Having already swung one blockbuster trade this offseason, the Mets may have further headline-grabbing deals in mind. It appears they have interest in Indians ace Corey Kluber, per MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, who reports that the two teams have discussed the right-hander.
The Mets are one of several teams reportedly eyeing Kluber, a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner whose name has been prominent in rumors for a month. The fact that Kluber’s on the Mets’ radar is especially fascinating given that the future of one of their aces, righty Noah Syndergaard, is up in the air.
While New York may be attempting to build a dominant rotation led by Jacob deGrom, Kluber and Syndergaard, Feinsand notes it’s possible they could end up dealing Syndergaard and then acquiring Kluber in a separate trade. Swapping out Syndergaard for Kluber would seemingly be a near-term upgrade, though the latter is far older and pricier than the former. The 26-year-old Syndergaard has three arbitration-eligible campaigns remaining and will only make a projected $5.9MM next season, while the soon-to-be 33-year-old Kluber will earn $17MM in 2019 – also his third-last year of control.
For Cleveland, trading Kluber would be an obvious blow to its pitching staff, though a deal could come to fruition if it enables the team to pick up immediate help and cut payroll. If the Indians would indeed want controllable, young major leaguers for Kluber, then Syndergaard, outfielders Brandon Nimmo and Michael Conforto, and second baseman Jeff McNeil look like the most logical fits from the Mets’ roster. All four are under control through at least 2021 and would seemingly help keep a Kluber-less Indians team strong in 2019.
Aside from that quartet, it doesn’t appear the rest of the Mets’ roster or their prospect pool is teeming with ideal pieces to pry Kluber out of Cleveland. Baseball America ranked the Mets’ farm an uninspiring 19th in the game even before they agreed to trade a pair of their best prospects, outfielder Jarred Kelenic and righty Justin Dunn, to Seattle in a package for Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz. The Mets do still have two of the outlet’s top-1oo prospects, however, in shortstop Andres Gimenez (No. 53) and first baseman Peter Alonso (No. 72).
While it’s unknown how serious the Mets are about Kluber, it’s fair to say they’re positioning themselves as one of this offseason’s most interesting teams to watch. General manager Brodie Van Wagenen has been a polarizing presence in his first few weeks as an executive, but it’s clear he’s willing to make bold moves in an effort to improve a New York club coming off back-to-back sub-.500 seasons.
Syndergaard+ for Kluber?
Why make that trade if you are the Mets? They both have 3 years of team control left. Kluber will just make a ton more over those same 3 years. It makes no sense for the Mets.
Kluber can stay healthy. Syndergaard can’t. Kluber is also better than Syndergaard
Oh, no doubt Kluber is better. But he’ll make more than 3x what Syndergaard makes next year alone. Is he 3x better than Syndergaard? It just doesn’t seem like a good use of resources for the Mets.
Spending plenty on Cano.
agreed…pretty obvious the new GM is trying stabilize the rotation with a pitcher that has a healthy track record.
Oh, I agree with what you’re saying. I was just pointing out why NYM would do it. But, they shouldn’t.
Stop worrying about money. If they put a better product on the field then more fans will come out to support.
and west coast dont forget KLUBER SUCKS IN THE POST SEASON
In the 2016 Postseason, Kluber started six games, and pitched 34 innings with a 1.83 ERA.
Typing in all caps can’t change the facts.
Syndergaard is often hurt. I wouldn’t deem his future as “great”, though still promising.
Is Kluber 3x better than a healthy Syndergaard? No.
Can Syndergaard be counted on to pitch more than ~150 innings in any of the next 3 years? I wouldn’t bet on it.
You act like Thor has only pitched in 10 games the last two seasons.
He’s not a chronic injury person
Kluber has pitched over 200 innings 5 years in a row. Thor’s career high is ~180, and he’s been under 155 his other 3 years. 1 guy appears to be much more reliable than the other, which is VERY important when talking about 2 equally talented players.
Yea sure and David Price stunk in the off season too … until he did not
Actually Thor is injury prone. The facts support it. Pitching in more than ten games the past few seasons does not change the facts. He is injury prone.
You wouldn’t be paying Kluber 3x as much. Syndergaard is in ARB he won’t be making 18 million total over the Next 3 years. In all likelihood it’ll be 30-35 million. You figure he’ll be at 10+ next season and then gets another raise on that figure the year after. Kluber is owed 53 million. In all likelihood you’ll be paying syndergaard at the minimum half of what Kluber makes. That 3x figure is just not realistic.
Presumably they’re going to pay Kluber no matter who they trades for him.
Why are the Mets trying to trade him in the first place?
They’ve obviously soured in him
Syndergaard plus for Kluber actually makes a lot of sense and is probably the only way they land Kluber anyway (or they deal Syndergaard to someone else and those prospects are used to flip to CLE…. either way hard to see NYM adding Kluber without losing Syndergaard one way or another)
Exactly. No way Mets can get Kluber without losing Syndergaard anyway. Cleveland’s only trading Kluber to save $. Thor is probably their best bet to minimize the hit to their rotation and save cash.
