While Nationals ace Max Scherzer is taking a “year by year” approach as he nears his 14th Major League season, Scherzer isn’t eyeing retirement any time soon. “I still love everything it takes to go out there and pitch at a high level. Still love pitching as much as I ever have. I don’t feel like I’m slowing down whatsoever and I want to continue to have as long a career as possible,” Scherzer tells NBC Sports Washington’s Todd Dybas.
Whether Scherzer’s baseball future is in the District or elsewhere has yet to be determined, as Scherzer is entering the final year of his contract. Nationals GM Mike Rizzo recently stated that there hadn’t yet been any extension talks with the right-hander, and Scherzer also said he hasn’t heard anything about negotiations. Obviously, there’s plenty of time before the season for the two sides to discuss continuing what has thus far been an incredibly successful relationship, though Scherzer still sees 2021 as more unfinished business. “I still have another year left to really try and execute this contract,” Scherzer said. “That’s just kind of how I try to work. I’m not going to sit here and try to reflect upon six years when I’ve still got a year left.”
More from around the NL East…
- The Phillies’ hiring of Dave Dombrowski as their new president of baseball operations caught many around in the sport by surprise, including Dombrowski himself on some level. As Jayson Stark of The Athletic (subscription required) writes in his chronicle of Philadelphia’s front office search, “In a little more than 30 hours, Dave Dombrowski had gone from ’sorry’ to ’when do I start?’ And he’d never seen it coming.” Stark’s piece details the many ins and outs of the Phillies’ search, which a close but ultimately fruitless courtship of Twins GM Thad Levine, and Dombrowski himself twice rejecting the team’s overtures to focus on his position as part of a group attempting to bring an MLB franchise to Nashville. After Dombrowski learned that MLB was unlikely to either expand or relocate a team any time soon, he gave renewed consideration to the Phillies’ pitch and a deal came together quite quickly.
- On paper, “the match seemed perfect” between J.T. Realmuto and the Mets to line up on a free agent deal, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal writes. However, “the Mets wanted to move more quickly than Realmuto,” so New York pivoted away from Realmuto to sign the next-best catcher on the market in James McCann. Time will tell if either side might have erred, whether it was the Mets by being too aggressive or Realmuto by not being aggressive enough.
- The Braves officially announced their 2021 coaching staff, including the additions of Bobby Magallanes as a second assistant hitting coach and the hiring of Drew French as the new bullpen coach. Magallanes has been with Atlanta’s organization for the last two seasons, first working as a hitting coach at the Triple-A level in 2019 and then as an assistant hitting instructor in 2020, which already included a lot of work with the MLB roster. French has spent the past five seasons with the Astros, working in such roles as Triple-A pitching coach in 2019 and instructing at Houston’s alternate training site last season.
Nats shouldnt let go Max. If he does he is a legend.
Huh?
Goalie, I’m with you
Yoda: Makes sense, Luc 2 does. Max nats shouldn’t let go. A legend, if he is.
I don’t think that was Yoda. My vote is for Zsa Zsa Gabor.
If he does what?
Would you please translate that into English?
It will be interesting to compare McCann’s deal and production with Realmuto’s coming deal and production.
But that isnt so cut and dried, at least on the defensive side. Defensive metrics for catchers are still somewhat suspect, and as McCann himself said, there is a lot more that goes into being a catcher other than framing and blocking.
Yes it is cut and dried, Realmuto is much better than McCann. Fangraphs has him projected as a 3.7 WAR, while McCann has a WAR of 1. The Mets paid 10 million for a 6 million a year player. Realmuto is a 20 million a year player by those standards.
Realmuto may be asking for an AAV deal if $25 M per year. If so, he may need all the wealthy suitors in in that bidding. The story is more about how he lost one of those wealthy suitors.
I guess it all depends what you believe realmuto pulls down. But, McCaan only makes 40m total over 4 years. It’s somewhat doubtful realmuto takes a 4 year pact, and given how most catchers age…. well, it’s a bigger risk to project that longer deal.
We don’t know realmutos deal yet, but, we can reasonably suspect he is seeking at least 100m and likely seeking a good chunk more. By the time each deal is over, ask what is more likely…
Will the mets see 40m worth of value from mccaan? Or will (insert club) see xxx million worth from realmuto? If need be, it’s easier to stomach a 10m backup in yr 4, than a 22m backup in years 4, 5, and 6 of a deal for example
I see the market playing out in the phillies favor for Realmuto unless the angels come out of nowhere to get him since they missed out on McCann. Realmuto back in philly makes the most sense.
Yeah me too. I think against all odds JT goes back to Philly, maybe on a deal with a short term opt-out so he can try again in a year or two, when there’s a better market.
I think maybe a 3 year deal and he can opt out if he wants to after the second year of the deal. 3 years around 80 mill?
