Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, who’s in the early stages of a crucial second offseason on the job, spoke to reporters about the team’s winter plans Monday. The club’s on the heels of an 86-win season, its third in a row without a playoff berth. There are obvious need areas on the Mets’ roster, then, but it’s up in the air how aggressive they’ll be this offseason with seemingly limited spending room under the budget of owners Fred Wilpon and Jeff Wilpon.
Infielder Jed Lowrie and outfielder Yoenis Cespedes are among the players clogging up New York’s payroll. Injuries prevented either from factoring in much or at all in 2019, but they (Lowrie – $9MM and Cespedes – $29.5MM) are slated to occupy almost $40MM of the Mets’ payroll next season. Lowrie at least logged some playing time in September, meaning he should be good to go at the start of 2020. However, Lowrie won’t have “a normal offseason considering what he went through last year,” according to Van Wagenen, who noted the Mets have “continued to try to diagnose what Jed’s issues were that kept him out this season” (via Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News). But signs point to the Mets rolling with Lowrie, Jeff McNeil and J.D. Davis as their third base options in 2020, Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweets. On paper, that’s a capable trio, and with Robinson Cano at second base and Brandon Nimmo and Michael Conforto as the Mets’ top two corner outfielders, it would make sense for Lowrie, McNeil and Davis to share the hot corner.
The ongoing presence of Cespedes further complicates the picture in the outfield, but as Van Wagenen said last week, there’s still no indication as to whether he’ll be able to play next year (via Tim Healey of Newsday). Cespedes, the Mets’ highest-paid player, missed all of this season because of ankle issues. If the Mets were sure Cespedes would miss at least 60 days next year, they’d be able to recoup 60 to 70 percent of his money by way of insurance. For now, though, the team doesn’t seem to have any idea as to whether Cespedes will significantly weigh on its payroll going forward.
Regardless of what happens with Cespedes, it seems center field should be a priority for the Mets this offseason. The Mets tried Juan Lagares, Nimmo and Conforto there to underwhelming results in 2019. Lagares is now a free agent after the Mets declined his club option, while Nimmo and Conforto are likely better cut out for corner roles. Indeed, the Mets want to improve their defense in center, per Van Wagenen. Problem is that free agency’s not loaded with obvious solutions at the position, while the best trade candidates at the spot (Pittsburgh’s Starling Marte and Boston’s Jackie Bradley Jr.) earn fairly expensive salaries. That’s without adding in the assets they’d cost to acquire, and it’s worth noting Marte’s coming off a poor year as a defender.
Aside from center field, Van Wagenen cited pitching – both rotation and bullpen – as well as backup catcher as areas the club could address in the coming weeks (Twitter links via Mike Puma of the New York Post, Healey and Thosar). The Mets have one of the highest-profile free-agent starters in the game in Zack Wheeler, whom they issued a $17.8MM qualifying offer. While they’d like to re-sign Wheeler, it’s entirely possible he’ll end up out of the Mets’ price range, which would leave them with a still-enviable top of the rotation in Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman and Steven Matz. The team lacks depth after that foursome, though Van Wagenen pointed to David Peterson, Walker Lockett, Chris Flexen and Corey Oswalt as in-house options. If you’re a Mets fan who’s unexcited about the majority of that group, that’s understandable. But Peterson, MLB.com’s seventh-ranked Mets prospect, at least carries some intrigue. The 24-year-old, a 2017 first-round pick, reached the Double-A level this season and notched a 4.19 ERA/3.19 FIP with 9.47 K/9 against 2.87 BB/9 in 116 innings.
As for the Mets’ bullpen, it’s no surprise they’re interested in bettering a bunch that largely fell flat this year. The Mets were aggressive in trying to bolster the unit last offseason, evidenced by the acquisitions of Edwin Diaz, Jeurys Familia and Justin Wilson. But Wilson was the only effective member of the trio, and given that the Mets could move either Seth Lugo or Robert Gsellman to their rotation, their relief corps looks like an even bigger concern at the moment.
While it’s unclear how the Mets will configure their pitching staff next year, it seems their hurlers will primarily end up throwing to Wilson Ramos. The veteran catcher was yet another of the Mets’ headline-grabbing pickups from last offseason who may not have delivered as hoped in 2019. But despite his defensive deficiencies, the 32-year-old Ramos did record yet another fine offensive campaign. With $9.25MM owed to Ramos next season, it seems the Mets will continue to ride with him behind the plate and seek a defensively sound complement to place behind him.
