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Mets Rumors: Bell, Mancini, Szapucki

By Steve Adams | July 25, 2022 at 4:16pm CDT

There’s not much traction at present between the Nationals and Mets on a potential Josh Bell swap, reports SNY’s Andy Martino. Bell is one of several designated hitter candidates in whom the Mets are known to have interest, but it seems as though talks between the two parties haven’t proved fruitful. Pat Ragazzo and Michael Marino of Sports Illustrated/Fan Nation report that the Mets put forth an offer for Bell and a Nationals reliever that included an upper-level minor league starter and outfielder.

The Mets moved last week to begin augmenting their DH rotation, flipping reliever Colin Holderman to the Pirates in a trade that brought Daniel Vogelbach back to Queens. Vogelbach, however, figures to be a pure platoon option, whereas the switch-hitting Bell would be an everyday option who’d push Vogelbach into a bench role. The Mets have continued to look for potential DH upgrades even in the wake of the Voeglbach deal, Martino writes, with Trey Mancini, C.J. Cron and Willson Contreras among those who might still be under consideration.

They won’t have the opportunity to evaluate Mancini today, as he’ll take a seat on the heels of an 0-for-22 swoon at the plate. That offensive freefall has dropped Mancini’s batting line from a robust .285/.359/.429 (124 wRC+) to .268/.345/.404 (113 wRC+). Mancini has still been better than a league-average hitter on the whole, but it’s a poor time for him to struggle through his toughest patch of the season, particularly from a team vantage point.

The Orioles won 10 games in a row to thrust themselves onto the fringes of the American Wild Card chase prior to the deadline, but they’ve since gone 2-4 against the Rays and Yankees in a pair of road series. Mancini’s slump obviously isn’t the sole cause of the team’s momentum slowing down, but it was a contributing factor as Baltimore dropped a few close games. It’s also suboptimal for a club that could still move Mancini prior to next Tuesday’s trade deadline; an 0-for-22 doesn’t wipe out all of Mancini’s trade value, of course, but it’s tougher for a rival front office to give up a prospect of note for a hitter in such a pronounced slump.

Cron has a robust .292/.347/.546 line on the year, but it’s questionable whether the Rockies would consider moving him when he’s cheaply signed for 2023, particularly since Colorado GM Bill Schmidt has already pushed back against a major sell-off. Contreras seems a virtual lock to move in the next eight days, but the Mets reluctance to deal from the top of the farm system would make landing perhaps the top rental bat available a challenge.

Bell, Mancini and Vogelbach were just a handful of the Mets’ reported targets as they look to bolster the lineup, and Martino reported last week that GM Billy Eppler and his team were exploring trade scenarios involving both Dominic Smith and J.D. Davis. Clearly, there’s some turnover to be expected. Martino even floats the possibility of the Mets dealing Vogelbach if they land an impact bat, although there’s no indication that’s especially likely.

The exact return the Mets might surrender in order to bolster the lineup is, of course, wholly dependent on the caliber of player on which they settle — but Mike Puma of the New York Post reports (Twitter link) that minor league lefty Thomas Szapucki has drawn some interest from other teams as New York has poked around the trade market. The 26-year-old lefty has yielded a staggering 15 runs in just five Major League innings across the past two seasons, but Szapucki has had a nice year in Triple-A Syracuse, pitching to a 3.48 ERA with a huge 31.9% strikeout rate against an 11% walk rate in 62 innings.

Those 62 frames have been scattered over 16 starts, which comes out to an average of under four innings per outing. That’s a bit of a strange phenomenon, even in today’s game, but the Mets have been cautious with Szapucki’s workload after he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018 and season-ending surgery on his ulnar nerve last summer. He began the year throwing just two to three innings per start but has continued to build up his pitch count over the course of the year, peaking with a season-high 93 pitches back on July 6.

The Mets and other clubs may want to be cautious with his overall innings total and his pitch count on a game-to-game basis, but he’s a reasonably youthful lefty who can be controlled at least six years beyond the current campaign. Even if there’s some injury risk, he has three average or better pitches and could certainly operate as a multi-inning reliever down the road if his arm doesn’t prove capable of a starter’s workload. Speculatively, Szapucki would fit the billing of the “upper-level starting pitcher” the Mets are said to have offered to Washington in Bell talks, though there’s no specific indication that Szapucki was part of that offer.

