The New York Mets have pulled off the first blockbuster trade of the MLB offseason by trading for Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz. However, the Mets paid a big price including prized prospects for a 36-year-old second baseman with a massive contract. I break down why this trade could come back to haunt the Mets and why Brodie Van Wagenen’s impact in this deal.
New York Mets
Another Mets Mess: New York hires agent Brodie Van Wagenen as General Manager
The New York Mets have concluded their search for a General Manager hiring agent Brodie Van Wagenen. Van Wagenen has represented Mets players such as Todd Frazier, Yoenis Cespedes, & Jacob deGrom. However, this move has experts and players concerned about the Mets moving forward. I give my thoughts on this decision from the Wilpon’s influence to the Van Wagenen’s role in the Mets front office. You won’t want to miss this one!
The New York Mets should move Cespedes to first base
Yo? Yo? Where are you Yo? This has been the question on a lot of Mets fans minds as the team’s star slugger has fallen off the map since he went on the disabled list on May 13th. True, there is no question this lineup sorely misses the slugger’s big bat in the lineup as the injury coincides with the beginning of the Mets plummet down the standings. Despite the need in their lineup, New York has said that Cespedes isn’t close to returning as the star left fielder is back on the disabled list with a lower body injury. With the wear and tear on Cespedes in left field along with a chronic heel problem there could be a solution on the horizon that will hopefully keep the Mets slugger on the field.
A chronic heel issue and lower body issues have limited Cespedes to 118 games over the past two seasons.
According to the New York Daily News Cespedes has been taking ground balls at first base during his rehab in Port St. Lucie and the organization has hinted it is looking to move the slugger to first base to eliminate the wear and tear playing in the outfield. Physically speaking this makes a lot of sense for a player that has only played in 118 games over the past two seasons and at the age of 32 already has a chronic heel problem coupled with multiple lower body injuries. Let’s not forget the Mets have already tried to do this with Jay Bruce, but in training camp the Bruce reportedly balked at the move to first.
Unlike Bruce it has been reported that Cespedes is open to the change to first and given that the Mets don’t have an immediate solution at first base the timing is perfect. Dominic Smith has been a massive disappointment since his call up as a highly touted prospect. As of July 12th he has one RBI this season. Just one.
Dominic Smith has not lived up to the hype and first base is a big question for New York moving forward
Many fans have been clamoring for the team’s second rated prospect on MLB Pipeline Peter Alonso to be called up to Flushing, but despite a fast start Alonso has cooled off considerably. Even if he finishes strong, multiple reports are that the Mets have no interest in calling him up this year.
Let’s not forget that Cespedes is going to have to play. He’s still owed over $58 Million over the final two years of his contract after this season. Plus, it would benefit the Mets because of the log jam of outfielders. Brandon Nimmo has played like an All Star this season but even though he has the flexibility to play center, he’s better suited for a corner spot. Not to mention Michael Conforto who the Mets hope will regain his former All Star form and Jay Bruce who is still under contract for an additional two years. With all these outfielders on the roster and the need for the team to find a true center fielder in the offseason, moving Cespedes helps alleviate the corner outfield spots.
A move to first opens up the corner spots for Nimmo, Conforto, & Bruce.
At this point Cespedes is a below average outfield defender and is a pure slugger. With first base open the Mets could move him there to try to get him to play over 130 games next season. He may be the most valuable player to their lineup in baseball because without him, the Mets offense has been putrid and statistically one of the worst in baseball. This also allows the Mets to continue to develop Alonso in the minors until he is ready to take over or grow his trade value if the Mets need a chip in a future trade.
The next month will undoubtedly be used to decide the roster makeup of the New York Mets going forward, but the final months of the season should be used to develop Yoenis Cespedes into the 2019 first baseman. A move that not only give the team flexibility in the outfield while filling a need at first base, but most importantly a move that will hopefully allow Cespedes to stay on the field.
Trading Places: Who the New York Mets should move at the trade deadline
2018 has not be the Mets year. As the New York Mets continue to fall out of contention it is clear that they will not be in contention this year and should be sellers in order to replenish their depleted farm system. However, in my most recent podcast (click here) I discussed why New York shouldn’t trade their ace Jacob deGrom and they would not get a full return if they also moved on from Noah Syndergaard at the deadline. While these names would surely get the biggest hauls at the deadline, the Mets have other pieces they can move for future prospects.
