Mets Granderson, Wheeler Help Get the Mets Another Win

The Mets got another win today with some help from one of their big off season acquisitions at the plate and on the mound from one of their promising young pitchers. They beat the Houston Astros by a final score of 6-2

Curtis Granderson, who crossed town this winter on a 4 year deal hit a two run line drive shot in the first inning to get things going. In the second inning he hit a solo blast. Both homers were way deep to right field.

On the mound, Zack Wheeler got his first start of the season and through three innings struck out three, walked none, and kept the Astros off the board. He needed only 40 pitches to get through his day of work. His fastball was in the mid 90's and judging from the replay his curve ball had its bite.

Travis d'Arnaud collected a pair of hits while Chris Young doubled, scored, and gunned down Cesar Izturis who was trying to leg out a double. Brandon Nimmo added insurance in the 8th with a frozen rope to right field to score Daniel Muno.

Kyle Farnsworth, Vic Black, Jeff Walters, and Scott Rice all held the Astros to no runs. Houston's only scoring was that of a two run homer in the 5th by Jonathan Villar off Erik Goeddel.

The Mets have split squad games tomorrow against the Nationals and Marlins.

Photo Courtesy: ajgmets.net

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Why Mets Fans Shouldn't Be Upset About The Nelson Cruz Deal

Yesterday's news that Nelson Cruz signed with the Baltimore Orioles for just one year and only $8 million dollars was met with significant vitrol from a variety of Mets fans who choose to remain ignorant to the reality of the situation.  Chris Young signed with the Mets back on November 26th.  At that time, Nelson Cruz was rumored to be looking for a minimum of a five-year deal.  In early December it was rumored that he turned down a 5-year/$75 million dollar offer from the Seattle Mariners.  Fast forward two plus months, with teams reporting the camp that free agents have to make tough decisions.

If Mets fans think the team could have landed Nelson Cruz for the deal he signed yesterday back before the New Year, I've got a bridge to sell them. The two situations are complete different and any attempt to compare the two is nonsensical.

In reaction to the news of the Cruz deal, Mets GM Sandy Alderson told David Lennon of NewsDay the following:

"It's not just a different time frame, it's a different type of player. I'm not here to 

critique Nelson Cruz, but he's a very different player. He brings power to the table, 

no question about that. Doesn't bring the defense. Doesn't really have our approach, 

necessarily. This is not a 'gee whiz, if we-just waited' moment for us. We're happy

 with Chris Young.''

Fans will view this as a ringing endorsement for Chris Young, but they must both realize and understand that Alderson simply cannot take to the podium and say "we wish we would have signed Cruz."  That's not how you manage personnel.  Alderson was tasked with rebuilding the team's outfield this winter.  Striking early with Chris Young may have been an overpay, but it was also an attempt to get out ahead of the free agent market when things seemed to be spiraling out of control.  Two months later when teams are out of money and free agents are out of appealing options, and yesterday's deal is the result.

Finally, for those who feel the Mets should have signed Cruz despite the fact that they already have a full outfield. If you were a free agent outfielder settling for a one-year deal which you hope to use to elevate your stock for next winter, would you choose to take most of your at-bats in Camden Yards or Citi Field? That answer is easy.

Will Nelson Cruz hit more home runs than Young in 2014?  Will he hit for a higher average?  Would he have solidified the meat of the Mets' lineup better than Chris Young?  Probably.  However, none of that changes the fact that these things don't happen in a vacuum.  Expecting the team's front office to see the future without fail is unrealistic.  Chris Young is a Met.  Nelson Cruz isn't.  Fans need to realize that its very unlikely that was ever going to happen, regardless of when you think Alderson should have sealed the deal.

Las Vegas Has The Mets At 73.5 Wins

This week, the Las Vegas Hilton Superbook put out their predictions for the upcoming 2014 MLB season.  It's probably to no one's surprise that they have the Mets coming in with a total of 73.5 wins.  They are also 25-1 odds of being the NL East champions this season, which to me really doesn't seem that high considering the negativity surrounding this team.  I'll give my take on the Mets in a moment, but onto to the rest of the NL East.

The Hilton has the NL East as follows:

Wins
Atlanta - 87.5
Washington - 87.5
Philly - 76
METS - 73.5
Miami - 69.5

Division Odds
Atlanta - even money
Washington - even money
Philly - 12-1
METS - 25-1
Miami - 30-1

I think for the most part, there are no shocking totals here.  The division could and probably should come down to Atlanta and Washington.  This is pretty much on line with how the season finished last season.  All of the teams, including the two at the top, have some question marks, but I think this is fair.

The Mets finished with 74 wins last year, which means Vegas is essentially saying that they haven't improved or gotten worse.  I'm going to pick the over.  I don't care if I get ridiculed for it, I don't think it's a bad bet.  I also don't think its a sure thing.  But I expect this team to be better for a few reasons.

