-Springer a Blue Jay
-Quintana to LAA for 1 year 8. Bummed we didn’t land him at that price. Potential steal.
-Heyman says they had/have interest in Kike Hernandez but he is looking for a starting job. Maybe a platoon in CF with PT in other spots entices him?
-the new head of R& D is close with Justin Turner. Zero indication the Mets are interested but notable.
-have not shown interest in JBJ to this point
-Hand and Colome have both switched agents (Hand’s new agent does not have any Mets clients for anyone looking for that connection)
@TimothyRRyder
· 1m
source: Mets have reached out to CIN regarding Sonny Gray and Eugenio Suarez. @Metsmerized report to follow
Interesting. Wonder what they do with Teoscar, Springer, Gurriel, and Brantley. Maybe DH Teoscar?
@PSLToFlushing
·
2m
I imagine this cost is quite high.
@JonHeyman
said 10 days ago the #Nationals reached out to the #Reds about Suarez and were told a deal would take one of their top 2 prospects Jackson Rutledge or Cade Cavalli as a part of it. This isn’t going to be a “salary dump” move. #Mets
1. He has a full-no trade 2. His salary could completely cost against the lux tax. Adding those 3 would put the Mets WAY over the luxury tax and have Cano/Votto on the books for 45 million for the next 2, Votto signed through 2024.
Kolten Wong is #1 in DRS at 2b the past 2 years with 25. Kike Hernandez is #2 with 21. That's why I suggested him ideally competing to win 2b with McNeil at 3b. Do I think Kike (or Guillorme) is as good defensively as Wong? No. But both are cheaper I do think both are likely very positive impact defenders. McNeil has also been a good defensive 2b.
Also Kike's versatility is a definitive plus over Wong because even if there are positions he hasn't played much (like 3b, ss, cf) Wong has only ever played 2b since 2016. Obviously I wouldn't be looking to put Hernandez in those positions for an extended period of time, just pointing out he has the versatility if it's needed. And it's likely he'd get some time in the OF because we have so few OF'ers on the roster right now.
2b DRS from 2019-2020 - ( New Window )
Link - ( New Window )
9. Kolten Wong, 2B, age 30
The Cardinals made a shocking choice by declining Wong’s $12.5 million option for 2021, making him a free agent just one year after he posted a 3.7 fWAR/5.2 bWAR, which puts him among the 10 most valuable free agents by total value in 2019-20. He’s a high-contact, low-exit velocity hitter who gets on base at an above-median clip for a second baseman, and after some ups and downs under Mike Matheny — who, for whatever reason, never seemed to warm to Wong as a regular — has hit .285/.362/.403 in the year-plus since Matheny was fired, with plus defense since he reached the majors. He was second among all second basemen in Outs Above Average in 2019, and led in both dRS and UZR. Wong does have a platoon split, but he’s become capable enough against lefties that he doesn’t have to sit against them. He doesn’t have much power, and shouldn’t really try to pull the ball too much, as he’s better when he uses the whole field and goes for contact. He’s an above-average regular right now, an asset to almost any contender, and should be for the length of a four- or five-year deal.
25. Kolten Wong – Red Sox. Two years, $16MM. The Cardinals’ decision to decline Wong’s $12.5MM club option came as a surprise to some, but this has long seemed like a plausible outcome. Wong’s profile — a pure second baseman lacking in power — is not one that gets paid well even in a normal offseason. Cesar Hernandez found himself non-tendered with a lower projected salary just one offseason ago, for instance.
Wong, 30, was drafted 22nd overall out of University of Hawaii at Manoa by the Cardinals in 2011. He’s been an above-average hitter twice in his career, with 108 wRC+ seasons in 2017 and ’19. Moving forward, I think offensive production right around league average can be expected from Wong.
Wong shines defensively, picking up a Gold Glove last year and showing strong marks in UZR, DRS, and outs above average. Still, I’m not convinced defense-first, second-base only players like Wong or Cesar Hernandez will do well in free agency. The Cardinals may try to retain Wong at a lesser rate, but otherwise the Red Sox, Angels, Blue Jays, Diamondbacks, Indians, Tigers, or Yankees could be fits.
Seems like this kind of thing has been happening more often than usual this year.
The question with Wong isn't if he's the best option defensively - he is. The question is if the extra $ makes a bigger difference with that improvement vs. improving elsewhere. Hernandez helps reinforce multiple positions and being cheaper allows them to spend more money elsewhere.
@JonHeyman
·
8m
There is no deal for Michael Brantley. The sides continue to talk. Sorry for jumping the gun.
Hernández has saved 21 runs with his defense in that time in just over 800 innings. By comparison, three-time Fielding Bible Award winner Kolten Wong has three more runs saved than Hernández does, but in nearly twice as many innings. We’ll add that Hernández is one of two infielders to amass at least 10 Range Runs Saved in fewer than 1,000 innings at a position in that span. The other is Rangers third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa (who incidentally will be a full-time shortstop in 2021).
It’s hard to fully capture Hernández’s range value visually, but here’s a look at everywhere in which he made a play the last two seasons.