No way. He will be 30 when the season starts. A catcher shouldn’t expect to get a better deal later into their 30s. He should get the most money he can now
6yrs $102m-$111m should do it.
Don’t see anyone going 6.
5 years. Same dollar amounts.
Johnrealtime: Truth. He needs to get as much as he can now.
Realmuto isn’t going to do better in a year or two. He’ll be 30 in March playing a position where teams shy away from signing players into their decline years moreso than the other positions AND he’s not guaranteed to sustain this kind of production. The only thing that would help him in FA in a year or two that he doesn’t already have is not having a QO attached, which isn’t enough to offset him being older and possibly not as good anymore.
Or maybe a big contract with an opt out after year 1 and 2. May take a small decrease in salary but if he remains dominant he won’t have a QO, and he’ll be entering a market after a more normal year of revenues. 4 and $80-90, maybe have it back loaded for the team in case he opts out after yr 1 or 2 but that seems like a decent bet for a team to get good value with him being able to have flexibility to maximize his value.
How better a market will there be when he is already the top catcher on the market?
Bluejays may complicate the matter, more money and a better team moving forward. Could get interesting.
An opt out in three years won’t work for the same reason he shouldn’t consider 1 year pillow contracts. His age is already a big talking point that’s limiting his earning potential. What do you think it would be three years from now? His time to strike is now, even with all the difficulties.
Yeah! He’s already unanimously considered the best catcher in baseball. What exactly is going to happen in three years that people think will help his market so much?
Year 1 or 2 opt out would distance him from pandemic economic concerns. Opt outs are his bet imho because he has flexibility of a large guaranteed contract or opting out in a better market IF he has one or two more good years. His age will weigh down his value but it’s just a debate of whether or not the revenue losses weigh down his value more. Maybe he is only average in year one, he doesn’t opt out and still makes bank, maybe costing him $5-10 mm on total contact value but he still gets big money and had the potential to earn more. Every team playing poor is also limiting his overall market rn so the thinking lies in weighing and balancing market conditions
I think the Nats jump in and out bid them for him!
Would Washington consider dealing Max?
They could if their season doesn’t go well, but otherwise I don’t see them being bad so I don’t see why they would. They’ll most likely extend him a QO so they’ll need to be out of contention and offer better than a good pick.
Not eligible for qualifying offer.
They’d need his permission first. Not sure if he’s got a no-trade clause, but he’s a 10/5 guy anyhow.
The only National with a Full No Trade Clause is Strasburg
Scherzer has 10/5 no trade rights since he has been in the league 13 yrs and been with the nationals going on 7 years next season. That no trade has
I am not sure if he resigns with the Nationals would Zimmerman have 10/5 rights since he is on a new contract and and has been with them 15 years.
I am surprised someone that has been a fan of the jays since 77 doesnt know about that rule with the issues they had with joey bats saying he would only waive it for a trade to a contender a couple years back.
If there is even an unlikely chance at the playoffs, I would say no. The Nationals intend to compete next year and they have seen themselves come from behind to many times though coming up short to often.
Well, that answers the question how many assistant hitting coaches does it take for Atlanta to screw in a lightbulb.
Well, he’s a hitting coach from the Astros system in 2019, so I wonder if they’re itemizing a “technology upgrade” at Truist.
[Thinking emoji]
They went from World Championship to last place (tie with Mets) in 1 (crazy, condensed) year. Turner’s a stud, but if Soto goes down for any length of time, they’re done – without finding more offensive pieces. They have some breakout candidates in Kieboom and Robles could become a more complete player, but if they have another season like 2020, why wouldn’t you trade Scherzer to help replenish a depleted farm? I’d imagine they could possibly re-sign him, but if he’s dealing, get more than the comp pick they’d forfeit (while also doing Scherzer a favor not having it attached to him in FA).
You gotta keep in mind the 2020 Nats and the 2019 Nats had almost exactly the same record through the same number of games. The 2019 Nats were done and dusted after a third of the season and somehow had one of the most remarkable 2nd half runs over the past century. I’m not saying the 2020 Nats would have done the same, but you can’t ignore the fact that the 2019 Nats were very bad through a couple of months.
If anything, that kinda supports this lineup probably isn’t going to get it done. 2 years in a row they were pretty awful
Did you expect the 2019 run? Would you have been confident the 2020 team was about to pull off something similar? I’m an outsider but I didn’t, and one of those key cogs(Rendon) is not coming back
So do you keep hoping for a magical run one more time? Or do you face reality, rebuild for the next 2 years and then compete again for the next 5?
Laughingatyou — the team has at least 1 year of a window left. It’s not rebuild time.
And no, no one in Washington was expecting another WS run…Starlin Castro + Eric Thames does not equal Rendon.
