Mets Continue To Be Reactive In Free Agency

For all the talk we hear about the Mets looking forward and being proactive towards building a better, sustainable baseball team, they certainly are reactive when it comes to the free agent market.  Its never been much of a secret that the Mets would be operating on a fixed budget of sorts this winter, so why not set the market, rather than react to it.

Free agent prices sent skyward starting with San Francisco's extension of Hunter Pence to the tune of 5 year/$90 million dollars.  That deal set the market price on the higher end of the outfield market.  Marlon Bryd's deal, which could be as much at 3 years/$24 million dollars, set the market price on the lower end.  Each deal greatly impacted what the Mets could accomplish this winter.

The same can be said for the pitching market, which saw Latroy Hawkins exit for a mere $2.5 million guarantee from the Rockies.  More recently, it was Phil Hughes' 3 year/$24 million dollar deal in Minnesota that may eventually impact the Mets pursuit of Bronson Arroyo.  These guys aren't getting cheaper, and the Mets are getting increasingly likely to be left out in the cold.

The notion here isn't to argue whether or not free agents are worth the contracts they're getting.  In many cases they are not, but it remains apparent that team's always overpay for quality talent. That is especially true when teams are looking to rebuild a franchise on questionable financial grounds in a stadium that players are less than thrilled to play in.  The Mets have a variety of hurdles they must clear when they enter the market.

And yes, I realize its not as simple as saying the Mets need to act first.  Players wait out the market in an effort to see if their value will increase.  They may have desires of playing for a contender and see the Mets as their backup plan.  However, the Mets need to make things happen.  They cannot afford to "see whats left" later on in the winter, as Sandy Alderson has now alluded to.

The Mets may have had genuine interest in being active this winter, but by not getting out in front of the market they have allowed things to spiral out of control.  Misreading the market several years ago cost Sandy Alderson a chance to resign Jose Reyes.  This winter it may cost Alderson the offseason renovation the Mets have been promising their fans for years.

Granderson's Price Is Rising

Yesterday's news that the Philadelphia Phillies signed former Met, Marlon Byrd, to a deal that could be worth as much as 3yrs/$24MM is both good news and bad news for Mets fans. The good news is that the Mets won't have the opportunity to see if lightning can strike twice, bringing the 35 year old back to Queens, coming off a career year poised to make more than ten times his 2013 salary. However, the bad news is that the Phillies just sent free agent prices soaring!

Marlon Byrd had a pretty good year in 2013, but he doesn't have the history to back up his offensive production like the Mets reported top outfield target, Curtis Granderson. If a 35 year old Byrd can earn $24MM over the next three seasons, you best believe Granderson will fetch more than the early estimates of $40MM to $45MM over a similar time frame predicted by baseball insiders. You can also kiss the notion of just a three year deal goodbye as well. 

With reports of fellow early thirties free agent outfielder, Nelson Cruz, seeking 5yrs/$75MM (a number he won't get), Granderson's price may reach an iffy area for the Mets front office.  Will they make a four or even five year commitment to an aging power hitter? Can they commit $15MM annuallyto the cause for that long?  They'll say he's over valued (which may be true), but his value will be determined by the market...a market that too a definite swing upwards yesterday.

Any Chance The Mets Get Byrd Back? There Should Be

The trade that send Marlon Byrd to the Pirates in a waiver deal this August sent the Mets most productive outfielder to a contender. In the time following that, Byrd spoke highly of the Mets and seemed thankful to be given the chance to get into the playoffs.

“I’ve talked to Sandy, I told him thank you for the opportunity at the beginning of the year and thank you for the opportunity to play for a winner,” Byrd said of his conversation with the Mets general manager. “ I told him, ‘If you want me back, I would love to come back,’.”

“Terry Collins already knows, the team owners already know, the players definitely know,” Byrd said. “I let them all know I loved it there.”

Kristie Ackert, NYDN 

He seems to have truly enjoyed his time in Queens, and definitely has respect for how Alderson treated him as a veteran player. Is he a good fit moving forward though?

