Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen has not stopped knocking on a multitude doors as he keeps working to improve his just-inherited roster. The latest news involves the team’s efforts to upgrade behind the dish and to boost its outfield mix.
While J.T. Realmuto has been — and still is — a top target for the Mets, the club has also been connected to numerous other receiving possibilities on the open market. The New York org is “moving closer to resolution” of its catching situation, per Andy Martino of SNY.tv (Twitter links).
As Van Wagenen and co. narrow their options, top free agent Yasmani Grandal is said to be a “very serious” possibility. That’d mean topping the market for a player who is among the best in baseball at his position — postseason foibles aside.
Certainly, Grandal would be more than an adequate consolation prize if Marlins star J.T. Realmuto can’t be had. The 30-year-old switch-hitter has posted a strong 116 wRC+ since the start of the 2016 season. Despite his well-documented issues with, well, catching the baseball in October, Grandal is a gifted overall defender. He frames about as well as anyone and is good at limiting the running game.
If the Mets aren’t able to add offense behind the plate, Van Wagenen has suggested, that’d increase the need to do so in the outfield. It seems the club would like a right-handed-hitting bat, preferably one capable of lining up in center defensively.
Tigers outfielder Nicholas Castellanos certainly has the offensive game the Mets would desire, though he’s not an option up the middle and has graded quite poorly even in a corner. Still, the two teams have discussed trade scenarios, per Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free-Press (Twitter link), with the Detroit organization maintaining a steep asking price to this point in talks, which remain ongoing with multiple clubs.
MLBTR and contributor Matt Swartz project Castellanos to earn $11.3MM in 2019, his final season of arbitration eligibility. That’s a notable sum for a Mets club that’s seeking to pack in as much talent within its payroll limits (the specifics of which are not really known). But Castellanos would only require a single-season commitment, as he’ll be a free agent at the end of the ’19 campaign.
That’s not to say that the Mets have moved off of A.J. Pollock, who’d certainly be a cleaner fit for their roster but will require a much more significant commitment. Martino adds on Twitter that the club remains “serious” about the veteran center fielder as an option.
MLBTR graded both Grandal and Pollock among the ten best players on the open market this winter. We predicted that both would secure four-year deals, with the former at $64MM and the latter at $60MM.
But… but I thought the Mets didn’t spend money….
Feels like BVW is (finally?) selling Wilpons to spend
Maybe change is finally coming to flushing. Baby steps.
Flushing what a name for that cesspool
Flushing is appropriate!
Apparently you have never attended a game at Citi Field which is far from a cesspool.
Once you get through the closet sized space of dozens of people smoking…it’s still a cesspool
It’s fine. Yankee stadium otoh….AWFUL
Hey Xabial…if you really think that wagon Wheel is finally selling the Wilpon’s to spend consider this:
They spent for Cespedes
They spent for Bobby Bo
And other bloated players in between.
Cano is a similar bloated overspend. Even with fancy accounting for players who otherwise could have been spun off for little or no money.
So expect your excitement to be met with huge disappointment. History has a habit of repeating itself.
Once Mutt and Jeff feel that there are fools to believe that they are finally spending, they will yank the chain and shot down spending because foolish fans like yourself start buying tickets.
Ah so you call de fans to boycott when they don’t spend. Now you say when they do spend they’re idiots. Why you’ve trolled these boards for so long is something I’ll never understand. You’d think you would find a hobby by now.
Wagon wheel? What a great nickname. You constantly troll Mets posts on this site. Normally as a braves fan I’d enjoy some good Mets trolling but you are as bad as the commenter that argued baseball contracts can have NBA style “buyouts”.
He is such a weak minded individual. I only read his comments now to make myself realize each time just how thankful I am to not be as miserable and lonely and that I don’t have such a pointless life as him.
Seeing you responded to his post, I’d say your life IS pointless & miserable.
Feel free to remove yourself from the gene pool at any time!
Awww you so cute sticking up for him!
Yanks spent for Kei Igawa didn’t they? How about Kevin Brown ya turd
Mike, there was no way they were found to get rid of Bruce or Steal without eating a large portion of their salaries. Based on your user name your team is just as guilty of the spending.
They haven’t really spent yet so don’t get too excited.
How about we wait until they actually spend the money?
The Mets always spend money! They just never win when they do!
If the Mets add both Grandal & Castellanos, the Mets will be a force in the NL East. I love the idea of putting a strong, competitive team in 2019 without limiting themselves in 2020 and beyond. I’m still dreaming of a world that has Brodie Van Wagenen signing Nolan Arenado next off season.