First off, I really don't think that the play from our first basemen and short stop can get any worse than it did last year.  Last year was probably rock bottom for both Ike and Duda, as well as Tejada.  In the past, these guys have all shown they can handle big league pitching, and for whatever excuse they each had, they were all just awful in 2013.  Tejada and Duda both went to the performance camp this winter, and I expect that gains were made from it.  So it's not unreasonable to see improvements from the two black holes we had last season.

Secondly, I expect Travis d'Arnaud to be better in 2014.  He did not impress in his call up last season.  Let's not forget though, prior to his promotion, he played only 99 baseball games in 23 months since the end of the 2012 minor league season.  I'm not making excuses for him, but I consider last year a wash. He was working his way back into shape and had all sorts of pressure on him. This year he comes back to camp, hopefully in shape and healthy.  He has shown he can hit in his minor league career.  Although I am not expecting him to be Mike Piazza, I think he still can be one of the better catchers in the game  After April last year, we got zero production from behind the plate.  Black hole number three should be filled.

My next point is that I think the addition of Curtis Granderson will help David Wright more than people think.  Even thought he has his faults, Granderson is a bona fide power hitter and a good clubhouse presence.  I think having him in the line-up will take a lot of pressure off Wright.  I know people are saying that Granderson only replaces Marlon Byrd, but let's look at it from start to finish.  Byrd wasn't even playing every day in April and May.  And in those months, he was hitting .240 with 6 home runs.  He didn't get hot until June.  So at the beginning of the season, what did Marlon Byrd do for David Wright?  Not much of anything.  Having a guy like Granderson in the line-up on opening day is good for every one's psyche, especially Wright's.

Moving on, even without Harvey, the Mets still have solid pitching.  The rotation is deeper this year.  Harvey is being replaced by another all-star pitcher.  Ok, am I really comparing Colon to Harvey?  No.  But as long as he is healthy, how much worse is Colon going to be, in a pitchers park against the NL? He is going to be fine.  I'd like to think Wheeler will improve, although I'm not expecting a Harvey like rise to stardom in year two.  Either way, the guy can chuck it.  Dillon Gee really took a big leap last year.  And don't forget, he started off terribly in 2013.  But he was coming off the surgery to remove the blood clot from his pitching arm.  When he finally got his arm strength back, he was as reliable as anyone in the rotation. Although I am not expecting him to match his Post May-2013, I think he will be steady and give the team a chance. Niese is Niese. You know what you're getting. As for the fifth spot, I'm really hoping Mejia gets it.  If he does, then I think top to bottom the Mets rotation is as deep and competitive as almost any team in the National League.  This rotation is much improved over last years opening day rotation of Neise, Harvey, Marcum, Gee and Hefner.

The X-factor for this team is going to be Chris Young.  I'm not expecting much.  However I hold on to hope that the former all-star spent this offseason trying to rediscover himself in search of a multiyear deal after 2014.  You've seen it before.  Guys all of a sudden turn on a light when it's time to get paid.  I'm not banking on it, but it'll be big for this team if he somehow can have a Byrd like resurgance.

A lot of what I just said was obviously just assumption.  Like I've said in the past, I'm not an expert, and I won't pretend to be.  The oddsmakers in Vegas are very good at what they do, and I'm sure they have their legitimate reasons why they think the Mets are a 73-74 win team. For the hell of it though, I'm going to give my over/under. As the roster stands right now, my over under is 78.5 wins. If they wind up signing Drew, I'll make that 81.5. I'm obviously banking on a lot of things to go right for this team.  But I expect players who spent their offseason trying hard to become better ball players to actually be better ball players. I don't think that's all that crazy a notion. And if they are better ball players, then they're a better baseball team. I'll also could just be unusually optimistic this morning.  Who knows?  If I wrote this exactly when I woke up today, I might have been singing a different tune. Either way, call me a homer or a shill or whatever you want.  I don't think What I wrote is all that outlandish.

I know most will disagree with me.  Give me the business on Twitter @GetsThruBuckner.

Mets Offseason Grade

Now that the boys have made their way to spring training, we can for the first time truly try to assess what was and what wasn't accomplished this winter.  The Mets exited 2013 in a state of disrepair.  The club's lone redeeming qualities were that their franchise player was under contract, that the young starting pitching prospects have started to arrive and more than $50 million was set to come off the payroll.

The primary tasks at hand, in no particular order, would be to renovate an almost nonexistent outfield, replace ailing ace Matt Harvey, upgrade the shortstop position, and finally to determine the fate of Ike Davis.  Some other areas of concern would be a backup catcher and the normal addressing of the team's questionable bullpen.