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Baltimore Orioles Chicago Cubs Colorado Rockies New York Mets C.J. Cron Dan Vogelbach Josh Bell Thomas Szapucki Trey Mancini Willson Contreras

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View Comments (66)
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66 Comments

  1. BaseballBrian

    3 years ago

    “but they’ve since gone 2-4 against the Rays and Yankees in a pair of road series.”

    The O’s were home against New York.

    8
    Reply
    • geotheo

      3 years ago

      With all the Yankees fans in the stands sounded like a road game. That’s probably why he was confused

      10
      Reply
  2. JimmyForum

    3 years ago

    It was negotiated in the CBA that this years World Series would be an all NY affair. The only reason players throughout the league are even trying is to up their stats in hopes that one of the Yankees or Mets do them a solid and trade for them.

    1
    Reply
    • phenomenalajs

      3 years ago

      Besides that being BS, I don’t believe the 2000 Subway World Series did well in the national TV ratings, so I don’t think the MLB really wants that anyway.

      6
      Reply
      • phenomenalajs

        3 years ago

        Actually, the ratings were not great compared to the years surrounding it, but World Series TV viewership has generally been going down since then. I’m not sure if they count streaming/online options now, so I don’t know how reliable those Neilsen ratings are.

        Reply
        • MarlinsFanBase

          3 years ago

          It was discussed even leading into that series that championship series involving teams from the same state/area usually generate only regional interest. It was only the NY media that was trying to hype up the 2000 series, while they were pretending that the evidence about two teams from one region struggling for national interest, didn’t exist. For the NY media, it’s blasphemy for anyone or anything to say or suggest that people outside of NY have zero interest in what goes on there.

          Reply
    • User 1413108128

      3 years ago

      It was negotiated in the CBA that this years World Series would be an all NY affair.

      And people think the lizard men on the moon crowd is the craziest! I like it

      2
      Reply
    • sheagoodbye

      3 years ago

      You do realize if this is true and you know it to be true it would make you a fool for continuing to be a fan of such an obviously rigged sport, right?

      Reply
      • JimmyForum

        3 years ago

        It’s always been a sport of cheaters. Wake up

        1
        Reply
        • Ella B

          3 years ago

          Sure, and Jewish space lasers started the California wild fires.

          1
          Reply
        • Cosmo2

          3 years ago

          I get what you’re doing there, sarcasm and all, but you think you could’ve come up with an example that didn’t involve a hateful trope?

          Reply
  3. Sourhaze

    3 years ago

    Lol. Martino is a hack

    3
    Reply
    • VonPurpleHayes

      3 years ago

      We used to have a 24-hour news cycle. Now news need to break by the hour. As a result of that, we get a lot of reports that tell us nothing. It’s not all on the fault of the reporters (although I think your criticism is valid, not that my opinion should matter), I just also like to blame the public’s demand for instant gratification.

      13
      Reply
      • VonPurpleHayes

        3 years ago

        Lol I meant to say we use to not have a 24-hours news cycle. Now we do.

        1
        Reply
      • gmetwagner

        3 years ago

        Good post.

        Reply
    • Ronk325

      3 years ago

      Martino was a Wilpon stooge and had legit sources while they still owned the team but now he just writes fan fiction. His Yankees “scoops” are even funnier

      4
      Reply
  4. Shade 2

    3 years ago

    Martino cannot be trusted. I don’t trust him. I don’t like him

    3
    Reply
    • Mrsuntan

      3 years ago

      Im surprised, he has always spoken so highly of you.

      7
      Reply
  5. cardsfanboy

    3 years ago

    Carlson/Walker/Winn/Liberatore get it done for Soto

    Reply
    • DaOldDerbyBastard

      3 years ago

      Great. Post this on a Cardinals article.

      Reply
  6. TheOpener

    3 years ago

    The next person who calls then the “Trashtros” or refers to the “cheating” thing in any way (all teams “cheat”)- there’s going to be a problem

    2
    Reply
    • Javia135

      3 years ago

      So you are trying to call “no insults” on the MLBTR fan forum? Good luck with that.

      16
      Reply
      • gmetwagner

        3 years ago

        Next do reddit

        1
        Reply
    • riffraff

      3 years ago

      Lighten up Francis

      12
      Reply
    • Jonny5

      3 years ago

      You keep spamming this on every article. No one cares, Go watch the Trashtros game or something.

