If Collins is fired, Alderson should also go down with the ship

By Steven Inman

Sandy Alderson continues to sit on his hands while his team continues to lose ground

If you haven’t noticed, the Mets are in a tailspin. The Nationals are running away with the NL East and the Mets at the halfway mark of the season are at 41-40. They are entering the toughest part of their schedule that will see them continue on the dreaded West Coast Trip against two World Series contenders, finishing the series with the Dodgers and then the Giants. Unlike Willie Randolph a few years back, you should expect Terry Collins to make it back from this difficult West Coast trip but Collins doesn’t exactly have a long leash.

If Terry goes, Sandy should follow him out the door.

Sandy Alderson was brought in here because the Wilpon’s have no interest or ability to add payroll. They felt that a baseball man like Alderson who had experience running low budget teams like the A’s and the Padres would do just fine with their situation.

Whether that was right or wrong Alderson accepted the challenge. His plan was simple, wait out some of the Mets bad contracts and develop the Mets minor league system. He has done a fine job of that as baseball considers the Mets having a top five farm system, headlined by 2014 first round pick Michael Conforto. The outfielder is blazing through the minor leagues and should be considered for Triple A, if not the big leagues pretty soon.

Having said that, Alderson hasn’t done much else besides that improved system. When you are a small payroll team (no question the Mets are now) you have to develop your minor league system and then lock up your young stars before they get expensive. Alderson hasn’t attempted to lock up any of the Mets young pitchers to date. He’s running out of time to do so as some of them begin arbitration this winter. Alderson’s lack of urgency on seemingly everything is very alarming. He called the Mets beat reporters and fans the citizens of “Panic City” when he was questioned about his lack of movement this week while the team continues to free fall.

Alderson continues to alienate the fans as if its his job. The comments joking about the franchise such as “what outfield?” and “the Mets only reimburse gas at a downhill rate” continue to make fans irate. Most of Alderson’s jokes have been about the teams finances and with a passionate fan base that is having trouble seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, it is difficult to understand why Alderson continues to “poke the bear”.

Buster Olney of ESPN described the current state of the Mets on a recent telecast as “a burning building and nobody is doing anything about it”

The Mets currently have the 21st highest payroll in the sport so it’s not like they are completely without resources to use.  All of the big contracts Sandy Alderson has brought in as GM of the Mets have been poorly spent or worse.

The two most expensive deals Sandy Alderson has made in free agency are currently playing corner outfield for the Amazins. Curtis Granderson has batted .235/.333/.403 in 236 games as a Met. He has been incredibly streaky and his outfield defense has declined over the past few seasons. The Mets have bigger problems than Granderson but he hasn’t been worth the 4-year $60 million contract he received.

Michael Cuddyer has been a disaster for Sandy Alderson and the Mets. Cuddyer is batting .242/.296/.364 in his first season in Queens. Cuddyer, 36, is battling a knee injury that might plague him for the rest of the season. At this point in his career he really is a DH who shouldn’t be playing everyday to keep him fresh. Not only are the Mets going to be stuck with Cuddyer’s $12.5 million contract in 2016 but the Mets also gave up their 2015 first round pick for the former Rockie along with the pool money that goes with it. Cuddyer’s contract is going to be very difficult to operate around going forward. His bat has slowed to the point that he has become a guess hitter which has really hurt his plate discipline in 2015. Cuddyer used to be a guy who wouldn’t strike out much…

Michael Cuddyer has been a disaster with the Mets and his contract will tie the club up in 2016 as well

While Marlon Byrd was a good pickup a few years back, but he wasn’t brought back for Chris Young who was a very regrettable signing by Alderson.

Alderson has spent the rest of his small budgets on bullpens. All of the relievers brought in by Alderson on major league deals haven’t worked out. Players like Frank Francisco, Jon Rauch, D.J. Carrasco all performed very poorly when brought in by the Mets.

