The Offseason Thread

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

NEW YORK -- First baseman Lucas Duda and the New York Mets avoided arbitration when they agreed to a $7.25 million, one-year contract, a small raise after an injury-plagued season.

Duda, who hit 57 home runs from 2014-15, missed four months last year and was limited to 47 games because of a stress fracture in his lower back. He returned Sept. 18 as a part-time player and finished with a .229 batting average, seven homers and 23 RBI in 153 at-bats.

The soft-spoken first baseman, who turns 31 next month, had a $6,725,000 salary last year and can become a free agent after the upcoming season.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Familia,Harvey & deGrom reach contract agreements

Mets give Familia $3.3M raise despite uncertainty

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Anyways, I feel the need to vent about Jay Bruce. The whole situation bugged me from the start and it's even worse now in hindsight.

Positionally the move made zero sense, the argument being it was a backup plan in case Cespedes left. I think that's terrible planning. Cespedes passed up a huge offer to remain with the team last year, he wants to be here, you give him a reasonable contract and he's all set. The thought of him leaving should never have crossed their minds.

So instead we give up a young 2nd baseman in Dilson Herrera. Since we no longer have him we bring back Neil Walker (I do like Walker) for $17 million.

We could have slotted Dilson Herrera in at 2nd this year and still had 4 quality outfielders. Instead we have a combined $30 million on the books for 2 guys.

$30 million dollars solves any problem we have, frees us up for any trades, allows us to sign relievers, we are flat out, significantly better off in this 100% plausible scenario.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

We might be stuck w/ Bruce for a little while....but we'll see how it plays out...

Mets might be stuck with Jay Bruce -- at least for now

 

[Nasty_Magician]

We might be stuck w/ Bruce for a little while....but we'll see how it plays out...

Mets might be stuck with Jay Bruce -- at least for now

Yep, the market dried up. There were too many variations of Bruce out there in free agency. Hopefully he produces and a team in need of a power bat (Cardinals?) could make a move for him.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Yep, the market dried up. There were too many variations of Bruce out there in free agency. Hopefully he produces and a team in need of a power bat (Cardinals?) could make a move for him.

would be nice to get a proven lefty BP arm in return.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Seeing how the market was saturated with Jay Bruce types (making us completely unable to move him), it just shows how badly we misplayed the Cespedes situation. If there are that many guys available then we could have just signed someone instead of sacrificing assets for Jay Bruce.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

My dream for the rest of the off season, re-sign Blevins, add another vet reliever.

Move Jay Bruce for what you can to clear his salary.

Sign this guy! Matt Wieters quite a free-agent prize in 2017

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

My dream for the rest of the off season, *re-sign Blevins, add another vet reliever.

Move Jay Bruce for what you can to clear his salary.

Sign this guy! Matt Wieters quite a free-agent prize in 2017

* or at least sign Boone Logan if Blevins doesn't return.

Agree on Wieters.

Time is of the essence.

Btw: did you happen to catch my thread in the MLB general forum?

The 2017 all unemployed team?

 

[David_son]

Can Bruce play first cause im over Duda.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Can Bruce play first cause im over Duda.

The Duda >>>>>>>>> Bruce.

We also still have James Loney on the roster to platoon at 1B

 

[David_son]

The Duda >>>>>>>>> Bruce.

We also still have James Loney on the roster to platoon at 1B

We still need an upgrade him sick of him being so streaky and really a 1 trick pony.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

We still need an upgrade him sick of him being so streaky and really a 1 trick pony.

If he can somehow manage to stay healthy I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Having Loney is a luxury as it helps minimize the wear & tear on Duda's back which should benefit him throughout the season.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

* or at least sign Boone Logan if Blevins doesn't return.

Agree on Wieters.

Time is of the essence.

Btw: did you happen to catch my thread in the MLB general forum?

The 2017 all unemployed team?

Just saw it. If only we had $30 million more to spend we could lock down our bullpen and upgrade the Catcher position.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Just saw it. If only we had $30 million more to spend we could lock down our bullpen and upgrade the Catcher position.

