NFT: Why are Mets going to rebuild

In comment 15457600 Drewcon40 said:

Quote:

In comment 15457555 Vanzetti said: Quote: Everybody knows Mets want Stearns and Eppler is here on a one year show me deal. You don’t hire a guy like that and ask him to start a five year rebuild when he likely is not going to be here This year should be about going for it while Degrom is still here. If it doesn’t work, then the back the truck up and start a full scale rebuild next year Vanz- this is a good point. I have read that the Eppler hire would actually entice Stearns to come as POBO as they are supposed really good friends - Eppler may remain under a potential Stearns hire. That said, I agree - this isn’t a rebuild.

+1. Me too. I don't think it's a rebuild year either. I think there are still too many valuable, highly performing pieces present.

Alonso is about to turn 27 and Lindor just turned 28.

both are potential MVP candidates.

I think Nimmo and McNeil can be part of a winning core.

they need a lot of pitching but they have JDG and some other usable pieces. Lugo, Diaz, Walker, Carrasco, May, Megill, Peterson.

Scherzer is the only addition that can really change the narrative in a big way though.

Without him they'd have to get pretty lucky to be a WS contender this year. Not impossible but would take a lot going right. Wild card contender would be more realistic.

In comment 15457600 Drewcon40 said:

Quote:

In comment 15457555 Vanzetti said: Quote: Everybody knows Mets want Stearns and Eppler is here on a one year show me deal. You don’t hire a guy like that and ask him to start a five year rebuild when he likely is not going to be here This year should be about going for it while Degrom is still here. If it doesn’t work, then the back the truck up and start a full scale rebuild next year Vanz- this is a good point. I have read that the Eppler hire would actually entice Stearns to come as POBO as they are supposed really good friends - Eppler may remain under a potential Stearns hire. That said, I agree - this isn’t a rebuild.

Also, with Cano’s salary Mets are basically committed to exceeding luxury threshold the next two seasons.

Plus I don’t think fans fully realize how bad Mickey and Rojas were as managers. Each of the last 4 years Mets had a period of total collapse that ruined the season.

Front office’s failure to anticipate injuries was also a problem. How do you go into a season with Degrom, Carrasco, Thor and Walker penciled in as starters and not have a backup plan? These guys were all huge injury risks and your backup plan is Oswalt and Megill? And Rich Hill? Hill and Megill actually did better than expected but you can’t put together a starting rotation of the walking wounded and expect to make it through the season

In comment 15457615 Eric on Li said:

Quote:

Alonso is about to turn 27 and Lindor just turned 28. both are potential MVP candidates. I think Nimmo and McNeil can be part of a winning core. they need a lot of pitching but they have JDG and some other usable pieces. Lugo, Diaz, Walker, Carrasco, May, Megill, Peterson. Scherzer is the only addition that can really change the narrative in a big way though. Without him they'd have to get pretty lucky to be a WS contender this year. Not impossible but would take a lot going right. Wild card contender would be more realistic.

+1. I agree Eric. I see them as needing a 3rd baseman, 2 outfielders, and pitching. Kyle Bryant would be very helpful at either 3rd base or outfield, Starling Marte could be the other outfielder, and Scherzer or Gausman would replace Syndergaard. If they re-sign Stroman, then I think they would be a legitimate contender. Corrasco and Walker need to return to their previous form, and Megill needs to continue his development. A lot od "ifs", but certainly possible.

on Manfred's comments it looks like a lockout is inevitable. There is no pressure on either side before the threat of losing games is upon is.

based upon the inevitable shutdown coming up is to offer high signing bonuses with lower base salary. Mr. Cohen surely has the money to make this work (if this is legal).

anybody know definitively that a team can hire a manager during a lockout? I just read they are eligible to be part of the MLBPA which would make me question this?

Chelsea Janes
@chelsea_janes
·
2h
MLB announces its owners have agreed to provide housing for all minor leaguers except those with major league contracts or making more than six figures. Estimates that will be 90 percent of all minor leaguers at all levels.

In comment 15457304 Drewcon40 said:

Quote:

I am curious how they solve the roster. It is a bit unbalanced. There are ALOT of questions. On everyday players: -If they do have a season in 2022 - will it be with a D.H.? (Cano?)? -Is Nimmo an everyday CF or does he move to a corner? -Do we see Dom Smith in LF? (1B is obviously occupied although Pete can DH a few games. -Is McNeil in the plans at 2B, OF, 3B? (A Ben Zobrist type role)? -J.D. Davis? -McCann bridge us to Fransisco Alvarez (What year is Alvarez's projected debut)? Obviously we need to either bring Stroman back or replace him. We are not really "replacing" Syndergaard, his departure was more of a surprise but we went an entire 2 seasons without him. Are Lucchessi and Yammamotto still under contract for next year? I know they aren't super exciting but are live arms.

