Mookie Betts

Position: RF
Bats/Throws: R/R
Age: October 7, 1992 (27)

Traditional Stats: .295/.391/.524, 40 2B, 5 3B, 29 HR, 16 SB, 80 RBI
Advanced Stats: 6.8 bWAR, 6.6 fWAR, 135 OPS+, 135 wRC+
Defensive Stats: 1129.1 innings, 15 DRS, 12.9 UZR, 15.6 UZR/150

Contract: Arbitration eligible (~$30 million), Free Agent after 2020

When it comes to right fielders, Mookie Betts is as good as it gets. He is a perennial threat for the Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, and MVP. While you might think a team like the Red Sox would never part with such a talented and young outfielder, it’s actually quite possible this offseason.

As I outlined in a recent article, the Red Sox are facing significant taxes as their payroll projects to far surpass the luxury tax threshold. Part of the cause is Betts, as he’s due for a pay raise through arbitration that could pay him $30 million in 2020. This is not about the Red Sox, so for the sake of this article, consider Betts available as many have reported.

Betts, 27, is easily one of the best ballplayers in the world, slashing .295/.391/.524 with 29 HR and 80 RBIs last season in 150 games. Batting leadoff for the potent Red Sox lineup, Betts led MLB with 135 runs scored. That was a career high, but most of his career bests came in 2018 when he won the AL MVP over Mike Trout.

In 2018, Betts slashed .346/.438/.640 with 32 home runs, 80 RBIs, 129 runs scored, 185 wRC+, and a 10.4 fWAR. He won the ML batting title, also leading MLB in SLG% and runs scored while winning the Silver Slugger and third-straight Gold Glove.

He is very good, and with that, he will carry a large price tag. The Red Sox desperately need to cut payroll so moving his ~$30 million contract is attractive to them, but that’s their only incentive to move him. The team trading for him will surely have to pay up, but the amount of talent they send will directly correlate with how much of his contract they’re willing to take on. The Mets 2020 payroll has wriggle room due to free agents leaving, and the complexion can change depending on who is non-tendered. It is not far-fetched to think the Mets could swing a trade.

Needs for Boston 

Firstly, with Mitch Moreland and Steve Pearce leaving for free agency, the Red Sox will be looking for a first baseman. As the point of this offseason is to cut payroll, free agency is not a good option for them. They will be looking for a young, cheap first baseman under team control for many years and the Mets have three: Pete Alonso, Dominic Smith, and J.D. Davis. A deal between the Mets and Red Sox for Betts would surely have to include one of those three players.

Next, the Red Sox desperately need starting pitching help. They seem to love having left-handed starters (Chris Sale, David Price, Eduardo Rodriguez), so perhaps including Steven Matz would pique their interest. He is cheap and under team control through 2021, not to mention a solid starter. The Mets would be left with Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, and Marcus Stroman under contract for 2020 which is not a bad starting point to build from.

Last, the Red Sox bullpen is atrocious. While the Mets ‘pen had its issues in 2019, there are many arms that would be appealing to other teams. This could be a good opportunity for the Mets to send a little money back to the Red Sox so New York doesn’t add $30 million to the payroll without subtracting anything. While the Red Sox would love Seth Lugo, he is most likely untouchable, so sending them Jeurys Familia (two years, $22 million remaining) would make sense. Justin Wilson would also be appealing for the Sox, but don’t make sense for the Mets to move him.

How to Make It Work

Any team would improve when adding Mookie Betts, but when he costs $30 million, how do you make it work?

As of right now, the Mets have Brandon Nimmo, Michael Conforto, and Yoenis Cespedes (remember him?) under contract for 2020. Nimmo and Conforto are healthy, but Cespedes remains as big of a question mark as ever after breaking his ankle on his ranch in May. There have been no updates from the Mets regarding his health, but it is reasonable to assume that he will be ready for Spring Training barring any setbacks.

Some have suggested the Mets trade him this offseason, but that would involve finding a trading partner, which seems very unlikely. So, if the Mets were to trade for Betts, we must assume Cespedes and his $29.5 million contract is on the payroll. Knowing the Mets will have those three guys under contract, as well as Jeff McNeil who can play outfield well, is Betts necessary?

The thing with trading for Betts is that he will immediately become the Mets’ best outfielder. If the Mets were to move some of their outfield depth in the trade, it makes a bit more sense.

Verdict

Many questions must be answered by Brodie Van Wagenen before trading for Betts. The only way a trade for him makes sense, especially one that involves players like Matz, Davis, Smith, Nimmo, etc., is if they plan on locking him up long-term. If they do truly intend to extend him, then a trade could be a good idea, so BVW must talk with the Wilpons to determine whether or not an extension is in the cards.

If they don’t plan on extending him, though, one season of Mookie Betts might not be worth five years of J.D. Davis, two of Steven Matz, three of Brandon Nimmo, etc. Also, adding Betts’ huge contract would prevent them from spending that money elsewhere on real needs like the bullpen or starting rotation. With Cespedes, Nimmo, Conforto, and McNeil, the outfield isn’t exactly a need.

In summation, if the Mets are sure they will sign Betts to an extension, then it’s worth it to trade for him. Otherwise, it could be self-destructive, no matter how good of a player he is.

The post Mets Trade Target: Mookie Betts, OF appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Jacob deGrom seems poised to win his second consecutive Cy Young Award after another outstanding season. If he does, that would make him only the 11th pitcher in history to win back-to-back awards.