The Mets are undoubtedly in for a fascinating offseason. The club’s not short on talent, but there are clear flaws at the same time. If Van Wagenen doesn’t find a way to repair them, and if the Mets miss the playoffs yet again, it’s possible they’ll be on the lookout for a new GM a year from now.
The Mets need to play McNeil everyday whether it be at 3b or a corner OF spot. It will be absolutely ridiculous if they use him in a part time role.
It’s highly unlikely that he’ll go part-time with the amount of flexibility he brings, coupled with the fact that he doesn’t have bad L/R splits.
If he loses a few ABs because somebody else is healthy and playing well, I don’t think it’s a bad thing anyway.
I think they should run with Cano at 2b, Davis at 3b, Conforto, Nimmo, and McNeil in the OF. I’m sure they can find at bats for Cespedes since Nimmo may not be an everyday guy. Lowrie could easily be the backup 2b/3b.
I think Nimmo can be an everyday player, but they need a real CF and he’s probably the odd man out in that equation. As for Cespedes, I think they need to plan under the assumption that he won’t be playing, similarly to last season. There’s just no telling what (if anything) he’ll be able to contribute.
All BVW needs to do in order to have the best off season of his GM career is not trade the farm to acquire some extremely expensive washed up vet. That seems to be a big issue for him though. Mets fans should be happy if he doesn’t acquire someone like Miguel Cabrera.
Nimmo brings lots of energy but has too many holes in his swing. The kid is a thinker…too much. He needs to get aggressive and attack the ball. Right now, he is too patient and guesses (wrong) too often. Way too many strikeouts his last 600 at bats. I really like the kid, but if they are in true win now mode, Nimmo should be the 4th outfielder on a championship team.
Davis played 3B in the minors but his fielding stats at 3B were really bad as are his Major League stats at third which are nothing short of horrendous. The Mets should have hired an outfield coach to work with both Dom Smith and JD during the off season. I give Dom a lot of credit as he hired his own coach to improve on his tracking routes in the OF. I really think Dom is a keeper as he brings enthusiasm and true good will to the Mets plus he showed he could hit, and plays with great heart. I bet he comes in to 2020 as a much better left and right fielder. He also paid his coach to help him learn center field.. I am not saying that the Mets should really on Dom, Conforto and Nimmo in CF because that has not worked in the past as none of them are true centerfielders. So simply sign Billy Hamilton as a defensive CFer for the Mets. Hamilton won’t cost a fortune, and his speed would help the team tremendously too. I’d rather they sign Billy than Szczur.. If the Mets hired a good bunting coach that can pass on the right bunting techniques for both Hamilton, and the entire pitching staff which sucks at bunting with the exception being deGrom think how much better the NY Mets could be?
McNeil was leading the majors in AVG and would likely have taken the batting title if not for injury. Having him be a part-time player is just not realistic. It’s not like he had a fluke season, as he has hit at every level and has demonstrated having one of the best set of eyes for balls and strikes in the game.
I don’t think it’s implied that he will be playing part time. They’ll just rotate him as needed between 3B, the OF, and 2B and he’ll play full time.
Firing BVW after two seasons on the job, one with a lame-duck manager and the other with a rookie manager, would be in the running for most Mets move ever. Right next to hiring him in the first place and replacing Calloway with Beltran, and one could argue hiring Calloway to begin with is in that conversation in any order you’d prefer.
The Cano trade showed he is in way over his head. No real GM in baseball would touch Cano with a 50 ft pole. Thats why DiPoto called an agent.
I’m still up in the air with Callaway. Did he get trapped into being told by the front office who to play and when during the first half? Why is ever pitcher regressing other than deGrom and Lugo?
Why were no significant parts added to the bullpen or outfield during the season?
Truthfully, I like Conforto in center even though he isn’t a typical speed guy. Davis is adequate in left but better suited to 3b. McNeil, to his credit and especially the coaching staff, became a very good outfielder.
Nimmo at this stage of his career should be getting 400 at bats, mostly against righties and late in games against relievers. The Mets badly need two PROVEN right handed hitting outfielders since Nimmo, McNeil and Conforto are all lefties.
