2020 Mets offseason thread

[NJDevs4978]

Welp at least the offseason got off to a grand start with the officially official approval of Cohen as the new owner (and as a result, the end of the Wilpons) after the owners' vote and DeBlasio finally ending his ridiculous PR stand both happening today.  A new day is truly upon us.  Now we just have to hope Cohen's more Mark Cuban than Dan Snyder.

I actually didn't realize free agency opened Sunday night till reading Cohen's statement.  Talk about getting it in under the wire.

Edited October 30, 2020 by NJDevs4978

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Wow...it actually happened!  Great day to be a Mets fan.  Mets are finally a big boy team again.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

1 hour ago, NJDevs4978 said:

Welp at least the offseason got off to a grand start with the officially official approval of Cohen as the new owner (and as a result, the end of the Wilpons) after the owners' vote and DeBlasio finally ending his ridiculous PR stand both happening today.  A new day is truly upon us.  Now we just have to hope Cohen's more Mark Cuban than Dan Snyder.

I actually didn't realize free agency opened Sunday night till reading Cohen's statement.  Talk about getting it in under the wire.

Re:  the bolded...neither did I!  We could have a lot to talk about next week...

We'll see if Cohen will be a guy with a lot of money who's relatively hands-off, or one of those guys who treats his franchise like his own personal fantasy team.  I really feel like it's going to be the former...I doubt Sandy ever takes the job if he thought he was going to have deal with more meddling.  And I think Cohen likely told Sandy "Hey look, I am not here to be Jeffy 2.0, or for your second term here to be The Wilpons, Part Deux.  You now have real money to work with...now you can carry out your vision for the team without being compromised."  

What's interesting is that Cohen has SO much money that considerations (luxury tax) that affect all of the other teams (even the Yankees) might not mean d!ck to him.  I get the feeling we're going to see some serious free-agent overpayments to kick this thing off...as in "No way can this player refuse THAT!" kind of money.

I know the Wilpons still have their 5%...but to FINALLY see their role here minimized completely...I still can't believe that this day is actually HERE!  

 

Dude is wasting no time in turning things around...starting with his employees:

https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/mlb/mets/2020/10/30/steve-cohen-mets-owner-reverses-employee-salary-cuts-covid-19/6088907002/

Edited October 30, 2020 by Colorado Rockies 1976

['7']

Finally feels like a breath of fresh air. The Wilpons can leave now in disgrace and the Mets can finally start building the framework of a successful organization. Long term success. Hopefully the establishment of a quality organizational pipeline that can consistently churn out quality (and at the onset...cheap) major league talent. And finally an ability to RETAIN that talent when the times comes. Finally that Mets stigma can be cast aside. Over the past few decades I feel great baseball people were turned off by the Mets due to the presence of Jeff Wilpon

So let's start building. No more 2nd best, no more settling for a C+ free agent when we could've had an A+ guy. 

Look at what the Dodgers are, what the Yankees are, what the Red Sox are (though they've had their blips) Let's be THAT

We can't expect to win every year. And some years yea I'm sure things happen that all the $ in the world can't fix...but I feel like going into every MLB season with this owner we should at least expect to make the playoffs

Edited October 31, 2020 by '7'

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

‘7’, you touched on something that I think is 100% the right way to have expectations.  Yes, the Mets will be in play for some big-name free agents...but that’s not really the way to build a winner.  What you hopefully do is hang onto a few players that make a lot of sense to pay, trade some others and/or let someone else overpay your 30-something free agents (likely for diminishing returns), and replace those players with cheap, young, extremely cost-effective talent from within.  It’s always ideal to keep the player carousel flowing, as opposed to sticking too long with a core full of aging, declining, overpaid vets who become contractual albatrosses.

I love that big name free agents will be no longer be behind some bullet-proof glass that we can only press our noses against, but any Met fans who now think that Cohen is just going to buy the Mets a championship via a massive free agent splash is kidding themselves.  Like you said, the key is using his resources to build an infrastructure that can help the team churn out as much homegrown talent as possible.  Get the best scouts.  Have a farm system that actually preaches fundamentals and properly develops talent.  Become a model franchise.  Cohen has the money to make that happen.  