While Tom Seaver won the award three times (1969, 1973, 1975), he never won in back-to-back seasons. Between Tom Seaver and Jacob deGrom came only Dwight Gooden and R.A. Dickey, rounding out the group of pitchers who won the Cy Young while pitching in Queens.

In 2018, deGrom went 10-9 with an MLB-leading 1.70 ERA, 1.98 FIP, 218 ERA+, and 0.4 HR/9. He also boasted 269 strikeouts in 217 innings as well as a 0.912 WHIP and 9.6 bWAR, and would have likely been unanimous if it weren’t for a lone voter from San Diego who values wins above all else. He followed up that historic season with an 11-8 record, striking out an NL-leading 255 batters in 204 innings while registering a 2.43 ERA, 2.67 FIP, 167 ERA+, 0.971 WHIP, and 7.3 bWAR. Overall, in those two seasons, he went 21-17 with a 2.05 ERA, 2.32 FIP, 189 ERA+, 0.941 WHIP, and 11.2 K/9.

Overall, should deGrom win, he would cement these two seasons and two of the best consecutive seasons of all time. Here, we will take a look at the ten pitchers who have won the Award in back-to-back seasons, starting with the most recent. Let’s see how deGrom stacks up against them.

Max Scherzer (2016, 2017)

If deGrom does not win the 2019 NL Cy Young, it would almost certainly be because of Scherzer. Either way, only people named Scherzer or deGrom will have won the award since 2016.

In 2016, Scherzer won the first of two consecutive (but three overall) Awards after going 20-7 with a 2.96 ERA, 3.24 FIP, 144 ERA+, MLB-leading 0.968 WHIP, and 6.3 bWAR. He struck out an MLB-leading 284 batters in 228 1/3 innings across his 34 starts, garnering 25 of 30 first-place votes for the award.

He followed up that strong season with an even better one, albeit one shortened slightly by a minor injury. Making only 31 starts, Scherzer went 16-6 with a 2.51 ERA, 2.90 FIP, 178 ERA+, 0.902 WHIP, and 7.2 bWAR. He struck out an NL-leading 268 batters in 200 2/3 innings, good for a 12.0 K/9 which was better than his 11.2 mark from 2016. He earned 27 of 30 first-place votes.

Overall in two seasons, Scherzer went 36-13 with a 2.75 ERA, 3.08 FIP, 159 ERA+, 0.937 WHIP, and 11.6 K/9. His 2018 season blew both of those Cy Young-winning years out of the water, but he was still not close to deGrom.

Clayton Kershaw (2013, 2014)

We often forget how unbelievably good Clayton Kershaw was for a long time, even though he’s still pitching and only 31 years old. He won his second Cy Young Award in 2013 after going 16-9 with an MLB-leading 1.83 ERA, 2.39 FIP, MLB-leading 0.915 WHIP, MLB-leading 194 ERA+, and 8.0 bWAR. He struck out 232 batters in 236 innings, tossing two shutouts. He garnered 29 of 30 first-place votes, with one out-of-touch voter choosing Adam Wainwright simply because he won three more games.

Kershaw followed up his second career Cy Young with a third, as he went 21-3 in 2014 despite starting only 27 games. Each of the following numbers led all of the MLB that season: 1.77 ERA, 1.81 FIP, 197 ERA+, 0.857 WHIP, 10.8 K/9, six shutouts, and a 7.7 bWAR. He struck out 239 batters in 198 1/3 innings en route to not only a unanimous Cy Young win, but NL MVP honors as well.

Overall across those two seasons, he went 37-12 with a 1.80 ERA, 2.12 FIP, 196 ERA+, 0.889 WHIP, and 9.8 K/9. These two seasons are definitely toward the top of the list in terms of back-to-back seasons ever for a starting pitcher.

Tim Lincecum (2008, 2009)

The only pitcher ever to win the Cy Young in his first two full seasons, Tim Lincecum and his funky mechanics made history. He started in 2008 when he went 18-5 with a 2.62 ERA, MLB-leading 2.62 FIP, MLB-leading 168 ERA+, 1.172 WHIP, and 7.8 bWAR. He led the MLB with 265 strikeouts in 227 innings, garnering 23 of 30 first-place votes.

He pitched even better in 2009, going 15-7 with a 2.48 ERA, 2.34 FIP, 171 ERA+, 1.047 WHIP, and 7.4 bWAR. He led the National League with 261 strikeouts in 225 1/3 innings, earning just 11 first-place votes. In fact, Adam Wainwright garnered 12 first-place votes but finished third overall, with teammate Chris Carpenter earning nine first-place votes and finishing second.

Overall across those two seasons, Lincecum went 33-12 with a 2.55 ERA, 2.48 FIP, 170 ERA+, 1.110 WHIP, and 10.5 K/9. His last All-Star-caliber season was 2011, enduring a pretty steep decline after that. He has not pitched in a Major League game since 2016.

Randy Johnson (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)

One of two pitchers in history to win four straight Cy Young Awards, Randy Johnson was 6’10” of winning pitcher for the Diamondbacks from 1999 to 2004, winning four straight Cy Young Awards from 1999-2002 and finishing second in voting in 2004. To make it easier for both of us, here are his numbers for those four seasons. Any numbers in bold means he led the National League and bold/italics means he led MLB.