Doesn’t matter what offseason makes the Mets make……..they’ll still finish fourth in the division
They play in a place called Flushing they belong at the bottom
Really? Let’s see your math.
This happens every 10 or more years …
Last time Omar was able to talk some sense into the WILPON’s and acquire Beltran, Delgado, and Pedro; Hopefully they $PEND THE$$$ and don’t tear apart the pitching staff.
Maybe it was him again, he’s on the team as an adviser to BVW.
Let me try to piece together a Brodie Van Wagenen scenario with Detroit. How’s this:
Mets get: Nicholas Castellanos, Miguel Cabrera & $82 million
Tigers get: Peter Alonso, David Peterson, Ronny Mauricio, Todd Frazier, Travis d’Arnaud & Juan Lagares
Let’s continue the theme of adding an older player that can still produce for a couple of years. Cabrera has 6 yrs and $162 million left on his deal. I’m sure the Tigers would LOVE to save $80 million of that deal. Sending Lagares, d’Arnaud & Frazier is simply to help offset salaries for the 2019 season(Cabrera & Castellanos combined $41.3 million for ’19 – Frazier, Lagares & d’Arnaud combined $22.2 million). The Tigers get a stud prospect in Alonso as well as two decent prospects in Peterson & Mauricio. With the Tigers kicking in $82 million, the Mets would then have a more manageable 6 yr, $80 million for Cabrera, which is slightly more than a $13 million AAV. Castellanos $11.3 million comes off the books after 2019.
Now, if the Mets were able to add Yasmani Grandal on top of this, which with the financial Breakdown, is not impossible. The Mets would have an AMAZING lineup.
1. Nimmo (CF)
2. Rosario (SS)
3. Cano (2B)
4. Cabrera (1B)
5. Conforto (LF)
6. Castellanos (RF)
7. Grandal (C)
8. McNeil (3B)
Now!!! Tell me this isn’t the type of deal Brodie Van Wagenen would try to get done……
Please go to bed. That move makes very little sense – you must be tired.
He’s not tired. He thinks Bryant for Syndegaard 1 on 1 is a fair deal for both sides, with the cubs “may needing to add a piece or two to even it out” he’s just here for our humor.
Syndergaard for Bryant straight up is not a bad trade in principle. They need a frontline stater, their entire rotation is made up of low end #2s/high end #3s. Bote also played pretty well for you guys last year. But I don’t think the Cubs would need to add anything else. If anything the Mets would throw in low end prospect
A lot of people do
That would be awful for the Mets for sure
And why do the Mets need to include their #2, 3 and 6th best prospects in such a deal?
Lol @ Kicking in $80 million cash. A tad high, no?
The better prospects you kick in to a deal, the more money you can get off of the contract. That’s why those prospects are needed, if the Mets offer no prospects, why would the Tigers pay any of Cabrera’s contract??? They need a reason to do it.
$80 mil better get them a dam good prospect or 3
Mike Illitch, the late great owner of the Tigers, put it in his will that his Tigers can’t trade Cabrera. Plus, we Tiger fans would rather have Cabbie than any other player in the league because he’s due to bounce back to MVP form when he gets healthy again.
wat
Is that true about Ilitch’s Will?
Doubtful. I have never seen anything published verifying that.
As much as I like the idea of the Mets taking Miguel Cabrera, no way the Tigers pay $82M. I doubt they have it. They would be happy with Daniel Zamora and/or Drew Smith for Nick Castellanos if they took Miggy.
Danny, i like you dude, we had a quick back and forth a few days ago on the Realmuto post… but bro that’s one of the craziest trades I’ve ever heard.
Cabrera is not Cano, both old but one averages 150 games per year at his age, the other has been riddled by injuries the past two years. He can’t play first, last two seasons he has a -10 DRS. His bat is falling off too. 2017 he only hit .249 with 16 HRs, last year he only played 37 games. Don’t even get me started on the contract despite your over generous prediction that they would eat 66% of the remaining money. Castellanos has a good bat but he’s a worse defensive player than Miggy is, and he’s only around for one more year!
You want to trade Alonso, Peterson, and Mauricio for these guys? Alonso IS Miggy but he’s 24 years old. They would probably have the same exact numbers this year if Cabrera’s trends continue. Peterson is our best pitching prospect and a lefty. Mauricio is 18 years old and absolutely crushing it in A-ball right now!
That trade is an absolute, 0%, never ever ever going to happen deal
That deal would never happen… but if bvw can pull off the Cano deal, anything can happen. Not sure Mets would want miggy even at a discount. Maybe Joey votto?
