Here’s the latest on the Mets:
- Although the Mets are in need of a center fielder, Japanese free agent Shogo Akiyama isn’t near the top of their list, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports. This year’s free-agent class is limited in center, where Brett Gardner (who’s not even a full-time CFer) looks like the premier player available. Meanwhile, the 31-year-old Akiyama is coming off a productive nine-season run in Nippon Professional Baseball, but he’s no sure thing to succeed in the majors. And Akiyama’s a left-handed hitter, which seems to run counter to their ideal acquisition in center. The club wants a player who hits from the right side and is a better defender than Brandon Nimmo, Mike Puma of the Post tweets. Shortstop Amed Rosario’s a righty batter, and though the team has considered moving him to center in the past, those days are gone. “I don’t see a scenario for him to be in center field,” general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said (via Sherman).
- While the Mets may not want Akiyama, they are among the teams interested in free-agent center fielder Matt Szczur, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The righty-hitting Szczur, 30, would likely be a minor league pickup, as the former Cub and Padre hasn’t appeared in the majors since 2018. He had a brutal year then in San Diego, which forced him to sign a minors pact with the Diamondbacks last offseason. Szczur batted a solid .322/.390/.577 with eight home runs in 172 plate appearances as a member of the D-backs’ top affiliate.
- Pirates third base coach Joey Cora is the latest possibility to take over as the Mets’ bench coach, per Sherman. Cora, a former major league second baseman and the brother of Red Sox manager Alex Cora, has ties to new Mets manager Carlos Beltran and special assistant Omar Minaya, Sherman notes. He managed in the Mets’ minor league system when Minaya was their GM in the early 2000s. Cora, Fredi Gonzalez and Jerry Narron are the only known candidates to become the Mets’ bench coach. Longtime San Francisco assistant Ron Wotus had been in the running, but he’ll stay with the Giants as their third base coach, Daniel Brown of The Athletic relays.
- The Mets were aggressive in trying to upgrade their bullpen last offseason, when they surrendered significant resources for Edwin Diaz, Jeurys Familia and Justin Wilson. The latter was the only somewhat effective member of the trio, while the struggles of Diaz and Familia played a key part in another non-playoff season for the Mets. Considering that their bullpen was a letdown this season, the Mets could again look for help in that area this winter, though Van Wagenen contends that the club’s relief corps must “largely sink or swim based on how Diaz and Familia perform,” Sherman writes. Van Wagenen suggested Diaz, Familia, Wilson, Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman are set to reprise their late-game roles, but it’s unclear who will join that quintet.
Mets should inquire about Ketel Marte. He’s played everyday CF before and could provide the Mets with a dynamic player.
Why would Arizona trade him?
If Zona is not intending to contend in 2020 they would be selling high on Marte. Not saying that is the right move.
If Arizona ever intends to compete again Marte is the caliber player you build around not trade away but I can understand the desire for other clubs to want a guy like him.
Better yet, what do the Mets have that would entice the D-Backs to trade him?
Exactly. The Mets can make the call but they’ve purged almost everything interesting they have. AZ has been collecting near ML ready prospects in all their trades also. I can’t imagine a Mauricio/Baty package does the trick for them. And that’s the best the Mets can do.
Mets should call on Jacoby Jones. Solid defender in center. Right handed with some power and great speed. He needs to develop some more, maybe the Mets can work with him?
Melchez. I agree with you. Someone needs to have some patience with Jacoby Jones and and let him develop. He’s a solid ball
Player and has potential to put up good numbers
And a good kick returner too! LOL. Slightly different spelling (JaCoby vs Jacoby)… JaCoby needs to improve his hitting for average or this could be another move like Broxton was last year.
Yeah that’s the last thing they should do.
JaCoby Jones has had a gigantic K issue throughout his career in the minor leagues as well. You never want to say a guy can’t fix his problem but it’s been a gigantic issue his entire professional career. The last thing you need is another Keon Broxton.
Hey Melch-you came close with the first name bro. Your impulsive bragging GM will have sophomore jinx and trade for the Yankee’s jacoby elsbury. He will get a deal as Cashman will eat half the contract.
No worries…it’s a typical Mets deal—they will talk about how he is a game changer while Fred will be quietly praying for an injury so he can collect insurance money.
Trade for Ketel Marte? Sure, package together Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and a few prospects. I’m sure that will get it done.
He’s super young, super cheap, and really fn good. They aren’t trading him. They’re building around him.
That would be amazing but the snakes are not trading him
That would be amazing but the snakes are not trading him.
Joey Cora would be an excellent choice, I hope they hire him. Math major at Vanderbilt, Academic All- American, smart baseball man.