1999: 17-9, 2.48 ERA, 2.76 FIP, 184 ERA+, 1.020 WHIP, 271.2 IP, 364 K, 12.1 K/9, 12 CG, 2 SHO, 9.1 bWAR
2000: 19-7, 2.64 ERA, 2.53 FIP, 181 ERA+, 1.118 WHIP, 248.2 IP, 347 K, 12.6 K/9, 8 CG, 3 SHO, 8.1 bWAR
2001: 21-6, 2.49 ERA, 2.13 FIP, 188 ERA+, 1.009 WHIP, 249.2 IP, 372 K, 13.4 K/9, 3 CG, 2 SHO, 10.1 bWAR
2002: 24-5, 2.32 ERA, 2.66 FIP, 195 ERA+, 1.031 WHIP, 260.0 IP, 334 K, 11.6 K.9, 8 CG, 4 SHO, 10.7 bWAR

The Big Unit is one of the best pitchers of all time, and during those four seasons, he was one of – if not the best – in the game. His 2001 and 2002 seasons were his best, so let’s combine those two: 45-11, 2.40 ERA, 2.40 FIP, 192 ERA+, 1.020 WHIP, 12.5 K/9. Add in his World Series MVP Award in 2001 and those two seasons are tough to beat.

Pedro Martinez (1999, 2000)

If you look at Randy Johnson‘s above numbers in 1999 and 2000, the ones that he led the league with, but not the MLB, are probably because of this guy. Pitching for the Red Sox in 1999, Pedro went 23-4 with an MLB-best 2.07 ERA, Modern Era-best 1.39 FIP, 243 ERA+, 0.923 WHIP, and 9.8 bWAR. He struck out 313 batters in 213 1/3 innings, good for an MLB-best 13.2 K/9 and also registering an amazing 8.46 K/BB ratio (MLB-best). He won 23 games despite making only 29 starts, which is amazing. But the most amazing number is his 1.39 FIP (not a typo), the best for a pitcher by far since 1910. The only other pitcher to record a FIP under 1.75 since 1910 was Dwight Gooden in 1984 – his rookie season.

He followed up his historic season with another, going 18-6 with an MLB-best 1.74 ERA, MLB-best 2.17 FIP, Modern Era-best 29 ERA+, and best-ever 0.737 WHIP. Yeah. He also struck out 284 batters in 217.0 innings while walking only 32, good for 11.8 K/9 and 8.88 K/BB ratios, as well as an 11.7 overall bWAR. Needless to say, he was the unanimous choice for AL Cy Young in both seasons.

Combined, Pedro went 41-10 with a 1.90 ERA, 1.79 FIP, 265 ERA+, 0.830 WHIP, and 12.5 K/9.

Greg Maddux (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995)

Randy Johnson‘s partner-in-crime as the only two pitchers to win four-straight Cy Young Awards, Greg Maddux has one of the best resumes of any pitcher ever. Winning his first Cy Young in 1992 for the Cubs and the remaining three for the Braves, Maddux could throw a baseball wherever he wanted, whenever he wanted. Here are his numbers for those four seasons:

1992: 20-11, 2.18 ERA, 2.58 FIP, 166 ERA+, 1.011 WHIP, 268.0 IP, 199 K, 9 CG, 4 SHO, 9.1 bWAR
1993: 20-10, 2.36 ERA, 2.85 FIP, 170 ERA+, 1.049 WHIP, 267.0 IP, 197 K, 8 CG, 1 SHO, 5.8 bWAR
1994*: 16-6, 1.56 ERA, 2.39 FIP, 271 ERA+, 0.896 WHIP, 202.0 IP, 156 K, 10 CG, 3 SHO, 8.5 bWAR
1995: 19-2, 1.63 ERA, 2.26 FIP, 260 ERA+, 0.811 WHIP, 209.2 IP, 181 K, 10 CG, 3 SHO, 9.7 bWAR

After starting 71 games between 1992 and 1993, reasons including the 1994 strike limited him to only 53 starts between 1994 and 1995. Quality outweighs quantity in this case, however, as his last two Cy Young seasons rank as some of the best all-time. Combined, he went 35-8 with a 1.60 ERA, 2.32 FIP, 265 ERA+, 0.853 WHIP, and 6.24 K/BB ratio.

*Roger Clemens (1986, 1987 – 1997, 1998)

1986: 24-4, 2.48 ERA, 2.81 FIP, 169 ERA+, 0.969 WHIP, 254.0 IP, 238 K, 10 CG, 1 SHO, 8.8 bWAR
1987: 20-9, 2.97 ERA, 2.91 FIP, 154 ERA+, 1.175 WHIP, 281.2 IP, 256 K, 18 CG, 7 SHO, 9.4 bWAR

1997: 21-7, 2.05 ERA, 2.25 FIP, 222 ERA+, 1.030 WHIP, 264.0 IP, 292 K, 9 CG, 3 SHO, 11.9 bWAR
1998: 20-6, 2.65 ERA, 2.65 FIP, 174 ERA+, 1.095 WHIP, 234.2 IP, 271 K, 5 CG, 3 SHO, 5.9 bWAR

Those numbers would be impressive, but he cheated, so they don’t mean much.