Asdrubal Cabrera: 2B
Cabrera is playing like an All Star and the Mets should capitalize on his value
Cabrera has been one of the few Mets that has lived up to expectations this season. At 32, Cabrera is playing at an All Star level being top five in both home runs and RBIs among second baseman this season. Despite being a free agent at the end of the 2018 season, his value comes from his offense and versatility. Despite the woeful order around him, Cabrera is on pace for one of his best offensive seasons ever and unlike previous years has not had any nagging injuries hampering him this season.
The contract and injury history may decrease Cabrera’s value, but he adds versatility to a contender with his flexibility to not only play second. Cabrera has played third base and second for the Mets and could easily fit into either of those roles. He could even play shortstop, but at this age he is better off at the other two positions but gives a team the ability to plug him into three infield positions adding value as both a starter or utility man for a team with World Series aspirations.
Todd Frazier: 3B
Like last season, Frazier could be moving at the trade deadline.
Cabrera undoubtedly has more value than Frazier at this point but don’t be surprised if the Mets end up shopping their third baseman as well. This team would probably be looking to shop Jay Bruce at this deadline if he wasn’t hurt and producing. More likely Frazier will be a salary dump with the Mets on the hook for 2019 after the $ 17 Million dollar deal this past offseason.
Money has always been an issue with the Mets and a salary dump could open up the hot corner in the upcoming offseason. The team could look to give Wilmer Flores a full-time role at third in the second half to see if he can be penciled in for their starting third baseman in 2019. Could the Mets keep Frazier because he is under contract and they don’t have a prospect pushing the hot corner position? It certainly isn’t out of the realm of possibility but the team could look at this chance to dump salary.
Despite being on the Disabled list this season, Frazier has nearly matched his home run and RBI totals from last season at the midway point in the season. He may not have starting value like Cabrera, Frazier could be an appealing bench or role player for a playoff contender.
Zack Wheeler: Pitcher
Wheeler has been gaining traction on the trade market and the Mets should take advantage.
While deGrom and Syndergaard have been the big names getting the attention at the deadline the Mets could potentially trade another starting pitcher for prospects and that is Zack Wheeler. Despite not having the pedigree of the later two, there are a few reasons why the Mets could deal Wheeler. According to New York Times writer James Wagner teams have been reportedly calling the Mets about Wheeler in trade discussion.
This could be the perfect time to deal Wheeler for multiple reasons. First, it’s a weak starters market at the deadline and the Mets could get more for Wheeler then they bargained for. Second, Wheeler is peaking at the right time with his fastball in the upper 90s and a 3.38 ERA over his last eight starts. Third, he has had a long injury history missing two full seasons with the Mets and is 28 years old. Finally, he will be a free agent after 2019 and as noted both in this article and the previous podcast the Mets probably won’t be looking to break the bank for a career 23-29 starter as of July first.
With an expiring contract approaching and a long injury history, of the Mets can get prospects for Wheeler this is the time to do it. The team could look to deal him in the offseason, but personally I would be wary of Wheeler’s injury history and if he misses any time later in the season that will only diminish his value.
Some may be wondering with not Steven Matz? If there are offers the Mets should listen but here’s why I don’t see the Mets moving on from him. First, he’s a year younger then Wheeler. Second, his contract has him under the Mets control until 2022. Third, he’s a lefty in a rotation that has struggled to find a great left handed starter since Johan Santana. Finally, despite both having injury problems Matz hasn’t had the serious arm injuries like Wheeler where Wheeler has missed two full seasons with the Mets.
Jose Bautista: OF
The Mets brought in Bautista off the scrap heap, now it’s time to recycle.
Like Frazier, Bautista won’t bring back a haul of prospects but the Mets need bodies in their minor league organization and would be smart to take advantage of Bautista’s recent play. After picking up the 37-year-old off the scrap heap from the Atlanta Braves, Bautista has taken advantage of playing time with the Mets hitting .266 with three home runs and 13 RBIs since joining the club.
It’s clear that his skillset has diminished but he could be a valuable fourth outfielder for a postseason contender at a low asking price. Bautista could give a team a right-handed bat off the bench against lefties or be a spot starting outfielder if necessary. Contractually it would be easy to move Bautista and the Mets would take a mid to low range prospect in return. Not to mention the Mets might consider bringing up a certain Heisman Winner to play the outfield in August. Stranger things have happened to the Mets this season.
Jeurys Familia
With free agency for Familia at the end of the season, the Mets should get some value back for the former All Star closer.