It’s really frustrating that d’Arnaud finally became the player they truly needed and expected for another team.
If Lowery can play 130 games, it should be as a utility player, not a starter. It’s unrealistic to expect a player his age who missed a full season, to come back and be effective. Remember, he had one good year that lead to his Mets contract.
We keep hearing about budget restraints for a NY team that is 40 million under the luxury tax cap. They don’t deserve to compete for a playoff spot if the top priority is the bottom line.
Can’t be worse than his plans last offseason.
Unlike Syndergaard, I’m not convinced Diaz is safe from an offseason trade, especially if it means unloading any of Cespedes, Cano, or Lowrie’s contracts.
I think it would be shortsighted to sell low on him, but it would also be foolish not to at least test the waters. The FA market for late inning relievers isn’t exactly loaded
With affordable options like JBJ and Jarrod Dyson available, BVW doesn’t even need to get a CF in return in order for a Diaz trade to be worthwhile; just as long as they unload some salary (specifically Cano) and get 2-3 ML ready arms in return.
I as k so think you couldn’t unload any of those contracts for Diaz after last season.
*Also
In what way do you mean by “unloading”?
Nobody taking on those contracts
The Mets did.
The Mets have to first figure out WHY he failed. Is it mechanical, mental, emotional or psychological…or something else?
How can someone go from being completely dominant at age 25 to useless a year later?
He is still hitting 100, so it’s not his arm. Having watched him all season, he was a one pitch, one location guy. He could only throw his fastball for strikes up and in to righties. His slider rarely found the strike zone and it was a miracle when the catcher actually had a chance to frame a pitch.
I believe the right coach can easily straighten him out, either through philosophy or psychology. The problem is that the Mets don’t even HAVE a pitching coach, so matter who they get he’d better be able to convince this staff that he knows more than they themselves know.
I believe Diaz can’t handle NYC but one of the greatest contributing factor to his demise was that the baseball itself changed to such an extent that a good 60 to 70% of pitchers had trouble executing the slider with this ball. Only really accomplished pitchers like deGrom, Verlander, Cole and Scherzer figured out how to work with the 2019 MLB baseball. I understand the ball that was used in the World Series was a different ball with a different feel then what was used in the regular season? Maybe the key is for MLB to find a better ball? Not all of these formerly decent pitchers’ like Syndergaard suddenly suck.
I don’t think the Mets need to throw money around to effectively fill the holes on their roster right now (look where it got them last offseason). But it would be unacceptable for them to go into next season with the same starting pitching depth and without a real CF on the roster. They can rationalize it how they like, but Conforto and Nimmo are not viable everyday center fielders.
Nimmo is a viable centerfielder if you have a good enough fielder in left. His bat, when healthy, more than makes up for his defense. He just can’t be out there regularly with JD or Dom in left or and immobile Cespedes. I think an outfield of McNeil, Nimmo, and Conforto with a defensive fourth outfilelder who hits more than Lagares would produce enough to justify the defense. But, not if JD is a third, unless he can take a page from Alonso and field a lot better than has throughout his professional career.. The best move may is probably to sell high on Davis and Smith, get a centerfielder, and play McNeil at third. But, that may not be possible.
That’s fair. Nimmo did improve a bit in CF last season, now that I revisit his metrics, so maybe he’s adapting to the position better than I gave him credit for. Regardless of who is starting, they do need a RH hitting outfielder.
I’m pretty adamant that at least one of Smith or Davis has to be traded. It’s an interesting dilemma because I see Smith as the one who will be trickier to work into the lineup (and has the spottier injury and conditioning history, from a trade standpoint), but Davis is the one who I consider more likely to go though significant regression in 2020.
Smith doesn’t have enough value to bring much back though.
I wouldnt be so sure of that. His problem was sleep apnea which was diagnosed in the offseason. His year was no fluke. He can rake. But there is no position for him in NY. They should look to move him to Colorado for Blackmon. Colorado needs a first baseman and some salary relief and the Mets need a CF. He has 4/80 left and quite frankly in the Mets cant afford to pay a top tier guy 20m a year they should be playing in S. Florida not NY
Blackmon is not a CF and was very poorly rated there back in 2018. He didn’t play CF in 2019. Worse, his OPS+ H/A are very telling. 201+ @ Home and 95 on the road. Next year is Blackmon’s age 33 season. Stay away.