Mj . no it doesnt I wouldnt trade a 26 year old stud for a 33 year old 3 times as expensive stud ever
if you would trade kluber for Verlander. since you think its fair.
Age doesn’t matter unless you’re going to extend them past 3 years. I’d bet that Kluber will be better from 2019-2021.
baseballpun, i never said they could but Cleveland cant get Syndergaard period.
why would anyone pay 30 million more for a mid 30’s pitcher just starting his decline?
Syndergaard is 26 just going to arbitration with his best years in front of him
not i., you say age doesnt matter, then by all means trade Kluber for 36 year old verlander, why would you care about 3 years older, after all you say age doesnt matter
Thor can’t stay on the field and apparently the Mets don’t plan to have him for more than 3 years anyway. Why do you think Kluber will be worse than Thor during the next 3 years?
Verlander is more expensive and under control for only 2 years so that would defeat Cleveland’s goal here. Your analogy makes no sense.
Exactly,I believe the 3rd team will be involved on this blockbuster trade May be the Padres ..Kluber to Mets Sindergaard to Padres and and a prospects package to Indians.. that the only way this possible trade would make sense.
Marlon Rivera
The Indians are not looking for a prospect package…they want major league ready players; corner outfield, young controllable sp, and bullpen help.
They are looking for players to help their team now…basically reallocating money from the rotation to other areas of need.
And yet here we are with reports the Mets are trying to trade Syndergaard and bring in Kluber
They may not be in the same report but it’s effectively the same thing
Guess it didn’t need to make sense to you for it to be a reality. Who knew…
Oh ok, I thought they’ll rebuild not contend
Cleveland will likely spend the same money this year as last year, With arbitration raises and needing to fix the outfield and bullpen, Cleveland is trying to shift money around to get younger and get cost controlled help in those areas. It is not strictly a cash dump.
Baseballpun you tried but Billneftleberg’s analogys never make sense
How much of a “reality” are trade rumors anyway? 90% of the chatter on here never happens. Take that for what it’s worth.
If finishing in the top 3 for the cy young is declining I would say he Kluber is pretty amazing. Similar talent but one stays on the field for a full season and the other does not. Those extra 50 innings can go along way
ARE YOU KIDDING….THE AL CENTRAL WAS 262-386 (not counting cleveland) and Kluber was 5-4 against teams with winning records
so that means he went 15-3 against teams under .500
syndergaard by comparison was 6 and 4 against teams with winning records
and 7-0 against teams under .500
All those number and they mean a whole lot of nothing. Big difference, the Tribe blew a W and he was 5-4 instead of the 6-4 Syndergaard was.
What about Kluber for Syndergaard
Lateral trade
The Indians are going to likely want Conforto, Nimmo, or McNeil plus more.
IF the Indians are trying to move Kluber for payroll flexability. Why would the NYM’s pay anything more than Thor. Thor’s controlled 3 more years. I feel the NYM’s would have the leverage here. No need to force the issue and over pay in this situation. They can hold on to Thor and still move him next year with 2 years left of controll.
Sorry, just can’t rack my brain around why they would pay more in players in this situation.
Just sayin’
He’s making the roster older and more expensive and weakening an already thin farm system. I wonder what other aging former clients he’ll pick up
Correction, one piece
You don’t get prizes for having strong farms. The job of a farm system is to make a good MLB team regardless of how it happens. If it happens by graduating a lot of prospects, so be it. If it happens by trading all of those prospects for big league players, then so be it. The ultimate goal is winning at the big league level.
Tell that to Padre fans
The goal is to have a farm system that’s able to help your ML team with depth, and allow them to be a sustainable winner..
The faster you try to become a winner overnight, that’s the faster you’re going to have to go through a full rebuild..
It’s a balancing act, and that act is extremely important for teams with lower budgets..
Yeah, but sustainable winners don’t really happen. Look at the Royals. They had the best farm system for 2 years and those prospects either graduated or were traded for big league help. That helped them get to 2 World Series in a row, winning 1. But then all of those prospects start getting paid big money and the team is broken up and the cycle starts anew. It’s going to happen to the Astros in two or three years, if that long, and then the Braves a couple years after that and then whatever team comes next (Padres? White Sox? Someone else?) and so on and so on. Unless you have a huge payroll like the Yankees, Dodgers, or Red Sox, there is no such thing as sustained success in MLB. There are just small windows that you can hopefully take advantage of.
How do you explain St. Louis then? They have had a sustained winner for almost the entirety of the 2000’s, and that has been in large part due to the strength of their system.
Or what about Atlanta’s 14 division titles in a row? If that doesn’t scream sustainable winner then I don’t know what does.
St. Louis hasn’t made the Postseason for the last 3 seasons so I don’t know why you think they’re “sustainable winners”.
The biggest reason there aren’t dynasties anymore is because of the level of competition in MLB. People thought the Cubs & Astros would be back to back WS winners but the Cubs actually lost the Division Title & we’re eliminating in the Wild Card.
Astros faired a bit better but lost 4 games straight in the ALCS to the Red Sox.
Problem with the Royals was you either have to sign guys to longer team friendly deals thru arbitration or not be afraid to trade guys that don’t want to sign those type of contracts before they become free agents to replenish guys.
