The Offseason Thread

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

I love Grandy and he's way more versatile than Bruce.

And the dude hardly ever lands on the DL.
His OBP has to be twice that of Bruce's.
Also a great presence in the clubhouse.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Have I mentioned lately I hate the Jay Bruce trade?

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

• In order to free the 40-man roster spot for Yoenis Cespedes' return, P Logan Verrett has been traded to the Orioles for cash.


• Sandy Alderson acknowledged that he has to plan this offseason as if he may lose closer Jeurys Familia for some portion of the opening part of the season. "That's something we have to certainly consider," Alderson said. Familia's next court hearing is scheduled for Dec. 15, although his simple assault charge may be dropped then. That would not preclude an MLB-imposed suspension.

 

[omarsrevenge]

Now the Mets are apparently looking to shop Grandy instead of Bruce?

Hmmmm....

Mets might trade Curtis Granderson, not Jay Bruce



I have mixed feelings on this one.

God I hope they don't do that.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

It's a Win Win.
Agreement reached.....lockout averted.

• MLB, players' union reach new 5-year labor deal

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

• Mets pitchers and catchers report Feb. 12.
• Position players on Feb. 17.



• Jacob deGrom says he can tell he is better after surgery that moved the ulnar nerve in his pitching elbow because he does not have discomfort when he snaps his fingers or raises his arm like he did before the surgery.


• Steven Matz told WOR radio he has permission from team doctors to proceed with a normal offseason. Matz had surgery to remove a massive bone spur from his pitching elbow once a rotator cuff impingement ended his 2016 season. "The doctors said, 'You're good to go, progress with your normal offseason,'" Matz told the radio station.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

By the way, have we completely given up on Lagares as any sort of everyday player? If we were to unload both Bruce and Granderson could we get away with an outfield of Cespedes, Lagares and Conforto?

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

By the way, have we completely given up on Lagares as any sort of everyday player? If we were to unload both Bruce and Granderson could we get away with an outfield of Cespedes, Lagares and Conforto?

I think so....but hopefully we won't have to...and it doesn't come down to that.

There are other options out there if that were to happen...

Dexter Fowler, Edwin Encarnacion, Carlos Gomez, Michael Saunders....

Bottom line:
We're gonna need another RBI guy just in case...ie: Chris Carter for 1B if Duda/Loney can't go.....and who knows what David Wright will bring this season.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Chris Sale to the Red Sox is good news for us because it means he's not on the Nationals.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

• Terry Collins said Travis d'Arnaud and Michael Conforto likely will get some exposure to first base during spring training. Collins already has spoken with Jose Reyes about exposure to center field in spring training.

• Terry Collins says David Wright will be in Port St. Lucie beginning in January. Wright is due to begin baseball activity shortly. Collins hopes Wright will play.. maybe, three or four days in a row and then have a day or 2 off during the season.

• Terry Collins was noncommittal on Zack Wheeler in the bullpen, but acknowledged it may make sense to start the season as a reliever in order to keep his innings in check before entering the rotation later in the year.

• Terry Collins said the Mets have a capable alternative in Addison Reed to close if Jeurys Familia is suspended by MLB. The simple assault charge may be dropped at a hearing on Dec. 15, although that would not preclude Familia getting suspended.

• Word at the winter meetings is that Jerry Blevins is seeking a three-year deal with a $5.5 million to $6 million salary annually. That's going to be beyond the Mets' appetite. The Mets may not bring in any relievers via free agency until January.

 

[omarsrevenge]

By the way, have we completely given up on Lagares as any sort of everyday player? If we were to unload both Bruce and Granderson could we get away with an outfield of Cespedes, Lagares and Conforto?

I really like Lagares when healthy in center. Might not be an RBI guy but he can save you some runs defensively. I was shocked by Conforto last year. He looked like he was going to be a beast and he just dropped off a cliff last year. Hopefully he can find his swing again. Still like to see Granderson stay and Bruce gone.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

• Mets doctors found no reason for concern with Juan Lagares during an examination Monday in New York. Lagares departed a winter-league game on Saturday in his native Dominican Republic after taking a jolt to his right shoulder while making a lunging catch. He was diagnosed with a mild strain and subsequent x-rays were negative.