      17
      Reply
    • laswagn

      3 years ago

      You must be a Trashtros fan and condone their cheating?

      8
      Reply
      • stymeedone

        3 years ago

        With the way he keeps repeating this, knowing the responses he will get, he’s an Astro’s hater just trying to pile on.

        2
        Reply
    • vtadave

      3 years ago

      Ok…I’ll be sure to refer to them as the Cheatstros then.

      5
      Reply
    • toycannon

      3 years ago

      What are you going to do, clock them with a trash can lid? Give them a jolt of electricity?

      4
      Reply
    • Jose Tattoo-vay

      3 years ago

      Hear, hear! I hereby punctuate this proclamation by banging trash can twice!

      4
      Reply
  7. 10centBeerNight

    3 years ago

    NYM and ATL sure to make significant moves. Put all bat and RP names in a hat – some form of mix and match. What’s more curious to me is teams on periphery. PHI and SF. Do they go big? STL has easiest remaining schedule and they surely will upgrade big.

    Reply
    • VonPurpleHayes

      3 years ago

      Phillies have fourth easiest schedule and they are over the cap for the first time in their history. They’ll likely spend, but it’s debatable if they should.

      1
      Reply
  8. SanDiegoSuperDissapointingPadres

    3 years ago

    Let’s of noise going on right now…but when the dust settles the freaking Los Doyers will pull another Scherzer move and land Soto.

    The Padres will get this years Adam Frazier: Benintendi from the Royals and maybe get lucky and do a salary dump with the Yankees for a Hosmer-Gallo swap. They will miss out on every big deal just like last year do to luxury tax and bad contracts.

    Mets and Yanks will get whatever they want besides Soto, because they can.

    Most of us will be pissed at the deadline because that’s the way it is every year!

    1
    Reply
    • laswagn

      3 years ago

      As a Dodgers fan, I really wouldn’t want them to trade for Soto. I prefer Castillo and a RP or two.

      2
      Reply
      • Shrutefarm

        3 years ago

        laswagn – I could not agree more!!

        Reply
    • theroyal19

      3 years ago

      I really don’t see the Dodgers as willing to pay the price for Soto this year. Brandon Drury or even someone like David Peralta seem much more likely. definitely see them trying to pick up at least 1 pitcher for the bullpen.

      2
      Reply
    • Wrian Washman

      3 years ago

      The Yankees have absolutely no interest in Hosmer even for Gallo. That’s an interesting idea for Wil Myers though.

      Reply
  9. Pete'sView

    3 years ago

    Belt to the Mets as DH. SF gets?

    Reply
    • vtadave

      3 years ago

      Bag of balls.

      Reply
      • SanDiegoSuperDissapointingPadres

        3 years ago

        Maybe a Dodger dog and a bootleg Trevor Bauer bobble head. That they picked up on their last visit to LA.

        1
        Reply
    • Cosmo2

      3 years ago

      Bent. Mets just traded for Vogelbach. They need ANOTHER meh hitting DH now?

      Reply
  10. PaulSimon

    3 years ago

    It’s like not everyone in the Mets organization is on the same page

    2
    Reply
    • kcmark

      3 years ago

      Oh they’re on the same page. They’re just each reading a different book.

      6
      Reply
      • PaulSimon

        3 years ago

        Haha this is a riot

        Reply
    • PaulSimon

      3 years ago

      But watch Davis and Smith both be traded in a package to Washington for Bell

      2
      Reply
      • gmetwagner

        3 years ago

        That would be an epic move. However, I can’t help but wonder if they’d be better off in a different market.

        Reply
      • Cosmo2

        3 years ago

        Why would a team take on those two when half the reason that the Mets don’t want them is that they are basically redundant?

        1
        Reply
  11. MarlinsFanBase

    3 years ago

    Mets in on everybody. They have even contacted the league office to grant them a special roster exception. They clearly will have a roster of more than 26 players when they acquire all of the players the media says they are after.

    Hmmm…let me go online to see what other clickbait articles I can find.

    4
    Reply
    • Samuel

      3 years ago

      Internet sites and the reporters tally up lots of clicks from NYC and Boston fans that believe that stuff. They need updates for their fixes every hour just like some political people tune in to find out how awful most Americans are to get their fix. Lots of people make nice livings twisting and exaggerating things that later prove to not be true….but by then they’ve got a dozen new stories going.