Their rebuild would be coming along so much faster if they broke the team down a couple years ago and traded Hosmer, Moose & Cain instead of going all in at the deadline. Also Gordon is proving to be a bad long term commitment. They should have let him walk and got a draft pick instead.
The financials of the game is a lot different now than during the Braves streak from 1991-2005. You might as well claim the Reds and A’s runs in the 1970s as examples too. Completely irrelevant.
You are correct. Teams make choices.
When the Reds were winning in the first part of this decade, they had to choose whether to sign Homer Bailey or Johnny Cueto long term. They chose wrong and have been paying for it since.
The Twins following their playoff success in the mid 2000s signed Joe Mauer long term. It basically stopped them from competing for the duration of the contract.
The Royals gambled on a last run and lost. I would argue that they would have created a lot of bad press had they traded everyone when there was a chance at a last run. It may have been the smart roster move for the farm, but not the correct business move for the franchise. You don’t want your fans to start associating you with Marlins-type fire sales, because that label is never going to leave Miami.
You can also explain St Louis in that for the majority of the 2000s, the NL Central was a very weak division. The Cubs are the only team with a payroll consistently larger than the Cardinals and they were very bad the majority of the time. Just like Detroit in the AL Central for a decade, they were competing with teams with lower payrolls the whole time. Plus, it didn’t hurt that they had the best player for the decade of the 2000s. You’ll also notice that basically since the Cubs started winning, the Cardinals have fallen off the pace. So I stand by my original statement that without higher payrolls, there are no sustained winners in MLB.
Yeah, but no one expected Gordon to underperform so badly. Based on his history it looked like fair deal.
Nice 20/20 hindsight. Tell us what Houston, or the Red Sox should do to sustain.
This is the most logical comment I’ve seen here and it has 4 dislikes. Seems like there are a lot of fans who don’t like reality.
Everyone says look at STL we’ll im looking at them. They’ve been not good enough for the last 3 years and don’t seem to be any better this year. What they really need to do is go all in one way or the other with their team right now. They aren’t good enough to win a WS with their current roster. You have nice players and a better than average team but what? You aren’t better than the cubs and you aren’t better than the brewers as it stands today. They need to make a move to make that happen or go in the other direction.
NYM hasn’t drained their farm as some say… on Twitter. I says, NYM can swing one for Segura. Easy.
Nimmo and McNeil…..to start.
Relax
Segura in my view is overrated.
I guess it might be my “East Coast bias” and sometimes it’s best not to speak. After just looking more into Segura, I was wrong. The offer of Nimmo and McNeil might not be sufficient.
Where does it end then ? Lmao
Mets should see if they can get Braun or kemp for nimmo and Alonso since that’s the direction the gm seems to be going in
Longoria all day.
Kelenic will be ranked higher than gimenez and Alonso by mid season can we return Diaz for kelenic two years down the line?
Would wheeler or Matz , andres Gimenez, David Peterson Dominic Smith get it done ? Maybe add a Lagares. I would hate to give up Nimmo
That’s way too much to give up for a 1 year rental player.
Who is the 1-year rental??
Kluber isn’t a 1-year rental, he’s signed for 3 more years..
Who’s the 1 year?
Wheeler? The whole thing doesn’t make sense.
It’d be fun to see the two Stetson stars in the same rotation.
Kluber may be better than Syndergaard but Id Never do it one for one, those 6 years in age means cleveland adds.
and im sure their fans know it
Agreed. The Indians would have to include a couple of good prospects.
Danny B.
You have the wrong team sending extra players buddy. It would be Syndergaard + more for Kluber…not Kluber + more for Syndergaard.
Usually Danny boy is off his rocker but in this case he might be close. If both guys were 100% healthy for 3 whole years then you might say Thor would be a tiny step above Kluber. However as we know Syndergarten can’t stay healthy. So in that regard I think you say you value them talent wise the same.
Then you look at age which doesn’t always matter but if you have a pitcher from age 27-29 vs 33-35 or whatever their exact ages would be across those three years you’d have to say the younger guy is worth a tiny more.
Finally you weigh their costs and kluber over those 3 years will cost more. This is really the strongest argument for why as an asset Thor is worth a little more.
So in that regard while pretty darn even pitchers in a dead swap you probably have to add in a little more on the Indians side. Not much, and certainly not their #1 prospect or anything but maybe a top 5 and a top 20 or something.
You’re severely downplaying the importance of availability. You can give Thor all the tiny advantages you want, but having someone you can count on for 200+ innings (of the same, excellent quality) is a huge advantage.
Personally, I don’t think it’d take much else, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kluber go for Thor and a lottery ticket or two if a trade happened. I don’t think any substantial prospects would be moved either way.
Yeah end of the day it would really make no sense for either team. You can argue who is more valuable but when you trade pitchers of this caliber you are aiming for young controllable players.
You’ll never be able to trade pitchers like that straight up for rookie stars like Acuna or Soto, you’d never get more established stars like Betts, KB, Judge in a one for one trade, heck even though these Mets delusional fans would scream otherwise you could offer Thor AND DeGrom together and not even sniff Mike Trout in a trade.
