In an interview with ESPN.com’s Keith Law, Mets GM Sandy Alderson discussed the processes he implemented since taking over the club and how it has led to a system with improved depth and several players being looked at as top 100 prospects.
On building through the draft:
“With respect to the draft, we have taken a more aggressive posture with regard to higher ceiling players coming out of the draft. All of our first round picks since I’ve been with the Mets have been high school players. We haven’t done that intentionally, but I think we’ve had a tendency to go with those higher ceiling players.”
“And by the way, we’ve actually had those first round picks because we didn’t sign any free agent players like the Mets have done previously.”
Being More Systematic:
“Paul DePodesta oversees scouting and player development and he’s done a terrific job not just by the selections we’ve made, but approaching it all in a very systematic way. That means using the information, but doing it in a way that gives us some leverage and using less traditional means of player evaluation.”
On building through International arena:
“We’ve had some luck and signed some guys who have been over age for the International market. Rafael Montero who we signed at age 20 has come on rather quickly. So we’ve tried to do some nontraditional things in the International market as well.”
Building Via Trades:
“Talent acquisition has been important to us. We’ve made some trades involving high quality players like Carlos Beltran and R.A. Dickey and most recently Marlon Byrd, so we picked up some prospects in that way as well. We’re very pleased with the progress we’ve made and hopefully those prospects will emerge soon at the major league level.”
On Organizational Patience:
Sandy credited the success of International players to the fact the Mets have not one, but two teams in the Dominican Republic at the Mets Academy. He pointed out how critical it was to have the diversified staff in place to work with these players who are rough around the edges and help them to their ultimate transition to the United States.
“Development today is far more sophisticated than it was 20 or 25 years ago.”
You can listen to Keith Law’s entire interview with Sandy here.