      4
      Reply
      • MarlinsFanBase

        3 years ago

        Yep, it does pay a lot to be a professional troll that can bait people into clicking, watching, listening, etc. See Steven A. Smith, Mike Lupica, Anthony DiComo, Tucker Carlson, Candace Own, etc. They have made mucho dinero saying crud that they don’t even believe themselves because the idiots that believe in it follow their every word as gospel.

        1
        Reply
  12. jim stem

    3 years ago

    Teams that want to win will take Mets prospects. Owners that are more concerned with profit and loss spread sheets will unload contracts for cash.

    I imagine Mets have sent a list of available players to ever team and said, “Get back to us with your list and we’ll get something done.” I can’t imagine Cohen is going to drag his feet knowing the Braves aren’t going away.

    3
    Reply
    • kcmark

      3 years ago

      He’s trying to get a team to take on the Bobby Bonilla contract.

      Reply
      • Cosmo2

        3 years ago

        The Bonilla deferment is a good business deal for the Mets. Paying gradually over time is better than paying it all now.

        4
        Reply
        • cleonswoboda

          3 years ago

          there are many teams paying deferred contracts,for example the Yankees are still paying A-Rod,the Reds are still paying Griffey Jr.,the Red Sox are still paying Rameriz.

          Reply
    • MarlinsFanBase

      3 years ago

      @jim stem

      Teams that want to win will take Mets prospects? I didn’t realize that the Mets have the best prospects in MLB. I also didn’t realize that the Mets have a great history with prospects living up to expectations and media hype.

      So I guess if teams take other teams’ prospects, they want to lose.

      1
      Reply
      • Flyby

        3 years ago

        @MarlinsFanBase

        You completely misrepresented what jim said to fit your narrative. But i guess a response of something other than Alcantara for a Marlins fan is a step up.

        He basically said a team that wants to win in the future will look at mets prospects (Orioles, Cubs, etc) and another team looking to get money off the books (Reds and Nationals) will look to unload their bloated contracts (Moose and corbin) in any deal

        3
        Reply
  13. YourDreamGM

    3 years ago

    I think the traction ended last week. The Mets gave up a really good pitcher to get Vogey. The Mets will overpay with prospects so can’t rule Bell out completely but that was a lot if just for a bench piece. Would be much cheaper to just get a weak platoon to pair with Vogey.

    2
    Reply
  14. jvent

    3 years ago

    A pitching prospect or 2 to Baltimore for Mancini
    Dom Smith and Szapucki to Detroit for Chafin and Fulmer

    3
    Reply
    • Bill M

      3 years ago

      I think Tigers would want more than that

      3
      Reply
    • NMK 2

      3 years ago

      Not sure how much trust there is for Chafin, who had worse numbers in Arizona for years before leaving for Chicago and Detroit, but that’s an interesting proposal. A homecoming for Fulmer in a late-inning bullpen role could be a sneaky-strong play.

      3
      Reply
      • Bill M

        3 years ago

        They are both pretty good bullpen pieces for any team for the stretch and Chafin should be attractive for the Mets because he’s a lefty. Joely Rodriguez is pretty bad

        Reply
  15. Robrock30

    3 years ago

    LOL Mets. Stay away from Thomas Szapucki as he is the Mets selling rotten Fish. He is Horrible at the MLB Level. No Good! Trust me on this one. Mets are trying to dump him like Hot Garbage.

    1
    Reply
    • DaOldDerbyBastard

      3 years ago

      He’s pitched 5 inning in 2 spot starts. Do you assume he’s showed everything he has? You heard it here first. Thomas Szapucki will maintain a 27.00 average for his entire major league career.

      Reply
      • Robrock30

        3 years ago

        Szapucki who I used to like pre injuries is now a batting practice pitcher nothing more. He isn’t a bullpen option and he can’t last more than 4 or 5 innings as a SP. No value

        Also the Mets don’t have any MLB worthy OFs in their upper minors. Dig deeper into Brooklyn for Alex Ramirez. Hold firm or hang up.

        Reply
        • jim stem

          3 years ago

          I no still like Khalil Lee – give him time. I’ve seen him play a couple of times now and he’s got some skills. I guess it’s just up to him how they are applied.

          Reply
    • Cosmo2

      3 years ago

      I dunno about hot garbage but, yea I have a hard time believing anyone values Szap as more than a roll of the dice reliever.

      Reply

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