Indians are still in a crap division and have a solid team so if they must trade Kluber then aim for a couple everyday players I suppose to help in their current 3 year window they still have.
Mets I have no idea what they think they are. Yeah now they have a lights out closer and an aging dinosaur at second (he’s ok but not great anymore) but they are not a playoff team.
Salty comment.. but it’s ok… we will show who we are .. at the end of the offseason..but I agree with you.. about we are not playoff team.. just not yet but at the end of the offseason we’ll be… this is just the beginning of something that will keep your mouth shut for a year.. lol
Look I suppose the Mets could be if they keep gutting their farm system. A week ago Mets fans were screaming to trade Thor to get young guys to build along with keeping DeGrom and in a couple years they could be relevant again.
Then sort of out of nowhere this weird Cano and Díaz thing comes up where now the Mete shipped out minor leaguers instead of getting them. So if they are really shifting gears and somehow going for it then I suppose they just keep Thor, trade other prospects and maybe they could build a playoff contending team. But that seems like it could backfire and then in a couple years they’d lose those pitchers as they can’t sign both an then you’ve lost your minor league depth, your $20 mil per second baseman is 38 and your lights out closer rarely has a lead handed to him to save.
Just kind of an odd path the Mets have started in the last week.
uhhh im a braves fan and im pretty sure two years of the best pitcher in the MLB and three years of syndegaard would get two years of Mike Trout.
I honestly don’t think so. I mean that would be the king of stupid trades anyway the Angels would finally get good starters but have lost their best offensive player, and the Mets would have gotten the best player in baseball but have a horrendous rotation. So would never happen anyway.
But still I don’t think that offer would do it. DeGrom and like a Rendon type of player or something maybe? I know he’s not on the Mets just trying to think of a star young player.
Anyway forget I said anything Trout ain’t going nowhere.
Who cares if Kluber is older? Mets aren’t extending Thor, apparently, so the only thing that matters is 2019-2021.
Don’t waste your time. The Mets fans that believe Syndegaard is more valuable than Kluber are delusional. Syndegaard is no lock to stay healthy, and even when he is healthy, he is not as good as Kluber.
I don’t get it. No one is talking about whether either should get a 10 year contract, just who will be more valuable over the next 3 years.
no baseballpun and baseball1600 WE KNOW KLUBER IS BETTER, BUT WE ALSO KNOW ONE PITCHER IS PAID TWICE AS MUCH AS THE OTHER AND IS ALSO SEVEN BASEBALL YEARS OLDER
if you dont see that you two are the delusional ones
we dont see the indians offering Kluber for Verlander do we?
You keep repeating that and it still makes no sense. CLEVELAND WOULD SPEND MORE MONEY BY TRADING FOR VERLANDER.
then why would the mets spend more for Kluber, hes in decline and way more expensive
and kluber plays in baseballs worst division, so how do you know hes really better
Kluber:
1 way way way more expensive
.2 way way way way older and on decline
3 Kluber has pitched in baseballs weakest division for many years
Kluber is in decline? What are you talking about? He was third in the Cy Young voting. He had an almost 6 WAR, a sub 3.00 ERA, a sub 1.00 WHIP, he lead the league in innings pitched and walks per 9 innings. He had 6.5 times the number of strikeouts as he did walks. And he won 20 freaking games. And by the way, he’s been doing this for five years. He is the best pitcher in the majors over the last five years not named Scherzer.
Please explain how this is a decline?
I was about to issue a response to the “Kluber in decline” nonsense. Couldn’t have explained it better NorCalTribeFan. Thank you
Yes a players age is definitely a mark of their skill level.
I would trade Syndergaard for Kluber, Nolan Jones & Noah Naylor.
Kluber is much, much better than Syndegaard and has proven he can stay healthy. Next.
good baseballpun and baseball1600, go trade Kluber for Verlander than, hes better than Kluber, and you keep saying age doesnt matter
Prove it.
Jesus, Cleveland is only trading Kluber to save money. Verlander costs more. Your dumb example makes no sense.
the mets dont want to waste money either. or get pitchers in decline so I guess you agree cleveland isnt getting Syndergaard
The Mets want to win now. That’s why they made the Cano trade. Kluber is a short term upgrade. They clearly don’t plan on extending Thor so he offers them no long term value.
“the Mets dont want to waste money” what about the 64 million for the next 5 years that they are on the hook for with over-the-hill Cano?
How much you think they would pay for a all star closer on free agency?… they’re paying Cano cuz Diaz not for Cano .
we dont necessarily need an Allstar closer….we couldve signed a few relievers and saved the top prospects for a Kluber or Realmuto or somebody else!! who knows what Diaz will be in NY?
Mets are undervaluing the catching position for some reason!!
@neftberg
Cleveland, being in a small market, has maxed its payroll, and needs to drop salary. New York is a big market, and should be able to afford “sure things”. Kluber would not be in trade talks, except for the cash crunch. The Mets plan on moving Thor, even though hes affordable. If age is all that matters, why not trade Thor for a younger more injury prone pitcher? I am certain the Angels would be interested.