Sandy dragging his feet on upgrading the BP, while another FA is now off the board....

The Cleveland Indians on Thursday agreed to a contract with left-handed reliever Boone Logan, sources told ESPN, confirming multiple reports.

Logan, 32, was 2-5 with a 3.69 ERA in 66 appearances for the Colorado Rockies last season. He held left-handed batters to a .142 batting average.

Logan joins a strong Cleveland bullpen that features closer Cody Allen and star setup man Andrew Miller.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

From ESPN.com (Feb. 3rd)

The New York Mets have been unable to find a taker for Jay Bruce as they deal with a surplus of outfielders. Could the front office switch gears and instead find a new home for Juan Lagares?

Mike Puma of the New York Post reports there is "some interest" in Lagares, who won a Gold Glove in 2014 but has slipped at the plate in recent seasons. The 27-year-old Lagares hit .239/.301/.380 in a backup role in 2016.

Puma suggests the Mets could use the $4.5 million in savings on Lagares' salary toward much-needed bullpen help.

Mets reporter Adam Rubin cautions it would be "quite a feat" to deal Lagares since he also is owed $6.5 million in 2018 and $9 million in 2019.

If the Mets are indeed serious about dealing Lagares, they could have Curtis Granderson and Michael Conforto split time in center field, with Bruce in right.

Bruce, who hit 33 homers last season, will make $13 million in 2017 before reaching free agency. Rubin wrote last week that the Mets may be stuck with Bruce as their right fielder, at least for the time being.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

From ESPN.com (Feb. 3rd)

The Cleveland Indians agreed to a one-year deal with Boone Logan on Thursday, and it could have a ripple effect on another veteran left-handed reliever.

ESPN’s Buster Olney tweets Jerry Blevins has at least one offer for one year and $6 million. That would fall in line with the contract for Logan, which reportedly is worth $5.5 million with a $1 million buyout for 2018.

The 33-year-old Blevins has been looking for a multi-year deal after making it through 10 major-league seasons exclusively on one-year contracts. The agent for Blevins recently told Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports that he expects his client to secure a deal of at least two years and $12 million.

Blevins, a valuable situational reliever who appeared in 73 games with a .229 OBA for the Mets last season, made $4 million in 2016. Earlier this week, Mike Puma and Ken Davidoff of the New York Post reported the Mets are open to a multi-year deal with Blevins, but only if it is backloaded in the second season.

The Blue Jays were believed to be interested in Blevins, but that option is off the table after Toronto signed J.P. Howell earlier this week.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

From ESPN.com (Feb. 3rd)

The Cleveland Indians agreed to a one-year deal with Boone Logan on Thursday, and it could have a ripple effect on another veteran left-handed reliever.

ESPN’s Buster Olney tweets Jerry Blevins has at least one offer for one year and $6 million. That would fall in line with the contract for Logan, which reportedly is worth $5.5 million with a $1 million buyout for 2018.

The 33-year-old Blevins has been looking for a multi-year deal after making it through 10 major-league seasons exclusively on one-year contracts. The agent for Blevins recently told Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports that he expects his client to secure a deal of at least two years and $12 million.

Blevins, a valuable situational reliever who appeared in 73 games with a .229 OBA for the Mets last season, made $4 million in 2016. Earlier this week, Mike Puma and Ken Davidoff of the New York Post reported the Mets are open to a multi-year deal with Blevins, but only if it is backloaded in the second season.

The Blue Jays were believed to be interested in Blevins, but that option is off the table after Toronto signed J.P. Howell earlier this week.

Solid deals for both Blevins and Salas, especially considering what some other relievers have been getting.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

• Reports: Mets to re-sign Jerry Blevins, Fernando Salas

The New York Mets bolstered their bullpen Friday by bringing back relievers Jerry Blevins and Fernando Salas on free-agent deals, according to multiple reports.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Flores wins arbitration....

• Mets' Flores wins arbitration case, to get $2.2M