Moving Travis d’Arnaud to left field makes no sense

By Steven Inman

Terry Collins told reporters Thursday that the Mets have had internal concussions about moving Travis d’Arnaud to left-field. Again these talks were just floated out there and aren’t likely to happen anytime soon. If that did occur however it would be a major mistake.

Travis d’Arnaud is batting .230 with a .292 OBP with 12 dingers and 32 RBI. He has dramatically improved from a dismal start but he has cooled off recently. While his numbers are okay for a catcher, they would be considered to be some of the worst among all left fielders.

His number would improve someone by moving out from behind the plate but likely not enough to justify playing in a corner outfield spot.

The reason why this was brought up (in an excellent article by the Daily News) is that d’Arnaud has already suffered at least four concussions and is only 25 years old. Obviously catchers are far more likely to receive concussions than any other position on the field but they are freak plays and there really isn’t a way to prevent them other than simply moving him off the position. Somebody is going to have to catch and if d’Arnaud continues to show improvements with the bat he can be a fine offensive catcher.

One Mets person told Andy Martino of the Daily News “We could be one bad foul tip from losing him for a long time.”

Obviously with Kevin Plawecki in the minors and playing well the Mets have the option of trading one of their catchers this off-season which is why it makes even less sense for Terry Collins to be talking publicly about moving Travis off the plate. All that would do is potentially lower his value.

D’Arnaud has really turned his season around but he wouldn’t hit enough to justify being an everyday outfielder. Also the Mets rookie catcher has never played the outfield professionally so how do we know he would be able to play out there. The last thing the Mets would need is another young player trying to learn a new position when the team is supposed to be contending.

The Dilson Herrera Era begins, what does it mean for Daniel Murphy?

By Steven Inman

After arriving in New York in 2008, Daniel Murphy is likely heading into his final month in Queens.

Daniel Murphy has been dealing with a strained calf and it hasn’t improved at all with rest. As a result the Mets placed their lone All-Star representative on the disabled list. Anytime a player gets put on the DL at this time of the year with rosters about to expand in a few days, it means the player isn’t expected back anytime soon.

In a corresponding roster move the Mets called up top infield prospect Dilson Herrera. Herrera, 20, is the 18^th youngest player to debut with the Mets ever. Herrera is ranked as the 8^th best prospect by MLB.com. A strong minor league season probably gets Herrera a little higher up on this list next year. Keep in mind the Mets only view Herrera as a second basemen.

It was certainly a surprise that Herrera is being called up straight from Double-A. Herrera had to be added to the 40-man roster this winter anyway but there wasn’t much talk of the second basemen being called up until Murphy was placed on the DL. Herrera hit .340 with ten homers and 48 RBI in 61 games for Double-A Binghamton.

Herrera has been great in the minor leagues since coming over in a trade exactly a year ago from the Pirates with Vic Black for Marlon Byrd and John Buck. (Two rental players) This trade could go down as the most underrated trade Sandy Alderson has made as General Manager of the Mets.

BrokeMets has been reporting that the Mets are expected to trade Daniel Murphy this winter and you will now get a sneak peak at his replacement. Sandy Alderson and the rest of the front office have never been big Murphy fans. Remember Murphy was drafted by former GM Omar Minaya. Minaya, who has been working in the Padres front office the past few seasons and has been trying to acquire Murphy from the Mets for the past couple of years.

The Mets have no interest in paying Daniel Murphy the ten million or so it would take on a four year deal to lock up their second basemen so it makes sense from a baseball perspective to deal him this winter if he isn’t expected to be around long-term. Despite missing the past few games Murphy continues to lead the National League in hits with 159 and is expected to make around $8.5 million in his final year of arbitration. (For some other team)

The Mets offense has been horrendous this season, by far worse than what was expected. That being said this offense could get a little worse short-term if the Mets remove the NL’s hit leader and replace him with a rookie. A talented rookie, but still a rookie.

The Dilson Herrera ERA starts Friday night.

Mets Deserve Credit for picking Lucas Duda over Ike Davis

Photo by Metsblog

By Steven Inman

While a lot has gone wrong in yet another mid 70’s win campaign for the Mets, a lot has also gone right and that all starts with Lucas Duda. Duda came into the 2014 season in hopes of winning the first base job over Ike Davis. Nothing was decided by the Mets even after Spring Training except that Duda would no longer be playing the outfield.

The Mets started the season with three first basemen all going to split time. Duda, Ike Davis and Josh Satin all struggled out of the gate and a decision on the position was well over due.

The Mets made the decision to trade Ike Davis on April 18^th in basically a salary dump and Duda was named the starter. We did a poll in December and only 18 percent of readers believed the Mets should trade Davis, not believing he needed a change of scenery. Well it turns out that Mets were right about their Davis/Duda dilemma even if it did take them some time to decide on it.

The 28-year old Duda has blossomed into one of the better power hitting first basemen in the National League this season. Duda is hitting .255 with 26 homers and 76 RBI with an OPS of .848, by far the highest on the Mets. Duda is 3^rd in the National League in homers entering Thursday.

Make no mistake about it, Duda not having to worry about his defense anymore in the outfield definitely has impacted his offense in a very positive way.

Duda has 23 homers in the 110 games he has played in since the Davis trade.

Keep in mind that Ike Davis has a.242 average with nine homers in 107 games for the Pirates. Their have been serious discussions in Pittsburgh about making Pedro Alvarez the full time first basemen for the Pirates.