Photo by Michael Baron

That question has a lot of moving parts. I think the odds of Byrd donning the blue and orange again fluctuate with each signing the Mets make this offseason, and I wouldn't expect Byrd to be among the first moves they make. If the team manages to add power or talent by improving at a couple of infield positions, than returning Byrd to the outfield makes a lot of sense. He will be more expensive than he was this season, but he will still be relatively inexpensive and probably won't require a long contract. If the Mets make a big push to get a slugging outfielder through a trade or free agency, the odds of seeing Byrd again may diminish a bit. It seems that the franchise is committed to giving Lagares his shot in centerfield, and Terry Collins seemed to truly like Eric Young, Jr., at the top of the order. Byrd is not going to come back to be a fourth outfielder; at the very least, he isn't going to come back to make fourth outfielder money.

Mets fans, myself included, have jumped on Sandy Alderson pretty hard about his "bargain basement" players, but Byrd has definitely been among the better of his signings. With a lot of clamoring for Justin Upton, Sandy bypassed the flashy signing and ended up with the better player. I'd like to see him back with the team whether we sign a big outfielder or not. I see EY as more of a fourth outfielder/bench player than an every day starter, and I think there should be room for Byrd on this club.

Will This Be An Offseason Of Change For The Mets?

As the days slip by and the World Series draws near, so too does the official start to the offseason. It's at that time that things should begin to pick up and the 2014 New York Mets will start to take shape. First and foremost, the Mets will have to make decisions regarding their 40-man roster and who. will or won't be protected in the Rule 5 draft. Then, all eyes turn to acquisitions.

It appears for the first time in years, we will spend more time discussing what players the Mets will pay, than we will discussing what creditors they'll repay. Although not out of the woods completely with regards to SNY and Citi Field debt, the Mets will have substantial funds to work with this winter. Despite the much discussed reality that it is unlikely the team will immediately reinvest the full $50 million coming off the books, fans should have cautious optimism that the 2014 edition will be a much improved bunch.

With payroll at their disposal, the Mets needn't shy away from trading for any particular players either. The fact that Carlos Gonzalez will soon make $20 million annually shouldn't necessarily be a deal breaker. Neither should the contracts of guys like Jose Bautista, should hecome available. Simply put, the only restrictions the Mets have this winter are those they impress upon themselves. 

Therein lies the hesitation for some Mets' faithful, who remain unimpressed by the organization's new found thriftiness over the Alderson era. Will the team bring in quality additions, or will it be more of the reclamation projects we've become accustomed to? While the successes of players like Marlon Byrd are always welcomed, it would be nice to enter the season with some more concrete expectations. 

So here we go, off into what could be either a wild winter renovation or the fan base's biggest disappointment yet. The options are almost as unlimited as the debate has been to date on whether this when the Mets finally turn it around. So will the team be active in the higher end of the free agent market?  Will Sandy Alderson have the guts to trade away some off the farm system depth he's spent three years cultivating?  Will fans finally have reason to be excited in 2014? Only time will tell...

Byrd Remains The Word..Even In Pittsburgh

Photo Courtesy Of @Lets86It

I know some people check out at the end of the season if the Mets don't find their way into the playoffs.  On the off chance you're one of those people, you may still recall that the Pittsburgh Pirates haven't sniffed the post season since 1992.  You may also recall that the Mets sent Marlon Byrd to Pittsburgh in late August.  What you may not know is that the Pirates got everything they paid for..and then some.

All Byrd did since his arrival in the Iron City is bat .318 with three home runs and seventeen runs batted in..in just thirty games.  He played a big part in not only the Buccos first season above .500 in twenty-one years, but their first playoff appearance in just as long.

Since arriving to the post season, Byrd has batted just .273 over four games, but he has contributed an additional home run, four runs scored, and another five runs batted in.  In fact, Byrd has directly factored into eight of the Pirates nineteen runs scored since the post season began.  Good for Bryd, who was also nominated for NL Comeback Player of the Year this week.

If you decide to tune in, the Pirates, up two to one in the best of five series, continue their battle against the St. Louis Cardinals today at 3:07 pm.

Effing Round Table: What Is The Mets Most Pressing Offseason Need?

With the offseason upon us, it remains clear that the New York Mets have plenty of needs to address this winter.  Outfield, Shortstop, First Base, Pitching... Which is most important..and why?

Tim O'Brien:
The Mets most pressing offseason need is to not do anything stupid.  The Wilpon's have a history of caving to public pressure and the fans are certainly laying it on thick to make a big signing this offseason.  I say stay the course, don't overpay, let the kids develop one more year...then try to strike while the iron is hot (we aren't winning the World Series in 2014).  Unless of course you can get Stanton.

