely out of sync it’s guaranteed that history will repeat.
LongTimeFan1, what scenario do you propose? What trade packages do you see Syndagaard and deGrom getting you that will vault the Mets to contention? Give examples.I have more doubts of your opinion than bravescrew guy because I have been watching the Mets retool for years with no progress. So I wonder what you think the Mets will do
DeGrom and Matz to the Yankees for Frazier, Sheffield, Drury, Medina, Florial and one of Loaisiga or German. The Yankees are selling half the farm here but get the final piece they are missing in DeGrom, while also adding a solid lefty for the #4 spot after Tanaka returns. C.C. would be a great #5 and perhaps more if/when someone hits the DL again. This would allow them to trade Gray as well. I know his value is low but its time for Cashman to admit this trade didn’t work out as hoped.
Syndergaard and Todd Frazier to the Red Sox for Devers, Groome, Hauck, Chatham and Nunez. The Red Sox get the ace to pair with Sale they should have with Price plus a solid 3rd baseman to replace Devers. They offset his salary by sending Nunez back and an additional solid prospect in Hauck (92-96mph 2 seam and a floor as a #3 starter).
I chose the Yankees and Red Sox because I know their farm systems but big hauls from teams like the Brewers, Padres, Phillies, Braves Dodgers and Cardinals are not out of the question. Those are just the NL teams off the top of my head.
The trades I have outlined won’t happen but they would give the Mets 2 starting high ceiling OF (1 MLB ready) a starting 2nd baseman (Drury), a starting 3rd baseman (Devers) a potential starting SS or solid utility (Chatham) and a full rotation with 2 potential TOR pitchers in Medina and Groome (TJS is not career threatening anymore).
Frazier, Devers, Drury, Loaisiga/German, Sheffield and even Nunez (cheap option) could all help next year. With the full crop being ready sometime in 2020. The Mets could be back in contention in 2 years, possibly next year if everything breaks right.
Sorry about the long post and most of you know the information I outlined. Just thought I would make the complete argument at once.
Sure Nail. Why don’t you add Reggie Jackson to your wishful thinking list. He can play along side Cespedes and will show Ces what it is like to have a legitimate reason for not being in game shape as he pulls muscles.
Matz for Kyle Tucker. Straight up! Get it done!!
lilpartialbaldo
That’s not enough and Mets already have outfield logjam.
If they’re going to trade for outfielder, they should target strong defensive CF with good bat. Tucker is a corner.
You are right, it’s not enough for Tucker.
Matz has not yet produced better than a no.2 or 3 and hejust can’t seem to stay on the mound. Kyle Tucker is a concensus top 20 prospect (Pipeline, BA, Prospectus) if I’m the Astros I would say no.
Any sane GM would.
lofl
“I don’t think we’re looking at a two- or three-year thing,”
ROFLOL!
He’s right, it’s going to be more than six years.
CaseysPartner
No reason Mets shouldn’t be competitive again starting in 2019 through the remodeling of the roster which starts this month and continues through the offseason under new GM.
No chance. Not with the current brain trust in that office. New GM would have to clean house at the top and add $50-mil in payroll. 2020 at best, realistically looking at 2022-23.
What remodeling if we don’t trade our top tier players??????? Bro wake up. No top tier free agents will join the Mets. There’s better teams to go to. My own fan base is delusional. No wonder the Wilpons can get away with doing anything.
I agree with both posters that said the team has no cohesion and players are always hurt. They need to trade Degrom or Thor for some position prospects or next season will be the same.
the mets are one of the oldest teams in the league and one of the worst defensive
teams in the league. they tried to build around pitching but forgot defense up the
middle. how can anyone possibly think they could contend next year.
also, when degrom’s contract is up he is gone, so by the time they are ready
to win he will not be around any way. so trade him now
That’s why it will be longer for the Met’s. Ricco and the other Stooges won’t admit in public (or to the Cheap Wilpon’s) that their farm system stinks and that it must be rebuilt first. For the past two years they have been taking on water like the Titanic and giving the impression that their plan to remove water with Dixie Cups is working.