Alderson and company have flat out been too patient to help this team be successful. Besides letting a potential playoff team die without any reinforcements in ’15, the team also took far too long assessing their own players. The Lucas Duda–Ike Davis dilemma took far too long causing the Mets to be unable to get anything of value for Davis. The same situation occurred with Dillon Gee who is being paid $5.3M to pitch in Las Vegas. His decision to keep Wilmer Flores at shortstop as long as they did remains a head scratcher.

With the Mets falling out of the race quickly, Sandy Alderson had to do something bold. He could have traded a few lesser prospects to get Ben Zobrist or even called up his own uber prospect Conforto, instead he and his staff just sat on their hands, leaving this team to figure something out themselves.

If anyone should be on the hot seat its Sandy not Terry.

Marlon Byrd agrees to 2-year deal with the Phillies

By Steven Inman

The first outfielder is off the board as former Met Marlon Byrd will not be flying back to Queens, instead will be resigning with the arch rival Phillies. The Phillies signed Byrd to a two-year deal for $16 million.

Byrd had genuine interest in coming back to New York and the Mets were going to make him a priority this winter. However I didn’t get the sense they were going to bid more than $10 million or so over those two years, especially with other options out there.

Byrd began his career with the Phillies and played there from 2002-2005. The Mets will now see their former player face them 19 times a year.

Byrd’s story is truly remarkable as he had serious trouble finding a minor league deal last offseason and now he got $16 million with a chance to play every day in a depleted outfield.

Should the Mets have given Byrd $16 million?

New York Mets Free Agency Preview

By Steven Inman

Photo by Metsmerizedonline.com

With less than 30 hours to go until MLB free agents can sign with other teams, here are five names that will likely be on the Mets radar and are realistic signings for the 2014 Mets. Again since the Mets finished with the 10^th worst record in baseball, they will NOT lose their first round draft pick should they sign one of these players. With over 55$ million coming off the books this winter in players that gave the Mets virtually nothing on the field, the Mets are in a prime position to dramatically improve their ballclub this winter. Here’s the list:

1.Shin Soo Choo: Choo will be the Mets #1 free agent target this winter, no doubt about it. He is everything Sandy Alderson is looking for in an outfielder, a strong arm, power and a lot of patience at the plate. It is a little concerning that Choo will go from a homerun ballpark in Cincy to spacious Citi Field. Expect his power to decrease next year should he leave Great American Ballpark. The major red flags from Choo come from the fact that he is already 31 and will likely get a five-year deal in Free Agency this winter. The Mets may be better off spending this kind of money on multiple players, however the Mets love Choo and will need a leadoff man. He will get a lot of money and as a Scott Boras client, expect this to drag out for a few months.

2. Nelson Cruz: Cruz should be a popular Met target this winter since he has power and his market will likely be diminished due to a 50 game PED suspension. Signing a PED player wasn’t a problem for Alderson when he brought in Marlon Byrd last winter. Cruz has enormous power, the most power on the free agent market. Cruz was actually signed as an international free agent by the Mets but never got to New York, bouncing around before finding a home in Texas. There is a decent chance that Cruz returns to Texas. Cruz has a very strong throwing arm but little range with could pose a problem in Citi Field. The red flag with Cruz comes from his massive strikeout totals, his 2013 PED suspension and the fact that he is a terrible defensive outfielder. He likely could get a three year deal in free agency for about $12 million per year.

Nelson Cruz could give the Mets the power threat that they’re searching for

3. Stephen Drew: We have speculated here on BrokeMets about the Mets likely pursuit of Drew. He had a solid season with the Boston Red Sox and is unlikely to return with top prospect Xander Bogaerts ready to take over. Drew had a very mixed postseason stint with the World Champion Red Sox. He was stellar defensively at short getting anything near him but was just horrendous with the bat until Game 6 vs. the Cardinals where he homered in the clincher. The red flag with Drew is how much will he hit in a much worse lineup and with the lack of shortstops available his market should include at least half a dozen teams.

