The Mets were linked to Jake Odorizzi’s market last month, though the team doesn’t appear to be one of the front-runners for the right-hander’s services, as Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that Odorizzi “is believed to be much more engaged with other teams right now.” We heard yesterday that the Twins were also falling behind in the race to sign Odorizzi, which could potentially mean good news for the Giants and Blue Jays — the other two teams cited as having interest in Odorizzi back in November.
San Francisco and Toronto are two of the teams considered to be most fervently exploring the pitching market thus far, with Sherman also listing the Padres, White Sox, Red Sox, Rays, and Angels as being particularly keen on adding arms. It’s probably safe to guess that at least a couple of those teams have also checked in on Odorizzi, who was projected by MLBTR to receive a three-year, $39MM free agent deal.
More from Citi Field…
- Also from Sherman, he opines that the Mets’ pitching plans could be altered by what happens with Trevor Bauer, as Bauer and George Springer appear to be the team’s top targets. “It is possible they are planning to make just one substantial purchase,” Sherman writes, so the Mets could turn towards Odorizzi or other pitchers if Springer is signed rather than Bauer. A trade target like Reds right-hander Sonny Gray could also be explored, with Sherman theorizing that Amed Rosario could interest a Cincinnati team known to be looking for shortstop help.
- After speculation earlier in the offseason that Athletics assistant GM Billy Owens could be a candidate to join the Mets, the New York Post’s Ken Davidoff reports that the Mets have, at least, “held internal discussions” about Owens, though it isn’t known if Owens has actually interviewed for the team’s general manager vacancy. Owens has a prior relationship with Mets president Sandy Alderson, as Alderson worked as a senior advisor to the Oakland front office for the last two seasons before returning to the Mets.
- Chasen Shreve was non-tendered by the Mets prior to Wednesday’s deadline, and MLBTR’s arbitration projections had Shreve in line for an arbitration salary of between $800K and $1.1MM. However, MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo reports that minor league deal Shreve signed with the Mets last offseason paid the left-hander a $1.5MM base salary upon reaching the majors, so Shreve’s arbitration number would have been closer to $2MM. While not a major financial difference for a reliever who pitched pretty well in 2020, DiComo figures the Mets believe they can find either a less-expensive pitcher who can match or better Shreve’s 2020 performance, or they’re saving money for a bigger-ticket addition. Shreve was also out of options, which undoubtedly also factored into New York’s non-tender decision.
Sherman’s trade ideas are always wild. The Reds aren’t trading Gray for Rosario. The Mets including another significant piece or two, and/or taking a bad contract? Okay, maybe. But straight up? No way.
Is it me or is it an opinion piece? I don’t think Mets fans don’t care what Sherman wants the Mets to do. It’s not up to him.
I don’t really understand your comment. I never said any of this was up to Sherman(?). I was just commenting on his trade idea, and ‘ideas’ should imply that I understand this is an opinion or suggestion, not a rumor. But thanks for letting me know that a sports reporter doesn’t control trades.
Maybe more of a wishful thinking suggestion by Sherman maybe he is
A Mets fan
Sherman is a idiot, Mets must remember Gray couldn’t handle NY when he pitched for the Yankees
Another good point. Gray was a mess with the Yankees.
New York columnists are fixated on the idea that there are some players who “can’t handle New York,” meaning the fans, sportsradio, and, most importantly, the scrutiny of the tabloid columnists. Ed Whitson. Carl Pavano. Sonny Gray. Edwin Diaz. Not once have I seen one of those columnists cite a clubhouse or front office source to back up the charge. For all we know, they were hurt, tipping pitches, or being coached wrong. I take any accusation that a player can’t handle New York with a grain of salt. and think most are self-serving ego trip by the columnists to show how important and powerful they are. “Dick Young ran Tom Seaver out of town? That’s nothing. I ruined Sonny Gray’s Yankee career!”
Yes, Marc. Yes.
You’re a Met fan, I’m a Yankees fan, explain Kenny Rodgers ?!? That dude was equally horrible for both teams = (
He had a perfect game, and success before and after NY, but couldn’t handle NY, change my mind.