The Mets shouldn't do anything to block their top prospects Alvarez, Mauricio and Baty. If they're going to move Mauricio off SS to CF or 3B, fine. If they're going to make Baty a CO, fine. But they need to start putting their prospects on the field, not trading them away.

In comment 15457662 SJGiant said:

Quote:

based upon the inevitable shutdown coming up is to offer high signing bonuses with lower base salary. Mr. Cohen surely has the money to make this work (if this is legal).

Signing bonuses are considered salary in terms of AAV so signing bonus is factored in. Players aren't paid at all until the season begins so unless there are players who are REALLY eager to get paid now aka essentially an advance it's likely not going to be a pressing issue for FA's.

met with the Tigers today.

Don’t care the player/prospect cost… the Mets should be incredibly aggressive. Need a CF and an incredible talent.

@Rangers apparently are being viewed as a potential major bidder for Seiya Suzuki. Daniels previously had success with the high bid for Yu Darvish and most recently signed Kohei Arihara who had a disastrous rookie season

This is a very strong free agent class and the guys available fit well with the Mets needs.

I think they should look into Chris Taylor. To me, he would be a very good signing because he can play all over and has proven he can hit in postseason.

In comment 15457731 Vanzetti said:

Quote:

This is a very strong free agent class and the guys available fit well with the Mets needs. I think they should look into Chris Taylor. To me, he would be a very good signing because he can play all over and has proven he can hit in postseason.

I would agree but he's on a QO. So they'd have to give up a first round pick almost 4m+ of draft pool.

better off trying to find the next Chris Taylor. or waiting out next year's version of Marcus Semian who is still available later in the offseason.

In comment 15457731 Vanzetti said:

Quote:

This is a very strong free agent class and the guys available fit well with the Mets needs. I think they should look into Chris Taylor. To me, he would be a very good signing because he can play all over and has proven he can hit in postseason.

He'd cost them the 14th pick in the draft. He's a good player but that's a heavy cost, I highly doubt the Mets go that route.

I agree he's a solid player but he's 32 in August, his savant page sees regression on the horizon and Steamer projects 1.8 fWAR. Can't see giving up the 14th overall pick in the draft for him. Not with this roster.

The Mets unfortunately cannot go after anyone with a QO.

and honestly I expect Conforto to be one of them. I don't think anyone is going to be beating down the door for a corner outfielder with all the premium position players available. and there are probably some vets out there on their last years of their deals who can be had for nothing but salary savings if they want to value hunt to fill holes closer to ST as well.

the only guy I'd have a lot of urgency to try to lock down before 12/2 is Scherzer. and since Boras likes leverage my guess is he's waiting for us to drive the price up like we did with Bauer last year. Possibly Stroman but my hunch is he doesn't come back.

Among the teams interested in Matz

Per NPB authority @JballAllen, OF Seiya Suzuki is said to favor a team that plays in a warm weather city. Not great news for @mets fans but you never know #Mets

In comment 15457829 DanMetroMan said:

Quote:

Among the teams interested in Matz

I was wondering about that. First season he stayed healthy. Might be a good value sign. He is from Stony Brook so you know he likely wants to come back to NY

announces Eppler as the new GM.

always seems to have the advantage with the KBO/NPB players. So annoying.

and now they have deleted Cohen's comments/the release.

In comment 15457862 DanMetroMan said:

Quote:

and now they have deleted Cohen's comments/the release.

Mets twitter has it up.

In comment 15457870 GF1080 said:

Quote:

In comment 15457862 DanMetroMan said: Quote: and now they have deleted Cohen's comments/the release. Mets twitter has it up.

They accidently published it about 40 minutes ago and then took it down. See here
Link - ( New Window )

Jacob Resnick
@Jacob_Resnick
·
23m
Looks like the publish button was hit a little too quickly.

Bob Nightengale
@BNightengale
·
3m
Billy Eppler will be formally introduced as the #Mets GM on a zoom press conference at 12:30 ET on Friday.

thinks they hire Showalter

I don't know how accurate of a view one can get on anyone that works for Moreno. Some of the moves the reports say Eppler wanted to make were a lot better than the ones he did make. But of course some (probably most) of what he did was dictated by Moreno.

He is certainly qualified for the job. And he has more experience in the job than the previous 2 hires at GM. So we'll see. I don't hate it.

For a few years either. They could do a lot worse.

I wanted him or dusty when Beltran got axed and assumed they were both mid 70s. I hope that’s not the nightingale kiss of death.

Ausmus is an interesting choice too - especially since he has a relationship with Scherzer. But I’d probably prefer Buck since he’s got more of a presence (I think).