Cleveland is definitely not only trading Kluber to save money. They are trading from depth to fill holes. Unlike New York teams and a few others (bosox, Dodgers) they can’t spend money Willy nilly to fill those holes so they have to be more creative.
It would be closer to Syndergaard and Conforto for Kluber then Syndergaard for Kluber plus the Indians worst prospect.
Kluber is better! He will likely be better for the next 3 years. The Mets will not resign either player.
So the only thing you need to look at is the next 3 years! Kluber is one of the 5 best pitchers in ALL of baseball! Syndergaard has been talked about for it seems like forever now about how great he is and hasn’t lived up to anything at this point. He hasn’t been able to stay healthy or been inconsistent at times when healthy. He still has the potential to win a cy young but do you want potential or proven fact!
Kluber has proven for the last few years he is in the elite category of SP. Sherzer, Kershaw, Kluber, Verlander, and Sale. In 2018 deGrom and Snell have put their names in the conversation for top 5…However Syndergaard is No where close to that level. That doesn’t mean he can’t be…he just hasn’t proven it yet.
Forget Kluber trade Syndergaard,Frazier and Rosario to Milwaukee for Corey Ray (speedy cf),Hader and Davies helps the Mets 3 ways in cf,sp and a lefty bp. Sign Eovaldi or Keuchel. Sign Wilson Ramos.
Ray,Mcneil,Cano,Alonso,Conforto,Ramos,Nimmo and Gimenez
Rotation: deGrom,Eovaldi (Keuchel), Wheeler,Matz and Davies.
Jvent Id probably do that trade, but Milwaukee wouldnt. Hader is a dynamic pitcher in his own right andCorey Ray is very well regarded. Zack davies had a down year this year but he was a 17 game winner last year which Syndergaard has never done
the brewers would laugh and hang up and I wouldnt blame them
and as an aside, I get why the indians need to make a trade. to fill other positions, but how does Swapping Kluber for Syndergaard do that exactly?
unless they then swap the younger more Desirable Syndergaard immediately afterward. Kluber is currenly the better pitcher, I think most would agree, but he will be 33 by opening day Syndergaard wont be 27 till the End of august.
so in pure baseball terms youd be trading for a 7 seasons older pitcher
The only reason to flip Kluber is to save money. Thor is probably the smallest step down they could get back. Use the savings to sign an outfielder and/OR second baseman.
Billnet, you get why the Indians would trade Kluber. The payroll part I understand but the. What are you replacing him with? Not another ace. Raises the question then of whether Indians (whose system I’m admittedly not as familiar with) might not be headed toward a rebuild.
oh trust me dmitri, i get why the indians would trade a pitcher for cost controlled young outfielders
but asking for Syndergaard isnt doing that
unless they trade syndergaard right after, then yes it would make sense
but why would the mets do that, ? syndergaard by virtue of being Seven years younger has more value than kluber
Kluber is a great pitcher but Syndergaard is better in the post season by far, and is much much younger and is paid less than kluber, by 14 million currently. and several million after that.
for that reason trading him for an aged kluber makes no sense at all
kluber sucks in the post season , why would anybody want him in the post season?
Mets currently have 2 healthy outfielders on their Roster: Conforto, Nimmo, Lagares & Cespedes are hurt …. so whose going to be in the outfield???? Can’t see the WILPON’s paying Harper 300M +
This just screams of a PR release for the Mets GM..He wants to keep Mets fans excited, and prove he’s “attempting” to explore all upgrades..
Otherwise, it makes little to no sense. Their rotation clearly isn’t their biggest weakness, nor should it be where they use up what little assets they have left..
There’s no reason for them not to go after another starter. You don’t know for sure if Syndegaard can stay healthy, and Wheeler is a FA at the end of the year.
Disagree, he’s agressive and we actually match up well in a trade. We have both nimmo and Conforto young OF is exactly what they’re looking for.
And an OF’er or 2 will be what you all are looking for if you trade one of those players..
I think the deal would start with nimmo of Conforto plus,matz, Probably gimenez as the third piece and then maybe larges ? Not sure if anyone has any interest in him at 9 mil, but nimmo,Matz, gimenez plus would be a nice haul for Cleveland
Matz has no value!! he is more injury prone than Noah….next
He definitely has value, stayed healthy last year and showed he’s a solid 3,4. He would be the 3rd or 4th piece in the deal anyway.
Bravesfan88 you’re right we would then need to replace them, another option if we dealt Conforto and or nimmo is McNeil he’s played OF in the minors.
why are met fans so high on Nimmo? he came out the gates hot however cooled off tremendously.
I’m not a Mets fan, but could lie in the fact that he’s good. He also produced more in in the second half. But don’t let facts get in your way.
facts? I would have thought you have have produced splits with your claims.
First half .253/.373/.490
Second half .279/.446/.471
The reason he cooled down in the first half which is what I believe you’re referring too is he got home run happy but made the adjustments.
And we see why your name “NotaGM” holds true.
What reason do they have not to be high on him? He’s proven that he can produce at the big league level at a young age, with room to improve.
