Is Anyone Alive Out There: Ongoing Mets Thread

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

On the Farm:

Farm report: Herrera paying dividends, too - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

LAS VEGAS 6, RENO 2: Cory Vaughn hit a pinch-hit three-run homer in the seventh inning to propel the 51s to victory. Matt den Dekker, Josh Satin, Matt Reynolds and Anthony Seratelli had two hits apiece. Logan Verrett improved to 7-2, giving up two runs on six hits in six innings. Box

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Mets introduce 1st Rd Pick, Michael Conforto...

Mets introduce 1st-round pick Conforto - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Colon could be on the move...
New York Mets make Bartolo Colon available in trade talks - ESPN New York

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Colon could be on the move...
New York Mets make Bartolo Colon available in trade talks - ESPN New York

Makes the most sense. It's a position of depth, it's a guy we can afford to lose and he has name recognition and a solid track record. I think we can get a nice return for him (considering the returns we got for Byrd/Buck last season). We may have to eat some of the salary.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Mets, Pirates Complete Ike Davis Trade ? MLB Trade Rumors

Didn't realize we found out who the player to be named was. Blake Taylor (Pitt's 2nd round pick in 2013) to go along with Zack Thornton, not a bad haul for Ike.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

yep......that happened a few weeks ago... ^ ..I think I posted it in one of the game threads.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

NEW YORK-- 7/15 -- The Mets will listen on trade proposals involving Bartolo Colon before the July 31 trade deadline and may ultimately end up dealing the 41-year-old right-hander.

Separately, their wish list in trades includes an upgrade at shortstop over Ruben Tejada and a power-hitting left fielder to join Juan Lagares and Curtis Granderson as the primary outfielders, according to industry sources.

The acquisition of highly regarded prospect Addison Russell in the trade for Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel gives the Chicago Cubs a glut of young shortstops. While that ultimately may lead the Cubs to deal Starlin Castro, who is signed through 2019 at salaries that escalate to $11 million, 21-year-old Javier Baez is believed to be a more realistic target for the Mets.

Baez is hitting .240 with 14 homers and 55 RBIs at Triple-A Iowa this season.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have seemed like a natural match for the Mets for a while given their excess shortstops, including Didi Gregorius. However, an industry source believes recently hired Tony La Russa remains in assessment mode and serious deals involving the D-backs may wait until the offseason.

Alderson also is expected to look for takers for outfielders Chris Young and Eric Young Jr. to solve the Mets’ outfield glut, if that’s possible.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Good stuff on the Murph:

What has made Murphy an All-Star? - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

Papa Murph humbled by All-Star nod - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Happy 10th, David Wright...

Wright anniversary: now 10 years a Met - Mets Blog - ESPN New York


LGM!!!

 

[HammerDown]

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

deGrom for deROY???

deGrom for NL rookie of the year? - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Mets Would Pay Some Of Colon's Salary In Trade

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Tulo ?

Payroll would need big leap to support Tulo - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Said this on the main board as well:

I have zero interest in gutting the farm for Tulo. The only player that is "available" that I'd include a significant package of prospects for is Stanton. Tulo is a hell of a player but his away stat line just doesn't scream "that's the guy to put us over the top".

And I guess it comes with the position but one of the main reasons I was ok with letting Reyes walk was because he was constantly hurt. You'd get 3 weeks of the best player in baseball followed by a month on the DL. I need more consistency if we're giving away what we've been so patient in gathering for the past 4 years.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Said this on the main board as well:

I have zero interest in gutting the farm for Tulo. The only player that is "available" that I'd include a significant package of prospects for is Stanton. Tulo is a hell of a player but his away stat line just doesn't scream "that's the guy to put us over the top".

