Month: July 2021

Rating the Mets Trade Deadline Move (and Lack of Others)

Javy Baez Image Source: Cubbiescrib.com.

By Ethan Marshall

There was no question the New York Mets had to be active during Friday’s trade deadline. While the addition of Javy Baez adds another strong bat to the lineup and a great glove on the infield, the Mets failed to strengthen their bullpen. Trevor Williams certainly helps provide a better option of rotation depth over Jared Eikhoff, but with Jacob deGrom likely sidelined until September, the team could’ve used another frontline starter. Williams, who has a ERA of 5.06 this season after posting a 5.38 and 6.18 ERA in 2019 and 2020 respectively, doesn’t fit that mold. Despite the fact Acting General Manager Zack Scott was made aware of deGrom’s setback just two hours before the deadline, there were still plenty of starters available for him to attempt to acquire.

The Mets reportedly checked in on starting pitcher Kyle Gibson with the Texas Rangers, but felt they couldn’t match the offer from the Philadelphia Phillies that was ultimately agreed upon. The Colorado Rockies continued to show how incompetent their front office was by refusing to take calls on starting pitchers Jon Gray and German Marquez. The Mets talked a lot with the Minnesota Twins about Jose Berrios, but the price tag was very high, with the Twins reportedly asking for a package of Jeff McNeil, top catching prospect Francisco Alvarez and another top seven prospect within the organization. Berrios ended up going to the Blue Jays for two of their top four prospects: Austin Martin and former Mets farmhand Simeon Woods-Richardson, who was the centerpiece in the Marcus Stroman trade in 2019. However, the Mets and Twins almost came to an agreement on a deal right before the deadline that would’ve sent third baseman Josh Donaldson and pitcher Kenta Maeda to the Mets, but the teams couldn’t agree on salary coverage in time.

While the Mets bullpen already has several capable arms in Edwin Diaz, Trevor May, Aaron Loup, Seth Lugo and Jeurys Familia, the team could’ve used another arm to make it even deeper, especially with Miguel Castro being very inconsistent after a strong start to the season and Robert Gsellman’s return from a lat strain still up in the air. The Mets expressed interest in Craig Kimbrel before he was traded to the White Sox for a big haul that included highly touted second baseman Nick Madrigal and reliever Codi Heuer. Still, the Mets could’ve made a push for Angels reliever Raisel Iglesias, who was made available in the final hours of the trade deadline. They also could’ve looked to acquire former Mets farmhand Michael Fulmer from the Tigers. Fulmer, who was the centerpiece of the 2015 trade at the deadline that gave the Mets Yoenis Cespedes, has struggled to stay healthy and effective since his 2016 season, in which he posted a 3.06 ERA en route to winning Rookie of the Year. However, Fulmer has found some success this season as a reliever, posting a 3.38 ERA with six saves out of the bullpen in 2021.

As for the one move the Mets did make at the deadline, Javy Baez’s bat will especially come in handy against left-handed pitchers. This season, Baez is hitting .301 with a .603 slugging percentage and .965 OPS against them. His defense should also be a huge benefit to the Mets at shortstop until Francisco Lindor returns from his oblique strain, at which time Baez could shift to second base and form one of the best defensive double play combinations in the MLB. It will also be interesting to see at that point who will get the most reps at third base. The logical answer would be Jeff McNeil, with JD Davis acting as a big bat off the bench. However, with Michael Conforto currently in a 13 for 77 slump at the plate, another option could be to put McNeil in right field if his leg fatigue is no longer an issue and Conforto is still struggling offensively by the time Lindor returns. That may be a controversial move, but right now Conforto is doing more harm than good every time he steps to the plate. This would also allow the Mets to platoon Davis and Luis Guillorme at third base, with Guillorme also presenting an option as a late-game defensive replacement.

Overall, the Mets did a good job at the deadline by adding an impact bat in Baez, but there was so much more left to be desired, as they didn’t bolster the pitching besides adding depth in Trevor Williams. Until Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard come back, the Mets will have to rely on a rotation of Marcus Stroman, Taijuan Walker, Carlos Carrasco, Rich Hill and Tylor Megill to keep them above water. With Walker struggling since the all-star break and Carrasco having just made his Mets debut, they’ll need to step up if the Mets hope to maintain a lead in the NL East. Hill, who was acquired at a time when the Mets were desperate for starting pitching, may need to prove he can pitch a third time through an opposing team’s lineup in order to put less pressure on a bullpen that could use the rest.

The Mets once again will have to hold the line until reinforcements arrive in the forms of deGrom and Syndergaard. They’ll also need more offensive contributions from players other than Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil and Pete Alonso. If Baez can bring even a fraction of the impact on the Mets offense that Cespedes brought in 2015, the team should be in good shape. August could prove to be a critical month in the 2021 season for the New York Mets.