If the Mets traded Familia the first reaction from the fanbase would probably be it’s about time! After an All Star campaign in 2016, Familia has not been the same closer and will hit the free agency market after the season at 28 years old. Sounding like a broken record again the Mets are stingy for the money and will not want to pay the high price tag for a closer that has been regressing over the past two years.
Still, with the premium on relievers especially for the postseason Familia could be a valuable piece for the Mets to move especially with the unlikelihood he will be back in Queens for 2019. Even if he won’t be the closer, Familia could become a seventh or eighth inning role player for a playoff team moving forward. Despite four blown saves this season, Familia still has 14 saves and a ERA just over three. It’s hard to find power back-end of the bullpen relievers on the market and the Mets could look to make a swap similar to what they did with the Red Sox when they dealt Addison Reed last season.
Why the New York Mets are actually looking to move Jacob deGrom
Why are the Mets really trading Jacob deGrom? On the surface it seems crystal clear the Metropolitans are trying to reload their minor league system and get the most return on deGrom when his value is peaking.
However, there is an underlying reason why the Mets are looking to move deGrom and it’s broken down on the podcast with which chips the Mets should look to move instead. In my opinion, moving deGrom would be foolish by the front office when they can get some mid range players with current roster members.
Who should the Mets trade? What’s the reason deGrom will likely get traded that no one is talking about? Check it out on the latest podcast below.
Why the New York Mets should bring “Big Sexy” back
The 2018 New York Mets cannot catch a break. When their pitching is lights out, the offense can’t buy a hit. Vice versa when the Mets offensive has has momentary spurts in this campaign it has been promptly followed by poor starts or bullpen implosions. To top it off the injury plague that has lingered around Flushing in recent years has claimed most of the team’s top talent including most recently Noah Syndergaard.
With the Mets trading the former superhero of Gotham in Matt Harvey to Cincinnati, the Mets rotation after Jacob deGrom has been more abysmal then Labor Day traffic. With all of the problems the Mets have had in the rotation the team could use an inning eater in the rotation and they could look into bringing back a fan favorite to a demoralized fan base. The New York Mets should trade for Bartolo “Big Sexy” Colon.
Colon was productive in his three seasons with the Mets going 44-34 and helping the team reach the World Series (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
On the surface it shouldn’t be too difficult. The Rangers are off the a abysmal start and have Colon on a reasonable one year $ 1.75 Million deal. Colon would benefit from pitching in the National league again and more importantly save a bullpen that has been overworked in the beginning of this season. With five of his nine starts for the Rangers going over seven innings, Colon is perfect for the backend of this Mets rotation that has been plagued by short starts all season.
Colon would be an immediate improvement behind deGrom and Syndeergaard. Take a look at how Colon compares the the Mets three through five starters in the rotation.
| W | L | IP | ERA | GS | WHIP | GS > 7 IP | |
| Colon | 2 | 2 | 63.1 | 3.55 | 9 | 0.93 | 5 |
| Wheeler | 2 | 4 | 50 | 5.4 | 9 | 1.48 | 1 |
| Matz | 2 | 3 | 45.2 | 3.55 | 10 | 1.27 | 0 |
| Vargas | 2 | 3 | 25.1 | 8.53 | 6 | 1.85 | 0 |
Colon has more starts over seven innings then these three combined while also having over 13 additional innings pitched to the next closest state. On top of that, he would own the best WHIP on the team and be tied has a far better ERA then both Wheeler and Vargas.
The Mets would be bringing back not only a player that has a proven track record in New York, but a fan favorite
Even though the Mets probably would not move Vargas to the bullpen given the massive contract he signed in the offseason, the Mets could try to turn Wheeler into a reliever which could push his 94.77 fastball average a few ticks higher being in a shorter role. The team tried this with Harvey, but Wheeler could benefit from shorter appearances in games and it has helped both Gsellman and Lugo become key pieces of the Mets bullpen.
Seeing what the ageless wonder is doing in the American League and what would be a low asking price, it makes sense for the Mets bring back Bartolo Colon and put him in the backend of the rotation. In a perfect world, if the Mets have five healthy starters Colon has proven that he can be a versatile reliever out of the pen if the Mets can get Wheeler, Matz, and Vargas healthy and pitching up to their potential.
In the short-term though, Colon instantly improves the back end of the rotation, but also has handled the pressure in the Big Apple and who would be a great influence in the locker room.
With the current state of the Mets rotation, it only makes sense for New York to bring Big Sexy back.
Rich Sports Talk 