Fast forward about five months and Sandy Alderson made what you could consider three major acquisitions.  The first was a one year-$7.25 million dollar deal to Chris Young.  The second, a four year-$60 million dollar deal to Curtis Granderson.  And finally, the two year-$20 million dollar deal to Bartolo Colon.  Of that group, Young's deal was met with the most scrutiny as questions remain as to whether or not he can rebound as an every day player.  There were also some lower cost veteran acquisitions who would complete for both spots in the rotation (Lannan & Matsuzaka) and the bullpen (Valverde & Farnsworth).

Areas that weren't addressed included both the shortstop and Ike Davis situations, despite what amount to very long draw out almost soap operaish attempts to complete each. In reality, each may still work themselves out between now and opening day, but today they remain unaddressed and a hindrance to the 2014 season.  Finally Alderson chose not to upgrade the backup catcher, leaving Anthony Recker as the lone option to the oft-injured Travis d'Arnaud.  A major problem?  Not currently, but if d'Arnaud does fall to injury the Mets could have a crisis on their hands.

If you're trying to grade a winter such as this, it really come down to whether or not the Mets are poised to field a better team.  On the surface, I think the 2014 Mets have a lot more upside.  I think players like Granderson and Young have the potential to outperform their predecessors.  I also think the Mets rotation can be plenty formidable.  However, the team still lacks answers at both shortstop and first base.  They're still far from a playoff contender and by most projections are only slated to win a few more games than last year.  That's really where I come up with a grade of C+ because the team does stand to be better, but with fifty million dollars to spend, not as much better as we'd all like.

Should Alderson find a way to upgrade the shortstop position and finally resolve the Ike Davis dilemma, all the while improving upon the current roster, I'm not against bumping my grade.  However until then, this was only a slightly above average offseason.  New faces in new places, but ultimately I expect similar results.

The Mets And an Open Wallet...

So, going into the off season the Mets had needs for more production and defense in the outfield and shortstop as well as filling the void left by Matt Harvey after season ending Tommy John surgery. This was done by adding Chris Young, Curtis Granderson, and Bartolo Colon. Now mind you these transactions were all made with a certain degree of financial restrictions be it from the banks or whatever the Wilpons have going on in the back ground. Nothing at shortstop has come to fruition and probably won't.

The Grandy and Colon deals I think were good. Both have star power, Colon was one of these best pitchers in the league last year at age 39 and if Granderson can stay healthy should be productive while being a presence in the clubhouse and community.

Now let's pretend for a moment that money isn't an issue. Say we didn't sign Young or let the Ike/Duda saga play out the way it did all winter and sign Nelson Cruz and Kendrys Morales. Are the Mets now contenders?

Suspension aside, Cruz hit .266/.327/.526 along with 27 homers and 76 batted in. Young on the other hand hit .202/.280/.379 with 12HR and 40RBI. So essentially Nelson had double the production playing in the same division. Offensively there isn't much comparison based on last years results but defense there is no question Young is better. I supposed the thinking is that Young has a bounce back year at the plate and comes close to that?

Morales hit .277/.366/.449 with 23 bombs and 80 knocked in. And between Ike and Duda they hit more home runs, were close in RBI's but not close in average or slugging. Defense comes into play on this one as well especially with Ike. Once again, they are more than likely hoping for Davis to regain his form and if he does comes as a much cheaper option but remember we aren't worried about dollars in this post.

Clearly, signing both of these FA's would be more sexy than what we have now and would satisfy the fan base but it becomes a question of which is more important. Defense and the hopes for better offense or just plain offense and take our lumps here and there in the field. What say you Mets faithful(un)?

Photo Courtesy: mets360.com

Follow me: @jwil25

Mets Want EYJ to Bunt More?

Attention all major league pitchers: Terry Collins would like Eric Young Jr. to bunt more. Nothing like letting the cat out of the bag, huh? He bunted all of six times last year and Collins feels that with more bunts he can get that OBP up to .350

"Ideally, gosh, you'd wish he'd have a .350 on-base," Collins said about Young. "I don't know if he's going to, but you hope he does. All I know is what an impact this guy made on our team when we got him. He got some big hits, made some great plays defensively in the outfield. And when he got on, exciting things happened and we scored runs. So we're certainly going to focus a lot on trying to get Eric to bunt a little bit more, maybe be a little more selective at the plate.”

So this quote has me concerned. For Juan Lagares that is. Sounds like Terry could be banking on EYJ at the top of the order already and with what Chris Young and Grandy are getting paid they figure to be in the lineup everyday. Young was a nice surprise last season and a decent ball player but not sure he is an everyday player. With a lot of reps last season he exposed some flaws. But I can see where Terry is coming from. More bunts get him on base more, which allows him to steal bases and get into scoring position which is what the Mets are going to need to win games. Either way, the season hasn't even begun and TC is already alerting teams to his strategies. As if these effing Mets need to given anyone an advantage.

