The upstart Braves come to the Bronx for a three game set. While much ink has been spilled over the Braves' young talent, now that I'm looking at their stats, what jumps out at you is the out-of-nowhere numbers being posted by some guys who have been washed-up has beens for a while: Kurt Suzuki, Nick Markakis, and Anibal Sanchez, tonight's scheduled starter.
Suzuki never hit much until going to the Braves last year at the age of 33. He's hit .284/.351/.515 as a Brave - what the hell? Who knew Nick Markakis was even still in MLB?? Yet he here is posting career-best numbers at 34. Sanchez posted sterling ERAs of 4.99, 5.87, and 6.41 the past three seasons in Detroit, but somehow has a 2.68 this year. Time for some market corrections.
Regarding trades for starters.....maybe the Yankees do need to deal for a 2018 Met pitcher. Just not the ones you're thinking of. Could Matt Harvey, of all people, be a good bargain pickup? His last five starts for the Reds have been very good: 29.1 IP, 21 H, 11 R, 21K/7 BB, 3.38 ERA, .955 WHIP. Fangraphs had a little writeup about him today suggesting his rebound isn't smoke and mirrors.
What a kick in the balls to the Mets if Harvey ended up helping the Yanks to a title, huh?
Fangraphs on Harvey - (
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2.31 ERA over his last 4 outings.
Not a terrible idea. And lord knows he'd be thrilled to pitch in the Bronx.
I mean, I can see where Harvey is a Cashman dumpster diving reclamation project but I don't think I'd go out of my way to trade for him.
Chris Archer hasn't had a sub-4 ERA since 2015, and Lance Lynn? Are you kidding? Have you seen what he's been doing lately? Hint: it's not good.
I agree with all this but these concerns are a better argument for someone like Happ than Harvey.
If the player is a true front-line starter/Ace like deGrom or Snell, the price is going to be very, very high.
If the goal is to add a starter, but not shred the farm to do it, we're going to be looking at flawed players like Happ, Hamels (just had another crappy outing - really don't want him), etc.
Harvey is outside the box - but it's not a bad idea.
Doc and Darryl both wound up in the Bronx after all of their troubles in Queens. The weren't the same players here, but they did at least sort of get things together while they played here. I think Harvey would know he can't get away with the bullshit here.
It's probably a long shot. I'm not sure he's even on Cashman's radar at all. But I do think there will be names like that whom perhaps haven't been as widely-discussed.
I think Loaisiga was brought up either to showcase as trade bait or he'll move to the bullpen if he makes the post season roster. Our four starters right now are Sevy, CC, Tanaka, and Gray.
I agree. The Yankees have had a pretty good track record with problem children because they tend to have strong clubhouse leadership and management that is generally firm but fair.
This is an excellent point Greg, we traded Duda for fringe bullpen prospect in Drew Smith from the Rays instead of a better deal supposedly offered from the Yanks. There is no shot that the Mets are trading with the Yankees. Not sure why this is so hard for people to comprehend.
Cash is invested in Gray. Harvey would be a flyer.
Frankly, as arrogant as this sounds, that's why the Yankees are the Yankees and the Mets are the Mets.
Also, a fair deal for deGrom is STILL pretty steep, perhaps steeper than Cashman is willing to pay anyway.
Fuck it, I am getting pissed just thinking about it.
I guess the bottom line at this point is that there's no way he can be trusted in a postseason game barring some miraculous turnaround.
Ed Whitson syndrome
I've mostly thought that the pitching acquisition this year for Cashman would be more along the lines of Jaime Garcia. If this year's Jaime Garcia is Matt Harvey, I am down, I guess. I do agree that we will prob need options of guys to get 5 innings in the postseason. Harvey could do that and has some possibility for a little more. Hard to rely on him though.
Fuck it, I am getting pissed just thinking about it.
If you are a Mets fan, would you be willing to trade deGrom or Thor to the Braves- who may have the most impressive group of young arms around?
For example, would a Mets fan be willing to face deGrom for another 6-7 years in a Braves uniform in exchange for a package of something like: Kyle Wright, Koby Allard, Austin Riley and maybe Christian Pache?
I don't think the Yankee tax would necessarily be too steep on Happ.