Nimmo is not a good CFer, and he has a really poor throwing arm. Factor in his neck injuries, and he is now limited to being a 4th OFer. Davis cannot be used at 3B as his defensive stats absolutely suck while both in the Majors and the minors.. The Mets need to sign Billy Hamilton and have Chili Davis find the team an excellent bunting coach. If Hamilton truly learned to bunt as well as Buddy Harrelson did he’d be on first base all the time. He can bunt but does not bunt as well as he should. If he could improve on bunting not only would he be on 1B but he’d be stealing 2B and possibly 3B too!!!
Wow so Dom Smith, JD Davis, Jed Lowrie, and Cespedes could potentially all be on the bench.
I’d be very surprised if Smith is on the team come spring training.
This year they have to have 13 position players and 13 pitchers to make the new 26 man roster, unless they have qualified “two-way” players. JD Davis wasn’t given the opportunity to qualify, so they don’t. If there weren’t any significant moves and all four were healthy, those four and a catcher would make up the bench. It’s highly unlikely that happens.
I don’t ever comment on the post itself but had to here. Few problems with this article. One, cespedes missed the first half of the season recovering from heal surgery. It wasn’t until summer when he fell and broke his ankle. That was all painted over quickly with “ankle injuries”. The other main issue I have with this article is saying McNeil Davis and lowrie are going to be 3b. While they all may spend time there, mcneil must play every single day, and Davis has to play a lot as well. Whether mcneil splits time third with Davis and corner with nimmo and gives cano time off at second, fine but he has to play everyday. Davis should spend a lot of time on the game day lineup as well. As for center, if you try and get mcneil and Davis on the starting roster, that means nimmo it Conforto are playing center again. So, please don’t write mcneil, and to a lesser extent Davis, off as pushover players by saying them and lowrie will be playing third. And know the dynamics of the roster before making an article like this.
I really don’t think Connor is suggesting they will have a 3-way platoon of guys that only play third base. It’s just a reflection of the fact that those 3 are seen as the options to appear at third, depending upon the way other roster moves and health situations play out, as Brodie stated today: twitter.com/DeeshaThosar/status/119405265665584742…
Just do the opposite of last off-season and you’ll be just fine.
If Cespedes is healthy, I can see the WS taking him if the Mets pay maybe half that contract and throw in either McNeil or Conforto for López and maybe Collins and a prospect like Basabe or Walker
You are the greatest White Sox fan if you think either McNeil or Conforto would be a “throw-in” unless you’re throwing Jimenez the other way. Even then it may be Conforto, not McNeil. More likely in your version, the “throw-in” would be Dom Smith.
I like the sentence with four ands at the end of paragraph two
Like everyone else, I just assume he’ll do something stupid. So, in order not to waste any time, I didn’t bother to read the article. Thanks!
C, 1B, 2B and SS are presumably locked down, as is a corner OF spot for Conforto. That leaves McNeil, Nimmo, Dom Smith, J.D. Davis, Lowrie and Cespedes for the other three spots. If the front office is serious about bringing in a legitimate CF, then really these six guys are competing for two spots. Speaking as a non-Mets fan, I’d think McNeil absolutely has to be in there everyday, which pretty much leaves one spot for Nimmo, Smith, Davis, Lowrie and Cespedes.
Lowrie and Cespedes are likely unmovable, and assuming they’ll be healthy for some durations in 2020, they’ll be receiving at-bats. So perhaps the Mets should keep one among Nimmo/Smith/Davis and trade the other two.
If Cleveland is serious about cost-cutting, would they be willing to sell low on Kluber, with Nimmo as the key piece in a return package? Maybe KC would be willing to trade Ian Kennedy if they can envision Smith as a solution at 1B. Detroit needs Major League hitters, and they might be willing to move one of their young starting pitchers. (Boyd?) The Cardinals, Giants and D-Backs all have varying degrees of need at either 1B or corner OF, and can offer useful pitching in return. The Angels have the need but probably couldn’t meet the Mets’ needs.
I think it’s safer to assume that Lowrie and Cespedes will NOT be healthy for most of the 2020 season…
Contract year for both.