Idk maybe his .886 ops good for 17th in the league, pretty good reason to be high on a guy. Plus, he leads the league in smiles.
Yeah, dude is a solid, solid player. ..Why wouldn’t Mets fans be high on him…Plus, he’s an OBP MACHINE!! He’s THE prototypical number two hitter every team wants..
I’d love me some Nimmo on the Braves..He plays hard, is a fan-favorite, and heck, even as a Braves fan I can’t help but like the guy..
It isn’t just Mets fans that are high on Nimmo, everyone loves Nimmo..Or they should, dude is awesome..
.404 OBP
I agree I have no idea why any Indians fan see him as a answer to our outfield issue Nimmo is at best a platoon type outfielder and has not proven otherwise.
also I keep seeing 2nd baseman and 1st baseman mentioned in deals for Kluber but it looks like they plan on giving Chang and Bobby Bradley every chance to leave spring training with those jobs,
they are looking for Quailty proven starting outfielders and relievers possibly a catcher to headline a Kluber trade return.
prospects would only be the icing on the cake at the end of the package to tie up the deal.
like what just happened in the Cano Diaz deal.
Jose Ramirez is slated to take over second base to get Yandy Diaz another chance at third.
I’d rather have Syndergaard than Kluber
so would anyone with a brain corey. but some people here dont realize that pitchers start declining at Klubers age…..
they also consider salary and Syndergaard will make half of what kluber earns
Thor will be the best pitcher on the DL, to be sure.
and Kluber will be retired while Synsergaard is winning Cy Young Awards
Not for the Mets he won’t.
and Kluber will be retired while Synsergaard is winning Cy Young Awards
and Syndergaard has actually won a world series game Kluber is still looking
syndergaard is a better pitcher when it counts in the post season in their lone World series starts Sybergaard won and Kluber lost
If the Padres get him, he may not even be the best pitcher on the DL on the Padres. He and Garrett Richards could play “Uno” in the bullpen
Kluber won 2 games in the 2016 WS…
Without getting into the whole who is better debate….
The way I look at it, if Cleveland is looking to move Kluber for salary relief. WHY in the world would the Mets give up anything more than Thor. Seems like the NYM’s have the leverage. They have Thor controlled for 3 more years. There is no need to give him up and others at this time. To give up any of the players mentioned in a lot of these posts (Nimmo,Conforto,McNeil) just doesn’t make sense to me. Seem like an over pay for a team looking to move salary.
Just sayin’
If you can extend him, sure.
Once Syndergaard gets seriously about staying healthy and tones down his “off-field activities”, maybe he has the potential to be as good as Corey Kluber actually is now. Until then, I’d take Corey Kluber over Thor with no hesitation at all.
fine Ill take the guy who has won a world series game, and who in a winner take all Wild card game pitched 7 innings allowed 2 hits Zero runs and struck out 10
you can keep the guy who lost his only world series game, and who imploded his way to a 12.79 Era and cost his heavily favored indians a division series
one guy is clutch the other not so much
Kluber was 2-0 in the 2016 world series series. Stop talking out of your bum you blind Mets homer.
Kluber will be a Dodger.
As long as the Dodgers stop trying to pawn there problem child Puig in the deal and agree to include Verdugo in a package then the Dodger rumors will kick into full gear again.
Puig is a stud, continuing to improve and is a fan favorite. Cleveland would be fortunate to land him.
The fan favorite Puig can stay in LA. One year of Puig is not what the Indians are looking for.
I am eternally grateful to the Mets for taking Cano off our hands. Just wish they could have taken Seager too…
I think the mets see the NL East as vunerable!
Which I do too
Matz ,Lagares, D.Smith and D. Peteeson and Plawecki for:
Kluber, L.Ice and G. Collins
Why would Cleveland trade Kluber and prospects for 5 average or worse players. Cleveland does not need a CF. We need corner outfielders. No way on this trade.
Hey Mets, you should rebuild. Trade Syndergaard, Degrom for massive returns any usable pieces for what you can get, get some salary relief from bad contracts. Sincerely fans.
Mets- NO WE ARE GONNA TRADE RECENT HIGH DRAFT PICKS AND YOUNG CONTROLLABLE TALENT FOR AN EVEN OLDER MORE EXPENSIVE VETERAN HITTER AND PITCHER!
Yup that’s a great plan. Trade the future and go all in balls to the wall no regard for human life decision making.
Maybe they miss paying Johan Santana.
This is all getting pretty surreal.
We ARE talking about the Mets.
What are they trying to get back in a Thor trade? Prospects or ready now roster pieces?
This is one article where I absolutely don’t believe the writer. Mets May have called to say hey we would have given you way more for Gomes what the hell is wrong with you ?
I do think trading Thor is the right thing to do but only if the Mets sign Wheeler to an extension 1st. I believe Wheeler will have a big year next year and may price himself out the Mets.
I have 2 deals with San Diego I could see happening
1. Mejia, Stamman & Gore
or
2. Hedges, Renfroe & Paddak
Either way it would be filling holes on the major league roster.