Jim Palmer (1975, 1976)

One of the more underrated pitchers in history, Jim Palmer dominated opposing hitters for a long time, but especially in 1975 and 1976. His best season was easily in 1975, when he went 23-11 with an MLB-leading 2.09 ERA, 2.96 FIP, MLB-best 169 ERA+, 1.031 WHIP, and 8.4 bWAR. Not known for strikeouts, he fanned 193 batters in 323 innings across 38 starts including 10 complete games.

1976 saw Palmer go 22-13 with a 2.51 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 130 ERA+, 1.076 WHIP, and 6.5 bWAR in 315 innings across 40 starts. Combined, Palmer went 45-24 in 1975 and 1976, recording a 2.30 ERA, 3.14 FIP, 148 ERA+, 1.053 WHIP, and 2.15 K/BB ratio. He would have won three straight Cy Youngs, but he finished second in voting to closer Sparky Lyle in 1977.

Denny McLain (1968, 1969)

The last pitcher to win more than 30 games in a season, Denny McLain shocked the baseball world in 1968 by going 31-6 with a 1.96 ERA, 2.53 FIP, 154 ERA+, 0.905 WHIP, and 7.4 bWAR. He struck out 280 batters in 336 innings across 41 starts, throwing an amazing 28 complete games. He was the unanimous choice for both the AL Cy Young and MVP Awards, while Bob Gibson and his 1.12 ERA won both NL Awards. In a battle of the best, the Tigers would beat the Cardinals in the 1968 World Series.

McLain saw continued success in 1969, as we went 24-9 with a 2.80 ERA, 3.05 FIP, 134 ERA+, 1.092 WHIP, and 8.1 bWAR. He struck out 181 batters in 325 innings across 41 starts, throwing 23 complete games and an MLB-leading nine shutouts. Combining both seasons, McClain went 55-15 which is the highest win total of this group, barely edging out Koufax. In 82 starts, McLain had a 2.37 ERA, 2.79 FIP, 142 ERA+, 0.997 WHIP, and 3.55 K/BB ratio.

Sandy Koufax (1965, 1966)

If you don’t know the legend of Sandy Koufax, allow me to enlighten you. These two seasons in which he won back-to-back Cy Young awards were his last seasons, as he announced his retirement at the age of 30. Having hurt his arm in 1964, Koufax pitched through immense pain during the subsequent seasons having torn muscles in his arm and damaging his elbow cartilage. During 1965 and 1966, he pitched through unmatchable pain that could have been remedied by the yet-to-be-invented laparoscopic surgery. Keeping that in mind, here are his numbers for those two seasons:

In 1965, Koufax went 26-8 with a 2.04 ERA, 1.93 FIP, 160 ERA+, 0.855 WHIP, and an 8.1 bWAR. He struck out 382 batters, a record that would stand until Nolan Ryan struck out 383 in 1973, and walked only 71 in 335 2/3 innings. His wins, ERA, FIP, WHIP, 5.8 H/9, and 5.38 K/BB were all MLB bests that season as we unanimously won the ML Cy Young (there were not yet separate AL and NL Awards). He also threw the one and only Perfect Game in Dodgers’ history (his fourth no-hitter).

In 1966, his last season, we saw The Left Arm Of God go 27-9 with an MLB-leading 1.73 ERA, MLB-leading 2.07 FIP, MLB-leading 190 ERA+, 0.985 WHIP, and 10.3 bWAR. He struck out 317 batters in 323 innings, both MLB bests. He threw 27 complete games in both ’65 and ’66, tossing eight shutouts in ’65 and leading the MLB with five in ’66.

Combined, he went 53-17 with a 1.89 ERA, 2.00 FIP, 174 ERA+, 0.919 WHIP, 9.6 K/9, and 4.72 K/BB.

How does deGrom stack up?

Well, I’d say that’s up to you. His sub-2.00 ERA and FIP as well as 219 ERA+ from 2018 certainly cement that as one of the best seasons ever, let alone on this list. His 2019 season, while not as sparkling, is still very very good and far from the bottom of seasons on this list as well.

Only two pitchers, Randy Johnson and Greg Maddux, have won three consecutive Cy Youngs. Jacob deGrom shows no signs of slowing down, so if he does win the 2020 Cy Young as well, his company will diminish for the best reason.

The post DeGrom Versus Previous Consecutive Cy Young Winners appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Well, here we are. There are no more regular season games to be played in 2019; the numbers are set in stone. Pitchers can no longer help their case with a strong start, or hurt their chances with a blow-up. What’s done is done, so let’s take a look at the best pitchers in the National League, and how likely they each are to earn the NL Cy Young Award.

Jacob deGrom – 11-8, 32 GS, 204 IP, 2.43 ERA, 2.67 FIP, 0.971 WHIP, 11.3 K/9, 255 K, 7.9 bWAR, 7.0 fWAR

Poised to win his second consecutive Cy Young Award, Jacob deGrom seems to be the front-runner. He led National League pitchers with 255 strikeouts and a 7.9 bWAR, finished second in ERA, FIP, and WHIP, and finished towards the top in all other categories. He went at least seven innings in 19 of his 32 starts, and allowed more than three earned runs only five times.

In his last four starts, he went seven innings in each, racking up 35 strikeouts in 28 innings, allowing only one earned run and holding opposing batters to a .128/.155/.170 slash line. Nobody did a better job to solidify their Cy Young chances down the stretch, let alone most of the season, than deGrom.