Bobby Bonilla sure knew how to handle NY. And he continues to handle NY one day a year.
Kenny Rogers never lost a game as a yankee in yankee stadium..kenny rogers never lost a game as a met in shea stadium…his problem was in atlanta…so your ” kenny rogers cant pitch in ny” is wrong
Rogers was 12-9 as a Yankee at home. He didn’t lose a game at home as a Met, though he only played with them for a half season.
That being said, I agree the “can’t handle New York” thing is mostly bunk.
No Dick Young did not run Tom Seaver out of town!!! Ms Joan I’m a cheap Biyatch Payson had her flunky Mets GM Joe McDonald run Seaver out of town to the Reds for a bucket of baseballs rather then pay the best pitcher in baseball.
Dick young was the guy antagonizing seaver into leaving…then as a sign of dick youngs arrogance/ greed he left 1 paper for the other for more money
You can make a point without the misogyny.
M. Donald Grant
Yo Yo
Joan payson was a fantastic owner who died in 1975. Free agency had come into play in 1974. Donald Grant was still in charge of operations and was not a lover of new rule. Seaver was asking that the team renegotiate his salary, the Mets were holding the line and said wait till your contract is up and we will pay you under the new rules. Seaver was bitching and Dick Young a Daily News columnist was ragging on Seaver, Young was a powerful reporter who would do Grant’s bidding. In 1977 Grant traded Seaver to the Reds. It was an entirely different atmosphere since free agency was brand new. Old schoolers were not in love with it, gave players a new lease since previously they had been restricted from moving unless team agreed.
very true Marc. I laugh all the time at this, like other cities don’t have “media”. I suspect it is just a very old idea that needs another generation to pass. It must come from the days when New York City had 3 teams and 5 daily newspapers and how the papers and teams competed for time on the radio or tv and ink and inches in the papers especially the back page. But that doesn’t apply anymore. and they need to move on from this idea.
when he came to NY ,Kenny Rogers was a bit of a gambler and didn’t know what situation his situation was in.
Joan Payson had been dead for two years dude. Do you seriously think she would have allowed that to happen? It was M Donald Grant.
I take your comments with a grain of salt.
One of Dick Young’s children married into the Grant family. That’s how Young got his dirt on Seaver and Grant. Yes, Tom wanted to be paid accordingly but the idea of leaving was never there until Young put it in.
He sure is, @MrMet.
Yankee fans have been on to his nonsense for awhile now.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t handle NY. Gray didn’t buy into NY’s pitching philosophy of increasing his spin rate. He’d often deviate from the game plan and it frustrated both Girardi and his catcher. Then he complained publicly a few times which is an instant death-knell for his time with the team (see also JA Happ). It didn’t work out for him but I’m glad he’s enjoying success in CIN.
I always laugh at the “can’t handle NY” narrative… like a player magically becomes worse cuz they’re in NY. Such nonsense. Players have bad years. Having bad years in a certain location proves nothing. It’s all correlation with no causation…
Yeah Rosario for grey isn’t happening but I also hope you don’t think your getting Alvarez Allen PCA or Mauricio either
The Mets don’t want Sonny Gray. He was a complete disaster in New York with the Yankees. So much so that the Yankees couldn’t give him away. Gray seemed way more comfortable in a smaller market environment. That happens with some players. No big deal, but everyone saw it too. He’s not going to the Mets. He might thrive somewhere else like he did with the Reds. It just won’t be in NY.
The Yankees didn’t give Gray away. They traded him for a solid prospect and a pick around #40 in the draft.
Yeah, that almost makes up for the boatload of top prospects the Yanks gave up to get Gray. Lucky for them, none of the prospects worked out for the A’s and probably won’t.
Interesting interview with Gray where he said that in Cincinnati he can walk through Rookwood Commons and no one recognizes him, but in NYC he was constantly accosted by fans and paparazzi as soon as he walked out of his apartment.
“Mr. Vaughan i thought you were starting tonight?”
