Let’s check in on a pair of teams from the National League East…
- The Mets pushed hard to land J.T. Realmuto before he was ultimately traded from Miami to Philadelphia, and Mike Puma of the New York Post writes in his latest mailbag column that the team’s pursuit of Realmuto might not yet be over. Realmuto is represented by CAA, the former agency of GM Brodie Van Wagenen, and current catcher Wilson Ramos has a club option for the 2021 season that isn’t a lock to be picked up ($10MM or a $1.5MM buyout). The Mets have acquired several of Van Wagenen’s former players since he became GM — Jed Lowrie, Michael Wacha and Robinson Cano — although CAA has a rather large base of clients and Van Wagenen has certainly added plenty of players from other firms (Ramos, J.D. Davis, etc.). Still, there’s no obvious in-house alternative if the team opts to move on from Ramos — or to pick up his option and look to trade him. Realmuto would indeed be an upgrade, particularly on the defensive side of things, which is notable given the questions that arose regarding Ramos’ glove in New York last year.
- The COVID-19 shutdown hasn’t been fun for anyone, but Cano has at least found a silver lining during the delayed season. Cano said Tuesday that the downtime has “been beneficial for me for sure” physically, as Tim Healey of Newsday relays. “My legs feel strong right now,” continued Cano, who’s champing at the bit to return to the diamond. “Just can’t wait to go back on the field, and then play.” If there is a season, the longtime star, 37, will aim to rebound after a rough debut campaign with the Mets. Cano hit just .257/.307/.428 with 13 homers during an injury-limited, 423-plate appearance season.
- Expanded rosters should be quite favorable for several Marlins outfielders who might not have been a lock to make the team, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Lewis Brinson has drawn his share of flak having yet to produce after arriving as the centerpiece in the widely panned Christian Yelich trade, and he’d be “very, very” likely to break camp with an expanded roster. Magneuris Sierra is out of minor league options and was a risk to be exposed to waivers given his lack of big league production, but greater roster flexibility and his elite speed make him a likely bench piece at the very least. Sierra, like Brinson, came over in a high-profile swap — the Marcell Ozuna deal — although the Fish have already fared quite a bit better in that deal. Sandy Alcantara was that trade’s headliner, while righty Zac Gallen was also in that deal and has since netted the team top shortstop prospect Jazz Chisholm.
Jazz should start the season as Miami’s SS. Diaz’s debut looked a lot like Brinson’s with the Brewers. he absolutely shouldnt start even for a team like the Marlins.
I like giving Diaz another chance, since Rojas can play short or second. There’s also plenty of outfielders so Villar can step in the infield if needed. I don’t want Jazz rushed. Miami has ruined many players rushing them up. The new bosses know it’s not their time yet so I see them taking their time with Jazz and Sixto…also all that extra year of arbitration nonsense.
Why rush him and start his clock early? He didn’t exactly tear up AA.
he was killing it in spring though. obviously its a bit of a jump but he did look pretty good.
Marlins are not going to give up on a top prospect in Diaz after only 49 games under his belt.
Using your logic, Scott Kingery would’ve never lasted after his first full season.with the Phils.
Yeah but its how bad Isan looked. those numbers he put up were pretty bad. im not for prospects being given up on after just a short spell, but i think Brinson is an example that an early rough spell should at least make one suspicious.
Mike Schmidt and Tom Glavine had ‘suspicious’ first years, they turned out OK.
It’s a good thing that many on these boards don’t run front offices. If the first impression was what made a decision on a prospect, I can’t imagine what a team would look like with all those studs that took time to adjust being handed to other teams, and long-term commitments were made to guys that started hot that eventually got exposed immediately or a year or two after.
Dear goodness. I couldn’t imagine keeping guys like Dwight Smith, Tuffy Rhodes, Emilio Bonifacio, Mark Quinn, Yasiel Puig, Benny Agbayani, Brad Kominsk…while trading away guys like Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, Mike Schmidt, Willie Mays, Trevor Hoffman (who was available in the 93 Expansion Draft and later traded as the prime piece for Gary Sheffield), Adrian Beltre, etc.
Um, what does Jazz starting at SS have to do with Isan Diaz starting? Isan is slated to and has been playing 2B for us. If anything, keep Jazz down, and send Diaz down for more seasoning too. Open the season with Rojas at SS (like planned) and have Villar at 2B. This should remain until Chisholm and Diaz are ready to take over.
As for Brinson and Sierra, platoon them and see what happens. We will be losing whether they bat .300 or .100. It doesn’t matter. Get them the ABs and see what you have. Same thing with Harold Ramirez. I’m not sure why they signed Matt Joyce, but it may work out with the expanded rosters.
seems unethical that a former agent/gm is using his connection to sign his former clients. but then, it’s mets.
He wouldn’t have gotten the job had he not represented Thor, deGrom.
Is it any different than the former GM of team A, now working for team B, signing player away from his former team?