4. Marlon Byrd: Byrd had the best season of his career in 2013 between the Mets and the Pirates. He hit a career high 24 homers, not including a strong postseason showing, and played a wonderful right field. The Pirates are trying to lock him up before he hits free agency on Tuesday but I’ve been told that is unlikely to happen at this point. Every team could use a lefty mashing power bat so he should have a strong enough market to get a two year deal. The red flag with Byrd is he is one year from a PED suspension as well, and is also already 36 so a multiyear deal is risky.

5. Tim Hudson: Hudson who has had a wonder career could be a great veteran to add to a very young pitching staff. Last time we saw Hudson he was being carted off at Citi Field after breaking his ankle with a collision with Eric Young Jr. Hudson was having another solid season and was in line for close to 200 innings yet again. The red flag for Hudson comes from the fact that he missed the second half of the season last year and will turn 39 next July. He could be a solid option on a one year deal but there is a pretty good chance he goes back to Atlanta looking for that one last chance at a World Series ring.

 

The Mets are going to need a few outfielders, a shortstop and a starting pitcher or two so these are a few names to consider when free agency starts at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.

 

Who should the Mets look at in free agency this winter?

Mets will make Signing Marlon Byrd a ‘high priority’ this Winter

By Steven Inman

The Mets will make signing Marlon Byrd a “high priority” this winter according to various news outlets. I briefly wrote this in my last post but it appears the Mets believe his production this year could translate into another strong season next year.

I believe Byrd would be a good addition to the 2014 Mets. He was their most consistent player in 2013 and at the age of 36 he won’t break the bank here. His offense carried over even after being traded to the Pirates and into the postseason. He can play right field everyday and at most would probably get a two-year deal despite his eye popping season for the Mets and Pirates.

I think it is fair to assume some sort of regression for Byrd next year but the power he showed in Citi Field in 2013 was truly remarkable.

Again Byrd comes with serious risk here as he is coming off a career year in his age 35 season and was busted for PED’s the year before that with the Boston Red Sox. I believe his price tag which should be fairly small, should be worth the risk. Even when Byrd was struggling before 2013, he still crushed lefties so he could always be an intriguing option off the bench if the Mets can find better outfield solutions.

Talking with a Mets official, he told me that the most likely former Met between Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and Marlon Byrd to return would definitely be Byrd. That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise as Byrd and the Mets have shown mutual interest in the right fielder returning to Queens for 2014. The Mets need to fill in both corner outfield positions this winter and Byrd could be a decent option for one of them.

Sandy Alderson’s September State of the Mets

By Steven Inman

Sandy Alderson went on Mike Francesa Tuesday and gave his monthly state of the Mets. Here is everything you need to know.

• Matt Harvey’s injury will change their offseason approach, but the team still expects to contend next year.
• They plan on spending some money on a starting pitcher now, somebody who could eat innings although it is unlikely to be a top tier guy like Matt Garza.
• Although it won’t be decided for a few weeks, Matt Harvey is likely for surgery.
• Zack Wheeler has been even better than expected according to Alderson.
• Wheeler, Jon Niese and Dillon Gee are the only guys penciled in to next year’s rotation.
• The Mets already know what they’re going to do with Ike Davis and the injury could be a help to Lucas Duda. “Ike wasn’t going to change our minds” Sandy said to Francesa about Ike getting hot in September.
• Sandy still believes Lucas Duda could be a run producer in the middle of the lineup but the outfield experiment appears to be over.
• Lucas Duda has shown he can hit left-handers a lot better than Davis.
• Getting Ruben Tejada to work harder such as taking extra batting practice is like “pulling teeth”
• Terry Collins status will be determined after the season but multiple reports say he is likely to be back for 2014.
• The team would have made the Marlon Byrd deal regardless of Harvey’s injury. They also would have pulled the trigger on that deal if it was on the table at the trade deadline in July.
• Tejada will be up when Las Vegas is finished in the playoffs. He will play every day then.
• Eric Young Jr. has really impressed but they don’t expect him to play every day next year. Young is arbitration eligible and will be one of the five outfielders next year. His playing time next year will be determined by what other outfielders are brought in.
• Juan Lagares at the plate “frustrates” Alderson but he is chasing less pitches and his defense is unbelievable so he is in the plans. It seems as if it’s more likely that Lagares starts instead of Young but that is just speculation on my part.
• Rafael Montero and Jacob deGrom could make the team out of Spring Training especially without Matt Harvey available.
• Alderson was never likely to deal one of his top starting pitchers for a bat and is even less likely now with Harvey’s status in question.
• Sandy expects David Wright to be back at some point this month.
• In the mean time Josh Satin and the hobbled Wilmer Flores will play third base.