If you wait a year now, then trade guys, then wait 2 years for those guys to mature into MLB players… you’re almost done with Soto. And Max likely walks for a draft pick
Learn from Harper. Learn from Rendon. Unless you plan to give Max another 150M, get something worthwhile back
Oh believe me, I know. I remember. That being said, to think they could have replicated that same success is diluting how improbable their 2019 run was. That being said, didn’t 2019 also include vintage Stras/Rendon that 2020 was missing? To think they could have done the same thin, with that bullpen and missing those parts had they had more time is a Grand Canyon jump to conclusions.
Not eligible for qualifying offer.
mlb1225, If you come to this thread, I just wanted to say that I think Musgrove is going on my list. He’s kicking Kluber off of it too.
Tricky spot for Nats right now. True, they have some young position player studs, but their heart and soul is the rotation, especially Scherzer/Strasburg/Corbin, who are all over 30 (in Max’s case quite a bit over). If they want to make another run with that group, they need some more hitters, like, right now. They can’t count on Kieboom figuring it out and Robles turning his bat around. Might be a sneaky good spot for Springer, although I doubt the Mets will be outbid there. Or Realmuto, although catcher is hardly their biggest hole.
If they’re not in the Bryant/Arenado/Suarez conversations, I’d be shocked.
They might sign Bryant next offseason if the cubs don’t keep him. That would replace the loss of Rendon pretty quick.
It’s pretty clear based on the rumors they are in the 3B market. Suarez link yesterday, I think that was leaked by Wash to get someone like the Cubs or Rockies to lower their price. I think that KB dismissal comment from the Nats all ties together. They’re negotiating thru the media
An extension for Max Scherzer?
The is getting paid until 2028!!!!!
The Nats requested that? Has nothing to do with on-field performance. Bobby Bonilla style.
Scherzer deserves $30+ million a year until he shows us he doesn’t.
Early 2021 standings (how I see the teams roster to start the year not roster now)
Mets
Braves
Nats
Phillies
Marlins
the start of the year is like 6 months away, do you have a time machine?
He sees the Mets getting Bauer, Springer, and JTR. Only way they would be top team in the NL East… Actually, even then the Braves would still be better.
Just one of those and a bunch of nice but not elite pieces would do the job. It’s also a prediction I’m not saying it will happen. Braves could finish first. Wouldn’t surprise me. But stop acting like with nice moves the Mets can’t pass them.
Mets signed McCann so they can sign Springer and i think that would be it for them imo. Unless they sign some bullpen arms. Bauer I think does end up with the angels
“Nice but”… couldnt have said it better. Giggity giggity
“it’s a just a prediction, I’m not saying it’ll happen”…then what is your prediction for?
Every year people put the Mets in first. How about they do something first to earn that.
First year without the wilpons. If the wilpons still owned the team I’d have the Mets 3rd or 4th
I didn’t realize that the owners play instead of the players.
So, the thing is to predict based on a roster that hasn’t been put together yet? Talk about self-pacification.
And on another thread, predicting 95 wins on the same premise? 95 wins for the Mets? You must believe that they are going to sign both Bauer and Springer, and follow that with trading for Snell, Lindor and Arenado for minimal return…or irrelevant players like JD Davis, Nimmo, Rosario, and Sundergaard.
Marlins fan talking like his team won’t be in last place! Lol
I know one thing…we will enjoy our season no matter what. We’re in a good place.
Will you? Things usually don’t go well for your team.
Mets in a better place the marlins. All your prospects look like compete bust lol.
Jazz sucks
Brinson sucks
Monte sucks
Isan sucks
Its funny watching them
Thank god your pitchers did good lol
We’ll see. Remember…don’t worry about the Marlins. Pay no mind to them. Just focus on the Braves, Nats, and Phils.
Exactly! You’re starting to get it. Marlins are the last things I need to worry about for the Mets!
Braves
Phillies
Mets
Marlins
Nats
Agreed. Mets are usually overrated. It’s why their fans always get disappointed nearly every year.
On behalf of all Braves, Marlins, Nats, and Phillies fans, Mets need to win something first before they anoint themselves into greatness.
Mets and marlins seem to be out of place imho
I have a higher chance of going to Mars than marlins coming in first next year. The highest they could get is like 4th.
This is gonna be a fun season.
No for the marlins lol. You’ll lose like 90 games this year lol
I’ll trust your prediction because your predictions have served you so well.
So bc the marlins did ok in a 60 game season.. even when most people know the marlins wouldn’t have made the playoffs in a full year. My predictions all suck now bc of that!??? Lol. Most people don’t think marlins will be good. It’s not just me.
Not just this 60-game season makes your predictions suck. You’ve failed in previous years too. You’re using the ‘Blind Squirrel’ methodology for predicting. Pick the Mets for first every year, and you will get it right at some point…then talk about how much of a genius you are for getting it right once while pretending you didn’t get it wrong every other single year.