Who says that Realmuto is a lock to sign with the Mets? From his time here in Miami, I don’t think he’s a personality fit for NY and in all likelihood be one of those guys that stays away from NY, unless they pay a fortune (Wilpons?). I have always felt that he would one day play with the Astros (beyond the cheating) or Rangers or Braves. Those are teams and communities that are more of a match for his personality. I particularly see the Braves or Astros because the Braves organization is a very strong cultural match. The Astros may fit as they try to clean up their reputation, and JT could be a move in that direction.
Honestly, no bash on the Mets, but I’d be surprised if he left Philly to sign there. I’m not even sure if he is comfortable in Philadelphia no matter what he says publicly.
What are the characteristics of those teams and communities that closely match his? He is a good ole boy from OK, isn’t he? I’m seriously curious
Unless you’re Greinke, “personality” of a city has little to no bearing on a player signing somewhere. It’s all about the green. The Mets hardly ever offer more than other teams. When they do, it’s because they forget to take age into account. It’s that reason that I wouldn’t expect JT to land in Queens, at least not before he’s 34.
I’m a Mets fan and even I don’t believe that Realmuto is signing with them. He has been very vocal about resigning with the Phills. He’s done a great job over there and the Phillies are lucky to have him there AND want to stay there. So who knows.
I’m a Phillies fan and I’m extremely nervous lol. He’s a great guy and likes Philly, but he can get a huge deal.
You’re making this a Mets problem. You realize that’s exactly how the business world works, right?
Clearly having an agent as a GM is unethical and it is definitely different than a GM moving to a new team and signing members of his former team as the GM never got a cut or a bonus for signing a player like an agent does.
Agency gets another cut when Agent/GM signs old clients.
Example Van Lunchwagon saved his agencies reputation by buying back Cano and relieving Seattle of the toxic waste dump he first sold them.
Clearly a conflict of interest.
As a long time Mets fan I hope the Mets are sold and Van Lunchwagon is dumped.
An interesting article might be to focus on national league teams that might trade for a 1 year DH. And teams that might trade a DH.
Cards might not need one with carpenter… but a team like the braves and nationals. Cubs have schwarber. Mets have Cano. Arizona might try and add a hitter.
Braves can use Riley as the DH or Pache/Waters. Nats will probably DH Howie
Anderson was raking in ST. If the rosters are more than 30, he may stick.
Why of all their choices, they would use one of 3 plus defenders at DH? If they had to choose a regular DH, they could interchange Marcell Ozuna and Nick Markakis.
Wait wait wait…in your universe the best defensive prospect in MLB should be DH while Markakis/Duvall trots out there…?
To be fair, Duvall is a good fielder. Although if I had a choice of who would be their primary DH, it would be Ozuna.
That would actually be a really interesting thing to look at. Take a look around and see what NL teams will be doing with the DH for one year.
Marlins have a DH! I wonder if Garrett Cooper will still find a way to get injured as a DH. If there’s anyone that can find a way, it’s him.
Not likely to be a season and if they do start things up, the second the Yankees or BoSox have to be quarantined for two weeks because some player(s) thought they were invincible and went and got infected fans will be crying about how unfair it all is.
Think about that. The season, how ever many games it, will come down to which teams did not lose two weeks worth of games.
Let’s hope, if acquired, Realmuto would be more productive for the Metropolitans than those 3 BvW former clients.
Brinson was in the yelich deal. Sierra was in ozuna deal
it says that already
Righty Zac Gallen was also in the Ozuna deal. Just an FYI.
I still don’t see Realmuto leaving Philly unless they randomly decide to stop overpaying players.
i personally doubt an extention, but im very sure as well they keep him in the end. this team just cant afford to be left helpless at catcher.
Yea. If they lose him it could go down as one of the worst trades in Phillies history. All that for 1 season of Realmuto. Yeeesh.
@VonPurpleHayes it’s been said before but keeping him won’t make the trade look better unless he takes a discount. Ditto the Dodgers and Mookie Betts.
I don’t see him taking a discount, but agreeing to an extension of some kind will help the Phillies save some face. It’s a bad trade, no doubt. If there were a full 2020 season then it could have been slightly better.
If they just offer him more $ than everyone else (or make him an absolutely world-beating offer to keep him off the open market) it won’t help them save any face. It will mean they overpaid for him twice. Once in prospects to acquire him and once again in $ to sign him.
top players from that area tend to sign with the angels.
Not that I like it but how about pay TV to see a game. You would pay for season tickets or for a game to enter a stadium so pay thru TV might solve the $ problem..
I’ve been thinking the same thing. When you subscribe to MLB TV, they don’t show local games. This could be offered now, and with special access and features that local networks don’t have…like live chats with players, front office, broadcast teams, etc.
We need Cano to have a monster season. I believe Cano still has it
Has what? The PEDs? If we’re talking talent – not likely because I think you can stick a golden, diamond-studded fork in him with the millions that your Mets are paying for him for the next few years.
Cano is a PED bust that should have never been traded for!
That is from a long time Met’s fan.
MLB should have never allowed an agent in Van Lunchwagon sign his former players; clear conflict of interest!
I hope the team is sold and Van Lunchwagon is dumped!