Edited October 31, 2020 by Colorado Rockies 1976

[NJDevs4978]

Cohen officially closes on the sale, the housecleaning begins in earnest

 

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

I wouldn’t have minded if Omar had stuck around, because he does have an eye for talent.  Couldn’t be happier about BVW being shown the door though.  Hope he enjoyed that GM gig...he will NEVER get another one.  Gotta think he goes back to being an agent.  He’s not remotely qualified to hold a front office job of any kind.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

We are now very much officially in Year 1 AW (After Wilpon) of Mets' existence; the BC (Before Cohen) years feel as over as they possibly can be, after yesterday's press conference.

Even if all Cohen really did was reaffirm what we all knew about him and what his approach would be, it was still nice to hear him say it all.  I actually do believe him in that he claims that he is going to let baseball minds run the show...if nothing else, Cohen can clearly read the room, and I think he knew that the very last thing that ANY Met fans wanted to hear was any awful corporate code words like "collaborative" (short for "The idiot son of daddy's team is going to meddle to his heart's content because he can, so we have to involve him, even though we don't want any part of that").  Even it some of what he said boils down to Captain Obvious stuff, it was still a positive to hear him say that he knows fattening up on FAs and trying to buy a World Series title isn't the way to go.  The good news is when it makes sense, and there's a 30-32 year old top-dollar free agent out there who can clearly fill a need and put the Mets over the top, they'll have the capital to make a run at him.  But obviously even better to build up the prospect base, and trade for a guy in his mid-late 20s who should have more prime years left.  I get the feeling that it's going to be the infrastructure that gets tons of attention now, and that couldn't make me happier.  Signing a bunch of guys in their early 30s who've likely already had their best seasons and who are being paid for what they were as opposed to what they are and will be is never a great way to go.  

The bits that I heard from Sandy...well, I'm not a huge Sandy guy to begin with.  I'm fully aware that he was the GM during the BC years, and that couldn't have been easy.  I think he was definitely hurt by the lack of funds, and became more and more disgruntled/less and less motivated as time dragged on (and it's not fair to leave out that he was dealing with cancer).  But the fact that he willingly signed an extension when he fully knew the deal here costs him some sympathy points in my book.  

Almost everyone is treating Alderson 2.0 as a slam dunk, but I think there's reasons to wonder.  He's never been terribly creative, and he made a LOT of questionable moves as the GM...yes, he obviously had serious payroll constraints, and a meddlesome presence in Jeffy to deal with, but at the same time, there's GMs who find ways to succeed with lower payrolls.  Sandy's previous run here was mixed at best.

Thought it was a bit odd that Sandy was already heavily penciling in Rojas in 2011 (2021 obviously, but for some reason Sandy said 2011 more than once, which is mildly concerning), without having assembled a front office.  Shouldn't his new personnel have some considerable say in that?  He leave the door open a crack in case his new hires do indeed decide to go in a different direction, but why give Rojas any backing at all right now?  Why not just let things shake themselves out?

Though I only read quotes from the press conference, I did actually get to hear Sandy on the WFAN yesterday...I can't sugarcoat it...I know that GMs often don't make for great interviews, but Sandy sounded a little slow/stammery, not terribly articulate, and a little tired...in his press conference, he did say that he would not be handling GM duties, but I kinda wonder how much energy he has left in the tank.  I did find it interesting in that he sure seems amenable to bringing Trevor Bauer aboard...he's not even trying to hide it, or using GM speak to say something without trying to say it outright.

Anyway, this is definitely a time for optimism, and that's where my head is...I don't want to make it sound like I'm totally down on Sandy as team president...he probably deserves a clean slate, especially since he now will enjoy financial backing that he couldn't have dreamed of previously.  I'm just not 100% sure as many others seem to be when it comes to if he's really the right guy.  

