NFT: Jacob deGrom and the Mets avoid arbitration

Good on the Mets. Just because they can doesn't mean they should skimp on deGrom.

It would have been interesting to see if the normal conventions would have held up for a 30-year-old coming off a historic season in arbitration.

Of course he was going to get his fair share

*

He recused himself from the negotiations and future negotiations with him.

Diaz
Familia
Lugo
Gsellman
Dowdy
Zamora
Avilan

AAA. D Smith, Bashlor, Hanhold, Santiago, Rhame, T Peterson, Sewald, Caminero, etc.

Got to figure Dowdy is a lock since he has to make the 25 man or be returned and after Mickey and BVW were talking him up I'd be shocked if they don't want to give him a run first. The guy can throw 98. You'd like two lefties in the pen but I guess you could move Zamora to AAA if you added another vet.

Add Ottavino... or even Allen or Warren and that pen looks top notch.

Addison Reed for a minor league invite?

Negotiations is literally the dumbest shit I have ever heard. So you are in charge of total budget buuuuuttt you don�t have insight into thisnsoecifi. Instance.... buttttt you control amount that can be offered

I swear either people are purposely obtuse or don�t understand corporate negotiations

how can he excuse himself from signing a top player?

Maybe he came up w the script the Mets person had to say during negotiations, and didn't say anything technically himself, but there is no way he didn't "speak" in the negotiation

Obviously, he�s not completely out of it as the GM but he says he took himself out of the negotiations. Does this really need to be a federal case? Just repeating what he said.

In comment 14259161 ZGiants98 said:

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Diaz Familia Lugo Gsellman Dowdy Zamora Avilan AAA. D Smith, Bashlor, Hanhold, Santiago, Rhame, T Peterson, Sewald, Caminero, etc. Got to figure Dowdy is a lock since he has to make the 25 man or be returned and after Mickey and BVW were talking him up I'd be shocked if they don't want to give him a run first. The guy can throw 98. You'd like two lefties in the pen but I guess you could move Zamora to AAA if you added another vet. Add Ottavino... or even Allen or Warren and that pen looks top notch. Addison Reed for a minor league invite?

Reed signed a two year contract with the Twins

Thanks. Surprised he got two years. He was awful last year.

You meant last year. Lol. Man I need my coffee.

be careful calling Dowdy a lock. He needs a good ST or he will be returned. That's the usual outcome with Rule 5 guys, returned at the end of ST. I'm not even talking about him directly but better than 50% chance he's not with the Mets.

love Ottavino but I don't see it. He's going to likely get more than the budget will allow. He's looking to get paid. This is his one shot.

Or is that number kind of low for deGrom?

I would've thought he could've asked for 25Mil plus in arbitration and gotten at least 20.

In comment 14259414 Eman11 said:

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Or is that number kind of low for deGrom? I would've thought he could've asked for 25Mil plus in arbitration and gotten at least 20.

It's the biggest raise in the history of the sport for a player in his situation and more than most estimates. His reps obviously knew what they could ask for/ get so I don't find it low. If anything they probably hooked him up a bit as a nod toward his coming mega deal.

In comment 14259418 DanMetroMan said:

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In comment 14259414 Eman11 said: Quote: Or is that number kind of low for deGrom? I would've thought he could've asked for 25Mil plus in arbitration and gotten at least 20. It's the biggest raise in the history of the sport for a player in his situation and more than most estimates. His reps obviously knew what they could ask for/ get so I don't find it low. If anything they probably hooked him up a bit as a nod toward his coming mega deal.

This. the largest raise for a 2nd year arbitration player ever. it's more of a raise than Mookie Betts got.

Arenado still to be decided, so he could break it, but he's 3rd year arbitration eligible and for now this is it.

very fair IMO for deGrom.

It's funny you don't hear people shit on the Sox for not extending Betts yet, he's in the same boat as deGrom (wrt when he hits FA, and he's 26 vs deGrom's 30)

If Betts hits FA IMO (and has two more years like the last couple) at 28 it will be bigger than Harper/Machado).

It will be probably second to Trout hitting FA.

NL looks loaded this year, even the Reds look very intriguing on paper.

Please injury God be kind to us this year!

Dowdy isn�t making the team if he gets bombed in the spring but gotta figure he has an edge if he pitches reasonably well.