Or was Rojas onto something moving him to the bullpen? I think he’s really a starter and they just had a thin bullpen? Obviously not the answer for replacing a Stroman or Syndergard . It just seems easier to find mid relievers than waste Lugo in this role when he could start.

on the team because they had nobody else and it was a short season. He's better out of the BP that's where he should stay.

Sign new SP w/o QO from FA.

at least 2, preferably 3 of...

Scherzer, Gausman, Stroman, Rodon

None received QO

Have you heard anything about whether Thor gave the Mets an opportunity to match the Angels offer (like Murphy did when Nats gave him a three year deal)?

In comment 15458301 Vanzetti said:

Quote:

Have you heard anything about whether Thor gave the Mets an opportunity to match the Angels offer (like Murphy did when Nats gave him a three year deal)?

not dan but they said he did not.

In comment 15458189 moze1021 said:

Quote:

at least 2, preferably 3 of... Scherzer, Gausman, Stroman, Rodon None received QO

I think Mets are going to make a run at Scherzer for sure. I also think Cohen right now wants to spend but is also worried about the perception of the other owners.

said it's a make or break year for him and he was afraid of the uncertainty. which is understandable. really annoying they didnt just hire eppler sooner.

In comment 15458302 Eric on Li said:

Quote:

In comment 15458301 Vanzetti said: Quote: Have you heard anything about whether Thor gave the Mets an opportunity to match the Angels offer (like Murphy did when Nats gave him a three year deal)? not dan but they said he did not.

Thanks Eric!

What is your gut saying about who the Mets will sign? In other words not who you want them to sign but who they will sign?

and im with you that normally players pick the most $ (esp Boras players).

i also think they will bring back Loup.

on the position players i hope they are patient but i could see them making an aggressive move to bring back Baez if they can't get Scherzer.

I think they want to give someone a lot of money before december 2.

Eppler is on SNY right now and he just said he wants to add at least 2 and maybe 3 SP. Clearly thats his top need and Scherzer checks every box.

havent had a chance to listen to the full press conference yet but when i find a link or a transcript maybe there are some hints in there. For now Scherzer is my guess.

Eppler just talked a lot about how he wants to run the search and build a process that identifies what they are looking for and the grading the candidates against that.

I think Buck is going to check most of those boxes.

experience in NY? check
credibility? check
culture builder? check
winning background? check

only question would be whether or not they trust his ability to integrate modern probabilistic analytics but if he was the runner up in Eppler's last search in LA I'd imagine he knows how to say the right things to check that box.

and at that point seemed like he was happy in NY and with the team. I understand the decision but seems like a month of bad PR pushed him to the west coast.

Cohen got most of the questions about the hiring process and he whether he was being honest or not he said in the majority of cases they weren't able to talk to the candidates they wanted to.
https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1OyKADXazwOxb - ( New Window )

Michael Mayer
@mikemayer22
·
2m
Billy Eppler on WFAN says that "a lot of those agents are going to hear from me" when talking about the free agent starting pitcher list.

this is all per spotrac which does have mistakes on occasion but does have the most recent contracts (like syndergaard) already in their database.

let's start with LAD. last year their CBT payroll was $245m. Without Bauer they would be at $177m right now. With him that goes up $35m. If they resign Seager presumably they go up another $30m or so also and are close to what they spent last year - which went to the limit of getting penalized in the draft. Presumably it would be very tough for them to retain Scherzer on a big deal if Bauer + Seager are both on their payroll. With 1 of them it's a tight squeeze but maybe possible.

Yankees are already projected in the lux tax at 229m. So they seem unlikely.

The Giants spent $165m last year and are about $55m below that right now. They would have 100m until the lux tax so they are a maybe if they are willing to add payroll.

SD is projected at $213m right now. they are already higher than they were last year so that seems unlikely.

BOS spent right to the CBT at $210m last year. they are at $183 right now.

With Syndergaard the LAA are at 165m right now. Last year they spent $202m.

White Sox spent $175m last year they are at $184m right now.

So bottomline a $40m AAV over 2 or 3 years seems like it would be very tough for most other clubs to match unless they plan to go well above their payroll from last year. LAD seem like the main competition and maybe the SFG if they are willing to spend more this year.

acknowledged the lack of GM/Manager factored into his decision to leave.

-Big firestorm on twitter as Keith Hernandez has apparently revealed he's anti-vax

Michael Lorenzen might be a nice depth addition

have MAJOR work to do. The SF Giants employee 16 coaches, Yankees looking to add 3 hitting coaches and an additional pitching coach the Mets currently have 1 coach.

Tweeting what he did. I have no idea why in the world he would feel compelled to deal with the shitstorm that would come his way, but there you have it.