The other wild card in the equation is Mets general manager Sandy Alderson. The former Marine and longtime executive has a reputation for discipline, but those who have worked with him insist he also has a showmans side.
Otano is pretty good I guess. Never heard of him until now. But if the Mets coule pursue a guy like Otano, sign him up, fit him into that juggernaut lineup...shit, more power to em.
Sandy connected to Lorenzo Cain, Joe Smith, and Otani tonight. And then there is this...
@Jim_BowdenSXM: John Ricco #Mets Asst GM made it clear with us tonight that the Mets will be players on some of the big free agents https://t.co/00vtkhXygh
Or was that addressed in the last cba? If they arent how exactly are the Mets going to be able to afford this guy with no budget left. Also what is wrong with this guy just in general, the fact he isnt waiting a measly year is going to cost him around 100 million over his first six years. Its fiscally insane that he would press to come over this winter, I have never seen anything like it
has been a dismal failure yet he remains in his job and will bring in exactly nobody of substance. Largely due to the Wilpon/Madoff budget he hasn't had a lot of funding.
I still don't understand why the Mets operate like a small market team. Tickets have to be some of the highest priced in the country. I'm sure they make a killing off NYC sponsorships. The money flow is there. Why can't they have a top 10 payroll? So sick of constantly hearing about budget restraints.
Aside from Cespedes and Wright, what major contracts have they given out?
I have been through this dog and pony show before with the Mets
due to INTL free agency spending budgets that I admittedly do not understand there are 4 (?) teams that have a distinct advantage in being able to offer significantly more in contract $$$ than everyone else and the Mets are not one of them.
will get first shot as always. Would be shocked if he signed anywhere else. Yanks need a starter and a DH but will certainly not guarantee him 400 AB's not knowing if he will hit. Looking at the Yanks future he would be an idiot to sign elsewhere.
Also, not to pile on like B in ALB but addition to Otano
it seems like they are intensely focused on BP so that probably happens first with someone who Callaway likes (Shaw? Joe Smith?).
Ricco says they are going to be in on "the top FA", but who knows when those guys sign. I also expect when they say "top" they don't mean Hosmer, Darvish, Wade Davis but rather Santana, Bruce, Cain types. I'd be surprised if they don't add 1 such player in the $15M aav range.
They've specifically said for 2B they are looking to the trade market so that probably won't happen until the winter meetings. Gordon and Kinsler are the 2 most interesting names to me.
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Sandy Alderson, before departing the GM Meetings, basically ruled out the idea of the Mets signing strictly an outfielder. Said OF/1B or strictly 1B are on the table.
Santana or Bruce seem to be the 2 most appealing options. I'm personally hoping for Santana. He makes a lot of sense if they can get him for something in the ballpark of 3 years / 50M. Carlos Santana: A Hosmer Alternative - ( New Window )
NL teams are already at a disadvantage as he wants to hit. And hitting once a week while pitching is not what he has mind. He is looking for a few times a week. So AL teams have leg up there by being able to offer DH at-bats. With that said...along with the prestige of Yankees in same city, not to mention presence of Tanaka already on the roster and Matsui also recruiting, why in the world would he ever choose the Mets? Oh, and Yanks could offer him 3 million more than Mets too. Not saying he is going to the Yankees (although I do think they are the favorite and most writers agree), but if he comes to NYC...it would 100% be with Yanks and not Mets.
has been a dismal failure yet he remains in his job and will bring in exactly nobody of substance. Largely due to the Wilpon/Madoff budget he hasn't had a lot of funding.
Sandy was a horrible failure IMO. He brought a pennant and a division title home to NY. That's really hard to do. To put it into perspective, the other NY team still hasn't accomplished that with its current bunch despite the solid season last year.
I think there's certainly room for improvement with the job Sandy's done, and I'd rather have a younger more proactive GM in the role, but it's hard to really kill Sandy for the job he did. I'd say "underwhelmed lately" is more accurate IMO.
I think the 2018 season will be really telling for him. Injuries WERE a legit excuse I think last year, but I'm only willing to give him a one year pass on that. If they have another bad season in 2018, I think Sandy has to be ousted given the state of the farm system.
Probly come in at least fourth in the NL East.
@Jim_BowdenSXM: John Ricco #Mets Asst GM made it clear with us tonight that the Mets will be players on some of the big free agents https://t.co/00vtkhXygh
Then we all wake up.
Aside from Cespedes and Wright, what major contracts have they given out?
cmon man!
Ricco says they are going to be in on "the top FA", but who knows when those guys sign. I also expect when they say "top" they don't mean Hosmer, Darvish, Wade Davis but rather Santana, Bruce, Cain types. I'd be surprised if they don't add 1 such player in the $15M aav range.
They've specifically said for 2B they are looking to the trade market so that probably won't happen until the winter meetings. Gordon and Kinsler are the 2 most interesting names to me.
Can Otani play first base?
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Sandy Alderson, before departing the GM Meetings, basically ruled out the idea of the Mets signing strictly an outfielder. Said OF/1B or strictly 1B are on the table.
Santana or Bruce seem to be the 2 most appealing options. I'm personally hoping for Santana. He makes a lot of sense if they can get him for something in the ballpark of 3 years / 50M.
Carlos Santana: A Hosmer Alternative - ( New Window )
He was better when he had no funding.
I think there's certainly room for improvement with the job Sandy's done, and I'd rather have a younger more proactive GM in the role, but it's hard to really kill Sandy for the job he did. I'd say "underwhelmed lately" is more accurate IMO.
I think the 2018 season will be really telling for him. Injuries WERE a legit excuse I think last year, but I'm only willing to give him a one year pass on that. If they have another bad season in 2018, I think Sandy has to be ousted given the state of the farm system.