16
2013
Short Shots: Mets Wiggling Back In, Best Bullpen: Braves Or Nationals?
An article by 
The more I keep saying that there’s no chance in hell that the Mets will trade for Justin Upton or Giancarlo Stanton, the more I keep reading stuff like this:
However, if you’re a Mets fan who wants Upton (or Jason Kubel) now, root for Michael Bourn to a take a one-year deal with the Braves, and root for teams like the Rangers and others to hold off for Stanton. In that scenario, I suppose it’s possible the Mets could wiggle back in. – Matt Cerrone, MetsBlog
Wiggle back in? When the heck were the Mets ever in?
* * * * * * * *
After the Washington Nationals added Rafael Soriano to their bullpen, I emailed ESPN’s Mark Simon and asked him this:
I have a non Mets question for you… Now that the Nats have Soriano is it safe to say the two best bullpens in the game are in the NL East; Braves and Nats? Which bullpen is more formidable?
Wow, that’s a hard one.
7th inning – Walden vs Clippard is a push. Clippard was not good at end of last season … I wanted the Mets to get Walden, who I think has a lot of upside. But he has a little ways to go to be really good.
8th inning – Venters vs Storen – I like Venters a lot… I think he was a little unlucky last season … slight edge Braves.
9th inning – Kimbrel vs Soriano – Big edge Braves
So I’d say Braves if we’re going big 3 vs big 3.
I’d have to agree… The Braves still have the best bullpen…
The Mets… They still have Frank Francisco… But word is we have Joe Saunders on our radar… Aim high…
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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The Mets had the Worst bullpen in the majors, and yet sandy alderson still managed to somehow made it worst… Lol. but hey, 2014 right?
LOL Alex I’m not sure what bothers me more….
The fact we might have the worst Bullpen in the division (maybe MLB) or the fact that we have gone into the THIRD offseason in a row where it was supposedly our PRIORITY and FOCUS yet this was the best they could come up with!
Syndergaard, Flores, Edgin and Tapia just may get this thing done.
And friends don’t let friends Kubel.
I would agree with you. I’ve seen and heard dozens of hypotheticals, but this one makes sense because it helps both teams which is the ultimate goal for each team. But you and I know that Alderson is not sending Syndergaard anywhere, even though I think Fulmer and Montero are better. I’m not a huge Kubel fan, but the price is dirt cheap he’s still better than Duda. All things being equal, and you have your choice of Duda or Kubel for the same nickel, you take Kubel 100 times in a 100.
Joe I don’t get the sense that Sandy feels Syndergaard is untouchable. I haven’t even really heard him talk about him that much.
All we have is our perception, and mine tells me that he’s holding onto Syndergaard for dear life. lol
I am not disagreeing, just trying to understand where you get that perception. Is it something said or just the fact that they traded for him? Remember they drafted Fulmer too so he might not be as likely to trade him either.
Any player making league minimum and is able to tie their shoes without Sandy’s help is untouchable on this team.
LOL
Sad but true!
LOL
And a few who need help still make the list!
We are a Hatchling Franchise….
Concerned just about kids where thier major production is in CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP!
I like Fulmer better as well. Can’t say why, particularly, but I think he’ll be special. I’m more apt to let Syndergaard go than Montero as well. In the end, I think Sandy would pull that trigger, as Syndergaard hasn’t spent time with the Mets and you have to give a little to get a little. It will be more of AZ trying to save face after the Seattle no trade.
As for Kubel, same nickel, yeah he’s better than Duda. Unfortunately, Kubel is at about a thousand bucks for every one of Duda’s nickels, payroll wise, so there’s that…
I got about 0 interest in Kubel. Not a game changer so might as well see what Duda has.
And yet the biggest game changer potentially available and you want to take a pass? (Stanton)
Joe, I mentioned this on the other thread but if I for some reason thought that would jump start the owners and they would spend 125M+ again? Sure. If they are going to keep penny pinching then trading all of our top guys for Stanton makes no sense.
Stanton would start at Wheeler, Flores, Syndergaard/Fulmer and then prob. Nimmo and another or something along those lines. I love me some Stanton, but that blow up the minor leagues and the team isn’t just one Stanton away from glory.
TX, I can’t see Stanton coming without including Harvey AND Wheeler.
I can’t see Stanton coming to the Mets, so it’s all moot.
And I think the above is the primary reason why.
I mean, if you are Texas, wouldn’t you trade Profar, Olt, and….. for Stanton?
I would if I was Texas, but mainly for the fact they have AS quality players at 3B, SS, 2B and OF already. So trading Olt and Profur is not going to kill them at all.
And they are in win now mode with a very hefty payroll.
THE MORE LOGICAL TARGET HERE IS UPTON CAUSE HE’S LOCKED IN @ A REASONABLE EXPENSE THE NEXT COUPLE OF YRS WHILE STANTON IS AN UNKNOWN LIKELY SKY-HIGH FUTURE EXPENSE
AS THEY BOTH WOULD PROVIDE UPGRADES TO THE TEAM’S CHANCES OF BEING COMPETITIVE, ONLY UPTON SATISFYS ALDERSON’S OTHER QUEST, COST EFFECTIVNESS.
That’s pretty close to the package I proposed the other day on TRDM.
” Flores, Syndergaard, Familia/Mejia, Tapia/Montero and a filler”
TRS86, Who is this package for again. I hope it’s not for Kubel or Upton. WAY to much I think.