“I did”
“Oh sorry, i didn’t tune in until the second inning”
Seems like a better plan than targeting Springer. Spending over 100 million on a player with only a half season sample size of “not cheating” statistics doesn’t seem like a good idea. Did they learn nothing with Cano?
From 2018-2020 is half a season?
Judging by the way this article mentioned it (I haven’t read Sherman’s piece), it definitely seems like Rosario would just be one of the pieces going back for Gray. Not the whole return.
Sherman’s speculation is always insane. It’s been that way for 20+ years. His transactional articles are good enough, but once he starts speculating, he goes completely off the rails.
Not to mention that the Mets said explicitly and publicly that they’re not looking to make trades to improve the roster, only FA signings.
@Mark Brooklyn: You rock bud. Great comment. The idea that New York is this place that is special for particular players not being able to handle the scene is a myth. Other players like Lance Lynn this was said about but his worst season didn’t happen there. It was even right in line with what his work was like at the time.
Gary Sanchez is another one who “can’t handle the NY stress but then how did he have productive seasons to begin with? It’s just such an egotistical myth.
Mets wouldn’t want Gray since he can’t handle a big market as proven with the Yankees. They already have a player like that on the team in Edwin Diaz. Can’t wait to see Diaz in KC and dominate
Gray was solid the first half season he pitched for the Yankees and bad the next full season. He had a bad year once in Oakland, too.
Edwin Diaz did poorly in ’19 but was lights out again last year in a partial season. How about giving him more time to see how he does?
I’m sure some players struggle in bigger markets, but to assume every player who has a bad season in New York just can’t handle the big city is quite presumptuous. If that’s your reasoning, then I guess Andres Galarraga couldn’t handle the crushing media presence and fan expectations in St. Louis.
Gray playing bad in NY proves nothing. That’s not how proof works. If a player hits more homers on Tuesday than any other day does that prove he hits better on Tuesdays? Such nonsense.
Gray going back to pitch in NY is a disaster. We’ve already seen what happens when he’s in a big market.
And Gray can’t pitch in NY. It’s a bad fit for both sides.
I can’t tell you how much I would love Odorizzi to be in a Rangers uniform to start next season, but I think his price (and Tanaka’s) is going to be driven way up because of all the teams in on him.
BTW, I’d love to see a Billy Owens – Sandy Alderson FO duo for the Mets. They would be veeerry productive.
Actually, no it wouldn’t. Alderson is an ancient relic who likes to operate on a shoestring budget and dumpster dive for bargains. It was a Colossal mistake bringing him back. It’s like the Wilpons never left.
He was dumpster diving and working on a shoestring budget at the Wilpon’s direction. Now that he has leeway I’m certain you will see the real Alderson.
Alderson knows how to select talent around which a team can build. Simply look at the young talent he traded for and/ or drafted. Once that group of players is established does it make sense to spend money on a free agent, and even then spend wisely so as not to get caught up in a buying frenzy and messing up your budget to the point that you can’t keep your young players because you gave it all to a superstar. And how many of those superstars have ever come close to really helping the team they signed with?
Sandy’s hand were tied by The Thriftpons.
86mets The GM doesn’t determine his own budget. All Alderson could do was try to make the most of what the Wilpons gave him to work with. Cohen hasn’t even officially been the owner for a full offseason yet, give it time. I’m sure Alderson will use that extra room to spend soon
METS WILL WIN IT ALL. WHEN WE DO EVERYONE WILL RECOGNIZE THE METS AS THE PREMIER TEAM ON THE EAST COAST.
I thought if you win it all it makes you the premier team in the world but ok.
I LOVE LAMP, I LOVE LAMP!
He’s known to throw shade
You can capitalize it all you want but it ain’t happening.
Would you settle for the 3rd best team in NY?
1) Yankees
2) Blue Jays
3) Mets
The bluejays are NOT better than the Mets.
Yes, they most definitely are
No they aren’t….
Lol.
They will be the best team in New York after this offseason! Go Jays!
You are in a fantasy world. Write back when you have ace of deGrom’s caliber.