On a one year deal. The HR�s he gave up last year is alarming and he had an awful year but maybe you hope something mechanical was off or he was fighting through an injury... reuniting with Mickey seems like a natural fit and he�s still pretty young.

1. Diaz
2. Familia
3. Lugo
4. Gsellman
5&6. 2 lefties out of Zamora / Avilan / hopefully another vet invite (Blevins)
7. 1 of the AAAA rhp out of Dowdy / Smith / Bashlor / Sewald / Peterson

Which leaves 1 more spot for a veteran - hopefully with late game experience to protect them in case of injury to Diaz / Familia / Lugo. Also giving them the flexibility to start Lugo if necessary.

Zamora is far from a known quantity. Only has 9 innings above AA.
Avilan didn't get a guaranteed deal for a reason.

6th or 7th inning, bases loaded, Freeman, Soto, or Harper (if he goes back to Nats) coming up. A handful of situations like that could be the difference in a few key wins or losses. There's a reason Blevins appeared in 200+ games (going 13-4) between '16-'18. Obviously he sucked last year but it's still a big hole that hasn't been replaced.

They may go to an 8 man pen once we get into the season a bit but in April there are extra off days so pitchers get extra rest.

In terms of value on a season. Avilan put up good numbers last year and isn�t that old. Just because we got a good deal, doesn�t mean he sucks. Invite Blevins back and let Santiago and all of them compete in the spring. Diaz, Familia, and Lugo can all get out lefties.

do you see any in-season trade targets that you would identify? I could see the Mets, if we're in contention, trying to land a Chris Archer, another CF, or a Bullpen Piece, just curious if you had any names you like.

Also, do you see Frazier being moved? I really don't see a good fit on this roster for him. He's not a bench player.

are fairly redundant, and then you have Lowrie/McNeil/TJ Rivera who can play third.

to re-sign deGrom and Wheeler.

An eight man pen. Maybe the Mets dont need hitters on the bench or back up fielders.

In comment 14259610 CMicks3110 said:

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do you see any in-season trade targets that you would identify? I could see the Mets, if we're in contention, trying to land a Chris Archer, another CF, or a Bullpen Piece, just curious if you had any names you like. Also, do you see Frazier being moved? I really don't see a good fit on this roster for him. He's not a bench player.

My dream would be to spend the next week or two trying to clear Lagares and Frazier and then I�d make a stealthy offer to Harper. Barring that dream I�d look to sign one more reliever (Allen, Otto, Warren) and maybe bring in another SP to compete with Vargas. From there I�m ready to start the season but I�d keep monitoring Castellanos. Defense be damned, he�d be another sweet bat to add to the mix.

and move Frazier. Dan has been hammering Texas as a team that could land him; Texas just lost Beltre to retirement, so I wonder what we could get?

JD Davis goes to Syracuse initially. I actually think Alonso might too in spite of BVW�s comments. Opening day bench will be something like Broxton, McNeil, TJ Rivera, Dom, and Nido. Frazier probably is your opening day 1B. In a few weeks, TDA, Alonso, etc will work their way back in.

In comment 14259619 CMicks3110 said:

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and move Frazier. Dan has been hammering Texas as a team that could land him; Texas just lost Beltre to retirement, so I wonder what we could get?

Wheeler isn�t getting extended imo. He�s too young and too close to free agency to screw himself. A deGrom extension is coming though. Probably will be announced in ST.

In comment 14259619 CMicks3110 said:

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and move Frazier. Dan has been hammering Texas as a team that could land him; Texas just lost Beltre to retirement, so I wonder what we could get?

I'm skeptical the Mets will sign JDG, Thor, and Wheeler. If I had to pick two it's JDG and Thor.

Wheeler might be the best of the three if he pitches like he did since he got straightened out last year, but let's also not forget he began last year in Vegas.

He is the riskiest of the 3 IMO and I would be hesitant to sign him to a high $$$ multi-year contract.

Extension so maybe he knows something we don�t. I could see that.

I have high hopes Wheeler will stay a Met (we know he loves being here) but if we want him we are going to have to sign him as a FA next year sadly (which I could still see).

he has stated numerous times that he does not like change. He's apparently very comfortable with the Mets, they stuck with him through his injuries, he might give them a discount. And Thor is 3 years away, so I'm not too worried about that. I want to win in the next 3 years.