I just don’t think Preller will give up Gore or Paddack. Maybe someone like Baez, Morejon or Quantril
Considering the market is flooded with RP and 2B. Couldn’t the Mets have signed one of Britton, Miller, Robertson for probably around 10 million or maybe even less. Yes none of these options are as good as Diaz but the drop off ain’t that much.
The Mets could have then used the prospects they traded for Cano/Diaz for Kluber. They then could have kept Noah and had a rotation of Degrom, Kluber, Noah, Matz, Wheeler.
Only problem with that is Indians don’t want prospects they wanna fill holes at the mlb level
I could totally be wrong, but at least part of me says that the Mets side purposely let this rumor leak to get positive publicity and don’t fully expect to get Kluber. Who truly knows what all is going on behind the scenes?
maybe 3 way with Pads??
Pads get Thor
Indians get Gore and TDA
Mets get Kluber, Hedges and 1 if Pads OF prospect??
We think alike
or 3 way with the Dodgers..
Dodgers get Thor & Yu-Chang
Indians get Verdugo, Matz, & Puig + $$
Mets get Kluber & Urias
The additional cash will be added from the Dodgers to the Indians to get Yu-Chang instead of a lesser prospect, thereby, satisfying Cleveland’s need to reduce payroll.
I like it
Puig had only one year of control and does not match what the Indians are trying to do. The Cleveland return on this trade does not do it for Kluber and Chang.
Cleveland gets hosed in both of these proposed deals.
There’s gotta be a three team trade scenario that could work with the Padres. Padres could chip in Renfroe and/or Margot and 2-3 minor leaguers such as Austin Allen, Morejon, etc. Maybe Indians could send some cash to Mets, etc.
… um.. no
Cleveland cannot send cash.. they are seriously trying to reduce payroll..
I’m not saying I like the proposed deal, but the Indians are not broke. They have cash, they just want to lower the payroll. For example, if someone would take Kipnis off our hands, we probably would offer a fair amount of cash. He’s a 1.5 WAR player who is being paid $14.5 m + $2.5m for his 2020 buyout. $10m probably does it.
Conforto + McNeill for Kluber?
I guess it would have to be something like that to get Kluber but that would be a mistake for the Mets. Conforto himself may have been enough if he had stayed all-star caliber.
McNeill for Kluber and Kipnis.
This is all about BVM trying to convert unproductive contracts into productive ones.
Between Bruce, Swarzak, Frazier, Lagares, Vargas, & D’Arnaud, Mets would be spending $53 mm in 2019. That is not a good use of money. Not to mention those contracts which are prohibitive to move, Cespedes and Wright, who will be costing Mets another $36 mm in 2019, once you account for insurance proceeds recouped on Wright. That is essentially $90 mm on 8 players for what…. < 5 war?. Considering their total payroll, that's like blowing 2/3 of your payroll., give or take.
So….what to do. Answer: Use excess pitching (Thor) and prospects to close the gap. Try to move Frazier, Lagares, Vargas and D'Arnaud and bring back Kluber + younger/cheaper assets from the Padres, Reds, etc. If it does not work out, you can always move Kluber and DeGrom down the road for big prospect packages from contenders. In the short term, it will deplete an already questionable farm system. No doubt. But when you are faced with wasting $90 mm next year, it does not look so bad.
Cleveland does not need Frazier, Lagares, Vargas, or D’Arnaund. How can these pieces help you get Kluber?
First, I am not a Mets fan. Second, I did not say that Cleveland needs Frazier, Lagares, Vargas, or D’Arnaud. In fact, I said that those deals were essentially worthless. That said, BVM should be trying to move them.
On the other hand, Cleveland has expressed a desire to reduce forward looking payroll. If they move Kluber, they will still have Carrasco, Bauer, and Clevinger for at least the next two years. They will need, however, to address filling out the rotation, bullpen, C, and CF, and do so cost efficiently. If they took back, Lagares, Gimenez and prospects from Padres or Reds who are seeking Syndegaard, it may accomplish what Cleveland is looking to do, and clear Lagares $9 mm off Mets books.
Again, Cleveland is trying to shift money from starting pitching to fix needs in the corner outfield and bullpen. Cleveland will likely spend the SAME amount of money this season. They are looking for cost controlled MLB ready players. We already have 3 center fielders in Leonys Martin, Greg Allen, and Bradley Zimmer. We need corner outfielders. Lagares and his 9 million dollar contract doesn’t help the Indians. They also have a catcher in the minors ready for the majors. They likely will sign a veteran catcher for AAA as insurance.
Your investing a lot of faith in Eric Haase to shepherd a playoff team. Replace Lagares with D’Arnaud.
Something like the following:
Cleveland: D’Arnaud, Renfroe, Morejon (#46), Gimenez (#55)
Mets: Kluber, Hedges
Padres: Syndegaard, Frazier
Cleveland gets: C insurance for next year, an everyday corner OF, 2 top 100 prospects, saves $13 mm next year, and $17 mm the next two years, can used save money to shore up bullpen in huge FA class.
NY gets: A more durable ace, albeit at a cost, saves $13 mm next year, picks up everyday catcher.