Max Scherzer – 11-7, 27 GS, 172.1 IP, 2.92 ERA, 2.45 FIP, 1.027 WHIP, 12.7 K/9, 243 K, 5.8 bWAR, 6.5 fWAR

A sure-thing Hall of Famer, Scherzer did well to build on his resume for that. Unfortunately, due to injuries (and deGrom being so good), he might not have done enough to build a resume for the 2019 NL Cy Young. Having missed time due to injuries, Mad Max only made 27 starts – five less than deGrom, and pitching 31 2/3 less innings. Despite that, his NL-leading 12.7 K/9 ratio left him with the third-most strikeouts in the NL.

The strikeouts and his MLB-best 2.45 FIP are big reasons why he’s still very much in this conversation despite missing time. This is the first season since 2012 he didn’t pitch at least 200 innings, and it hurt him. This will likely be the second-straight season he finished second in voting to deGrom, and will surely be his seventh straight season finishing fifth or higher in Cy Young voting.

Hyun-Jin Ryu – 14-5, 29 GS, 182.2 IP, 2.32 ERA, 3.10 FIP, 1.007 WHIP, 8.0 K/9, 163 K, 5.3 bWAR, 4.8 fWAR

Another pitcher who’s resume is hurt by a lack of innings-pitched, Ryu was the no-doubt front-runner for most of the season. An injury, and later an implosion, hurt his chances, but he is still in the race thanks to his MLB-best ERA and MLB-best 1.2 BB/9. He is at an immense disadvantage to Scherzer and deGrom in many categories including strikeouts, FIP, and WAR, but if he can find voters that don’t care about strikeouts and disregard FIP in favor or ERA, he could garner votes.

These three aces will likely be the top three finalists in Cy Young voting, but many NL pitchers had outstanding seasons. These pitchers include Stephen Strasburg (18-6, 251 K, 6.5 bWAR), Jack Flaherty (33 GS, 2.75 ERA, 0.968 WHIP, 5.9 bWAR), Mike Soroka (13-4, 2.68 ERA, 0.7 HR/9, 5.7 bWAR), and Patrick Corbin (14-7, 33 GS, 238 K, 5.7 bWAR).

The post Final Look At NL Cy Young Numbers appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The New York Mets weren’t the only disappointing team in 2019. Travel a few hours up the coast and you will find the Boston Red Sox. Despite winning the World Series in 2018, they finished in third place with an 84-78 record, 19 games behind the first-place Yankees. After parting ways with Dave Dombrowski, they have many tasks this offseason. The task that piques the Mets interest, however, is the Red Sox’ need to shed payroll.

Right now, the Red Sox have roughly $223.3 million on the books for next season. Designated hitter J.D. Martinez is owed $23,750,000 in 2020 and has an opt-out which he could exercise and become a free agent, but it is unlikely as of now. Mookie Betts ($20 million in 2019), Jackie Bradley Jr. ($8.55 million), Eduardo Rodriguez ($4.3 million), Sandy Leon ($2.48 million), and others are arbitration-eligible. That $223.3 million might shrink a little bit, but as of now, Boston’s payroll is projected to be $238.8 million in 2021.

No matter how you look at it, the Red Sox must shed significant payroll this offseason. The Competitive Balance Tax, or CBT, will be $208 million for the 2020 season. That means if the Red Sox payroll is above that mark, they must pay significant taxes. Every dollar spent above $208 million will be taxed at 50%, anything over $228 million will be taxed at 62%, and anything after $248 million would be taxed 95%. If they get under the $208 million mark, however, the taxes reset as there are penalties for passing the CBT in consecutive seasons (which they did in 2019).

“The CBT is always a guidepost in our budgeting as we build our financial plans for the following season,” Red Sox President Sam Kennedy told reporters Monday. “We use CBT as one guidepost… I believe in the last 17 years, we’ve been over that CBT threshold 10 times and we will continue to demonstrate a willingness to go over. That said, John [Henry] made it clear that there is a goal to try to get under the CBT in 2020. But he also said, and Tom followed up and clarified, that that is a goal but not a mandate.”

“There is a way, but obviously it will be difficult given the nature of the agreements and the contracts we have in place.”

What does this mean for the Mets?

After a “too little too late” season, the Mets have an opportunity to improve this offseason. While the free-agent class is limited, the Red Sox might be a good place to find some pieces.

2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts seems to be available for the right price. He was paid $20 million last season and has one more year of arbitration before becoming a free agent after the 2020 season, with some estimates putting his projected 2020 salary around $30 million. While the Red Sox could hold onto him until the trade deadline (or the whole season), they would get a bigger haul in a trade if they move him this offseason.

Betts, who turns 27 on October 7, hit .295/.391/.524 with 29 home runs, 80 RBI, 16 stolen bases, an MLB-most 135 runs-scored, 135 wRC+, 6.8 bWAR, and 6.6 fWAR. His 2018 was remarkable as he hit .346/.438/.640 with 32 home runs, 30 stolen bases, a 185 wRC+, 10.4 fWAR, and 10.9 bWAR.

The Red Sox also have an impressive catcher in Christian Vazquez. The 29-year-old hit .276/.320/.477 with 23 home runs, 102 wRC+, and 3.5 fWAR in 2019. While he would be a slight downgrade offensively from Wilson Ramos, Vazquez is one of the best defensive catchers in the game today as he ranks 15h in baseball in fielding runs above average (FRAA) with 7.8 according to Baseball Prospectus.