Photo Courtesy of: doublegsports.com

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Mets' Alderson Talks Finances Again

Here we go again. The Post and various other media outlets are reporting that the banks that have issued the Mets loans are keeping them on a payroll restriction. A claim that Sandy Alderson denies. He is quoted as saying the current payroll is just north of $85 million which if memory serves me correctly is similar to last year. That said they unloaded some big nasty contracts for two (who I won't name) who never saw the field. We have added Chris Young, Curtis Granderson, and Bartolo Colon to major league contracts along with Kyle Farnsworth and Jose Valdverde on minor league contracts with zero guarantee of making the team out of camp.

The latter of the two coming off the heels of "missing" out on Grant Balfour and Fernando Rodney to rumored similar deals. And then there is the ongoing saga of the Stephen Drew situation be it money, years, opt out clauses, etc. I then meander over to see what Adam Rubin is saying to find this:

“I said it was unlikely that we would sign another major free agent,” Sandy Alderson said. “I think that’s still the case.” #mets
— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) February 13, 2014

Unlikely? I think it is more like guaranteed and while the fan in me wishes that weren't the case if it is true then fine. I don't like it and it won't make me cheer on this effing team any less but whatever. I just want this season to start so we can talk about who is doing well, who isn't, and what we as fans are getting for our $85 million payroll.

Photo Courtesey of: NYPost

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The Biggest Questions Of Mets Camp

As the players continue to file into Port St. Lucie, FL, the 2014 New York Mets don't appear set to challenge in the NL East.  They seem to be well removed from the likes of the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves, yet don't really have many questions to answer as the spring plays out.

First base is without a doubt the biggest question mark of camp, and to be honest I'm not 100% sure its much of a question at all.  The Mets appear set to offer Ike Davis 80-100 at-bats this spring in an effort to "win" the job.  It begs the question, when will Lucas Duda get his reps?  If this is truly a competition, I would expect each player to get his equal share.  There certainly haven't been any references to Davis playing some other position he's fair from suited to play.  I'll let you in on a pretty poorly kept secret...  If Ike Davis is still with the team come March 31st, unless he has just a simply awful spring, he will be the team's first baseman on opening day.  He provides the higher upside, has the higher salary and still remains the distant front runner to assume the role.

Next up would have to be the role that Juan Lagares plays when camp breaks.  For all the hype about his surprise play in center field last season, the Mets have been very non-committal on where he fits in this year.  It seems the biggest threat to his playing time in 2014 is the team's lack of a leadoff hitter.  In an effort to have Eric Young Jr. assume that role, Lagares would likely be the odd man out under the guise that the lineup cannot afford to have two outfielders with little to no home run pop at one time.  As a result, we've heard there will be an open competition between Lagares and Chris Young for the center field spot.  This may be a question as we go through camp, but it shouldn't be.  Juan Lagares was amongst the best defensive center fielders in baseball last season.  Posting him in centerfield, with Chris Young and Curtis Granderson on either side should provide the Mets pitching staff with what would likely be the best outfield defense in baseball.  That's well worth the offensive gamble he presents, in my opinion.

Finally, there is the team's bullpen.  To date, the Mets haven't added the veteran reliever with closing experience they coveted all winter.  That means, despite reportedly being two weeks from throwing off a mound, the closer role remains with Bobby Parnell.  As a result, any competition will be for the spots behind him.  Can Jeurys Familia make the bullpen out of camp?  Is Vic Black ready to be a setup man after only a handful of major league appearances?  Will Jack Leathersich surprise the masses, cut down on his walks, and threaten to steal a spot in the bullpen?  These are all valid questions, but few if any are season shifting ones.

Yes, the Mets are preparing to enter camp with questions about whether they're good enough to compete in 2014, but there are precious few questions about who will make the trip north next month.  Our spring will be spent watching to see if Ike Davis can show progress, whether or not Juan Lagares has learned to take a walk, whether or not Bobby Parnell can still throw gas, and most importantly if they can all stay healthy.  The Mets roster is basically set, so for now we can simply enjoy the fact that baseball is back because there aren't many other reason to watch closely this spring.

Like what you read?  Follow me on Twitter at @RobPatterson83

New Met Young Under HOF Tutelege

According to Adam Rubin Chris Young spent a week and a half working with HOFer Rod Carew this offseason. Carew is quoted as saying part of Young's problem is that he tries to pull everything. They worked on using his hands more, tracking the ball, and not trying to muscle it so much.

 Said Young: “If you focus more on your average, the power will always be there. If you’re squaring the ball up more consistently, the power will come. ... ‘Consistent’ in my eyes is .280 and up

I like his thinking here. I have watched Young since his days of playing in Arizona when I lived there. No doubt he has power but he has never hit for average and .280 seems lofty. I think the fan base would be happy if he hit around .250 belted 20 homers and batted in 65 or better all while keeping his high level of defense. It is refreshing to hear about a player who knows he has a flaw and seeking out one of the best. 

Photo Courtesy of: ESPN
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The Lagares vs. Young Debate: A View From the Devil's Advocate.