And I guess it comes with the position but one of the main reasons I was ok with letting Reyes walk was because he was constantly hurt. You'd get 3 weeks of the best player in baseball followed by a month on the DL. I need more consistency if we're giving away what we've been so patient in gathering for the past 4 years.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want him either....but I wouldn't mind maybe going after the Cubs' Starlin Castro, or that Franklin dude again from the Mariners, we were all buzzing about back in march + april.
And let's not forget we still have a nice SS down in AAA, Matt Reynolds who's been rapidly progressing and doing it in the field and at the plate for Wally B. & the 51's.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

I'm assuming nothing will happen unless a team panics and pulls the trigger on a Colon deal. Murphy I don't see being moved until the offseason (maybe not even then).

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Trade deadline gone...Metsies stand pat....(for now)

Mets stand pat at non-waiver deadline - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

 

[Nasty_Magician]

I kind of like it. No reason to make a trade for the sake of making a trade. And lets say we got a bat and started closing in on a wildcard spot, then we run the risk of wearing out pitchers and overusing guys in order to make a push. We'd be jeopardizing next season with potential strain and injuries. Play it safe, finish this year out with young guys gaining experience and see what moves can be made in the offseason.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

NEW YORK --(7/31)-- Addressing the Mets' lack of activity at the trade deadline, Sandy Alderson suggested the club had conversations about "significant" players as buyers and sellers. Still, Alderson said, he acted cautiously in not subtracting players at this point. And on the buying front, Alderson said the Mets were not at this moment prepared to part with top prospects, which a notable acquisition would have required.

Here's a full transcript:

Why was it prudent for no activity at the deadline?

"There was some activity. Nothing came to fruition. There were some proposals that we made that were not acceptable and some made to us that we didn't feel were reasonable. And so, while we were active in conversations, although not super active, we just didn't make any deals. I think going in we didn't intend to be sellers and we didn't intend to be buyers necessarily. We were looking at the market and what it would dictate. We set a price on some of our players. And, under the circumstances, they weren't met. So be it. We're happy with the team that we have. We're happy we retained all of our players. And we're looking forward to the last 60 or so games of the season."

Some fans appear frustrated there was nothing done to improve the club. What would you say to those people? Was there just nothing out there right now that was worth the cost? Or is the team just not where it needed to be to pull the trigger on something aggressive?

"The question of improving the club is certainly a legitimate one. In order to potentially improve the club some significant way as opposed to some incremental way, we would have had to have been prepared to deal some of our young pitching. At this particular stage, we're not prepared to do that, at least in the deals that were presented, or were available to us. I actually think that if we're going to trade some of our young prospects, that we're probably better off doing that in the offseason. I mean, we have a known commodity in those prospects -- I think a recognizable group of prospect assets in the game. In some way, we don't want to limit ourselves to the options that are available now as opposed to what we think may be available in the offseason. That leaves you with some sort of an incremental improvement. We just didn't see that out there. So we were alert to the possibility, but we didn't feel the opportunity presented itself."

Regarding Bartolo Colon, you had said that the offseason might make more sense because you're competing against teams that otherwise might have to give three- or four-year deals to free agents. Is that the logic that prevailed? Or was it more that you didn't want to subtract because the team is doing well?

"I think it may be a combination of things. First of all, I hate to talk specifically about individual players, but don't assume in all cases that we were fielding numerous calls from numerous teams. For whatever reason, the market doesn't always develop for certain players. Yes, on Monday I felt our assessment was that in the case of someone like Bartolo that he might be viewed as more valuable in the offseason than he would be today. I think the lack of activity surrounding Bartolo indicated that. I think the other thing that happened was so many of these marquee pitchers went late, just before the deadline, as well as some second-tier starters, that whatever teams might have circled back on someone like Colon may not have had time to do it."

How much did the 52-56 record -- still in hunt, but still 7 1/2 games back in division -- affect decision-making?

"I think our record and our standing in the division race and the wild-card race had an impact, which is to say that we're neither here nor there at the moment. But I think taking into account where we stand led us to, as I said before, set a price on the players that we have. We felt comfortable where we set that level. We took the standings into account. We also took [into account] the chemistry of the team and how we play over the next 60 days irrespective of the standings, and what might things look like in the offseason, what our options may be. So a number of factors came into play. Our standing in the National League being one of them."

What were you targeting?