Kiké Hernández is a defensive gem - ( New Window )
@JeffPassan
·
21s
The Los Angeles Dodgers are monitoring the market for right-hander Trevor Bauer and could be a player depending on the price, sources tell ESPN. Focus for the Dodgers now remains on a right-handed infield bat, but Bauer and the Dodgers remain a possibility as his market develops.
@Alden_Gonzalez
·
2m
Only Mookie Betts is currently in the books beyond the 2022 season, though Cody Bellinger and Walker Buehler will be quite expensive by then. Bauer would blow them past the CBT threshold in 2021, but a short-term, high-AAV deal is always appealing to them for a talent like that.
he's not a hidden gem, he's a very good utility player/borderline starter. There's nothing hidden about a guy who started 80% of the time for one of the best teams in baseball over the last several years.
He'd be a perfectly fine signing as well. I'd probably prefer Hernandez but the benefit with Marwin is he's played more 3b and he's played it well by the numbers the past couple years (+5 DRS in 400 innings, +4 OAA). Either would be a very wise investment.
Allan, Ginn, Dominguez, maybe Santos? They have a LOT of work to do in building the farm back up. Especially in terms of SP.
That's a good point - in theory I suppose they could pull out the chances in shifted alignments because SIS does video review to inform their metrics. I'm not sure if they did that but here's another metric from the article that adds a little more evidence to the point Simon was making with the chart.
Highest Success Rate on Sprints – 2020 Season
Name Plays Made/Opportunities %
Kiké Hernández 22/26 85%
Kolten Wong 32/44 73%
Keston Hiura 18/26 69%
Danny Mendick 15/22 68%
Link - ( New Window )
I'd much rather split the remaining room they have among a bunch of good depth players. Hand is at the top of the list, a high quality utility guy like Kike/Marwin, something in CF, and then whatever is left to grab a 1 or 2 more veteran pitchers to compete in ST like Gio/Sanchez/etc.
the Mets traded a top 15 prospect for a JAG (or worse) pitcher because of starting pitching depth.
Also, no one knows how Syndergaard will come back
Bauer, even if you acknowledge Bauer is not a consistent TOR starter, he's the Mets #2 or #3 starter until Syndergaard comes back.
I could understand not wanting to go long-term with Bauer with his inconsistent track record, but short-term there is not better use of $$$ in my opinion.
I'm pretty sure the LAD expected him to get more $ than they can afford to bring him back. Interesting in the link supposedly he specifically wanted a 1 year deal where he can get 500 plate appearances.
Dodgers Rumors: Kiké Hernandez’s Reported Contract Demands Likely End His Time in LA - ( New Window )
@JonHeyman
·
23s
Dodgers main infield target at moment is a righty-hitting infielder, and no surprise Justin Turner is the top choice. They’ve given him a chance to look around in the market but would love him back. They’ve looked at Marcus Semien but might be tough to think they could sign both.
What is the deal with Lux? He was a real good prospect, then he's kind of fallen off the planet. Is it attitude issues? There was a lot of vagueness regarding him showing up late, etc.
Quote:
should be noted, the Dodgers are letting Hernandez walk and over the past 2 seasons 22 hitters in baseball have been worse which includes guys like Mallex Smith, Roughed Odor, Joe Panik and Rio Ruiz Link - ( New Window )
I'm pretty sure the LAD expected him to get more $ than they can afford to bring him back. Interesting in the link supposedly he specifically wanted a 1 year deal where he can get 500 plate appearances. Dodgers Rumors: Kiké Hernandez’s Reported Contract Demands Likely End His Time in LA - ( New Window )
You don't think the Dodgers would have offered him 1 year and 500 PA's if they felt he was worthy of that? How does that compute? If anything that should be cause for concern. The team that knows him best won't give him an expanded role for 1 year when their starting 3b is a FA and he's their starter at 2b as of now.
the Mets traded a top 15 prospect for a JAG (or worse) pitcher because of starting pitching depth.
Also, no one knows how Syndergaard will come back
Bauer, even if you acknowledge Bauer is not a consistent TOR starter, he's the Mets #2 or #3 starter until Syndergaard comes back.
I could understand not wanting to go long-term with Bauer with his inconsistent track record, but short-term there is not better use of $$$ in my opinion.
"Unless it's sort of like when the Phillies signed Arrieta not too far off the CY for what seemed like a ridiculous steal of a deal (obviously it didn't work out that way)."
perhaps it was unclear in that wording but the steal with Arrieta was that he only got 3 years. The AAV was top of market. If Bauer was willing to sign a shorter deal I'd be quite excited about that.
Quote:
currently do not have a 3b on their roster, nor do they have a clear starting 2b with Gavin Lux expected to open at AAA.
What is the deal with Lux? He was a real good prospect, then he's kind of fallen off the planet. Is it attitude issues? There was a lot of vagueness regarding him showing up late, etc.
The Dodgers nor Lux ever went public with why he was late but it was not believed to be disciplinary. Both he and Brendan Rodgers have been pretty awful so far as MLB players but very limited SSS so far.