Edited November 11, 2020 by Colorado Rockies 1976

[NJDevs4978]

I’m not all that concerned about Sandy one way or the other, it sounds like as much as anything he’s here as a transitional figure to lay the infrastructure in place for the next generation rather than being the main point person himself, he’s not going to make the deadline day trades in 2021 or the FA signing negotiations after that. He’ll have to be in on a lot of the offseason stuff this year until they hire some people but he’s on a two year deal and specifically said he was looking to hire a president of baseball ops.

Sure he’ll hire a lot of Sandy acolytes like Riccardi or whomever, but it’ll be their team in short order rather than his.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

24 minutes ago, NJDevs4978 said:

I’m not all that concerned about Sandy one way or the other, it sounds like as much as anything he’s here as a transitional figure to lay the infrastructure in place for the next generation rather than being the main point person himself, he’s not going to make the deadline day trades in 2021 or the FA signing negotiations after that. He’ll have to be in on a lot of the offseason stuff this year until they hire some people but he’s on a two year deal and specifically said he was looking to hire a president of baseball ops.

Sure he’ll hire a lot of Sandy acolytes like Riccardi or whomever, but it’ll be their team in short order rather than his.

Fair, but part of me feels like these guys already got their shot.  Obviously having money to spend makes a world of difference though.  I also have to see who actually winds up in the front office.

[NJDevs4978]

Stroman accepts the QO, any other offseason he probably wouldn’t have but 2020 combined with the fact he didn’t pitch this year and wasn’t great after being traded...

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

13 minutes ago, NJDevs4978 said:

Stroman accepts the QO, any other offseason he probably wouldn’t have but 2020 combined with the fact he didn’t pitch this year and wasn’t great after being traded...

He's basically a 5th starter now, AFAIC.  Isn't going to give you a ton of innings and is kinda hittable...guy's WHIP is 1.327 since the start of the 2016 season...basepaths are a bit busy when he's on the mound.  Also being paid a lot for a 5th.  

BUT, as a 5th starter, he can definitely help the team.  He should be better than a lot of other team's fifth guys.  I'm also fine with a guy like him being on a one-and-done contract.  

I'd also really like it if he isn't so yappy/annoying this season, but I don't think he has that in him.  

I give him and his agent credit for realizing that in the current climate, no one was eager to cough up a draft pick to sign him.  Also that he may never see another one-year payday like this again.  Sometimes it's best to keep it simple, and to take what's right in front of you, while you can.  That QO is not chump-change.  

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Anyway, pitchers being what they are (of course they can seemingly go down at any time), the 2021 rotation has the potential to be pretty good:

deGrom

Bauer (I have a feeling this will be one of two big FA "makes perfect sense" splashes for the Mets...not spending to spend, but spending to fill an obvious need.)

Syndergaard (when he's available...it's good that he likely won't be pitching until later in the season, because he'll be on a innings cap anyway)

Peterson

Stroman

 

I'm done with Matz.  I don't have any patience for losers, and Matz is a loser.  

I can see a scenario where maybe the Mets sign another big-name free agent (Springer or Realmuto), and even deal for Lindor.  But that's probably one monster move too many...does make for some killer backpage news though.  

 

[NJDevs4978]

LOL sadly I wasn't even really kidding when I said maybe Cano this season was hitting better once he got back on the juice

 

Edited November 18, 2020 by NJDevs4978

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

6 minutes ago, NJDevs4978 said:

LOL sadly I wasn't even really kidding when I said maybe Cano this season was hitting better once he got back on the juice

 

This deal gets better every day...

[NJDevs4978]

It's fair to wonder at this point if he ever plays another game for the Mets.  He's got two years left on his ridiculous contract after 2021 still but we do have an owner that can just buy him out now if the new regime decides enough is enough, we can't have this ticking time bomb on the roster during his age 39 and 40 seasons who'll either suck off the juice, or get suspended forever with one more failed test.