Upton, you have to give to get.
That’s basically your #3, #6, #8 and stuff. I can’t see him going for less.
Kubel, they can keep him.
I think the most you give is three guys. Syndergaard, Mejia and Filler.
Then you no get… Besides, why not include Flores if that’s what it takes?
Try and hold him for a better player we might need. I would kick ALL the tires and spare on Stanton before going after Upton. Imagine if we can get close to getting Stanton and we already gave up our top prospects for Upton. I guess I can dream.
I think that Edgin is much more valuable than either Familia or Mejia.
Syndergaurd is not untouchable. I get the feeling Alderson wants a player like Upton or Upton but just will not give up Wheeler, Harvey, or Darnaud. That is probably why a deal is not done yet, but Anthopoulos caved in on Darnaud eventually and if market softens on Upton then maybe Towers takes a deal without Wheeler, Harvey, or Darnaud. Otherwise another good draft lines us up to have enough prospects for a possible shot at Stanton ourselves next off season.
It just goes to show that nobody, other than the actual people making the deals, really has an idea about what’s going on. Just like with RA when it was said they never receive two top prospects, it just doesn’t pay to put exclamation points on opinions that have zero merit based on zero inside information.
Only the front office folks actually know what’s going on, not MetsBlog or anyone else…
I just don’t see why anyone would be in a rush to put their foot in their mouth twice in one off season. We’re all tired of these Upton rumors, why not just let it play out?
People, it will not happen. Can we stop thinking about getting Mike Stanton when this man cannot even get us a major leaguer??? Geez….
The game has changed so much in the last decade. You cant win a World Series without a superior bullpen and your team is only as good as your bullpen can take you. The Mets should have thought twice before handing $142 million to David Wright unless they intended to have a bullpen and a lineup that was worthy of that investment. Far be it from the Mets to act logically in these matters. When Wright is 34 and is pushing the limits of his production with a .265 season and 15-18 home runs, he’ll be an insignificant part of any post season run we may be making at that time. That’s assuming we strike gold with our top 5 prospects.
Joe – I think one aspect you miss is O’Flaherty. He was their 8th inning guy last year
Kimbrel>Walden>O’Flaherty>Venters.
The Braves have 4 shut down guys and the Nats have 3 and I know I’m in the minority but kicking Storen out of the closer rule could do more damage than good. I think he had a very tough Game 5 in the LDS and to solidify that by replacing him with a 33 yr old free agent? Not sure about that
The only player the Mets will sign this year is Ugueth Urbina. Lets just hope he leaves the gas and machetes at home.
“When the heck were the Mets ever in?”
Well I guess making a phone to call to find out what your not willing to pay knowing full well you weren’t willing to pay it before you dialed the number, constitutes as IN IT for this front office because thats about as far IN as they ever get on anything….
I do understand what he was trying to say though….
The only way we get Upton is if all the other players who would trade for him find another solution and get out of the bidding…
The problem is that that assumes Sandy will pay a high price to get Upton and there is NO indication he would ever agree to a price needed (even if Wheeler was not involved) to get an Upton.
He just loves having KIDS more than he loves having a great MLB team….
also assumes that AZ will eventually cave and cheap sell (based on their perceived value for him) rather than keep him for this year, and that is far from a given.
and nonsense that Sandy somehow would rather have a good farm instead of a good MLB team. the farm is nothing maore than the building block for the big club.
Well then why does he trade his BEST MLB player LEFT EVERY YEAR to get this farm that consists of all of TWO players and a A Ball Pitcher….
You do realize we have traded or let go:
K-Rod
Beltran
Reyes
Pagan
Dickey
To get an upgrade to Thole and a guy who might replace Dickey in a few years….
How do we get the rest with a return for value record like that?
You know might care less about losing all the BEST PLAYERS (and look at every year the BEST player on our team has always been sent away) if we actually GOT some farm to replace them…
But we haven’t!
So your right we haven’t favored the farm over the MLB….We just wasted the MLB and didn’t get what it was we were supposed to get from selling it off!
WORSE than what I actually said because he tried to get farm at the expense of the MLB and didn’t get it!
Stanton isn’t good enough to rid all of the minor league talent that we have. We need good players around Stanton and have a good young nucleus. Stanton didn’t lift the Marlins to contention because of their lack of talent. So why are ‘we’, the Mets create a situation much like the Marlins had with Stanton with a couple of good players around him but mostly a lackluster roster. I know we have to get a couple of more peices but we have to be wise and not ruin the future of the team.
“Wiggle back in? When the heck were the Mets ever in?”
There comes a time when one has to consider the source of said Information….
“Cerrone”
The Mets are well past the point of one player making much of a difference. Hell, that was true when Sandy decided not to offer Reyes a contract after the 2010 season. It’s what made a 20 game winning Cy Young award winner available.
It’s why the bullpen and the outfield are no longer in need of urgent fixes.
Sandy has gutted this team past any relevance.
How much does Sandy get paid? He is worth every penny to the Wilpons.
Whats worse is we came from where ONE or TWO good player might have made a difference, (THREE good ones would have been a slam dunk!) to a point where three good players really wouldn’t make a difference….
It’s called DIGRESSION!
Some pronouce it IMPROVEMENT but it’s spelled DIGRESSION…
We needed a Catcher and maybe a Pitcher….
We got a Catcher and a Pitcher but now need a LFer RFer, CFer and another Pitcher….
Cause thats what it cost us just to upgrade Thole!