Mets should trade for Mallex Smith to be the defensive CF/pinch runner off bench. As far as the pen, just get depth!! get one back of the pen arm like Betances. A solid vet that can give innings like McHugh, and 1-2 bounce back candidates such as morrow vizcaino or Edwards
I wouldn’t want bounceback candidates in the pen if i’m the Mets. Already have some on the roster and money is limited. Grab an RP or two, but guys that are more just decent and consistent.
bounce back candidates are better than going in with the same guys as last year that have never been good at MLB level. How much can you spend on the pen??? If Lugo goes into the rotation, then you need to get 2-3 guys for pen.
They’re better off keeping Lugo in the pen and going after a Miley, Roark or Nova. I like the McHugh idea and Vizcaino. Edwards is mind effed (already have one of those in Diaz) and Morrow is 35 and has trouble staying on the field.
So tired of the rebound pipe dreams. Go get two relievers and THEN if the others rebound, Mets have a dominant ‘pen. Damn team needs to start acting like a contender because they have more pieces than most. Rookie manager, probably a rookie pitching coach and now looking at counting marginal, fringe players hoping to rebound to average mediocre production?
You’re probably better off signing rebounding candidates then spending serious money on relief pitching. They did that last year with Wilson and Familia. That didn’t turn out so hot.
Hey Jim-there’s no cash balance at the ATM. Get with the program. It’s the Mets. Smoke And Mirrors are right in front of you. They suck you In and grab your credit card. Then once the bills are paid, Fred collects the bonus money from the insurance companies for the players on the DL/IL.
Do you have any questions?
that’s really like the mets to need a CF and decide that Szczur is good enough.
Despite anything Brodie floats about being able to spend, we will results that are more in line with the consensus- Wilpons aren’t opening up the checkbook
Brody is a blow hard.
How did the Phillies wind up after throwing around a bunch of money?
Oh yeah, behind the Mets. But the Mets are the joke…
right, congrats on 3rd. I’m not going to say the 2019 Phillies were great or not great, but I can say with confidence that a team that thinks Szczur is their CF solution will probably not go far.
Only one reporter is saying that the Mets are considering Szczur, and it’s just that they’re interested, not that he’s a solution. But keep looking for reasons to hate the Mets as the Phillies spend another billion dollars to come in 4th.
Good point.
My wishlist for the pen.
Delin betances 2years 19mil
Daniel hudson 2 years 15 mil
The bullpen
Wilson
Hudson
Betances
Familia
Diaz
Lugo
Gsellman
That’s not too shabby assuming everyone is healthy
I’d rather go after Diekman on the same deal than Hudson. Can’t have a pen with Wilson as the only lefty. Can’t pitch everyday when there’s guys like Soto, Harper, and Freeman in the division
Hey Juan-betances is not going from the Yankees to the Mets. That’s like walking away from an Audi and driving a VW.
I think the Mets should at least still be in the conversation for Akiyama. If they could get him on a cheap deal then roll the dice. If it doesn’t work out then so be it
Pretty sure I’ve heard he’s declining in CF and as Connor alluded to, the Mets are LH heavy in the OF already. Doesn’t seem to be a fit.
I don’t think the Mets will do much this off season for many reasons. They have needs, but everyone has needs. You look at this club and it’s easy to see they may not have the assets to trade for what they need. Doesn’t seem like ownership is willing to spend more, either. Probably minor league contracts and small major league incentive deals.
I think brodie will get creative and backload some of these contracts or even set deferrals to make it work for the budget.
At least that’s what I’m hoping for we cannot win with this bp
Hey Juan-the last time that Brody Smiles got creative he traded for Cano to get a
Closer. Come on. He’s a commissioned salesman. Stop Believing the cute smile and big predictions.
He knows very little about being a GM. The
Mets success this season was despite the dummy planning roadblocks for their most successful players. How many 1B and 2B did he trade for in front of their best players.
Now “Mr. Handsome’s EGO Is raging.
It’s time to anticipate the WORST. He’s due for a screw up that will make Robbie Cano seem like a 25 y.o.player!
“the club’s relief corps must ‘largely sink or swim based on how Diaz and Familia perform,’” In that case, I hope flotation devices will be stored under every seat.
the problem is that Cano’s contract, not ability, will force him in the lineup when healthy !.
I’d rather see the Mets have Cano on the bench, Davis at 3B, McNeil at 2B, put Conforto in the everyday CF spot and sign a guy like Kole Calhoun to play RF with Nimmo in LF
Best case scenario is smother ped failure for Cano. Wouldn’t hurt my feelings if they slipped him a mickey.