"In the event that we were to make a trade, we were looking for players that would have a chance to play for us as soon as this season. We weren't looking to subtract from our big league club just to add to our stash of prospects. We were looking for some players that were close to ready or ready. Those didn't eventuate."

How open are you to an August trade involving waivers?

"That's exactly what happened last season. We didn't make a deal at the deadline and we ended up moving Marlon Byrd sometime in August. Those kinds of deals are difficult to predict because you don't know whether you're going to get waivers (player clears), who might claim a player if you don't get the waivers. It's a little bit -- or a lot -- of unpredictability. But there's certainly that possibility. And also, as time moves on through the course of the month, you know a little bit more about where you stand as a team. That's always a possibility. And I would expect that you'll see more deals in August, if not from us from other clubs when you take into account contracts and things of that sort. That will often dictate whether a player gets through waivers or not."

Is the mandate this winter now to upgrade at shortstop and left field? And is it looking like trades are going to have to be the avenue for those? Or is it too soon to know?

"I think that's a little speculative. If you were to look at those two positions, we do have a number of middle infielders that are close in our system -- probably fewer corner outfielders. But I think right now it's much too early to know. It may be somebody who emerges between now and the end of the season that we don't expect out of the system."

Daniel Murphy's name was out there a lot. When you make the deliberation about whether Murphy is going to be a long-term piece for you or you might look to trade him at some point, are the factors (1) what his salary is going to become, (2) what that salary otherwise could be allotted for and (3) that you have guys like Dilson Herrera and Matt Reynolds in the upper levels of the minors?

"Any time you're making the decision on the future of a player, you're talking about all of those factors -- future control, cost, performance, available alternatives within the system and potentially outside the system. All those come into play. And timing as well -- the [July 31] deadline, August, the offseason, just before free agency. So all of those things will come into play and do come into play. Going back to this time frame, when you're basically setting a price, if you will, in terms of prospects or other players ... all of those things come into play."

It's not unfounded that there's some consideration to moving Murphy, correct? There were those leaked Astros documents indicating some conversation last winter.

"Rumors always abound with regards to the Mets. Every conversation, which can range from idle to intense, somehow becomes a little bit larger than life. We talk about players all the time with clubs. It's part of what you do to survey the market and get a feel for what's out there. That doesn't mean that you're actually intent on trading someone when you have those conversations. So the fact that we talked to Houston or some other team about a particular player doesn't necessarily suggest that we're actively looking to trade a player. Those conversations take place. ... And it's always nice to know what the market believes that player is worth versus what we internally believe that player is worth. It's a checkpoint for us."

How did you approach this trade deadline relative to last year's deadline?

"The fact that we didn't make a deal at the deadline this year I guess indicates that we took the same approach. But I think we feel a little more confident about the team this year than we did last year. Maybe that factored into what we didn't do at the deadline this year. But I don't think we took a consciously different approach. The players, we feel they have a certain value. And if we don't see that value in return in discussions with other clubs, we're not going to do it."

How would you characterize the talks? Anything serious? Anything close? Big in scale? Small in scale?

"We had conversations regarding significant players both from the Mets and from other teams in return. We just never agreed on anything. In terms of moving anybody off of our major league club, we were a little bit careful about moving people off of the team, where we couldn't get somebody who was major league ready, or able to be plugged in, in return. Then, as I said before, in actually acquiring other players as opposed to 'selling our own,' it always came back to our handful of top prospects. And we just aren't ready to move any of them at the moment."

 

[Chef99]

I'm happy and frustrated at the same time. I think it would've been a mistake to trade Murphy. We need to add another good bat, not subtract one. On the other side, I really would've liked to see them move Colon and perhaps another pitching prospect or two to acquire a hitter. If it always came down to Syndergaard, I can understand Sandy refusing.

And I wanted nothing to do with Cargo. Tulo? Certainly tempting, but too expensive for a guy who's going to sit out a lot of games. Not to mention that Citi Field isn't exactly an ideal spot for him. Actually, any place away from Coors isn't exactly an ideal spot for him.