BTW, 9 seasons left in this decade.
Bro I wasn’t on this page in 2019. So please stop.
Okay, so your one year here, you were laughably wrong.
It was a fluke that the marlins came in 2nd. You actually think you were right bc of knowledge and that cracks me up lol. Can’t wait till next year when marlins fans are crying bc they thought they could come close to the Mets.
If you remember, when we thought the 2020 season was 162 games, I stated that we were likely to finish in last, but I wasn’t completely sold on it because the Marlins improved, and I knew what kids were coming up, and I combined that with the ability for both the Mets and Phillies to implode. Then, when I saw that the season was going to be reduced by half or more because of Covid and the delays in the negotiations between MLB and MLBPA, I started calling it that the Marlins have a shot.
You predicted that the Mets were finishing in first in 162 games and in 60 games. You even made many other incorrect statements about the other NL East teams and their players for both lengths of seasons. And you issued some classic failures. Heck, for me the greatest was when you were so sure about the Mets greatness and the Marlins stinking that you made that epic statement of “Even in 60 games, the Marlins will finish 15 games out of fourth place; 25 games out of first” in opposition to my statement that they had a shot in a shortened season.
So, unlike you, I have no delusions about my team. And you deserve to get called out for how epically you failed in predictions for a 60-game season when many were stating that anything can happen, and me knowing the Marlins, I knew we had enough talent organization-wide to do well in 81 games or less. You argued against it. So, it shows that you don’t know enough about baseball to know that what happened this year was very possible. And you also indicated before the season based on you bashing all of our prospects, that you didn’t see our young pitching coming, even though you have this pretentious knowledge of teams’ farm systems. Now you are bashing our prospect hitters. I guess you don’t learn.
Oh yeah, and don’t look now, but we may well be headed into another shortened season. You still want to count the Marlins out in one of those after what happened this year?
Here’s my thought again: In 162, we are expected to finish in last, but we’re going to be a lot better and this is another step forward in our rebuild…no matter what. But, due to the Mets and Phillies ability to implode, I again am not even 70% sold on the Marlins finishing in last. And if our season is 100 games or less, the Marlins have a shot at the playoffs again, especially with expanded playoffs. Go ahead and tell me how many games out of 4th place we’re finishing. I love that.
If you remember correctly I made the prediction of the Mets finishing in first when they had both syndergaard and stroman… obviously the Braves would had probably finished in first but that’s why I made a prediction… and could you help remember any other prediction that I got wrong. I do t even recall making any other prediction other than Mets in first and marlins in last… The 25 games behind even in a covid year was not a prediction. That was me telling you how bad of a team the marlins are. stop making things up.. and they were both flukes too. I’d bet my house marlins finish behind the marlins next year if we have a full year.
Wow, now you’re trying the “hyperbole” excuse to cover your failed statement about the Marlins? LOL!
Wait…if you’re trying to avoid that prediction as not being a prediction, how about when you said midseason that “the Marlins will be in last soon.”
What other statements you got wrong?
Hmmmm…
Remember what you said about Marcel Ozuna compared to all of the Mets OFs?
Remember what you said about the Mets having a better lineup than the Braves, and the best lineup in the division? Ahem…i even remember when I said that the mets had individual talent, but they didn’t mesh well to execute a good offense. Remember that?
Remember the Mets had the best bullpen?
Remember the Braves weren’t that good as people say?
Remember Alonso was a sure thing?
And this is just off the top of my head right now.
The Mets do have a better lineup than Braves so i didn’t get that wrong
I said smith is a better hitter than Ozuna. Ozuna did better in 60 games… that’s doesn’t prove anything. I still think smith is the better hitter.
Smith and conforto are both better than Ozuna
I never said Mets have the best bullpen. Making things up again I see
I still don’t think Braves are as good as people say honestly. That is also not something you could prove wrong. Me saying they are overrated isn’t something you could prove wrong.
Alonso is a sure thing.. you acting like he is Chris Davis. Alonso ops will be above 800 for the next 5+ years…
You’re going to keep making me correct you.
You definitely said several times the Mets had the best bullpen. At least own it
If you think the 2020 Mets were better offensively than the 2020 Braves, there’s no saving you
No I didn’t….
Maybe if you looked at stats other than runs scored in a 60 games season…..
Thank you @ludafish. It seems that MetsFan22 is now getting selective amnesia to try to avoid being held accountable for his failed comments.
@MetsFan22, so you mean to tell me that scoring runs isn’t what an offense is about? Wow, I guess you are the guy that will try to convince people that the team that scores more runs wasn’t really the team that won the game.