Second half of the season, Cano raked. He’ll be fine this year barring injury.
Cano hit .230 in July with 3 HR, he then jumped to a whopping .244 with 1 HR in the 4 games he played in August and then a whopping .260 with 3 HR in September . . . . . when did this raking you speak of occur ?
In October when the leaves turned red.
Hey RCT—hello? Since he left the Yankees how many seasons has Cano lead his team with a torrid second half?
ZERO
Go w 3 lefty hitting of? Late innings nightmare when the opposing manager brings in that situational lefty specialist. We need a rh cf to balance this line up.
“situational lefty specialist” is no longer a real threat with this new three batter rule, no ?
There won’t be LOOGYs in the traditional sense, but I imagine in certain spots, managers would still bring in a lefty with 2 out and hope to get out of the inning. The end of the inning negates the 3 batter rule. They could also bring in a LH specialist when two of the next three batters are lefties, that sort of thing. In either scenario, if there’s only lefties left on the bench, there’s nothing to counter with when a LHP is brought in.
Castellanos would be just fine with me in LF for the Mets. Or how about Haniger?
Defense is the issue here. The Mets have the bats but the defense is weak. Castellanos may improve on what he’s done in the past, but the Mets can’t afford more experiments like JD Davis or Dom Smith in LF. If they don’t go outside the organization, Jeff McNeil is a perfectly serviceable outfielder.
McNeil looked good in RF, but lacks the arm strength for right. Conforto actually plays a really good center field and makes some spectacular plays. Nimmo hasn’t ever really done anything to elicit a ‘wow’ response.
Castellanos in left, Conforto in center and McNeil in right with Nimmo double switching in for defense would be nice. Add one more true outfielder who bats right handed (Haniger?) and I think the Mets can refocus on the bullpen. If not, the answer lies at 3B. Either JD Davis stays in left and we add a true 3B (Donaldson?) or McNeil moves to 3B and we add a righty RF’er.
With the additional roster spot this year, I just hope they use it wisely and don’t just try to save money with it.
Dear Mets fans. We have too many corner outfielders. Stop making idiotic requests for more.
JD Davis is a 3B, Dom Smith is a 1B, McNeil is an infielder, Cespedes is a golfer .. . . . . . .please name all of these corner outfielders you speak of .. . . … Conforto and Nimmo – who hasnt shown he can hit !
If the Mets are going to spend legitimate money on an outfielder, it should be to pick up a real CF, not a butcher corner outfielder like Castellanos.
Big if, considering there aren’t any FA CFs worth “legitimate money” this offseason, but I do agree there’s no need for additional corner OFs.
Trade for Starling Marte the pirates aren’t going anywhere
Not really sure of the Mets payroll situation but I could see them as a suitor for Mookie.
@ NewYorkSoxFan . . . . would love to see Bientendi as a Met but no thank you, pass of Betts
Are you willing to do a Syndergaard for Betts swap? Or Brandon Nimmo and Edwin Diaz? Would be nice to see a Red Sox fan’s perspective on these “rumors” that come up
It’s ridiculous that they’re even entertaining the idea of putting Lugo back in the rotation.
agreed.
How about a dumb non-starter of a deal?
Price, Betts, Workman, and a little cash say 7m in 2021 and 7m in 2022.
Coming back is deGrom and Diaz.
Everybody hurts, but, I think everybody is somewhat better as well.
Degrom isn’t being moved
That is dumb the Mets aren’t trading deGrom plus the Mets aren’t taking Price with that ridiculous contract, they already took a ridiculous contract this year in Cano
So the Mets trade a locked up in his prime current back to back Cy Young winner for One year of Betts and s high priced contract of Price who is not so terrific. Hhhhmmm can you propose anything worse than that? I doubt it.
Don’t see the appeal for either team. Mets will not trade deGrom, that package is not intriguing at all with Betts on a walk year. And why would the Sox who have said they are trying to shed salary basically swap deGroms contract of 27mil AAV for Price’s deal and not save any money on the books?
Starling Marte
Only issue with Marte is that his defensive metrics do not speak to kindly of him in CF (-6DRS). I don’t want to purge more prospects for a 30 year old CF who only adds to a bad defense despite a decent bat and great speed
Mets cant afford him so it wont matter and your right he isnt the best CF should be in LF
He’s only owed 10mil this year and has an option for 11mil next season. For a player of his caliber, the cost doesn’t seem to be the issue
Mets should take a look at japanese star CF Shogo but they wont if they want someone cheap then sign Billy Hamilton for CF can bat leadoff or bat 8th good on defense and can steal 40-50 bases