In case you haven't figured it out yet, I like playing devil's advocate often when I choose to write about something.  I am pretty open minded about things, and like to look at different alternatives for the sake of debate.  So I'll put it out there and say like most of you, I would rather have Juan Lagares starting in centerfield in 2014. However, Terry Collins came out and said recently that Eric Young may be his lead off hitter in 2014. As expected, there was plenty of backlash on this on Twitter.  Honestly though, if Eric Young was playing everyday and batting lead off, would the Mets be that much worse off?

Photo: BloggingMets.com

Eric Young is a borderline starter, but projects more like a lead off hitter at this point than Lagares.  Young is more patient at the plate, so despite lacking the power it takes to constantly hit the ball solidly, he does draw walks and has an OBP almost 70 points higher than his batting average for his career. Lagares had a small sample size, so it's impossible to judge what kind of player he will be based on 392 at bats.  But he was a very aggressive swinger who didn't take many pitches and struck out more than you'd want in a lead off man. He didn't show much more patience in the minors either, despite not striking out at the same rate.  But this is common in young players.

What Lagares has that Young doesn't though, is the ability to make solid contact and drive the ball.  He can hit the occasional home run, and can go gap to gap with line drives.  So it's not all that bad, and you hope at 24 years old, there is room for improvement.  He hit well in a recent stint in the Dominican Winter League, winning the award for being the top rookie.  His lack of patience didn't take the winter off though, while down there.

I'm not going to compare the two defensively.  It'd be just silly. Lagares can be a gold glove center fielder with his tools.  He's electric out there, and has a great arm.  Eric Young, despite being nominated for a gold glove, isn't the outfielder that Lagares is. Young isn't a slouch out there though. So despite Lagares being superior in the field, I don't think this necessarily warrants an automatic slot into the starting line up.  It's not like the Mets will be trotting out Lucas Duda and an older Carlos Beltran in the outfield opening day.  The Mets have Curtis Granderson and Chris Young on the roster, both who have been very good center fielders through their careers.  With the ground they can cover, you can live with Eric Young playing out there as well, and it's still a solid defensive outfield.

Like I said earlier, I'd prefer Lagares to be the every day center fielder.  I think that at 24 years old, he can improve at the plate, and hope that he can develop into the lead off hitter that the Mets desperately need.  But if Terry Collins decides that he wants Eric Young to be the regular lead off hitter, I'm not going to be upset about it.  If this comes to fruition, I just hope it doesn't come at the expense of at bats for Lagares.  I hope the Mets are smart enough to start Lagares in AAA to get his work in.

@ me tho - @GetsThruBuckner

2013 Mets Year End Recap

For the second time in as many seasons, the New York Mets posted only a 74 win season in 2013.  Identical years, with the lone exception being a third place finish atop the Marlins and Phillies, breaking a four year streak of fourth place finishes.  A successful season by no means, 2013 was not without excitement.  Here is a look back at the biggest stories of the past year.

Matt Harvey
The immergance of Matt Harvey as one of the best pitchers in baseball caught New York and the nation by storm.  Although, despite his new found fame he remained unrecognizable to some New Yorkers.  Plagued by little more than poor run support, Harvey didn't lose a decision until June 13th en route to being named the starting pitcher for the National League at the 2013 All-Star Game held at Citi Field where he promptly drilled Yankee Robinson Cano.  Harvey quickly accrued nearly 180 innings pitched before being shut down following his August 24th start due discomfort in his throwing arm that would ultimately lead to Tommy John surgery.  His finally stat line of 9-5 with a 2.27 ERA with nearly 10 strike outs per nine innings will leave Mets fans with fond memories, but ultimately anticipating his return in 2015.

The Sweep

As has been the case since the introduction of interleague play, the annual series with the Yankees wasthe most anticipated of the year. 2013 saw the expansion of interleague play limit the series to a split two game set in each ballpark. It didn't however limit the excitement, as the Mets surprised everyone by sweeping the season series for the first time. Although they mean nothing more than any other game in the standings, it was nice to have bragging rights over big brother on a rare occasion. 

2013 All Star Game
The mid-summer classic showcased Citi Field in only its fifth season.  In addition to Matt Harvey being named the NL starter, David Wright served as the NL captain of the Home Run Derby (which raised $529,000 for charity) which saw Oakland Athletics stud, Yoenis Cespedes, put to rest any notion that Citi's dimensions were too expansive.  Cespedes crushed 32 home runs to earn the win over Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals.  Despite the National League falling by a score of 3-0, Citi Field shined during a week's worth of activities that brought some rare, positive press the Met's way.

The Youth Movement Continues

The 2013 season twice offered the debut of a much anticipated prospect. Zack Wheeler's highlighted part of an exciting June 18th doubleheader in which the Mets swept the Braves. Although he didn't dominate all year, he showed flashes of the raw talent that made him so coveted by scouts across the game. Travis d'Arnaud followed to similar fanfare in late August after losing much of the season to injury. Despite having a freshman that was disappointing from an offensive standpoint, he showed excellent receiving skills which were well appreciated by those on the staff. 