And you’re free to say the Braves aren’t as good as people think. As they keep winning our division while you’re making that statement, it just shows how much weight your logic and credibility carries.
Hahaha yeah that’s the *only* reason they were better
Not nearly every team stat known to man
Guess what bud? The Mets played 60 too. It doesn’t negate how much better ATL was
I’m trying to figure out MetsFan22 logic.
He argues that Brandon Nimmo is a good player because of his OBP (and no other stat), and pretty much states that Batting Average is antiquated (the stat that hurts Nimmo being falsely labeled as a “good hitter”).
He also argues that Amed Rosario is a good player, and mentions his Batting Average (and no other stat).
He also argues that the Mets have a better offense than the Braves. You just have to ignore runs scored by the two teams to see how the Mets have a better offense.
This guy is clearly a genius beyond my capability of comprehension.
Offensively the Braves weren’t really better. Mets have more hitter, they are deeper, and out produced the Braves in most categories…
Nimmo is good hitter. But the fact that you can’t realize is stunning. Again stop putting words in my mouth. I never said Rosario was good. I said he was avg hitter in 2019.
How is a guy that doesn’t hit well when he swings, a good hitter?
Educate me.
No, your predictions always suck.
@MetsFan22
As of today 12/20/20 the Mets are not the beat team in the NL East. From worst to 1st is not impossible but unlikely.
So what are these moves the Mets have to make to jump in front of everyone else. And just saying adding “some nice pieces” doesn’t count. Who exactly do you think the Mets are going to get to push them in front of the Braves.
Over the last several years the Mets have showed us they are roughly a .500 ball club year in and year out. Yes they have a new majority owner, but dont act like he wasn’t already a part owner. So let’s wait and see what he actually does.
MF22 thinks “2 SPs and an OF” should do it. Springer Jr and [presumably] Bauer + another SP. Not sure who that last SP would be, possibly Paxton? But the chasm from Bauer to everyone else is vast. They also don’t think they need another bullpen piece and are fine with the forever struggling Edwin Díaz, though there’s quite a few top options available, including Liam Hendricks & Brad Hand, among others. But hey, not my team. I’d love to see another 70-78% save rate from Díaz that should allow for continued late-game heroics from a Braves team that scores more from the 7th inning on than any other MLB team.
Mets over the Braves? That is laughable. They paid $10,000,000 for a backup catcher. This team isn’t going anywhere but 3rd place if they are lucky.
@Yep it is
He’s basing his prediction on a roster that he expects the Mets to have by Opening Day 2021…not their current roster.
Clearly, since he predicts 95 wins, the Mets are going to sign both Bauer and Springer, then trade for Lindor, Snell, and Arenado….while not giving up much to acquire them because those 3 teams (Rays, Cleveland, and Rox) are working very hard to make the Mets better instead of themselves.
Mets wouldn’t need to do all that. Marlins fans don’t realize they are putting to much stock into 2020
And you’re putting too much stock into 2019 as your measuring stick.
And you’re putting even way too much stock on a roster that you think will happen instead of what the roster actually is.
Lolmets
I love how he’s basing the Marlins future on the prospects that don’t mean much. Yeah Brinson is a bust (if he does anything it s a bonus). Then he rags on Isan, Jazz, and Monte when they barely got a shot. So even if they are a bust….ok? Those aren’t even the guys they are counting on.
OK ill bite what makes you think this team is a 95+ win team? While im hoping you are right as a mets fan, on paper right now i wouldnt even put us on par with the 2019 team that won 86 games.
That year we had 4 pitchers start 30+ games (degrom, Thor, Wheeler, and Matz) One is off the team, Another is coming off major surgery and hoping to be back midseason, and Matz. Granted Stroman can possibly make up for Thor but is a bit of a tough ask after a year off for any pitcher.
RP is too volatile to get into so i will say its a wash.
Catcher ill say is about even with Mccann better with glove and Ramos with the bat.
1b Alonso belted 50+ homeruns on a cinderella season with juiced baseballs. Could he get there again potentially yes but i see him leveling off and at best being another ike davis or lucas duda. Dom Smith also is a better hitter but i dont see him getting to alonso 2019 stats
2nd McNeil is an improvement
SS I would not say significant upgrade but an upgrade if you go Giminez
3b Davis can be a better hitter than Frazier but is a big drop def wise
OF depending on the if configuration and if there is a dh … you go from Davis Lagaras and Conforto to Nimmo Heredia and Conforto.
With the current lineup/roster you would need to fill atleast 1 significant pitcher (Bauer) plus another quality starter just to have a similar rotation plus an upgrade in the of (Springer im hoping) plus hoping everyone stays the same and doesnt regress further and then most likely build depth as we know there is always injuries, The one thing is the mets should have capable bench/bat in rosario and alonso . Then this is just to make it back to 85 wins what would you add to make up the 10 games?