You are assuming that the will be in Buffalo at the start of the season?
Yes because prime Felix Hernandez made the Mariners so good right? Just one example.
Yes we see how many post games having an ace like Jacob Degrom has gotten the Mets too. He’s one pitcher, you need 5. Your number two last year was…. matz? Porcello..? Ryu actually is a decent pitcher and has been pretty close in ERA the last two seasons… so it’s not like the blue jays are lacking there. Mets COULD be better than blue jays but to say they are with no one at second,third or behind the plate is pretty dumb.
Right now they definitley are.
I think so, too.
the Blue Jays are much better than the Mets, i don’t see how it could even be argued otherwise.
and their arrow is pointed much farther up unless the Mets make some big FA additions. (yet to happen)
Is it me or is this an opinion piece. Appreciate the effort but I don’t think Mets fans want to hear what Sherman thinks the Mets should do. Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s up to him.
Maybe it was just a Yankee thing, but do you really want to gamble that Gray will be better with the Mets, when it might have been a not comfortable pitching in NYC situation?
Mets get JTR and Springer
Mets get Casali and JBJ..As a Braves fan, this sounds much better..lol
I think they get McCann and Springer.
I second that.
Mets should trade for arenado and Blackmon. No idea what kind of package it would take to get them.
Yep McCann and Springer plus Bauer if the numbers are right.
Mets get
A. realmuto
b. Bauer
C. Springer
D. McCann
E. A and B
F. A,B, C
G. A and C
H B and C
I B, C, D
J none of the above
Get us a 10 option poll MLBTR!
D and C and odorizzi
Man.
Tough market to be in for clubs that need help at catcher. It’s basically JTR & then a whole lot question marks. Glad my squad is ok there, serious.
I wouldn’t trust McCann.
Offensively he’s been feasting on AL Central pitching for years. Gotta really question those numbers. & with the glove, if his “breakthrough” in framing is indeed a mirage (very possible) he goes back to being a really poor defender.
I mean…Gary Sanchez is at least a slightly above average defensive catcher. But McCann was well below average. You see how intolerant New Yorkers are with slightly above average catcher defense. If McCann goes back to being the butcher he was in Detroit The City will eat that poor kid alive lol.
Exactly!
Wait! In what universe is Sanchez an above average defensive C? Great arm, but he’s a disaster with a mitt. The worst receiver in the game. One of the worst I’ve seen in 45 years
So was the AL East but you guys don’t admit that judge and DJ had been feasting on weak competition too. Not to mention flyouts to RF become HRs
didnt Sanchez get replaced by a defensive catcher which the pitchers preferred to pitch to anyways?
Exactly
Sanchez is well below average on defense. The stats back that up. 82nd in 2020 and 107th in 2019.
baseballprospectus.com/leaders/catching/catcher-st…
McCann is 21st on that list in 2020 and 27th in 2019. Consistently above average.
I could be wrong, but if there are 32 MLB teams, and roughly 32 #1 catchers, how does him ranking 21st and 27th make him above average??
“in what world is Sanchez an above average defensive catcher”.
My words were “slightly above average” & that would be Fangraphs world. I get it. It’s easier to just latch onto an internet narrative than to look something up.
I’ve been guilty of that myself.
I’m using Fangraphs @koamalu.
Thanks for the link, though. I’m not overly familiar with Baseball Prospectus. FG is my go to.
There are multiples listed on there for the same team … Grandal is number 2 on the list last year and McCann is number 21 … Cleveland has Austin Hedges at 12 and Roberto Hernandez at 18 … so on and so forth.
@ducky Fangraphs has him listed as -2 an -4 DRS the past 2 seasons. That is below average.
@braves It lists all catchers and no team had one catcher play in 162 games or even all 60 in 2020. Did you even look at the stats? Apparently not because they are self explanatory. If you prefer DRS, McCann was a 4 and 5 the past two seasons. Well above average.
Knew I could stop reading when you said Gary Sanchez is above average defensively. Dude has led the league in passed balls 3 out of 4 “full” seasons he’s been in the league. McCann would be fine. Catchers develop late, he seems to have grown into his game, his arm is fine and framing seems to be improving. A huge upgrade over Ramos or Nido.
