Feinsand: Mets Looking to Go "Big"
Anonymous NL executive alludes to the possibility of "something out of the blue"
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, per league sources, the New York Mets could be looking to wrap a big bow around their already stellar offseason.
“I still think the Mets are going to try and do something big. They really want to make a splash and spend some money,” an anonymous NL executive told Feinsand. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see them go off the rails and trade for a big name.”
Well isn’t that exciting. Not that adding Francisco Lindor, Trevor May, James McCann, and Carlos Carrasco isn’t, but hey, who’s to say if their cups aren’t full yet?
We’ve heard the Mets mentioned as free-agent suitors and potential trade partners all winter. Naturally, irons in the fire, as Mets owner Steve Cohen intimated on Twitter earlier in the offseason, means just that.
Some targets found their way into different uniforms, but for arguably defendable reasons in the Mets’ case.
Trevor Bauer isn’t worth $40 million per season in any world. Forget the $45 million bag he secured — with an opt-out that pays him $15 million following the season — in 2022 (h/t Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal; a great breakdown of Bauer’s deal).
George Springer’s six-year, $150 million deal with Toronto proved to be outside the realm of feasibility for New York, considering a 31-year-old’s time in center field — where the Mets would have been signing him to play — would have been akin to an hourglass running out.
The Colorado Rockies, who eventually gave the St. Louis Cardinals $50 million to take superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado off their hands, were practically begging the Mets to entertain a presumably similar offer, to no avail.
Now, alas, here we are with just days until pitchers and catcher report to Port St. Lucie, and questions at third base are still swirling in Flushing Meadows.
Well, maybe not questions. J.D. Davis will probably be fine out there if push comes to shove. But why not explore a potentially more productive avenue?
Oakland All-Star Matt Chapman has been mentioned as a possible target, but we’ll have to see that to believe it. Tough to imagine the Athletics dealing away their franchise cornerstone, but you truly never know.
Kris Bryant’s name has been tossed around sporadically with dead ends popping up at nearly every reported juncture. Feinsand notes previous discussions between Chicago and New York in his story, though he concedes “it’s unclear whether there’s been any traction”. We shall see.
The Mets reportedly discussed heavy-hitting, smooth fielding third baseman Eugenio Suarez (along with Sonny Gray) earlier this offseason, as well. But there’s more in Cincinnati that could be of use to the Mets.
Securing capable depth in case of emergency or the staff merely running out of gas following an extended layoff and 60-game season in 2020 is a necessity.
That approach has been a hallmark of Mets owner Steve Cohen’s first offseason at the helm, but will depth be enough to actually make a run at a World Series title?
The additions of Joey Lucchesi, Jordan Yamamoto, and even Sean Reid-Foley give the team options — literal and figurative, as all have minor league options remaining — are leaps forward in comparison to what the prior regime considered depth.
But, again, if there are clear upgrades available ahead of what’s looking to be a moderately-to-excessively exciting season in Queens, ya gotta believe Sandy Alderson, Zack Scott, and the rest of the Mets’ brass will be exploring them, right?
Feinsand’s source opines the Mets’ “could do something out of the blue”, naming Cincinnati Reds right-hander Luis Castillo as a potential target.
With two years of team control still attached to him and a more than palatable $4.2 million salary for 2021, the flame-throwing right-hander would necessitate an extremely hefty return.
Toss in Suarez, and you’re talking about decimating whatever’s left of the farm system former Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen stripped for parts during his forgettable tenure.
Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, Matthew Allan, J.T. Ginn — the possibilities are endless and all depend on Cincy’s wants/needs. Needless to say, it would be a wave-maker.
But, for a guy who’s pitched to a 3.35 ERA (3.42 FIP) with 315 strikeouts over 260.2 innings since 2019 (6.5 wins above replacement, per FanGraphs, over 44 starts; that’ll play), that could be worthy of such a gutting.
Castillo and Suarez are certainly more appealing than Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz. Woof.