In comment 14259633 CMicks3110 said:

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he has stated numerous times that he does not like change. He's apparently very comfortable with the Mets, they stuck with him through his injuries, he might give them a discount. And Thor is 3 years away, so I'm not too worried about that. I want to win in the next 3 years.

Yup and let�s not forget he called up Sandy and begged him not to trade him.

do you see any in-season trade targets? That you like?

is a potential FA exactly one year after deGrom, so if you extend deGrom and Wheeler, odds are you not extending Thor unless for some reason Wheeler is on a two year deal. Otherwise that's like $75M tied up in 3 pitchers.

So whether you don't want to worry about something three years from now, but you do want to worry about something that doesn't have to happen for two years, you are possibly making your decision for you.

If any of these guys (JDG, Thor, Wheeler) get to FA healthy the Mets will (or should) offer the QO making it at least a little more painful for other teams to sign them.

but regardless I still feel like only two remain Mets. I hope Matz blows up and makes it an even harder decision. He's a potential FA same year as Thor.

In comment 14259643 CMicks3110 said:

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do you see any in-season trade targets? That you like?

I mentioned Castellanos but other than him not really. I�d just wait and see and react based on our needs. We will certainly know at the deadline if we need another reliever, bat, ect but what if Cespedes comes back? What if Bashlor emerges as a stud in the pen? A lot can happen so it�s hard to predict.

In comment 14259617 XBRONX said:

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An eight man pen. Maybe the Mets dont need hitters on the bench or back up fielders.

You really think there's that big of a difference between a 4 man bench & a 5 man bench? Last year with a 7 man BP and added an 8th man like a week later. It would seem 1 of the main benefits of having so many versatile pieces (Lowrie & McNeil in particular) would be having less of a need for a 4th non-catcher on the bench.

obviously depends on whether or not the Angels are in contention, but at that point he will have 1.5 years left on his contract and I think the Mets + Angels line up as potential trade partners. Might even be as simple as Rosario for Simmons. Obviously if Rosario breaks out it won't make sense, but if he continues to be up and down like last year or only improves slightly, Simmons is a rare talent who could come in and greatly improve the chances of winning over the next 2 years. His bat fits the style of the new regime, his contract isn't great but it's affordable, and while I haven't seen him much since leaving Atlanta there is no player I've ever seen have more of an impact every game defensively. Angels would add a high upside player who they could instantly insert at SS, gain extra years of control, and save $15m for 2020 to add elsewhere.

In comment 14259619 CMicks3110 said:

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and move Frazier. Dan has been hammering Texas as a team that could land him; Texas just lost Beltre to retirement, so I wonder what we could get?

A bag of balls...

mentioned a few potential targets.. Heineman, Calhoun, DeSheilds, Tocci... they have some excess.

do you see Frazier being on OD roster right now?

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In comment 14260131 CMicks3110 said:

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do you see Frazier being on OD roster right now?

They keep talking up the depth so my guess is yes but I'd prefer they move him if it can better balance the roster. A good/solid RP, some OF depth etc

In comment 14258967 CromartiesKid21 said:

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Of course he was going to get his fair share

So it�s a problem they reached an agreement with the reigning Cy Young winner? I swear, some fans will find anything to complain about. They also reached an agreement with Thor, not a former BVW client. Is there a problem there too?

hope really springs eternal, but this is a cool Alonso video, especially the end.

some time you get the feeling athletes are aloof to their team's history especially if they did not grow up a fan of that team. It's cool to me that Alonso gets it.

I'm a sucker for shit like this, but it makes the players easier to root for.
Link - ( New Window )

and probably closer to what Delgado was his first year here. Really hope we get our own Jesus Aguilar/near .900ops 1B out of him or Davis long term for 1B. Would be a very nice compliment to the young core of lefties with Nimmo/Conforto/Mcneil.

don't see it with Davis. Looks like a depth talent to me. I think he's closer to a Wilmer Flores type of upside than a good regular. Below average athlete, stiff even at the plate (like Wilmer). I'm not even hating, he can play 4 positions (plus even throw a few mop up innings) but I'd be surprised if he's much more than a good bench option (best case).