Stop using logic. He only responds to fantasy
Thank you @Roll
I think the adds he’s looking at for those 10 wins is the Mets trading very little talent to acquire Snell, Arenado and Lindor. Those may get the Mets to 95 with Bauer and Springer added.
He really thinks that the NL East is a cakewalk. Even the Braves, who are the class of the division, are going to have to bring their A-game to win 95.
The lineup is better
The pitching will be slightly worse but no big enough of a difference (this prediction is also that I’m thinking they get two pitchers in FA) example would be oddorizi/Paxton/Walker/sugano etc
Springer will also probably be on the team. If not him they’ll get 1 big FA.
Sandy has said the team will try and have better depth in the minors
Bullpen is better
Division is clearly worst
I hoped I helped you….
Who are you counting on.. lol
The division is not worse.
The Braves and Marlins are better than they were in 2020…significantly better than they were in 2019 if you want to play the full season card.
Phillies are also better than they were in 2019 (full season card). And they can also play the “expected roster by Opening Day” card too.
Nats are a “we’ll see”, but they started playing better at season’s end.
The division is clearly worse
Phillies are a lot worse…..
marlins are still garbage
Nats aren’t a powerhouse anymore
And
Braves aren’t significantly better they are about the same
The pride of the farm hasn’t even come up aside from Sixto. They have already moved on from everyone you have mentioned except Jazz (and you’re basing he’s a bust on what 20 games? They don’t need him to be a star offensively either since he’s a great defender). We don’t have a top ranked farm for no reason. Cohen is going to have to spend a lot of money to keep the team relevant for years because the farm is terrible
Nationals i will give you are worse than being the world series winner but not significantly worse assuming they sign/trade for one big bat at either corner IF spot and none of their young talent regress but i predict atleast one of them does a lot better than last year
Braves are about the same if not better again assuming they sign a corner of or corner if spot as their rotation is pretty solid with morton and have a very strong clubhouse that has been confirmed by many of the people leaving the team that couldnt get the dollars they want.
Marlins will be either damn good (think the braves improvement the last couple years) or go back down to bottom. I dont envision them winning the division but they have the potential to be dangerous and if you are talking 95 games one, which nl east team give the most fits to the mets over the last decade even when they are the “bottom dwellars” especially during playoff runs … yes the Marlins.
Philly i think becomes the bottom dwellars because in the end i dont see them making a significant move this offseason as the owner sounds more like he is being a wilpon this offseason after the bigger shellouts the last few and going no where. I dont blame him either especially after lost revenue last year. They can hope they get back Realmuto on a sweetheart deal where he can opt out next year or in 2 years and be about even as last year but i dont see any significant improvement..
In the end because of how tough the division will be even on speculated additions its a tough road to even 90 wins.
BTW where do you see the significant lineup improvement for right now.
1999 lineup
Jeff McNeil 3B
Pete Alonso 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
J.D. Davis LF
Michael Conforto RF
Wilson Ramos C
Brandon Nimmo CF
Amed Rosario SS
Drop Cano Ramos Rosario and even under you assumption with springer you add McCann, Gimenez, and Springer it is about the same maybe slightly better. Alonso and Smith are a wash at 1b as i dont think either will replicate what alonso did that year. What you gain from springer is lost between Ramos and Rosario. This also assuming no dh because we are comparing 2019 and MLB has said assume no dh in 2021. Even if you keep Rosario in he is not as good as he was in 2019 and i dont think jd gets back there either.
So are we adding now Ozuna with Springer into your argument along with 2 pitchers and more bp help? Even as a mets fan i cant get to your number. The only year we reached 95 wins was the 99 Mets that made it to the world series and that was one hell of a team where i dont see this team along those lines and the division was much much easier.
The Phillies do not have a worse roster than 2019. Wheeler and Bohm are huge additions. Losing Realmuto hurts, but I’d still take theue 2021 roster over 2019. Not to mention the fact that they may sign JT. Dude the Mets made some solid moves. Get excited, but stop spreading nonsense. The division is better now than it was in 2029. Only team that’s worse is the Nats.
*ugh. Hate my phone. 2029=2019
I can’t get you +10, but get rid of Edwin Díaz that was 19-26 in saves (78.8%) in 2019; his 2020 save percentage was even worse at 60%. Sure, they want to prove they didn’t screw up by giving more chances to Diaz, but BvW is gone. Give a shorter leash to Díaz and quit treating him like porcelain while allowing Seth Lugo to go from elite bullpen arm to back-of-rotation starter may be a start.
Not sure if that was to me vonpurple. Its more a testament to the rest of the division. If the Phillis dont get back JTR (which is a real possibility from what i hear ) Would you say the drop off from JTR to Knapp would be more than the gain from Franco to Brohm? Otherwise i believe the rest of the team is essentially the same bat wise.