What to Expect from the Mets at the Trade Deadline

Andrew Chafin image source: Marqueesportsnetwork.com

By Ethan Marshall

The New York Mets’ acquisition of starting pitcher Rich Hill is likely just the beginning of a busy trade deadline for the team. While the team hopes for reinforcements to be on the way for the starting rotation in the forms of Jacob deGrom and Carlos Carrasco, there are still areas in which the team can improve.

Perhaps the three most likely spots the Mets will look to improve ahead of the deadline are in the bullpen, starting rotation and at third base. The Mets have already been linked to several players likely to be dealt, including Trevor Story, Josh Donaldson, Kris Bryant, Tyler Anderson and Asdrubal Cabrera. They’ve also shown interest in Minnesota Twins ace Jose Berrios, who is arbitration-eligible next season. Additionally, with the Mets reportedly being one of a few teams sending scouts to watch the Cubs/Diamondbacks game today, they could also be interested in Craig Kimbrel, Andrew Chafin, Ryan Tepera, Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Escobar.

When it comes to relievers, Kimbrel may be the sexy name to go for, but the most sensible name for the Mets is likely Chafin. He’d bring a second lefty arm to the bullpen, complimenting Aaron Loup, and is capable enough to get righties out as well. In 39.1 innings this season, Chafin has pitched to a 1.37 ERA and held left-handed hitters to a .150 average and right-handed hitters to .135. The Cubs also likely wouldn’t be asking for as much in return compared to Kimbrel, Bryant and Kyle Hendricks.

It will be interesting to see how aggressive the Mets are in pursuit of a starting pitcher. On paper, they could have a capable rotation by the day of the deadline, consisting of deGrom, Marcus Stroman, Taijuan Walker, Carlos Carrasco and Tylor Megill, plus Hill. They also expect David Peterson and Noah Syndergaard to return later this season. However, injuries can be unpredictable, and with Carrasco and deGrom rehabbing through injuries right now, the Mets are presently short on starting pitchers.

They could go after someone who can make a few starts as the rotation gets healthy before being moved to the bullpen. Anderson, who’s pitched to a 4.35 ERA, would fit that mold. Alternatively, they can make a big splash and go after Berrios, Max Scherzer, Hendricks or Luis Castillo. With the exception of Scherzer, each of these pitchers are signed through at least next season. However, Scherzer may have the highest asking price, as the Nationals may be more reluctant to trade him to a team within their own division and are only now considering the idea of trading him. Additionally, Scherzer would have to waive his no-trade clause for a deal to be finalized.

With a Cubs rebuild looking more and more likely, they may be willing to part with their ace in Hendricks, who is under contract through the 2023 season, plus a vesting option in 2024. Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, who worked closely with Berrios in 2019 as the Twins’ assistant pitching coach, has urged the front office to pursue him. The Reds may be a bit reluctant to trade Castillo now due to the rough season he’s had, but after posting a 1.71 ERA in June and 1.82 ERA so far in July, they could look to trade him while he’s hot.

In order to acquire any of these pitchers, the Mets would likely have to part with at least one of their top prospects. While Francisco Alvarez, Matt Allan and Brett Baty may be viewed as untouchable, it’s possible the Mets could be willing to part with players like JT Ginn, Mark Vientos, Pete Crow-Armstrong or even Ronny Mauricio for the right player.

If the Mets are to add any big bats at the deadline, it most likely would be at third base. While JD Davis’ return has helped give them more offensive production from the position, his defense there leaves much to be desired. It’s likely that the Mets would only trade for a third baseman if it’s one of the bigger names available. The main candidates are Kris Bryant, Josh Donaldson and Trevor Story. If the Mets were to acquire any of those three, it’s possible Davis is traded too, either in a deal involving these players or one for a pitcher. The Mets have reportedly shown interest in Bryant for a while, so he could be their main target among the three names. As for Story, he could fill in at shortstop until Francisco Lindor returns from his oblique strain, at which point he’d likely shift to third base. Despite the fact Donaldson, unlike Story and Bryant, is under contract beyond the 2021 season, he may have the least expensive trade value of the three due to his age (35), the fact he’s due $21 million each of the next two years and his offensive production decreasing exponentially since signing with the Twins prior to the 2020 season. The Mets may be better off trading top prospects for Bryant or Story than acquiring a player on the decline with an albatross contract.

Mets Team President Sandy Alderson and Acting General Manager Zack Scott will have their work cut for them over the next seven days. It’ll be interesting to see just how aggressive they are in their trade pursuits. If there’s one thing the Steve Cohen era has taught us about the Mets so far, it’s to not be surprised if they end up making a huge trade.