2013 Offseason
The Mets surprised the masses late this year by investing nearly all of the money that came off the books via the departures of players like Johan Santana and Frank Francisco.  Depsite a slow start, the Mets revamped their outfield through the addition of bounce back candidate, Chris Young, and managed to ink former Yankees slugger, Curtis Granderson, to a four-year deal.  The team wasn't finished though.  In an effort to plug the hole left by the injured Matt Harvey, the Mets signed veteran starter Bartolo Colon to a surprising two year deal which was almost unanimously lauded by baseball insiders as a sign that the Mets are back on track and interested in winning.  Despite having much more work to do, the Mets will finish 2013 a better team on paper than that which took the field this past summer.

Why Alderson Should Rush To Get Granderson Deal Done

This time next week, the MLB Winter Meetings will be well underway.  This will be the last time this year that all of the team's executives will be in the same place at the same time.  Traditionally, this is the week that the MLB Hot Stove really takes off.  Trades are made, free agents are inks and the winter really starts to take shape.  This offseason has been far less traditional.

With yesterday's flurry of activity, more teams have already entered the market than haven't.  The Mets are no exception, having acquired the services of Chris Young last month.  Now, with talks picking up with Curtis Granderson, Alderson may push to have a deal in place prior to the end of the week.

When Alderson arrives in Orlando for the Winter Meetings, he needs to know what he's there to accomplish.  Will he be looking for one outfielder, or two?  A shortstop?  Maybe a veteran pitcher?  The point is, Granderson fills one of those needs.  Doing so not only eliminates that need from Alderson's list, but also provided a better idea as to what resources, financial and otherwise, remain at his disposal.

The Mets will need to make additional moves in order to round out the roster before spring training.  While its unlikely that all of that takes place next week in Orlando, it is without a doubt the best chance to put things together.  If trades aren't completed, discussions may put the framework in place for other deals to be completed later on.  If deals aren't made, at least teams can meet with prospective free agents and get things moving.

Alderson is at the helm of a sinking ship.  The Mets promised action this winter, and Chris Young isn't nearly enough to stem the tide of bad baseball over reason years.  In reality, neither will Curtis Granderson.  However, getting this done now will go a long way to ensuring the Mets have a productive winter meeting, thus giving Alderson the best possible opportunity to whip the roster into shape.

Granderson Talks Intensify

Per ESPN's Adam Rubin, talks between the New York Mets and Curtis Granderson intensified Tuesday night.  This following a face-to-face meeting between the two sides on Sunday which was Granderson called more of a Q&A than anything else.

Granderson would likely fill in in left field for the Mets.  He possessed forty home run potential with the Yankees, but would likely be more of a thirty home run guy playing most of his games at Citi Field, where its believed his power would translate nicely.  If he is brought in the Mets would have three "natural center fielders" in their opening day outfield, to include Chris Young and Juan Largares.

Per Rubin, the Met hope to land the slugger on a three year deal, but may be forced to include a guaranteed fourth. This sounds about right, amidst rumors that 37 year old Carlos Beltran has a three year offer on the table.

Things have progressed quickly, as the Mets look to fill another hole in their outfield prior to the MLB Winter Meetings next week.  Doing so will allow Sandy Alderson to know what trade he theoretically has to make while in Orlando.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

@Mets & Granderson see eye-to-eye on a 3-yr deal, but he's still looking to find a team willing to give to go to four.
— Matthew Cerrone (@matthewcerrone) December 4, 2013

The above tweet from Matt Cerrone seems to indicate things are indeed progressing. Granderson on only a three year deal would be quite a steal, in my opinion. It would limit the risk over the long term and allow the Mets to reinvest in a younger player when that time comes. Its still far from a done deal, as there are rumblings that the Red Sox could enter the market for Granderson, at which point a fourth year would be inevitable.

Mets Are So Bad They Could Mess Up A Three-Way...Trade

The Mets are starting to inquire with other teams about the possibility of a three-way trade in an effort to acquire an impact player this winter, according to Andy Martino of the NY Daily News.  Martino believes this latest plan of action has been spurred on by the notion that the acquisition of Chris Young was deemed underwhelming by many within the organization.

In my opinion this is a bit of a hail mary pass by the team's front office.  A seeming in ability to spend money combined with an unwillingness to trade away their better pitching prospects leads to the inclusion of a third, or even four team in trade talks.  Such moves are rare, but not unheard of.

This rumors could pick up when all the general managers find their way to Orlando for the Winter Meetings early next month.  Alderson has done very well in maximizing trade value, so he has that going for him.  With that said, I wouldn't get my hopes up.  Its beginning to look like a very anticlimactic offseason.

