Ken Rosenthal
@Ken_Rosenthal
Source: Ramos with #Mets is two-year deal, pending physical. |
Price on Realmuto was supposedly too high. For 2 years and no draft pick given up, this is a very solid move. Very impressed with how BVW has kept his FA targets pretty close to the vest.
I do think thankfully think some of last year's pickups both in the draft and via trade will help continue move the system in the right direction. I'm really intrigued to see what Toffey does this year (after shoulder surgery?). Adolph looks like he was a good find. Plus all the SP coming back from TJS.
I may be crazy, but I'm even mildly interested to see if Lindsay's fall league performance was a fluke and how Thompson/Cecchini come back from their injuries. If there's another mcneil somewhere in the system it's probably 1 of those guys.
It's right there in front of them...time to strike is now, especially with less in the farm system coming the next several years.
They haven't done it since Beltran. Time to make a run again....
Lindsay. I’m done falling for him lol. Still has his believers, some see Pham lol.
I’d look at Buxton as Legares with upside. Certainly would pay for the prospect Buxton WAS. He can’t hit a slider. Period. But the talent is undeniable.
SEE THE METS TOP 10 MLB PROSPECTS
NOTABLE GRADUATIONS: RHP Chris Flexen (9), RHP Corey Oswalt (16), RHP Jacob Rhame (23), 2B Jeff McNeil (NR)
TRENDING: 🔼 McNeil looks like the real deal, but no other graduated prospect figures prominently
STRENGTHS: The outline of a future lineup is taking shape at the lower levels with third baseman Mark Vientos and shortstops Ronny Mauricio and Shervyen Newton all excelling in Rookie ball in 2018. First baseman Peter Alonso and shortstop Andres Gimenez will make their marks in the majors much sooner, either in 2019 or 2020. College arms Anthony Kay and David Peterson have similar ETAs.
WEAKNESSES: Much of the system’s top position talent is several years away from Queens, and the top 10 is high-risk, high-reward overall. Beyond Dunn, 2018 second-round high schooler Simeon Woods-Richardson and trade pickup Franklyn Kilome, the system lacks for righthanded starters and is tilted toward relief arms overall. Then Kilome had Tommy John surgery after the season and will miss all of 2019.
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Just wish he wasn't handed a starting spot over Mcneil. Sort it out in ST and let the best guy play. Period. Unless he's barry bonds in ST they can make things even easier by starting Alonso in AAA for a month to get some momentum before introducing him to MLB pitching, which should be a plenty long evaluation period to see which of Frazier/McNeil should start at 3B from that point forward.
https://metsmerizedonline.com/
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I realize Smith's value is low, but my plan would be:
1B: Frazier
2B: Cano
SS: Rosario
3B: Mcneil
next year Frazier is gone and if McNeil holds up ok at 3B he stays there, if not, he can move to 2B, but Cano heads to 1B (unless he's good at 2B).
If McNeil is good at 3B, Gimenez moves to 2B unless he shows he's superior to Rosario in the field then Rosario moves.
Problem with Cano at such a long term is it blocks Alonso, which is fine with me. I'm trading Alonso after he tears up Syracuse this year to an AL team for to restock the farm or for a legit young starting pitcher.
Really great to hear that and have him back. During the 2 year playoff run there wasn't a player on the team more important than him. Cespedes obviously sparked the end of 2015, but then missed chunks of time in 2016. Harvey and JDG got hurt in 2016. In those 2 full seasons Familia pitched the 3rd most innings of any reliever (most of any closer) and was the 6th most valuable by fwar. He had a 2.2 ERA, 2.5 FIP, and was 2nd in baseball with 94 saves. He obviously blew the WC game in 2016 and allowed the Gordon homer, but he was also the difference beating the Dodgers in 5 games where he was perfect in 4 of them without even allowing a baserunner.
With Diaz in the fold he doesn't need to replicate that level of performance to be a good signing, but the fact that he has proven he can do that here in NY and he's still only 29 makes him a great signing.
j/k....good stuff from Familia.
I think the word he used was he "wants" him to be, but he (BVW) also gave himself an out (if it's the same story I read) and said Mickey makes the lineup decisions.
But I suspect Alonso will be in Syracuse the first couple weeks at least so the Mets keep the extra year of control. And then who knows what happens.
Saves the team a roster spot not having to bring in a middle infielder and allows them to keep a guy like TJ Rivera who has some pop coming off the bench.