Vic Black is the player to be named in Mets deal

By Steven Inman

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports is reporting that reliever Vic Black is a “strong possibility” of being the player to named in the Marlon Byrd trade. This report has since been confirmed. Black, 25, has had a strong season in Triple A going 5-3 with a 2.51 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 46 innings. Hitters are batting just .169 against him this season.

Besides having a cool name, Black has pitched in 3 games for the Pirates this year who have a very deep bullpen. Black has a terrific arm and would be a strong get to an already strong trade for the Mets. Black was the Pirates first round pick in 2009 and has thrived after moving to the bullpen.

His fastball can be a plus pitch, into the mid-90s with sinking movement, and he combines it with a hard slider that could be a Major League average pitch. Black’s control, however, hasn’t been nearly as solid until 2013.  If Black can find the strike zone with more consistency, he has the stuff to pitch out of the back end of the bullpen perhaps as a closer or an 8th inning guy.

Black being on the Pirates 40-man roster, is expected to clear waivers tomorrow, though if he is claimed, the Pirates will pull him off waivers and send Black to the Mets at the end of the season. If he goes unclaimed he can be one of the Mets September Call ups.

MiLB.com ranked him as the sixth-best pitching prospect in Pittsburgh’s farm system entering 2013.

Neil Huntington the Pirates GM went on a Pittsburgh radio station acknowledging the player to be named was a “ouch” prospect.

Another good get for Sandy Alderson.

Marlon Byrd and John Buck Traded

By Steven Inman

RF Marlon Byrd and C John Buck with cash have been traded to Pittsburgh for 19 year old 2b Dilson Herrera and a player to be named later.
Byrd had a fantastic season in New York hitting a career high 21 homers and playing a steady right field.
John Buck who will backup Russell Martin in Pittsburgh got off to a terrific start hitting 10 homers in April but hit just 6 since and lost his starting job to Travis d’Arnaud.
Herrera was putting up solid numbers in High A playing mostly second and a little third. He is NOT a shortstop.
Herrera was ranked as the #11 prospect in the Pittsburgh system according to MLB.com. He would definitely rank in the top 10 for the Mets. He will likely head to Single A Savannah.
Losing Byrd hurts but in a season that is already over it made sense to deal Marlon Byrd when he’s a free agent in a month. The Mets already have interest in bringing Byrd back to Queens in 2014.
It’s a bittersweet trade. On one hand the Mets have traded their most consistent player but on the other hand they are getting a very good prospect back for one month of Byrd.
What do you think of the Mets trade?

As trade deadline passes no deals for Mets

By Steven Inman

John Buck and Marlon Byrd will have more celebrating to do after not getting traded from the Mets at the deadline

It’s 4:01 p.m. and the Mets did not make a trade at the deadline. They talked to teams about Marlon Byrd but couldn’t find the impact prospect they were looking for. There were reports that John Buck could be moved to the Cardinals after Yadier Molina went on the DL with a knee sprain but that didn’t happen.

There still is a possibility that Buck can be move in the August waiver period. With his $6 million 2013 salary there is a good chance he could clear waivers. I wouldn’t rule out him getting moved when Travis d’Arnaud gets called up.