NYP: Chris Young Will Be The Full-Time Left Fielder

Since learning the terms of his signing late last week, Mets fans have been wondering what role Chris Young will play for the team in 2014.  Joel Sherman shed a bit of light on the topic yesterday, with this little nugget of information buried inside his article that discussed the Mets need to be better bottom feeders:

Alderson went to Houston to meet face-to-face with Chris Young. One reason the Mets believe they succeeded in signing him is the GM promised full-time play, though probably not in center. The Mets believe Young is one of those players who needs regular at-bats to succeed, to be closer to the All-Star he was in 2010.

To spell that out for everyone... The New York Mets have agreed to pay Chris Young, a player who hasn't hit better than .250 since the 2010 season Sherman references, who is a career .225 hitter against lefties and is coming off a season during which he managed an OPS of just .659, a whopping $7.25 million dollars.  That's full-time money for what will apparently be full-time duty.

Sherman explains that if the Mets aren't going to add big time free agents, they need to spend what money they do have better.  Its common sense, which Sherman believes the team didn't use when deciding to bring Chris Young on full-time.  Unfortunately, I'm included to believe.

As I wrote on Friday, Young is a major risk as a full-time player.  He is significantly better against left-handed pitching.  Of the 679 pitchers who appeared in the majors last season, only 198 or 29.2% were lefties.  This severely limits Young's chances of full-time success in my opinion.  One is only left to conclude that this is a very suspect signing by Sandy Alderson given both the financial and playing time commitments that have apparently been made.

Chris Young's Power Should Translate To Citi Field

2013

2012

2011

Above are scatter charts showing all of Chris Young's home runs over the past three seasons.  What you'll find is that every single one (42 for 42) will have been out at Citi Field.  Going back a little farther from 2009 to Present, that number is actually 87 of 88.

This shouldn't necessarily ease the blow of the news that Sandy Alderson spent what could amount to a quarter of the team's offseason budget on Young, but its nice to see his should be capable of hitting the ball out of cavernous Citi Field.  His power is dead pull, so I'd advise those on the party deck next summer to pay attention when Young enters the box.

All charts were obtained using ESPN's Hit Tracker.

Should the Mets Give Jhonny Peralta A Four Year Deal?

Mets fan's needn't look any farther than yesterday's acquisition of Chris Young to know that the market for free agents is up this winter.  If you do take the time to look farther, you would see that Hunter Pence, Marlon Byrd and even Carlos Ruiz have all earned contracts higher than expected.  So that, paired with rumors that Jhonny Peralta was seeking a five year deal worth $75 million lead me to tweet the following yesterday:

So, should the Mets give Peralta 4/$52M? Because that's what I think it's gonna take?
— Rob Patterson (@RobPatterson83) November 22, 2013

My thinking was that Peralta was shooting high, which he should if he's going to maximize his value.  The baseball community unanimously kicked back at the notion of 5/$75M, but with prices being what they are I just shaved a year and a few million a year off his proposal.  Four years for a total of $52 million is where I landed.  A whopping $13 million per year.

Later yesterday evening, my line of thinking..which is often criticized, was vindicated for a change:

That's three GMs today that claim when they checked in Peralta he had $13MX4 in hand
— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) November 23, 2013

Occasionally its nice to be right, although I'm not sure this is one of those times. The Mets went into this winter with the pipe dream that Peralta could be had on just a two year deal.  Most experts predicted three, but now its clear that it will be four years.  So that begs the question: Should the Mets offer a four year contract to an already 31 year old shortstop coming off of a PEDs suspension?

Unfortunately its not just a matter of what happens with Peralta, because the team has other holes to fill.  With that said, I would have to advise that if the Mets are unable to land an impact bat for right field (whether it be Nelson Cruz or Curtis Granderson), they should make the move for Peralta.  Despite the fact that Peralta does not have the level of power the Mets covet, he is a significant offensive improvement at shortstop.

Looking into the future, four years would bring him through his 36th birthday.  That's pretty old for a shortstop, but there has already been talk of him shifting to second base or even the outfield.  Does that type of flexibility make him a more viable option in the long term?

Again, I only make this deal if Sandy believes he won't be able to sign an impact bat.  I would much rather add thirty home run potential in left if given the opportunity.  However, if they're going to be priced out of that group (which I think is very possible), fill the other glaring hole on the diamond.  Don't let rising prices be an excuse for returning a mediocre lineup.  Four years and at least $52 million is certainly an overpay, but overpay we must if the Mets are ever going to return to relevance.

Withholding Judgement On Chris Young's Deal

Its been a crazy morning in Mets land.  First the euphoria that the Mets didn't wait until the New Year to make a major league addition, then the head scratching moment when we learned that Sandy Alderson allocated a whopping $7.25 million to that acquisition, Chris Young.  Now we have to wrap our heads around it.