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On opening day. Barring a really weak ST, I expect that to be the case.
I think the word he used was he "wants" him to be, but he (BVW) also gave himself an out (if it's the same story I read) and said Mickey makes the lineup decisions.
But I suspect Alonso will be in Syracuse the first couple weeks at least so the Mets keep the extra year of control. And then who knows what happens.
I tend to agree with this. If he hits .500 in ST with 10 homers I think he can change minds, but most likely he will start in Syracuse.
I realize Smith's value is low, but my plan would be:
1B: Frazier
2B: Cano
SS: Rosario
3B: Mcneil
next year Frazier is gone and if McNeil holds up ok at 3B he stays there, if not, he can move to 2B, but Cano heads to 1B (unless he's good at 2B).
If McNeil is good at 3B, Gimenez moves to 2B unless he shows he's superior to Rosario in the field then Rosario moves.
Problem with Cano at such a long term is it blocks Alonso, which is fine with me. I'm trading Alonso after he tears up Syracuse this year to an AL team for to restock the farm or for a legit young starting pitcher.
I would consider giving Rosario and/or Gimenez reps in CF. Gimenez would be the more likely target unless Rosario is struggling because if he struggles at first you are only impacting a minor league team
Also Sickels is live tweeting the mets system right now. His rankings so far:
1- Gimenez (B+)
2- Alonso (B+)
3- Vientos (B-/B)
4- Mauricio (B-/B)
5- SWR (B-/B)
6- Newton (B-)
7- Peterson (B-)
8- Kay (B-)
Even without Kelenic already way better than a year ago when he only had 5 guys over the C level (including Guillorme).
No indication on either one. More interesting will be Newton/Mauricio. Hard to believe one is pulled off SS so one is likely going to be "left behind" in BK.
I was comparing to last year's preseason so they didn't have Kilome/Kelenic yet and obviously before a lot of these guys had good seasons that improved their stock. Alonso, Gimenez, Vientos especially (and Sickels always tends to lean more on the production side).
1B is like the last bastion on defense. If you can't make it there, you're likely a DH.
1B is like the last bastion on defense. If you can't make it there, you're likely a DH.
If you can't play 1b you're basically not a big leaguer. You have to absolutely MASH to be a DH and stick very long. Those types have less and less value.
He definitely was not into toolsy guys who did not have matching production, unlike mlb.com. Sad to hear that he lost his website as he was always very nice to speak with and, unlike some of the other big names, would listen to opposing viewpoints rather than shoot them down.
hope they have a better contingency plan for Lagares than that but I've always liked him and it looks like he can still run and play D.
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Mets sign Rajai Davis to a minor league deal
hope they have a better contingency plan for Lagares than that but I've always liked him and it looks like he can still run and play D.
if they dont add another of they are counting on cespedes being back mid season
Maybe all teams have this issue and I just don't notice it but the Mets always seem to have guys playing out of their normal position.
Kind of like
Nimmo CF
McNeil LF
Alonso 1B
Cano 2B
Ramos C
Conforto RF
Frazier 3B
Rosario SS
Really lengthens things and splits the lefties up. Conforto may be too low but somebody is going to have to be there...
When Ces returns...
Nimmo CF
McNeil 3B
Cespedes LF
Cano 2B
Ramos C
Conforto RF
Alonso 1B
Rosario SS
Pretty deep as is. A guy like M. Gonzalez makes a ton of sense because he's flexible and can be moved around later. Do it.
Yeah it's 12 team games and you control him for an additional season.
Makes you wonder if they’re prepared to move a good young OF for a catcher. Wouldn’t surprise me if they’re ready to overpay.
Playoffs?... plaaayyyyooofffffss?
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is a good signing -- post-season veteran pinch runner is now filled. :)
Playoffs?... plaaayyyyooofffffss?
Oh yeah -- hear me now, believe me later -- 2019 NL East Champs!
2 lefties in a row with Cano/Conforto 3 & 4 isn't ideal, but they don't have glaring splits and the majority of the good setup men and closers are righties anyway.
Then Ramos or Frazier can hit 5th to start the year (eventually Alonso will hopefully hit 4 or 5).
Mcneil can hit 6th.
The other of Ramos/Frazier can hit 7th.
whoever plays CF hits 8th.
I really like the way the lineup is coming together and if they get a good CF even better.
That would make a lot of sense for both sides. Tucker is a really good looking prospect. Other than Vlad jr he is probably the most intriguing guy ready to play right away.