I will agree with you Wheeler is a huge upgrade but i believe you are losing a lot of rotation and depth that while not great was solid in 19 but was not good in 20 so dont blame you on that. I hope i am wrong on the phillies i would love a 5 way race in division … it would make every division game huge.
Oh sorry Roll. My reply was meant for Metsfan22. That being said, good points hrre. I don’t think the Phillies will go with Knapp as an everyday starter, even if they lose JTR. But yes, losing JTR is very possible, I’d go further and say likely. That being said, I think Nola, Wheeler, Eflin is a legitimate top 3 that the Phillies weren’t even close to in 2019. Eflin really turned around the last 2 seasons. Also, Bohm is really good. I’d argue the 2nd best bat on the team. So I do think it helps pad the JTR loss. If the Phils sign an arm or two, they’re going to be decent. Each of the last few seasons they experienced horrific late season collapses that erased their early success. To me, this screams lack of depth, but I don’t yhink they’re far away. It really depends on their offseason.
i agree. I think the whole division is pretty much 2 pieces away. except the marlins which is hard to judge because of the potential talent they have and you know potential can never be reached as well..
Awaiting first to hear from BravesFan22, NatsFan22, PhilliesFan22, and MarlinsFan22 before placing my final bet.
More like:
Braves
Nats
Marlins
Phillies
Mets
Not a chance
This division is wide open right now behind the Braves!
I don’t see the Phillies ahead of the Marlins. No way, no how. They’re gonna be the laughing stock of the division for the next several years.
@kingjenrry Depends what the Phillies do. They have a solid core, but blatant holes in the rotation, pen and at catcher. If they plug some of the holes, they’re right there competing for 2nd. Braves are a step ahead of everyone. Honestly I think the Marlins owned the Phillies last year, and quite frankly that’s the main reason they made the post season. My prediction as of right now: Braves, Mets ???. I see Nats, Phils and Marlins fighting it out, but all 3 teams aren’t that far. One or two moves this offseason changes everything.
Most delusional fan on here
Lol. You have the Mets in first. How surprising. No bias there at all.
It’s no bias bc it could happen
Of course it could happen. Anything could happen. But as of right now Mets, Phils, Nats, Marlins are all significantly behind Braves. Still plenty of offseason left though, and plenty of Cohen money. I still think the Mets need 2 SPs over Springer, but plenty of time.
My prediction was based on the Mets getting springer and two SP. that why I said (based on roster I think they’ll have not the roster now) Mets with springer and two SP makes the Braves fan nervous..
The Mets make no one nervous, they’re still the Mets
I mean it’s like people forget the Braves made some big moves already. That rotation is deep.
The Mets make Mets fans nervous. After Mets fans like MetsFan22 blabber all offseason about how great the Mets are, then they get nervous on whether the Mets can pay the bill that their fans’ mouths ran up. And those same Mets fans are nervous about the continued ridicule their fan base gets from it.
my prediction of the mets winning 90+ wins is also based on what i expect their roster to be.
trade Matz and Cano for Gerritt Cole with the yankees picking up the difference
trade Nimmo for Betts with LA picking up the difference in salary
Guillorme for Mike Trout mets pick up 1/4 of the difference since he is close to a hometown boy
lindor for rosario with cleveland
Sign Trevor Bauer
Sign Springer
i know we are trading away some talent there but this is how we will get to 95 wins and is the expected deals from MetsFan22. Have i gotten your roster correct?
That team would win the WS in a sweep. But stop trying to be smart. Mets winning90 games could easily happen.
If Cohen wants to buy an NL East title, he should bribe Manfred to get the Pirates and Braves to switch divisions. Pittsburgh is farther east than Atlanta.
That still wouldn’t get it done.
At least we aren’t a lock at 5th place
I’m not scared of the Braves at all.. you’ll all see next year.
@MetsFan22
As of today 12/20/20 the Mets are not the beat team in the NL East. From worst to 1st is not impossible but unlikely.
So what are these moves the Mets have to make to jump in front of everyone else. And just saying adding “some nice pieces” doesn’t count. Who exactly do you think the Mets are going to get to push them in front of the Braves.
Over the last several years the Mets have showed us they are roughly a .500 ball club year in and year out. Yes they have a new majority owner, but dont act like he wasn’t already a part owner. So let’s wait and see what he actually does.
Bauer should only take a 1-year deal and see if Scherzer wants to pair up somewhere in 2022.
Or sign for the most money available now, then recruit
If Bauer blows his arm out next year, was it smart?