San Diego gets: Young ace, with health concern, at slightly reduced cost for taking back Frazier, trade from surplus depth at C/OF.
Padres contribution to this trade proposal seems a little light. Cleveland has Roberto Perez under contract to pair with Eric Haase so I don’t see the need for one year of D’Arnaund. Perhaps another piece to Cleveland from the Padres would make this trade more possible for all involved.
Cool Hand Luke, Cleveland does not need any more centerfielders. They have at least 4 already.
If what the Mets would have to give up is accurate I hate this move. Plenty other areas to spend money on and address; SP is one of the few areas the Mets can live without an upgrade.
Tony La Russa and Dave Stewart are thinking, “Wow, this guy is weird”
I would like to see the Nats trade for Kluber. He would look real good in there too 3.
Kluber and Yonder Alonso for Nimmo, Peter Alonso, Seth Lugo and a good low level prospect.
I’m not willing to part with Nimmo unless it’s for a true area of need. He had a great year last year and I don’t think it was a fluke. We don’t need yonder. Keep kluber.
That trade isn’t terrible but Peter Alonso is the Mets staring 1st basemen so gimenez would need to replace him and I doubt the Mets having any interest in yonder.
Hopefully they’re not discussing this trade anymore. It just doesn’t make any sense the only strength the Mets had was their starting pitching. Starters are just fine, you’ve got 1-deGrom 2-Syndergaard 3-Wheeler 4-Matz 5- should be Lugo and Vargas to the bullpen as an emergency starter and reliever when a game gets out of hand. I’d rather have Lugo give me 5 good innings than Vargas and his 3-4 innings 4-6 runs. The Mets main concern has to be the bullpen to bridge that gap from Starters to Diaz and there are plenty of options in free agency.
Ya, I don’t really buy it, either. Smells of a writer trying to get clicks or a team trying to get PR. Trading Syndergaard for Kluber just doesn’t make sense.
Here’s a an idea that might work for the Indians/Mets, hear me out: the Mets move 1B Peter Alonso or Dominic Smith and 2B Jeff McNeil to the Indians for Kluber. The Mets have the mega contract of an aging Cano and currently don’t have much room at second base for McNeil other than as a bench player. The Mets could move McNeil, an presumably MLB ready 2B to the Indians who could use 2B help (as they’re trying to move Kipnis). You may ask, however, why the Mets would move their 1B prospect. Cano can easily shift over to 1B as he ages and Cleveland could use the youth at 1B. Cleveland has 2 veteran players in Encarnacion and Alonso as possible 1B and one decent player (in a small sample size) of Diaz. Both Encarnacion are gone after the 2020 season and Encarnacion especially is making the big bucks in Cleveland. Cleveland could move one to all time DH and utilize Alonso/Smith (more likely Alonso as Smith has struggled in the MLB) as a young cornerstone to build around at 1B. Cleveland could potentially even shed the contract of Alonso in a trade if need be and work with their same three 1B rotation they did before but with significantly more youth and control over Alonso/Smith and Diaz. And what do the Mets get out of this? A durable Cy Young Award winning pitcher with 3 yesrs of control left.
Jose Ramirez is our 2b. Alonso is attractive, but not Smith. It will take more than McNeil and Alonso to get Kluber.
Ramirez is going back to 3rd they already said that . Chang will start the season at second base in 2019 they already moved him there during last season to prepare him for the 2019 season.
Looks as if Kipnis will fill the roll of a Casey Blake type utility guy that is if we can find 2 quality corner outfielders by trade,
here is the way to fill those issues
Kluber & Alonso
with 2 mil toward the Alonso contract ( Replaces Bruce as the baskup 1st baseman )
for
Michael Conforto & Noah Syndergaard
Then call the Reds
They get their choice of Bauer or Syndergaard + Tyler Naquin
For
Jesse Winker, Michael Lorenzen,, Cody Reed & Shed Long
Syndergaard & Conforto is a massive over pay and doesn’t make any sense on the Mets side. However the Indians would take that deal in a heartbeat.
Who said Ramirez is going back to 3b?
If i understand this all correctly. The Indians want to move Kluber’s salary for more flexability, correct? Why would/should the NYM’s offer anything more than Thor? That’s assuming the Met’s are dead set on Kluber. The leverage here seems to be on the Met’s side. To offer Conforto, Nimmo, Alonso or McNeil, seems like an absurd over pay for this scenario. Kluber doesn’t fill the biggest hole the NYM’s have. From my standpoint i’d rather keep Thor and the others than overpay a team that’s clearly looking to have more payroll flexability. This is about need versus want. Cleveland needs the extra payroll flexability….the mets may just want Kluber. Why overpay? just sayin’
Mets have to be all in after the trade for Cano and Diaz, they need to get Kluber and keep Thor. Trade McNeill and Nimmo ,for Kluber. Sign Pollock and Miller. Play ball!
How about Wheeler, Cespedes, Lagares, Don Smith, Frazier for Kluber, Martin and Salazar? Big old salary on dump on both sides. Lol.
A big Dump for that trade offer. Cleveland does not need Frazier, Lagares or the often injured and expensive Cespedes.