Edited November 18, 2020 by NJDevs4978

[titans04]

he's now thrown away 36M in suspensions. That's HOF worthy on some level. What a clown.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

1 hour ago, NJDevs4978 said:

It's fair to wonder at this point if he ever plays another game for the Mets.  He's got two years left on his ridiculous contract after 2021 still but we do have an owner that can just buy him out now if the new regime decides enough is enough, we can't have this ticking time bomb on the roster during his age 39 and 40 seasons who'll either suck off the juice, or get suspended forever with one more failed test.

It’s amazing that you can’t get out from under a contract like that for legit cause.  The guy’s a two-time cheat!

But yeah, I can definitely see the New Mets deciding to buy him out.  Who is going to want him back in two years?  

Edited November 18, 2020 by Colorado Rockies 1976

[NJDevs4978]

So ostensibly because the Mets aren’t able to interview certain candidates Sandy is keeping the president of baseball ops title through this year, officially retaining Rojas which isn’t a surprise. The fact he still wants Tebow back though, yuck. I guess we can’t blame Jeff entirely on that one. Are they even going to have fans in the minors this year?

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

17 minutes ago, NJDevs4978 said:

So ostensibly because the Mets aren’t able to interview certain candidates Sandy is keeping the president of baseball ops title through this year, officially retaining Rojas which isn’t a surprise. The fact he still wants Tebow back though, yuck. I guess we can’t blame Jeff entirely on that one. Are they even going to have fans in the minors this year?

Agree on your "yuck" take, re:  Sandy keeping Tebow...it's crap like that that makes me wonder just a little about Sandy being back.  Seriously, this "cute" story lost its luster a long time ago...especially when Tebow slashed .163/.240/.255 in AAA.  It's not like this guy was only given some low-ball short season to enjoy his own personal fantasy camp...he's been rushed through three levels of the minors to AAA, where he obviously was severely overmatched.  Do the "new" Mets really need a glorified mascot taking up space at Syracuse?  Especially if, like you suggest, fans won't even be allowed to attend?

I get the feeling Tebow will eventually get a handful of ABs in the majors...say 10-20.  Maybe he gets a hit or two.  Then he can say that he "persevered" and made his dream come true.  Yuck indeed!

I always associated Sandy with Tebow.  To me, Jeffy was responsible for Reyes being allowed to overstay his welcome.  That last season in which he somehow played in 110 games (putting together a .180/.260/.320 slash) was torture to watch.      

Edited November 24, 2020 by Colorado Rockies 1976

['7']

I don't understand the Tebow thing. Maybe the cult of Tebow keeps our low level minors attendance up? Perhaps that's the single only reason he's here....that we get maybe 1k more people per game down there with Tebow than without? It's just a sideshow really. I'm sure we will see him in the majors for the same reason...in September hopefully when we're in it/clinched and can give him some worthless AB's like we did for Mike Glavine years ago

['7']

And good lord Cano. I'm looking at this as a blessing in disguise that we don't have to deal with his 39 year old "I can't be bothered to even jog or show even the slightest bit of urgency" self. I cannot see him doing much next year anyway and now we're rid of him. His career is likely over

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

9 hours ago, '7' said:

And good lord Cano. I'm looking at this as a blessing in disguise that we don't have to deal with his 39 year old "I can't be bothered to even jog or show even the slightest bit of urgency" self. I cannot see him doing much next year anyway and now we're rid of him. His career is likely over

Really sucks that the Mets have to pay him their share of the rest of his money for 2022 and 2023 if they take the big step of releasing him.

Thanks again Brodie, great trade you made there.

[NJDevs4978]

https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/ball-bill-buckner-could-not-come-up-with-in-1986-world-series-game-6-sold-for-418250/c-30318576

Anonymous buyer from Dallas is how it was reported at the time...well now we know who has the Buckner ball lol (and it's going to be displayed at the Mets HOF going forward)

 

Edited November 26, 2020 by NJDevs4978

['7']

Interesting...always wondered about the whereabouts of the Buckner ball. Always sort of just assumed it was in the MLB Hall of Fame displayed somewhere.