Vazquez is owed $4.2 million in 2020 and $6.25 million in 2021, with a $7 million team option for 2022 (with a $250,000 buyout). He is probably unavailable, considering the Red Sox might non-tender backup catcher Sandy Leon who was paid $2.48 million in 2019, but if he is made available and the Mets choose to upgrade defensively, he would be a great target.

Other players like Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr., Sandy Leon, Matt Barnes, or Brandon Workman could interest the Mets as well.

What would the Red Sox be looking for in return?

First of all, they want to shed payroll, so they’ll want young, cheap players in return. They will not be able to go out and buy free agent players, however, so they must fill the holes in their roster via trades.

While they have J.D. Martinez manning the designated hitter position, the Sox are losing both of their first basemen to free agency – Mitch Moreland and Steve Pearce. They now have a gaping hole there and, before you scroll down to the bottom of the page and yell at me, I am not suggesting the Mets trade Pete Alonso.

What I am suggesting is the Red Sox might be seriously interested in Dominic Smith and/or J.D. Davis. Both of those players showed tremendous value in 2019, and they can both play a decent first base. The Red Sox will not find many other opportunities to fill first base as they have with the Mets, and Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen can take advantage of that.

The Red Sox will also be looking for bullpen help this offseason, and the Mets could have them bite on that. Edwin Diaz, Seth Lugo, Justin Wilson, and the rest of the bullpen can be put on the table if a talent like Mookie Betts is made available. The Mets have the salary room to add free-agent relievers – The Red Sox do not.

Lastly, the Sox will surely be looking to bolster their starting rotation as while they have Chris Sale, David Price, and Eduardo Rodriguez under contract, they have no other viable options under contract. The Mets, meanwhile, have guys like Marcus Stroman, Steven Matz, and Noah Syndergaard that could also be made available if the Sox offer enough in return.

Could the Mets swing a trade for Mookie Betts? It’s possible. If anyone has what the Red Sox need, it’s the Mets. The problem is, the Mets have a lot of large contracts to pay too, and adding one contract worth around $30 million for just one season of Betts would be tough to swing. The Mets and Red Sox match up for some kind of trade, but exactly what that trade would look like remains to be seen.

The post Red Sox Salary Troubles Could Benefit Mets appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Pete Alons0 took Major League Baseball by storm in 2019, smashing 53 home runs and setting a new rookie record. The rest of his numbers were impressive as well, and if it weren’t for some guys names Yelich or Bellinger, Alonso could have garnered some serious MVP consideration.

Despite the massive power numbers Alonso put up in his impressive rookie campaign, it might surprise you that there are some other hitters whose freshman years make Alonso look like a polar bear cub. Some were recent, some were a long time ago, but all were impressive. Let’s take a look at the best offensive rookie seasons in baseball history, starting with Alonso himself and working our way backwards in time.

Pete Alonso (2019) – .260/.358/.583/.941, 155 H, 30 2B, 2 3B, 53 HR, 120 RBI, 103 R, 148 OPS+, 143 wRC+, 5.0 bWAR, 4.8 fWAR

Setting the all-time rookie record for home runs in a season is no easy feat, and it’s even more impressive when considering nobody in the MLB hit even close to as many home runs as him in 2019. While his .260 batting average is the lowest of this bunch, his respectable .358 OBP, outstanding .583 SLG%, and .941 OPS help cement his rookie season as one of the best all-time.

Aaron Judge (2017) – .284/.422/.627/1.049, 154 H, 24 2B, 3 3B, 52 HR, 114 RBI, 128 R, 171 OPS+, 174 wRC+, 8.1 bWAR, 8.3 fWAR

Playing in a very hitter-friendly ballpark, Judge put up monster numbers in his first season with the Yankees. Before Alonso broke his record, Judge’s 52 home runs was the most ever hit by a rookie. His 1.049 OPS and 174 wRC+ are impressive, and are solidified by his 8+ WARs. Judge also set the rookie record having struck out 208 times.

Mike Trout (2012) – .326/.399/.564/.963, 182 H, 27 2B, 8 3B, 30 HR, 83 RBI, 129 R, 49 SB, 168 OPS+, 167 wRC+, 10.5 bWAR, 10.1 fWAR

If you use WAR as your main evaluator, then Mike Trout’s rookie season is the best in 100 years – Especially considering he only played in 139 games. To register a 30-30 season in your rookie campaign is no small feat, and the only thing that stood in his way of winning the AL MVP was Miguel Cabrera hitting for the Triple Crown.

Ichiro Suzuki (2001) – .350/.381/.457/.838, 242 H, 34 2B, 8 3B, 8 HR, 69 RBI, 127 R, 56 SB, 126 OPS+, 124 wRC+, 7.7 bWAR, 6.0 fWAR

Rookie of the Year, All Star, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, Batting Title, and MVP. Coming to the MLB at the age of 27, Ichiro took the league by storm and put up massive numbers immediately, including 242 hits and 56 stolen bases. As well all know, he never slowed down, recording at least 200 hits in 10-straight seasons. 2001 was a Hall of Fame rookie class with Ichiro and the next fella bound to be first-ballot inductees.