The Mets let Rod Barajas go on waivers to the Dodgers a few summers ago and the same could happen next month with Buck.

This is likely the end of the Marlon Byrd trade rumors and now the Mets can just focus on finishing the season strong. The team also has some young prospects like d’Arnaud and Matt Den Dekker who could be called up sometime in August and play major roles for this club going forward.

Mets don’t expect to make any moves at the trade deadline

By Steven Inman

A lot can change before Wednesday’s MLB Trade Deadline but as of Monday the Mets don’t plan on making any moves. Their phones have been quiet and the Mets have never been a team to shop their own guys like some other organizations, thinking it diminishes a players trade value.

The price tag of Marlon Byrd has been a team’s top 10-15 prospect which certainly isn’t unreasonable considering the season he has had. With good scouting a top 15 prospect can be an everyday player.

Mets prospect Rafael Montero came into the season in that mold, a top 10-15 prospect. Now everyone sees him as the Mets 3rd best prospect behind Travis d’Arnaud and Noah Syndergaard. Good scouting here and the Mets could find a gem.

So far though no team has stepped up to that asking price and with other bats still rumored to be moved, teams aren’t going to meet the Mets asking price until other more established bats (Alex Rios, Hunter Pence) are moved.

It doesn’t sound like the Mets will move Bobby Parnell or anyone else. There is an outside chance Byrd is moved or maybe a reliever but both are unlikely.

BrokeMets reported that Texas was interested in Byrd but Adam Rubin of ESPN New York says don’t hold your breathe on that. Texas and the Mets have never saw eye to eye on the value of both team’s prospects.

“The Mets have not had an easy time in the past dealing with Texas because of disagreements over the value of certain Rangers prospects.” Rubin explains

Remember Texas was heavily involved in trades for Carlos Beltran and R.A. Dickey only to see both players go elsewhere.

Expect a slow trade deadline around baseball, not just for the Mets.

 

Mets starting to make a run, could be in second place by the end of the day

By Steven Inman

In game one of a double header in Washington Friday afternoon, the Mets (46-53) exploded for 11 runs including two homers by Daniel Murphy and a 3 run homer by Ike Davis in the 9^th inning.

“We’re just taking it one game at a time” Daniel Murphy said postgame. Murph tied a career high with five RBI’s today including four hits. Over his last 12 games he has hit .400.

Perhaps the most shocking aspect of the day game was Jenrry Mejia who was called up to make his season debut went seven brilliant innings striking out seven and got the win.

I didn’t find it necessary to bring him up thinking we had seen enough of Jenrry as a starter. I was dead wrong as it looks like Mejia has developed a deadly slider that he used with his cutter to get his sven strikeouts.

He came up as the 26^th man so I don’t know how they keep him on the roster. Perhaps they decide to go with a six man rotation but Matt Harvey grumbled about that when they tried that last month.

The Mets now have fewer losses than the Washington Nationals and have their ace Matt Harvey on the mound for the night cap. They can’t let up now they need to score a few runs for Harvey tonight.

Juan Lagares had a field day in game 1 including his first two career stolen bases

The time for the Mets to make a run is now. They have three more in Washington then four in Miami. The Mets for some reason have been good on the road and terrible at home.

The Mets are the only team in the NL East with a record above .500 on the road. (25-23)

If the Mets win the night cap and the struggling Phillies lose to the Detroit Tigers the Mets will have fewer losses than the Phillies too.

The Phillies are still deciding if they should sell off and perhaps the Mets passing them this weekend will help them move some pieces.

Again the time for the Mets to move up in the standings is now. They face an underachieving Washington team followed by Miami and back to Citi Field for the struggling Kansas City Royals.

No more talk about trading off veterans like Marlon Byrd. They can make a legit run at the Braves here who just lost Tim Hudson for the year and have played .500 all year since a 12-1 start. The Braves are playing the best team in baseball record wise, in the St. Louis Cardinals.