And the major league roster has more holes than swiss cheese. The only offensive category that they lead in is number of games being shut out by their opponent.
On top of their old roster with sorry stories, their decision to hire a manager who was a pitching coach should be examined. Poor Mickey made a BAD call yesterday allowing player to be thrown out at 3B. Isn’t the unwritten rule, “You don’t try to steal 1B if you can be the 1st or 3rd out of an inning”?
The Mets play a shell game with their fans. They make worthless trades to make it look like they’re doing somethingz. Why would you trade pitching if you plan to contend? So what ? Trade Nimmo or Comforto or Flores? They’ll trade Wheeler yo make themselves look invested. He’ll be great for another team and they’ll get a fourth outfielder. They really are a pitiful organization.
Where did all of the Mets’ fans go that used to defend them blindly? Someone reported sightings of them on Jones Beach wearing their Jets’ helmets. LOL
You left out this part of the press conference.
“We’re definitely open to any and all ways to making this team better,” Ricco said. “If we can use the leverage point of the trade market and the scarcity of supply to make a better deal than we’d otherwise be able to make, we’ll certainly look into that. Generally, starting pitching is tough to come by, so we know we have a pretty valuable commodity in that regard.”
If they truly don’t see it as a 2 or 3 year thing, then they shouldn’t think about trading guys like JDG and NS. Instead, sign them to extensions. Of course we know the Wilpons don’t want to pay the grounds crew, unless it actually rains, so that ain’t happening.
Wilpon BS aside, of course it’s a 2-3 year thing (best case). The deadline is not a great market to deal a player like JDG or NS. It’s a seller’s market, value-wise, but there’s a limited universe of buyers as well. Best use of the deadline is to trade quality players, but not stars, and hunt value, which is in the package it’s in (usually not guys close to MLB ready). In any case, DON’T INSIST THAT THE BUYER PAY THE BALANCE OF THE PLAYER’S SALARY FOR THE YEAR OF THE TRADE. Great way to get back garbage (like the Mets did with all their deadline deals last year). Teams in contention (which generally comprise the buyers) are usually at or over their budgets by July, and it can be painful to take on additional salary at that point. Of course, the Wilpons prioritize getting back a few already committed dollars to getting better prospects.
if you are not gonna compete until 2021 and are too cheap to extend degrom
as a top 5 pitcher you have to trade him either now or by next years deadline
or he becomes a free agent same as the machado situation
I literally read the “I don’t think we’re looking at a 2 or 3 year thing” as him saying the rebuild is going to take longer than that. And I thought good for the Mets, they’re finally doing what they need to. unfortunately for Mets fans it’s the opposite
TonysDog01 nailed it; it’s a shell game. Ricco is saying the same thing Alderson said last year. Remember, the payroll was increased with the promise that it would be reduced if they fall out of contention. It’s not about winning for the Wilpons; it’s maintaining cash flow while conning fans that they are trying to “compete” for a WS title.
Ironically, even with their poor record, the starting pitching has been good with the exception of Vargas. Matz and Wheeler have shown growth this year. Trading them will bring you back nothing that’s major league ready and possibly weaken the team next year.
As an aside, it;’s hard to take anything the front office says seriously while Jose Reyes is still on the team. Your the worst team in the national league and Jeff McNeil who is tearing it up in AAA has not been brought up yet.
As a life long Mets fan—I’m old enough to remember the Seaver trade—if we don’t make some bold moves we will not be competing for the foreseeable future. The Phillies and Braves are for real and their five to six year window of being competitive just started.
you are right, the pitching is good, they are just old and bad defensively with no pop in their
lineup. when you have frazier batting 4th or 5th you know your in trouble. plus they have a rookie manager and no one to lead them on the field. as an example: when familia didn’t have it in that game and they needed to have someone warm up quick, no one even went to the mound to slow things down and waste some time, I mean that is little league stuff.
how can you have 3 gm’s they are calling them the three tenors it should really be the three stooges, their arms are tied by the wilp$ns. they don’t know what to do x3
Agree with your summary of the 3 Stooges…however I suggest that we refer to the Wilpons as Abbott and Costello….
need to part ways with cespedes.. hes a ailment he has no interest in playing . quad thighs heel.. well my friend toes are next after heel is ok…. he been dl longer then he played over 3 years time.. say bye to him and then maybe mets can do something….