Albert Pujols (2001) – .329/.403/.610/1.013, 194 H, 47 2B, 4 3B, 37 HR, 130 RBI, 112 R, 157 OPS+, 159 wRC+, 6.6 bWAR, 7.2 fWAR

“The Machine” burst onto the scene in 2001, sharing the spotlight with Ichiro as they both made their mark on the MLB. Playing first base, third base, and outfield, Pujols not only put up massive power numbers summed up in his .610 SLG%, but he also hit for average, knocking 194 hits in his rookie season. A first-ballot Hall of Famer, Pujols kept up his best-of-the-best production for 11 seasons, culminating in two World Series rings, one in 2006 and another in 2011.

Nomar Garciaparra (1997) – .306/.342/.534/.875, 209 H, 44 2B, 11 3B, 30 HR, 98 RBI, 122 R, 22 SB, 123 OPS+, 122 wRC+, 6.6 bWAR, 6.4 fWAR

“Nomah” had a fantastic rookie season, but got better every year for the next few years before becoming hampered by injuries. A Red Sox fan favorite, Garciaparra’s combination of power and speed not only earned him a 20-20 season, but a spot on the list of all-time best rookie seasons.

Mike Piazza (1993) – .318/.370/.561/.932, 174 H, 24 2B, 2 3B, 35 HR, 112 RBI, 81 R, 153 OPS+, 150 wRC+, 7.0 bWAR, 7.4 fWAR

It’s one thing to put up amazing offensive numbers in your rookie season, but it’s another to do it as a catcher. Piazza, the greatest hitting catcher of all time, was drafted in the 62nd round of the 1988 draft. What followed was a Hall of Fame career, beginning with a powerful rookie season. The second of five-straight Rookies of the Year churned out by the Dodgers, Piazza surely shines the brightest.

Mark McGwire* (1989) – .289/.370/.618/.987, 161 H, 28 2B, 4 3B, 49 HR, 118 RBI, 97 R, 164 OPS+, 157 wRC+, 5.1 bWAR, 5.1 fWAR

While McGwire cheated later in his career, his rookie season is widely considered to be steroid-free, so I will allow him onto this list. Only Pete Alonso and Aaron Judge have hit more home runs in a rookie season than McGwire, which does not take away from his very impressive 49 home runs which led the MLB.

Dick Allen (1964) – .318/.382/.557/.939, 201 H, 28 2B, 13 3B, 29 HR, 91 RBI, 125 R, 162 OPS+, 162 wRC+, 8.8 bWAR, 8.2 fWAR

Leading the league with 13 triples and 125 runs scored, Allen had an impressive rookie campaign. Playing third base for the Phillies, the “Wampum Walloper” had a propensity for not only getting on base, but scoring for his team. That, as well as his other statistics, culminated in very impressive WAR numbers.

Tony Oliva (1964) – .323/.359/.557/.916, 217 H, 43 2B, 9 3B, 32 HR, 94 RBI, 109 R, 12 SB, 150 OPS+, 148 wRC+, 6.8 bWAR, 6.2 fWAR

While Dick Allen won the ROY Award in the National League, Tony Oliva was busy winning the Award in the American League. The Twins right fielder led the league in runs, hits, doubles, total bases (374), and batting average. 1964’s rookie class of Oliva and Allen rivals 2001’s class of Pujols and Ichiro, and no other season really comes close.

Jackie Robinson (1947) – .297/.383/.427/.810, 175 H, 31 2B, 5 3B, 12 HR, 48 RBI, 125 R, 29 SB, 112 OPS+, 115 wRC+, 3.1 bWAR, 3.5 fWAR

When looking at Jackie Robinson’s rookie statistics, one must keep in mind the immense pressure he was under. When considering that, his objectively impressive numbers impress even more. Leading the league in steals and sacrifice hits (28), Robinson earned the Rookie of the Year Award – The first ever given.

Ted Williams (1939) – .327/.436/.609/1.045, 185 H, 44 2B, 11 3B, 31 HR, 145 RBI, 131 R, 160 OPS+, 156 wRC+, 6.7 bWAR, 7.1 fWAR

Considered by many to be the greatest hitter of all time, Williams started his career as strong as anyone, posting a .609 SLG% and driving in 145 runs – The most ever by a rookie. His future teammate Walt Dropo came close in 1950, driving in 144. If he hadn’t missed three years due to military service in World War II, and missing most of 1952 and 1953 due to injuries, Williams would have had well over 3,000 hits and 600 home runs in his career.

Hal Trosky (1934) – .330/.388/.598/.987, 206 H, 45 2B, 9 3B, 35 HR, 142 RBI, 117 R, 150 OPS+, 143 wRC+, 5.5 bWAR, 5.4 fWAR

The lefty first baseman burst onto the scene in 1934, hitting both for power and average. He was a major run producer for the Indians, driving in 142 and scoring 117 himself. He had an impressive albeit short career which included a season in which he had 216 hits, 42 home runs, and 162 RBIs.

Shoeless Joe Jackson (1911) – .408/.468/.590/1.058, 233 H, 45 2B, 19 3B, 7 HR, 83 RBI, 126 R, 41 SB, 193 OPS+, 184 wRC+, 9.2 bWAR, 9.3 fWAR

Playing for the Cleveland Naps, Shoeless Joe was wide awake in his rookie season, putting up, in my opinion, the best rookie season ever. He hit over .400, had a .590 SLG%, and stole 41 bases. The only category he led the league in was OBP, as Ty Cobb hit .419 that season, even topping Jackson’s 19 triples with 24 of his own, and topping Jackson’s 233 hits with 248. If it weren’t for The Georgia Peach, Jackson’s incredible rookie season would be getting a lot more attention.