Yes.
But when I look at his Defensive Value he has always graded out in the positive sans ’19. & – hey – for his career he’s at 1 DRS. Which…is now kinda grasping at straws, or whatever.
The only point I’m trying to make is that Sanchez is hardly this horrible defensive catcher that some want to make him out to be.
I mean…”worst catcher I’ve seen in 45 years”…I guess if you’ve only been watching little league or whatever.
Ya know?
I’m also really looking forward to seeing the gains he will make working with Swanson over a full season. He’s a great coach who had tremendous success with the Twins catchers.
As much as folks want to insist he’s some stone handed ogre back there, the data compiled on him shows that is simply not true.
Now…go Jints!
ABC
A,B.C
B and D.
C D and a SP I won’t want, like Tanaka
A and D. Why not?
Sherman would fit right in here. We’d all be blasting his trade proposals. Rosario is *not* going to get Gray.
That’s pretty absurd, man.
Ya know?
As the post I was responding to was deleted, I also deleted my response.
So.
Move along, folks.
And you have a good day, @metsfan22.
:)
Mets prediction
Mccan
Springer
Odorrizi
Springer CF
Nimmo LF
Conforto RF
Alonso DH
Smith 1B
McNeil 2B
Davis 3B
McCann C
Gimenez SS
I can’t find a lineup as good other than dodgers
McNeil batting 6th is all you need to know about how good this lineup is….
Hopefully MLB will decide to settle the Universal DH soon.
Yup the Mets and reds are the teams that mostly get hurt If they take away DH imo
They would still need add one more starter to that team imo
How about LeMahieu at 3rd and trade Davis for a young starter?
I wouldn’t mind but do they have enough to money for DJ? Remember we still have to resign Thor and conforto
I think they let Thor walk as he hasn’t lived up to his potential. It really depends what happene the next few seasons.
Why would nimmo bat 2nd and not McNeil
McNeil is a better player. I don’t really want to bat a 400 obp bat anywhere other than 1-2
Giants are looking for a Southpaw and a RH guy on cheap 1 year deal. Can’t see them in the mix for Odor.
Don’t forget these guys write for a living. They need to write SOMETHING every day even if its basically nothing :) Mets are in Great shape. No worries
The Mets should never think of swapping Rosario for Gray. Why trade a potential 280 hitter for a $20 mil/yr #4 starter. Odorizzi is better at $13 mil and we keep Amed. Sherman needs to take the needle out of his arm before scripting his fantasies.
Right now what role do you think Rosario has with the Mets as it appears SS is Gimenez’s spot to lose and Rosario refuses to play any other positions.
I hope Mets fans do not think they are going to just get big free agent after big free-agent this off-season. I don’t see them getting Bauer or Springer I think a lot of players want to sit back for a year and see what this team is really going to be.
Mets are getting one of those two if they care about money and not where they want to live
Cohen has the money in his ashtray, why not?
all of these owner are rich. doesnt mean they want to spend.
Let me get this straight, you think players are going to ignore one of the only teams that is likely to spend significant money this offseason so they can ‘cash in’ ahead of a possible (likely?) work stoppage next year and then who knows what system going forward? Possibly after a 2nd season of reduced attendance.
This is Wilponian-level drivel.
Also, Trevor May and Marcus Stroman specifically referenced Cohen as being a reason they were excited to sign with the Mets.
They’ll definitely get a big FA… just maybe not more than one unfortunately
Whats the big hype about Bauer?
He has only 1 1/2 good years and he is 30.
Spin rate
Could the reds be the king maker?
Reds trade suarez and winkler to the Mets for mcneil, gimenez, Matthew allan and Josh wolf.
Mets benefit-right handed power with alonzo,suarez and springer
Left handed bats with high obp with conforto,winker.nimmo the 4th of.suereaz costs 27 mil over 3 years leaves room to get springer,simmons and bauer.
Cohen true to his word brings a mlb world series win home.