He's not a particularly exciting acquisition, but he does pitch well against BOS - which could be important when we see them again next month.
Putting Gray out there against the Red Sox is like the Red Sox putting Price on the mound against us. It's basically a forfeit.
The issue with Gray is that he has been brilliant in a few starts this year, he still has the stuff. It is primarily a mental issue.
Actually, no. The only deals I can remember between the teams are: getting Mondesi in 2002, Clemens for Wells in 1999, Cone for three scrub minor leaguers in 1995. Going back into the 1980s, there was Jessie Barfield for Al Leiter in 1988 and whatever deal it was that sent Fred McGriff there when he was a teenager.
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And that is why Mets fans don't trust ownership, they have taken less on deals on the past as not to help the Yanks. When you have two franchise players, if they do decide to trade them, you better get a haul of a return no matter who the trade partner is. If it is leaked (which you know it will be), that they made a trade and there was a better offer on the table from the Yanks...
Fuck it, I am getting pissed just thinking about it.
If you are a Mets fan, would you be willing to trade deGrom or Thor to the Braves- who may have the most impressive group of young arms around?
For example, would a Mets fan be willing to face deGrom for another 6-7 years in a Braves uniform in exchange for a package of something like: Kyle Wright, Koby Allard, Austin Riley and maybe Christian Pache?
rich I just want this team to make a good move for once that sets them up for the future. As a Mets fan, I don't care who they trade them to as long as the return is worth it. To be honest, I would rather trade with the Yanks then anyone in our division as you don't want them coming back to beat you every year. However, if the Braves put together a package that included their top prospects and that is the best deal offered, then you have to take it.
Make no mistake about it, the Wilpon's pay attention to what is written about them and Jeff thinks he is always the "smartest man in the room", which is why he and Sandy had such a good working relationship.
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If I'm not mistaken, NYY/TOR actually have a fairly solid business relationship, no?
Actually, no. The only deals I can remember between the teams are: getting Mondesi in 2002, Clemens for Wells in 1999, Cone for three scrub minor leaguers in 1995. Going back into the 1980s, there was Jessie Barfield for Al Leiter in 1988 and whatever deal it was that sent Fred McGriff there when he was a teenager.
Someone said they did during the broadcast yesterday or the day before. I forget who it was. I guess they were wrong.
Putting Gray out there against the Red Sox is like the Red Sox putting Price on the mound against us. It's basically a forfeit.
So you make sure Gray starts vs Price....18-15 is a good final score.
Now that I'm looking through transaction histories, I missed one - the Rob Refsnyder for Ryan McBroom blockbuster.
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And that is why Mets fans don't trust ownership, they have taken less on deals on the past as not to help the Yanks. When you have two franchise players, if they do decide to trade them, you better get a haul of a return no matter who the trade partner is. If it is leaked (which you know it will be), that they made a trade and there was a better offer on the table from the Yanks...
Fuck it, I am getting pissed just thinking about it.
If you are a Mets fan, would you be willing to trade deGrom or Thor to the Braves- who may have the most impressive group of young arms around?
For example, would a Mets fan be willing to face deGrom for another 6-7 years in a Braves uniform in exchange for a package of something like: Kyle Wright, Koby Allard, Austin Riley and maybe Christian Pache?
The Braves are no longer interested in trading for a front line SP due to the breakout seasons of Foltynewicz and Newcomb. Soroka was pitching very well before going on the 60 day DL. Luiz Gohara, Max Fried, Kolby Allard, and Touki Toussaint are all ready or will be by seasons end. What the Braves need is another OF next year and a couple of relievers.
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Putting Gray out there against the Red Sox is like the Red Sox putting Price on the mound against us. It's basically a forfeit.
So you make sure Gray starts vs Price....18-15 is a good final score.
LOL, I was going to say - just match Gray up against Price @ Fenway and we'll have a shot.
Now that I'm looking through transaction histories, I missed one - the Rob Refsnyder for Ryan McBroom blockbuster.
You're probably right, I just took their word for it and assumed they were right. I can't even remember who the hell said it, I think it was during the Fox broadcast so it wasn't even anyone in the YES booth.
And Gray has been getting booed at home. Do we know with any certainty whatsoever how Harvey would handle that?