Why would anyone want Cespedes unless Mets are willing to eat contract? Don’t see that happening. Best thing that could happen is that the NL gets designated hitter and Cespedes could be in that role. It would certainly cut down on injuries.
That will take long enough for Cespedes’ contract to expire. That contract ranks towards the top of worst contracts ever (along with Price$’ contract in Boston.)
Too bad he has a full no trade clause bc Wilpons once again are slow
Mets fan for 50 years and a season ticket holder . I am embarrassed by some of these trade proposals. Matz for Tucker. Why would the Astros do that deal?. Here is my take. I am tired of the Mets trading guys at the deadline for second rate prospects who who will not be productive at the major league level. If they can get a serviceable infielder for Wheeler, make the deal. He is going to get injured again. Do it now while he has value. If they trade Matz, they have to get a player who has demonstrated he can perform on a major league level. Cabrera has been their most productive player. You would thing they can get a decent bullpen arm for him. No more Double A second rate talent.
If Matz could ever stay healthy he would hold a ton of value. It seems like most teams are chasing lefty starters with a fastball like his every year. The Mets should target someone like Happ from the Cubs. Matz is definitely not enough for him and I am not sure the Mets have the pieces to pry him from Chicago. He would be a good fit though. Young, pre-arb and that questionable defense that the Mets seem to like.
OK Ager. Call Ricco to authorize this trade; Matz for Neal Walker, straight up.
You are joking right? Walker for Matz? An impending free agent who is performing poorly for Matz? I am thinking in order to get Matz, you would have to give up Frazier in a straight up trade.
Instead of being embarrassed by some of the trade proposals, you should be embarrassed for being a Mets’ fan for 50 years and season ticket holder. I mean, how many times can the Wilpon’s pull the wool over your eyes.
How many 20 win seasons does Matz have? NONE. In fact he hasn’t won 20 games in his career. How many seasons has he started 25 games? NONE. He has started a big 58 games in 4 seasons.
Frazier was traded for one of the top 5 relievers in baseball two years ago. This guy may be cute and have grown up on LI, however his big league career has NO evidence of success NOR sustainability.
The only thing at this point in your control is to STOP THROWING GOOD $$ AFTER BAD $$! Its time to cancel your season ticket plan. If you are a NL fan, invest in Phillies’ tickets and take some of your savings to have a limo drive you to see the games.
That’s way better than supporting Abbott and Costello. (A/K/A The Cheap Wilpons.)
I don’t get why a front office which has compiled the 4th worst farm system in the MLB would be allowed to trade anyone!!! How can you trust their player assessment on any return. These guys might not even be here next year and people(mets fans and sports writers) trust them to trade whatever assets they have. That’s insane to me. If the mets want to save face, then let this trio ship out expiring contract guys. Ownership would be putting the next GM in a box if they allowed this group to trade players under contract for the next year and further out. As far as all the “sample trades involving degrom to the yankees…in my opinion, any trade for degrom to the yankees that does not start with Gleyber Torres and Andujar is an epic fail on the New York Mets part. Of course this won’t happen but the mets need hittters that can play the infield just to begin their list of needs.
Again, I’m just sayin’….
Most important comment from Hantoneenee: “Of course this won’t happen”.
Of course the Yankees wont part with either Torres NOR Andujar, much less AND.
The Mets are DESPERATE. The Yankees are NOT.
The Mets are LOSERS AGAIN. The Yankees are WINNERS AGAIN.
The Mets have one of the three WORST farm systems.
The Yankees have one of the TOP farm systems.
The Mets are NOT DRAWING FANS. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon the announced attendance was < 25,000. That includes all of the MTA workers who were on the schedule this week.
Its time to join the boycott:
DO NOT buy tickets not attend any Met's games to embarrass the Wilpon's.
STOP watching SNY to make their viewership dive.