Is It Time for the Mets to Start Trading?
I’ve been a New York Mets fan since the very first pitch thrown by Roger Craig against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on April 11, 1962. Predictably, the game was an 11-4 loss – the first of 120 that first season. Amazin’.
Despite all the losses, it was a magical Mets baseball season full of hope and the philosophical musings of manager Casey Stengel who had to navigate his way back and forth to the pitching mound more than any manager should have had to. And on those herky-jerk lollops over the diamond, Stengelese was perfected and aphorisms were soon splashed in newspapers and television about the brand new Metsies, as Stengel called his young charges.
Stengel liked to tell tall tales about how amazin’ the ’62 Mets were going to be. The Amazin’ Mets. And they were amazin’ in 1962: 120 losses.
This years’ Mets won’t lose 120, but they’re as inept as those 1962 Mets. However, their lineup has better home-grown talent on the field. Mickey Calloway is no Casey Stengel, though. Amazin’.
Today’s Metsies
It seems that Brodie Van Wagenen, the General Manager of the Mets, has assembled a roster of incompatible pieces that don’t fit on the same playing board – much like those 1962 Mets. Though pieces like Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard (both of whom were Mets before Van Wagenen arrived) are head and shoulders better than Roger Craig and Jay Hook.
But the other assembled pieces leave something to be desired. The Mets remain weak down the middle. They consistently commit mental mistakes. And many of their pieces are band-aids, not strategic choices. Amazin’.
Were Robinson Cano or Edwin Diaz strategic choices? What was Van Wagenen thinking when he made that trade? What did he see when he looked at the 40-man roster? Could he possibly have been naive enough to believe the Mets were a championship team? Who fed him that idea?
The Good Ol’ Wilpons
The real problem with the New York Mets, though, is not Van Wagenen – as incompetent as he has been. The real problems are Fred and Jeff Wilpon, the owners of the team who continue to fantasize that the current team is better than it is. And they hired a yes-man to be their GM.
The Wilpons, who were one of many victims of the Bernie Madoff scandal, lost a reported $700 million to Madoff. This was one of the reasons many thought the Wilpons would sell the Mets after 2011. But they’ve held on to their wildest dreams. And they’re still holding on without any sophisticated understanding of the baseball business.
The Wilpons (and Sterling Equities, the Wilpon business that technically owns the Mets) are an example that real estate and financial services expertise are not enough to properly manage a baseball club.
Perhaps Van Wagenen’s foolish free agency choices reflect the Wilpon’s fear of spending too big on players. Otherwise, why spend on older, mid-tier players like Jeurys Familia (a Met retread) and Jed Lowrie (who has yet to take the field for the Mets)?
These players stand against the Mets’ litany of other failed free agency choices. While these names are not meant to be an exhaustive list, none of them earned their keep at Shea Stadium. Yoenis Cespedes (a big F so far, with one year remaining on his contract). Jason Vargas. Jason Bay. George Foster. Bobby Bonilla. And Vince Coleman.
The Mets inability to develop young productive talent has forced Van Wagenen’s strategic choices. He’s opted for band-aids. Ervin Santana and his 9.36 ERA (not yet on the 25-man roster), the aging Matt Kemp (already gone) replaced by Carlos Gomez (another retread) and Aaron Altherr (released by the Phillies and the Giants in May, but still a Met). Temporarily. Amazin’ choices.
How About an Amazin’ Change?
The Mets, despite all the hype about their great rotation, are going nowhere fast. Again. Several pitchers could be traded in the service of improving the team.
Remember the old Branch Rickeyism, “we finished last with you, we can finish last without you.” That’s why everyone on the Metsies should be available.
The suggestion here is there’s a fit between the Mets and Yankees. A chance to improve the team, rearrange assets, and reinvigorate the chemistry of the team.
Though the Mets rarely trade with the Yankees, Van Wagenen should talk to them. Suppose the Mets were willing to deal Brandon Nimmo, Seth Lugo and Steven Matz (or Zach Wheeler)? Who would they want in return? A top prospect? Major-league ready talent? If Van Wagenen talked to the Yankees, whom might he ask for?
A top prospect plus his choice of players. Thairo Estrada, Clint Frazier, Jonathan Holder, and Jordan Montgomery. Or should the Yankees add some others to the mix?
This deal could energize the Mets. A righty bat in the outfield. A young lefty coming back from Tommy John surgery. A young versatile player who can play second base, shortstop, and right/left field, and has hit in his brief stint in the majors. An experienced relief pitcher.
Wanted, Someone with Vision and Fortitude
The deal wouldn’t make the Mets World Series contenders, but it would shake their roster up, add some new blood to the team, and tell everyone the jig is up at Citi Field. Anyone can and will be moved. Or designated for assignment if the Mets are willing to eat some salary. But that requires vision and strategy, factors the Mets rarely display. Amazin’, right?
Compare the Wilpons to the owner of Tampa Bay, Stuart Sternberg, who has managed to put a top-notch quality product on the field most years. His baseball management team is top five in the majors which is why every year Tampa Bay comes up with a new wrinkle to win games. Even with minimal payroll. Now Tampa Bay is amazin’.
It’s fair to say there are few if any jewels in the Mets’ farm system. Nor are there any coming anytime soon. Which is why Mets’ fans who know better are shouting wait till next year already. No need to see the Amazin’s at Citi Field anymore this season. Regardless of the yarns that Van Wagenen spins.