The Mets still have control over Duda for three more seasons after this one as a Super Two player. Expect Duda to get a hefty raise on his 2014 salary that is a tick over $1.6 million but he should still be a bargain for our beloved BrokeMets.

Sandy Alderson had a rough offseason but he and his staff deserve enormous credit on their patience leading to the emergence of Lucas Duda.

Now don’t get me wrong Duda is not a complete player. He doesn’t hit left-handers at all (.148 BA) and is still a very streaky player but he makes the Mets winter a whole lot easier knowing the team doesn’t need to think about addressing first base.

Mets haven’t placed Bartolo Colon on waivers yet, could still be moved

By Steven Inman

Bartolo Colon could be heading back to one of his former teams next week

 

Bartolo Colon is away from the team due to the passing of his mother but is expected back to pitch Sunday vs. the Dodgers. Colon may not be back with the Mets for long however as the veteran and his $11 million 2015 salary could still possibly be moved before the end of August.

Colon’s salary was likely to clear waivers at the beginning of August but Sandy Alderson purposely waited until now to put Colon on waivers to see if a team would get desperate and claim him after a major injury. Well that major injury happened last night in Boston when Angels ace Garrett Richards when down with a significant knee injury covering first base. The extent of his injury is unknown but he is likely done for the season, making an already bad Angels rotation even worse. Perhaps now the Angels would be more inclined to put in a claim on the former Angel Colon. Colon won a CY Young with the Angels in 2005.

Perhaps the Angels make a claim and the Mets simply dump the right-handers salary which would give Sandy Alderson much needed financial flexibility for this winter. Or perhaps a club like Oakland claims the former Athletic in an effort of blocking Colon from going to L.A. Remember National League clubs can put in a claim first then the American League contenders can make a claim in order of record.

It is still unlikely that any club would make a claim and take on Colon’s 2015 salary but is certainly is possible.

 

If a team makes a claim on Colon, should the Mets just dump him?

BrokeMets Podcast 3

By Steven Inman

Due to popular demand the 3rd BrokeMets Podcast is up and ready to be listened to after a one week hiatus. Join my partner Rob DeLucia as well as myself as we discuss the Mets issues with Matt Harvey, the resurgence of Travis d’Arnaud, a rough series vs. the Nationals, Terry Collins’ future and preview the Cubs Series.

 

Remember you can leave a comment under this post if you want to have your voice heard on the show next week. Thanks for listening and Lets Go Mets!

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Expect Niese to be the Mets big trade chip this winter

By Steven Inman

Photo by NY Post

With Zack Wheeler and Jacob deGrom continuing to get better and better, expect LHP Jon Niese to be the pitcher dangled in trade talks this winter for a bat. Niese, 27, is 5-7 with a career best 3.24 ERA. Niese is also very cheap over the next few years thanks to a shrewd move by Sandy Alderson a few springs ago to lock up the young southpaw before he had established himself. The Mets can control Niese through the 2018 season at a discounted rate. Niese will make $7 million in 2015, $9 in 2016, followed by a pair of club options at $10 and $11 million each. So why would the Mets move Niese?

It is simple. The Mets simply don’t have room for all of their current pitchers.

Many teams will be concerned with Niese’s injury history but he has drawn interest in the past and the Mets could get the bat they are looking for in exchange for their lone left-hander. The Mets have had serious dialogue on trading Niese with teams like the Blue Jays and Padres in the past.

The Mets believe that their first pick in the 2009 draft from a few years ago Ward Melville’s Steven Matz could fill in as the left-hander in the rotation rather quickly. “One thing that’s becoming clear is the Mets wouldn’t be afraid to trade their only established lefty, Niese, in part because the highly-regarded {Steven} Matz is blossoming so quickly.” – John Harper of the Daily News. Matz is 8-7 with a 2.47 ERA in 116.2 innings between St. Lucie and Binghamton this season. He should make his debut at some point next season.

The Mets aren’t going to get a big bat from Colorado for Niese but perhaps they go to Chicago and see if they can pry a shortstop such as Starlin Castro, Javier Baez or Addison Russell away from the Cubs. (Most likely that’s the order the Cubs would be willing to trade them) Only time will tell.

If the Mets get an offer they like better for a Dillon Gee or Rafael Montero they could trade one of them for a bat instead of Niese but for now, it looks like Niese is the guy who could go. The Mets clearly need to trade for offense this winter.

 

A strong finish will win Jacob deGrom the NL Rookie of the Year

By Steven Inman

Always overlooked by fans, media and even his front office by pitchers such as Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Noah Syndergaard and even Rafael Montero. That is quickly changing for 26-year old Jacob deGrom who is coming into his own in his rookie season. With the way deGrom has pitched, he has penciled himself into the Mets future rotation and gives them a lot of flexibility in trading another young pitcher in the future for a bat. DeGrom has also put himself right in the middle of the National League Rookie of the Year race, a race that Wheeler and Harvey weren’t apart of.

DeGrom leads National League Rookies in strikeouts, innings pitched and ERA by a starting pitcher. He has been fantastic all year but even better of late. DeGrom has a 0.66 ERA over his last four starts.

His biggest competition for Rookie of the Year will come from the Reds Billy Hamilton and the Padres Jesse Hahn but as of now if deGrom continues pitching well, he will win the National League’s Rookie of the Year.

After being drafted in the 9^th round in 2010, Jake deGrom is an excellent parting gift by former GM Omar Minaya and his staff.