I'll admit when I look at the deal by its lonesome it doesn't make much sense.  Young doesn't fit the Sandy Alderson mold that we often talk about.  He strikes out a lot and doesn't get on base particularly well overall.  He also doesn't necessarily fill the power void that Alderson himself has talked about this winter.  So why him?

When the deal broke I assumed the goal was to have Young serve in a platoon.  He is significantly more effective against left-handed pitching (BA .262 vs. .225 & OBP .363 vs. .295).  I mean those numbers, when combined with the power potential he does have, would make him a decent fit against lefties in 2014.  But the contract is so expensive I question whether Alderson envisions him as an every day guy.

This is exactly why I'm waiting to pass judgement on this move.  Hear me out...

I've read projections that say Ike Davis is set to make about $1 million more than Matt Joyce is through arbitration next season.  As a rumored trade, lets pretend for a minute that Joyce is acquired.  He too has decent power potential, plus his effectiveness versus right-handed pitching (BA .260 vs. .194 & OBP .354 vs. .270) makes him an ideal platoon mate for Young in left field.

What does that get you?  Well, if you look at their career numbers it would probably look like a total stat line of around .260/20/75.   That's a 17 point increase in batting average, six additional home runs and 24 more runs batted in than the Mets got from left field last season.  That a pretty decent upgrade, which at that point comes at a discount.  If the Mets were to pull off that trade for Joyce, saving about $1 million in the process, they've now obtained that upgraded left field production for a total cost of roughly $6.25 million.  Find one player who you can sign for just $6.25 million that can give you that kind of yield...

I know a lot has to happen for all of that to work out.  I'm not saying it will.  I'm not saying I even think its likely, but it remains possible.  The Chris Young deal by itself simply doesn't make sense to me.  So rather than panic, I'm going to wait.  If March 31st comes along and Young is your every day left fielder, you have every reason to be upset.  But until then.. I'm going to wait before I assume the worst.

Like what you read?  You can follow me on Twitter at @RobPatterson83

Mets Are On The Board..Sign Chris Young

Chris Young agrees to mets deal pending physical. OF has some pop, good defender
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) November 22, 2013

Its not the type of acquisition that will put many minds to rest, but the Mets have made their first move of the winter, signing 30 year old outfielder Chris Young. The deal is for one year, pending physical. Financial terms of the deal have not been released.

Young spent 2013 with the Oakland A's, where he made $8.5 million. Young appeared in just 107 games during which he posted a .200 BA with 12 home runs and 40 RBIs. Young has had a trip to the disabled list in each of the past two seasons, losing 18 days to a strained left quad in 2013 and 20 days in 2012 to a shoulder injury. Young could be the first part of platoon package, as his career numbers are much better again left handed pitching (.262 vs .225).

 Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports promptly reported following this signing that the Mets remain interested in power hitting outfielder, Nelson Cruz, despite this signing. So we'll have to wait and see where we go from here.

I am slightly disappointed that Chris Young (the pitcher) is no longer with the organization.  That whole Bobby Jones vs. Bobby Jones era was kinda fun.  With that said, I hope the acquisition of Young isn't the only deal made for the 2014 outfield.  Young is not an everyday player and with the one year deal would only be another stopgap.  We'll have to see what else gets accomplished this winter before we can accurately assess this one.

Johan Santana In 2014...Sure, Why Not?

Johan Santana will go down in Mets lore for a number of reasons.  Undoubtedly he will be remembered fondly by most for throwing the franchise's first ever no-hitter after 8,020 attempts.  For others though, he will be remembered as one of the worst free agent contracts the organization has ever dealt out.  Neither should influence whether or not the Mets bring Santana back in 2014.

Here's the thing though.. Should Johan be brought back next year there should be absolutely no expectations by anyone involved.  The Mets shouldn't operate under the guise that they're going to get a single inning out of Santana next year.  Santana should expect to be called up when/if he is deemed "healthy".  And most importantly, the fans shouldn't expect anything more than Santana being a backup plan.

If Johan Santana is open to signing an incentive based deal with a low base salary, I see no harm in doing so.  The Mets appear set to jettison some of their young starting pitching this winter, therefore bringing Santana in to provide depth makes all the sense in the world.  Think Chris Young.. Not going to be the most glamorous thing in the world, probably going to get hurt again, but if he's healthy he can probably provide a dozen or so effect starts.  Maybe..

Coming back to the Mets would make sense for Santana too.  He'll be well received by most fans due to nostalgia alone, and a one year contract will provide him the opportunity to prove he's healthy and basically, audition for another deal elsewhere in 2015 and beyond.  I can't foresee him finding a better situation elsewhere to be honest.

Assuming the price is right, I simply don't see a reason not to bring Santana back into the fold on a minor league contract.  No one, including Santana, knows when he'll be ready to pitch again.  However if he does prove healthy, you can never have enough starting pitching.  Sandy Alderson has made a living in low risk, high reward type scenarios.  Johan Santana in 2014 is exactly that!