Reds benefit-3 long term assets to rebuild a depleted farm system.
I’m a Mets fan and, if they made this trade, I’d puke.
The Mets wouldn’t do that trade. McNeil alone has more value than Suarez bc of how cheap he is
I’d pass to as a Mets fan. McNeil is awesome. I honestly would even do that deal if it was just McNeil for Suarez and Winkler.
If it were Suarez and gray for Rosario davis Allan baty, I wonder what both sides would think
I’d puke a little less.
Why trade mcneil? He is a wally backman/tim teufel platoon by himself? Has teufels power plus some more,and has backmans speed and bunting ability.
Bauer solves a lot of the Mets’ rotation problems, but I’d rather have Odorizzi for half the money and 1% of the off field issues.
Odorizzi is a 5-inning pitcher, always was and, if he’s lucky, will be for a couple more years.
Not a very good 5-inning pitcher either.
So when he pitches there will be 4 or 5 relievers finishing his game.
The average start for an AL SP in 2019 was 4.99 IPs. Odorizzi was at 5.3 IPs/GS.
So he’s a little better than average.
Not exactly what you can build a rotation on.
5 of him and you’ll burn out 5 bullpens
1) No team has the option to sign 5 Jake Odorizzis
2) If a team signed 5 Jake Odorizzis, they’d still only blow out one bullpen, maybe.
What is it if you take out all games using an opener that was pulled after 2-3 innings by design and not by performance?
Why this team has great young base the best pitcher in baseball a beautiful stadium in the greatest city in the country and the richest owner in baseball so what’s the need to wait Bauer & Springer would be crazy not to join this team
im pretty sure I’ve heard every fan base say their city is “the greatest city in the country” and that theie staadium is so good that somehow it itself is a free agent attraction.
Springer is projectable, but Bauer not as much – based on their body of work. Signing both diversifies the risk. Add another SP, C and maybe a value play hittrr (Dahl ?) and cherry pick RP.
That’s an A+ offseason. Might not work perfectly, but you’re in position to succeed and diversified on the down sit.
The Mets are going to end up paying Bauer the 7 years and $200 plus million he is asking for and they deserve the high 3s ERA they will get from him.
agreed
Other than last, Short year, what has Bauer done?
Even Porcello won the Cy Young.
If you look at Chasen’s ERA, Ks, hits-to-innings pitched, you’d think wow this guy is pretty good. And he’s a lefty. However, his FIP over the years has been in the 4s & 5s. Hard pass.
Cohen wants to make a splash, he could sign Springer for a big money four or five year deal and try to offer Bauer a deal for two years at a high AAV and hope he takes it. I could see the Mets signing McCann over Realmuto. McCann plays solid defense and won’t hurt you at the plate and will cost significantly less than Realmuto allowing the Mets to try to go for Bauer/Springer
Could 14 billion buy Springer and JTR?
Each or total?. If each, maybe. If total, no
I think Chasen Shreve would be a nice pickup for someone like the Orioles or Mariners. I think the Giants could even use him. I think it would be best to keep Sonny Gray rather than shopping him. I could see them shopping Castillo or Mahle however. I’m pretty sure there was a rumor last offseason about the Reds using Castillo in a potential trade scenario for Carlos Correa. Maybe they could revisit those talks this offseason and try to get Correa. He would fit nicely at shortstop and his power would match nicely with Castellanos, Suarez, and Moustakas. Just an idea.
Shreve is good enough to get a team to sign him, but he isn’t a high ceiling guy. He improved his WHIP and bumped up his K/9 with the Mets, but historically he gives up too much contact. His lack of options likely doomed him with the Mets because it limited their roster flexibility.
Sherman has to fill up newsprint in the Post. Sonny Gray is not coming to Mets. Reds need his right arm and he was not comfortable pitching in NY for Yankees. Pitching wins and Reds not giving him up. Reds have a very fair contract going forward with him.
Alderson for maybe his first time actually had whatever money he needs to spend. I’m hoping he’ll do that just as he has outlined. Buy today while building for tomorrow.