Craig Petraglia:
The Mets have a lot of holes to fill heading into the 2014 season but Sandy Alderson and the front office have a lot of money coming off the books that they can spend on free agents.  The most pressing need for the Mets to fulfill heading into 2014 Opening Day is protection behind David Wright in the lineup.  With the Captain hitting third, if Sandy can bring in a dangerous hitter, no matter the position, whether that be an outfielder or first basemen, Wright will see better pitches to hit and can be even more of an asset offensively.  it will be interesting to see how Sandy spends his money, as the Mets need an upgrade at the shortstop position, the corner outfield, as well as first base, but Mets fans are getting restless and it's time this front office spends money and rolls the dice in order to make a pennant run in the upcoming season.

Rob Patterson:
The Mets have a lot of problems, but none more pressing than the team's outfield.  The departure of Marlon Byrd left an unexpected hole that must be filled..especially if there is an intention to see Juan Lagares as the everyday center fielder.  The Mets need bats..power bats.  Bats that can round out the middle of the lineup and make up for the light hitting players like Lagares, Murphy and d'Arnaud.  Those players are available, via both free agency and trade, and the team's front office needs to find a way to make it happen!

Jason Wilson:
Corner outfielder who can bring the wood to the yard. Why? Because they need it and the run production was noticeable when Marlon Byrd left.

Kieran Flemming:
The Mets' most pressing offseason issue is adding a bat or two that can hit for power. I know how much the organization values on base percentage, but the lineup desperately needs more pop. Be it at first or in the outfield, that is where the team needs the most help.

Bryan Damis:
We are beating a dead horse here but the Mets need power. Plain and simple. David Wright has power to the deepest part of the park and that's not going to work. With such a poor home record comparably to a respectable road record, the Mets need a power hitter who can pull the ball to the shorter parts of the park.

Seth Shapiro:

Power.  Power.  Power.  Particularly a left handed power bat to hit either in front of or behind David Wright.  The two names that come to mind are either Carlos Gonzalez of the Colorado Rockies or Jose Abreu, the free agent slugging first baseman from Cuba.  While I prefer Gonzalez because he is the proven commodity, the thought of acquiring power in Abreu without giving up any prospects or players from the major league club is quite enticing.

Wow! That was pretty much unanimous... Do you agree? Is acquiring a power bat the order of the day, or do the Mets have other areas to address first? Let us know in the comment section.

T-Shirt Tuesday: Juan Bad Joke At A Time

The below image is a look at the t-shirt the Mets will give away tomorrow night when the San Francisco Giants come to town.  As the Mets count down the remainder of the season Juan game at a time, rookie outfielder Juan Lagares has earned himself a t-shirt night.  This is of course if the front office doesn't trade him the morning of, as they did with Marlon Bryd about a month ago.

Photo Courtesy of Mets.com

I know I poke fun at the Mets pretty much every opportunity I'm presented with (it helps my maintain my sanity), but its nice to see the organization reward a kid like Lagares with a promotion like this, no matter how cheesy it might be.

Lagares has been the lone remaining bright spot for the Mets in a second half full of disappointment.  He has emerged as one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball and has the inside line on the centerfield spot next season.  His ability to get on base will need to improve next year, as the team could likely live with a .260ish batting average, but a .295 on-base percentage simply won't get it done.  Time will tell if he is able to stick, but in the meantime its cool to see he and the Mets have some fun with his success this season.

If your brave enough to join the ten thousand or so faithful who are still venturing to Citi on a nightly basis and would like to grab one of these shirts, you can buy your tickets HERE.

Mets Are Fading Fast

It has taken longer than it has in recent years, but it appears injuries and an overall lack of talent have finally caught up with the New York Mets. Since arriving in Los Angeles on August 12th, the Effing Mets are a depressing 6-14 falling back to thirteen games below .500 and threatening to finish in fourth place for the fifth consecutive year.

While the current state of affairs certainly sucks, it should come as no surprise to anyone who is honestly paying attention. Carried by their pitching for the majority of the year, the Mets have lost 60% of their starting rotation and their closer in the past month. Pair that with the loss of David Wright in early August and recent jettison of Marlon Byrd, their most productive bat, and it's not hard to forecast where this is heading.

As Fall looms, it's unlikely the Mets have the arms to support an offense that has averaged less than four runs over their last twenty games and now boasts a lineup of September call-ups getting their first look at big league pitching. In reality, the Mets have transformed into the team we all feared this spring: punchless, inexperienced and not much fun to watch. 

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