Pillar fits the mold for the Mets in CF, but he is an impatient, weak batter. Still, he’d likely come cheap in a trade and would be less expensive than other options, still with a couple years of arb left. Get him before San Fran though…
How is Pillar better than Lagares?
Well if Lagares does end up being moved, say in a package for JTR as rumored already, then Pillar would be a suitable replacement at a cheap price to the Mets…
…per the article based on what they, allegedly, want:
…”It seems the club would like a right-handed-hitting bat, preferably one capable of lining up in center defensively…”
Castellanos doesn’t have trade value. He’ll hit 30+ dingers and get 100+ knockers then hit free agency with a QO over his head. No one will pay what he expects and he’ll come back to Detroit on a pillow contract, a la Moose in KC 18.
As a Tigers fan I hope you’re right. I’d like to see him stay in Det moving to first base so Miggy can DH. Nick is still young and is just now finding his groove. He’s going to have 5-7 strong offensive years coming up.
Couldn’t agree more
Mets: Gregory Polanco from Pittsburgh for the outfield. Or Joey Gallo from Texas. Strikes out a lot, but the point is, you could have All three outfielders ending with “o”. (Not to mention Cano, Rosario and Realmuto).
That’s almost as awesome as the outfield of Carp, Trout and Bass.
nick is a class act. wherever he lands…the fans will love him. gamer and a baseball rat.
Grandal would be a good fit for the Mets, considering he only struggles in October.
‘Despite his issues with, well, catching the baseball in October’ has my day off to a great start. You’re an unspeakably good writer.
A lot to like about Castellanos as a hitter and from what I have read and heard (Avila) he is a top notch person with effort and in the clubhouse. But, according to Fangraphs ranking of all 2018 MLB players he was the worst defensive player of the season with negative 20.7 WAR. As a DH he is worth a very good return to the Tigers, or perhaps as a first baseman for an NL team.
WOW!!!!……..Tough crowd here Tim D. Where’s the Moderator???……..LOL
Switching gears…..
It sure looks like Jeter is trying real hard to “Overplay His Hand Again”.
The trade partners are dwindling.
GM’s are tired of the “High Asking Price” for Realmuto
Let’s face it…..he’s a stud catcher, for sure. But maybe the Marlins are setting their sights a little too high. Better to get 80% of what you asked……than get stuck with far less next winter. Maybe…..maybe…….a catcher gets hurt in June, on a contender, and they have to over pay to get him, but that’s not as likely as “waiting and getting less”.
C’mon Jeter…..Make The Best Deal You CAN……..before there’s no leverage left.
Also for everyday catchers its a little harder for them to transition to a new team at the deadline as he has to build up repore with the pitchers and get used to the staff.
While this is true for everytime a new pitcher gets called up its alot harder when its game time and the entire staff is new to you. That might account to trade value some.
Jeff, can you please link Nick Castellanos’ name like the other players? I want to go to Baseball Reference to view his statistics in a single click, rather than opening a new tab and having to type his entire name out that way. Doing this will save me at least 10 seconds out of my day. Thanks in advance!
Just because it makes sense for the tigers to ideally want to trade Nick doesn’t mean it makes sense for any other team to. The way I see it if we (tigers) trade we’ll lose value automatically, because the trade market is so poor/near nonexistent OR we extend at market price. JMO I choose the latter. I understand he isn’t a good defender there’s no sugar coating it; but he’s 26, healthy, and a great batter/teammate. I would imagine his poor defense would off-set his price tag.
Sign Grandal and Jones/Pollock already! I would love to add Nick for the offense boost too. Happy to read this, now lets see it happen!!
As much as i’d love to get Realmuto…the price is way too high. I feel that if the Mets are going to trade more prospects…i would shift my attention to another player. This is my idea….
1) sign Yasmani Grandal 4yr/$62 mil
2) sign Tulowitzki 1 y r/$500 mil or
Sign Galvis or Iglesias 1yr/$4 mil
3) sign Andrew Miller 3yr/$33 mil
4) Trade Matz,d’Arnaud,Dom Smith and Gimenez to
Cleveland for Kluber and Logan Ice
Lineup: (no Cespedes..when he’s back..watch out)
1- Nimmo
2- Rosario
3- Cano
4- Conforto
5- Grandal
6- Alonso
7- Frazier
8- Lagares
Rotation:
1- deGrom
2- Syndergaard
3- Kluber
4- Wheeler
5- Vargas
Bullpen:
CL- Diaz
8th- Miller
7th- Familia
Lugo
Gsellman
Zamora
Fa signing or Prospect takes last bullpen spot.
In my opinion…these would be the moves to ensure the Mets a spot in the playoffs