JD is a solid-looking hitter, but is a butcher in the field. He was part of why the Mets had one of the worst defenses (by ANY metric you want to choose) in all of baseball. They need a solid CF to help glue all that together. Perhaps they can reverse the mojo with Seattle and pry away Mallex Smith. He had an off year in Seattle, but the prior year with the Rays was really good and he plays a slick CF with Rtot giving him decent marks. Seattle could use JD as their full-time DH and an emergency 3B,1B guy. Both are cheap and Smith has 3 years of control.
JD was BVW’s best offseason move. He isn’t going anywhere.
Is there a chance McNeil could be the regular CF? He’s got speed in the field. I know it’s not the best option but it may be better than using assets to get someone like Marte or Bradley.
I think it’s the history of lower body injuries. The Mets want Jeff McNeil on the diamond so that his legs and hamstrings stay intact.
Isnt it easier just to resign lagares?
Either make Cano a bench player or trade him because McNeil should be the everyday 2B.
The Mets are in a weird spot as they have some solid long term pieces (alonso, degrom, McNeil, conforto, nimmo) but also have several hefty contracts and most of their starting pitching, which has been the strength of their team in recent years, has dwindling years of control left. The Pirates should try to take advantage and take Cespedes’ contract back in a Marte trade and pry away as much of the Mets’ farm as they can.
Explore a trade with the Rays centered around JD Davis for Kiermaier. Perfect GG with speed to add to the top of the line-up. Hope the other OF’ers can pick up the offense lost from moving Davis (Cespedes?). Rays can’t take on any of the bad contracts but adding Ramos to the deal evens out the money. Rays could send Zunino along to really strengthen the Mets up the middle defense.or a young arm for the Mets rotation. Mets could then go out a sign a better hitting catcher off FA (probably wont splurge for Grandal) to replace some of the offense lost.
I think Davis for Kiermaier and an arm might make sense. No way they part with Davis for a d-only CF.
Freddy coupon. Smh
A Diaz for JBJ trade (with more players involved) would be interesting but would only happen if Bloom was confident he could be effective again.
McNeil is the Met’s version of Ben Zobrist and will only be moved in a can’t refuse deal.
The season is 162 games long and McNeil gives them depth at a number of positions. He has demonstrated that his changing positions does not have any negative effect on offense.
The team came very close to making the playoffs, even with a totally unreliable bull pen.
The only real need they have is in the bull pen, and a replacement for Wheeler if he leaves. While every other potential move Would be to strengthen a position that is already strong.
There are some interesting names out there. Hudson,Harris, Joe Smith, Batances, Martin, and Pomerania as relievers and Odorizzi, Gibson, Miley, Lyles and Bret Anderson to slot in at number 5
None of these names would push them over the teams self limiting salary cap.
No amount of complaining is going to change who the Wilpons are. BVW will be able to work within the perimeters set for him.
Pretty well said Parkers
I want to present a description of BVW as I see it.
He didn’t need to take this job for any other reason then to attempt to apply principals that he learned as an agent. Understanding how the players think and having first hand experience in the behind the scenes negotiations gives him a different perspective.
He realized that much of the negotiations revolves around the player agent highlighting the players positives. The owners reps would then argue by pointing all of the players weaknesses. This type of negotiations inevitably leads to an us verses them relationship.
BVW comes along and promises that future negotiations will be an objective look at the players contributions. His promise to Alonso last winter is exhibit A. He promised him that he would travel north out of spring training if he earned it..
With the past use of holding players back a month so as to gain an extra year of leverage having been the norm.
The combination of trying to emphasis player development, applying a greater use of analytics, employing coaches who buy into this approach and emphasizing the idea of US rather than just ME in the players psyche.
The use of analytics and precision filming is able to provide each player a visual and cognitive understanding of what they need to do. In the past coaches would say trust me I have seen it all so do what I say.
Let’s be appreciative of what BVW is attempting to do, realizing it is not some shoot from the hip operation. Ultimately it will be the talent of each player that will determine the teams success or lack of.
Comment on so many ham string injuries. Years ago you rarely heard of them.
The players today do all kinds of strength building work outs, resulting in almost Herculean type bodies. The trouble occurs because the ligaments are tight as a drum. They either rip or are stretched beyond what they are supposed to be like.
Years ago most muscle training was a no no because it was thought to make you muscle bound.
Question: was a human body designed for this kind of stress ?