A bit interesting to me that Dombrowski was apparently told that there wouldn’t be any expansion or relocation of teams anytime soon. I’m guessing that COVID has a lot to Dow with that, but I wonder what the plans might have been pre-pandemic. We’ve heard snippets here and there about possibly adding teams but nothing concrete. As far as relocation goes, there are a few teams one could make an argument for relocating, but no one in imminent danger of it. I wonder what the planned timetable, if there was any, was for Nashville or other candidates, and what it might be now amid COVID uncertainty.
*guessing COVID has a lot to DO with that…
Even the Rays owner admits they’ll have no problem with social distancing at the Trop.
I think you’ll see expansion before relocation. 50M to each existing team is a HUGE incentive (based on 1B franchise entry fee, which is reasonable). Then the Rays can play half their games in Tampa and half in Mara Lago. And the A’s can (ahem) roll the dice and move to Vegas.
A’s to Portland
Portland Athletics sounds a hell of a lot better than Las Vegas Athletics.
Also makes a natural rival out of Seattle and improves travel times for two of the AL west teams.
I think you might have some trouble convincing a team to commit to Portland.
All of these teams have question marks going into next season with their starting pitching! The Nats have Ross and Strasburg, the Mets have Stroman and Syndergaard, the Braves have Soroka, the Phillies have a weak 4 and 5.
“Braves have Soroka” ?? His injury isn’t due to his arm and he started throwing a month ago. Yeah okay Achilles injury. But this isn’t a career threatening injury.
There are bigger questions with other pitchers like …
Mr Anderson. Can he continue the success he had in a few starts last year ? Or will walks eat him up ?
Morton. Will he still be effective with advancing pitching age ?
Smyly. Is he really as good as Braves management thinks he is given his arm troubles and injury history ?
Tell Ryan Howard Achilles injuries won’t ruin your career
I’d argue it was the shift that really ruined Howard’s career.
Oh please. He was never the same player again. He never hit an 800 OPS again and most of his time was at a 700 OPS post injury. Pre injury? Averaged a 928 Ops
He never hit more than 25 bombs post injury, after 6 seasons with 1 50 HR season, 3 high 40HR campaigns, and 2 30 HR campaigns. And that 25 HR season took 5 years for him to reach that level. Cmon
torn achilles for a pitcher isn’t as career threatening as a pos player especially an everyday player putting more stress on the tendon.
Cmon. A pitcher uses their Achilles on every pitch, against the rubber
Or it’s part of the landing foot/shock absorber. Not sure I’d be so quick to say it isn’t career threatening
I was being a smart alec. Without the shift Howard would have been a Hall of Famer. Look at his rookie year.
Of course the injury hurt his career, but Howard wasn’t exactly in his prime anymore at the time of the injury. It definitely was the nail in the coffin though.
for Mets to have made a mistake with JT he’d need to wind up accepting around 15 x4. I don’t see that happening
If he signs for anything less than $100m guaranteed the Mets definitely made a mistake.
Good thing he won’t. Mccan contract is better than realmuto.
How can you say that when Realmuto isn’t even signed? Mets may have jumped the gun. We have to see how things play out.
Or the Mets got the guy they really wanted all along.
Cohen KOOL AID !
Realmuto is better than McCann now and I see no reason why he wouldn’t be for the next 4 years. It’s possible McCann provides more value on his contract but Realmuto is still the better player.
Depends on what he does over the course of the contract.
15×4=60 for Realmuto vs 10×4=40 for McCann is only $20M spread over four years. The Mets better hope it’s more than $5M a year causing them to pass on the best catcher in the game for the privilege of overpaying for McCann.
if it gets down to the 60M range i see JTR saying 3 – 60 with opt outs i cant see him going down to 15 aav. Too many teams would be in at 15M and drive it back up to the 20M.
“Time will tell if either side might have erred, whether it was the Mets by being too aggressive or Realmuto by not being aggressive enough.”
This has the potential for a great poll question debate!
Dombrowski’s hire means expansion is at least four years out.
Scherzer should retire, he has nothing else to achieve
He seems to disagree with you on that point
Would love too see Max become a mercenary from here on out and collect some different uniforms
With his resume, banked money, and future deferments it makes total sense for him to stay 100% fluid. Lets just call it the Bauer Retirement plan-
22- CWS
23-Atl
24- He retires in Pinstripes
One of the things the MLBPA is asking for in the new CBA in return for the expanded playoffs the owners want so badly is 2 new teams. That is 80 new jobs for the union.
Realmuto’s value is plummeting. Not many teams want to give a 30 year old catcher a 150+M contract. He had a shot with Mets but he wanted to leverage them and he lost.
Yet there is a precedent for such a contract. Take a look at where Yadi Molina’s last extension placed him in the grad salary scale. After 14.2MM in ’17, Yadi pulled down 20MM in 2018 & 2019 and a prorated 7MM. Of note, these are for a Catcher who is 8 years [almost a full generation] older than JT