• David Wright is currently simulating baseball activity as he returns from a ruptured disk in his neck. "Getting in a crouch, moving laterally, and the kinds of things you would do defensively," Sandy Alderson said. "Not swinging. Not emulating a swing or anything like that." Wright is now due to begin actual baseball activity in January.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Matt Harvey update:

Mets' Harvey 'feeling great' after July surgery

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Still need 2 relievers, would love to check in with the White Sox regarding Dave Robertson. Addison Reed, Robertson, Familia plus a free agent arm would be a great back end of the bullpen.

If we could upgrade at 1st or add a 6th starter to eat innings that would be icing on the cake.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Need some dominoes to fall if we want to trade Bruce or Granderson. Nobody is giving up assets while guys like Trumbo and Encarnacion are out there.

What are our thoughts on McCutchen rumors? If it was along the lines of Conforto and Lugo for him, is it worth it? Was last year an off year or a preview of what to expect?

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Need some dominoes to fall if we want to trade Bruce or Granderson. Nobody is giving up assets while guys like Trumbo and Encarnacion are out there.

What are our thoughts on McCutchen rumors? If it was along the lines of Conforto and Lugo for him, is it worth it? Was last year an off year or a preview of what to expect?

Imho....Trumbo & Encarnacion will cost too much. I'd prefer we kept Grandy and traded Bruce.
I'm giving Conforto another year (this season to prove himself). I'm sick of ex Mets going to other teams and becoming key players, or even in some cases all-stars. Lugo stepped up nicely for us in the rotation..he's a solid asset to have around just in case some of the other starters have setbacks.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Happy Holidays, fellow Amazin's fans.

Spring training is right around the corner.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

• MLB Rumor Central: Will Mets trade Jay Bruce sooner than later?


Could the New York Mets finally find a new home for Jay Bruce?

It is no secret that the Mets have been shopping the veteran outfielder, who became expendable once the club re-signed Yoenis Cespedes to a four-year, $110 million contract prior to the winter meetings.

The interest in Bruce had been tepid at best, especially since a glut of outfielders remain available on the free-agent market. But spring training is fast approaching and MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo predicts “it's a good bet the Mets will succeed in trading Bruce soon.”

General manager Sandy Alderson has been looking for some value in return for Bruce, who will make $13 million in 2017 before reaching free agency. The Mets need to free up some cash in order to acquire bullpen help, giving them incentive to deal Bruce sooner than later.

Bruce slashed .250/.309/.506 with 33 home runs last season for the Cincinnati Reds and Mets. He struggled in New York, hitting .219 with eight homers in 50 games. The 29-year-old has hit at least 20 home runs in eight of his nine big league seasons.

The Toronto Blue Jays were among the teams linked to the Texas native earlier in the offseason. The Mets can’t afford to wait for a perfect fit in order to deal Bruce, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

The Mets have invited Chasen Bradford, Xorge Carrillo, PJ Conlon, Phillip Evans, Luis Guillorme, Kevin McGowan, David Roseboom, Paul Sewald, Dominic Smith, Champ Stuart, Travis Taijeron, Corey Taylor and Logan Taylor to big league camp.

GM Sandy Alderson previously had stated he did not intend to invite Tim Tebow to big league camp for spring training. The organization's announcement of the non-roster invites on Wednesday, which omits Tebow, confirms that intention. That does not preclude the Mets from occasionally borrowing Tebow from minor league camp for Grapefruit League games.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

•Wheeler agrees to $800,000 contract with Mets

NEW YORK -- Right-hander Zack Wheeler agreed to an $800,000, one-year contract with the New York Mets after missing two seasons because of a torn elbow ligament.

Now 26, Wheeler was 7-5 as a rookie for the Mets in 2013 and 11-11 the following year. He had Tommy John surgery on March 25, 2015.

He returned last summer and threw 17 pitches over one inning in a rain-shortened start on Aug. 6 for Class A St. Lucie, then complained of elbow discomfort and didn't pitch again. The Mets expect him to be healthy for the start of spring training next month.

Wheeler, whose deal was announced Wednesday, was eligible for arbitration for the first time after making $546,250 last year.

Eight Mets remain eligible for arbitration and are set to exchange proposed salaries with the team Friday: pitchers Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Jeurys Familia, Addison Reed and Josh Edgin; first baseman Lucas Duda; catcher Travis d'Arnaud; and infielder Wilmer Flores.