The post How Alonso Stacks Up Against The Best Rookie Seasons appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The New York Mets have announced their 2019 Minor League Awards. They represent some of the best players in the Mets farm system, and much to look forward to in the next couple years.

Hitter of the Year: Mark Vientos (3B)

19-year-old infielder Mark Vientos earned his Hitter of the Year honors by slashing .255/.300/.411 with a 105 wRC+ in 111 games for Single-A Columbia. He knocked 27 doubles and 12 home runs, driving in 62. Considering he is 2.5 years younger than the average position player in Single-A, and that league is notoriously difficult for hitters, these numbers are impressive as he continues the success he enjoyed in short-season rookie ball in 2018. Last year in 60 games, he slashed .287/.389/.489 with 11 home runs and 12 doubles.

Pitcher of the Year: Kevin Smith (LHP)

Left-handed starter Kevin Smith split time between High-A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton in 2019 and excelled in both leagues. The 22-year-old was 5-5 with a 3.15 ERA across 17 starts in St. Lucie, striking out 102 batters in 85 2/3 innings (10.7 K/9). He earned a promotion to Double-A where he went 3-2 with a 3.45 ERA in six starts, striking out 28 batters in 31 1/3 innings. Overall in 23 starts, he went 8-7 with a 3.15 ERA, 10.0 K/9, and 1.256 WHIP across 117 innings.

Best Defender – Andres Gimenez (SS)

As Amed Rosario starts to cement himself as the Mets shortstop, Andres Gimenez continues to cement his name on top prospect lists. Spending his whole season in Double-A Binghamton, Gimenez slashed .250/.309/.387 with a career-high nine home runs and a 105 wRC+. More importantly, though, he showed off his superb defense that’s only getting better, registering a .973 FLD% (11 errors in 413 chances).

Best Baserunner – Sam Haggerty (U)

The 25-year-old speedster not only played well enough to earn this award, but well enough to earn a late-season call-up to the Bigs. Haggerty played for Low-A Brooklyn, Double-A Binghamton, and Triple-A Syracuse this season and excelled for all three teams. In 86 games, he slashed .271/.376/.387 with 23 stolen bases. After swiping 49 bags in 112 games in 2017, his 26 steals in 94 games in 2018 and 23 steals this season continue to garner attention as a baserunner.

DSL Hitter of the Year – Freddy Valdez (OF)

Slashing .274/.367/.448 in 60 games, the 17-year-old made a great first impression in his first season playing in the Mets system. The outfielder knocked 16 doubles, three triples, and six home runs, also swiping six bags.

DSL Pitcher of the Year – Ronny Rincones (RHP)

Appearing in 13 games, 11 of which he started, the 17-year-old Rincones had a great season, sporting a 2.44 ERA and 1.277 WHIP, striking out 53 batters in 51 2/3 innings. He also registered one save.

Coach Of Year – David Davalillo

Davalillo, 44, Managed the Gulf Coast League Mets to a 30-24 record in 2019.

The post Mets Announce Minor League Award Winners appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Mets are still in the hunt for one of the two National League Wild Card spots. Technically. If the Mets are to actually obtain one of those spots, however, it will take a miracle. So what would need to happen? Let me explain:

The current NL Wild Card standings are as follows:

0.0 Nationals (85-69)
0.0 Brewers (86-70)
—————–
4.0 Cubs (82-74) E# 3
4.5 Mets (81-74) E# 3
6.0 Phillies (79-75) E# 2
6.0 DBacks (80-76) E# 1

The post National League Wild Card Scenarios appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

By Logan Barer

The Kansas City Royals announced that Ned Yost will be retiring following their last game of the season Sunday. He will retire as the all-time winningest manager in Royals history.

Yost, 64, has a career 1201-1338 record with the Brewers and Royals. He served as Brewers manager from 2003-2008 where he had a 457-502 record. After taking 2009 off, he took over the Royals in 2010 and has since accumulated a 744-836 record.

Taking over the rebuilding Royals 35 games into the season, he inherited a 12-23 team that would finish the year 67-95. After a 71-win 2011 and a 72-win 2012, the Royals started seeing success after getting better players, winning 86 games in 2013. They would then make it to the World Series in 2014 after winning 89 regular season games, but lost to the Giants. They made it to the 2015 World Series as well, this time having won 95 regular season games, and this time winning – Against the Mets.

“With the development of our young players and our returning veterans, I feel and hope the worst is behind us in this rebuilding phase of our organization,” Yost said. “My plan all along was to get us through the rough times then turn it over to a new manager to bring us the rest of the way.”

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here as your manager and will never forget the good and the hard times we had together as an organization and a fan base. I will never forget the fact that you fans supported us through it all. Kansas City will always have a special place in my heart, and I look forward to rooting the Royals on to their next World Series championship very soon.”

Yost is the all-time winningest manager of the Royals and the first manager to ever lead the Royals to consecutive World Series appearances. He will finish 32nd all-time in games managed with 2,544, three ahead of Earl Weaver. He will also finish 45th all-time, entering his final week with 1,201. His .710 playoff winning percentage (22-9) is the best among managers having played 20 playoff games.

The post MLB News: Royals Manager Ned Yost Announces Retirement appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Saturday night at Citi Field in New York, Jacob deGrom and Hyun-Jin Ryu went head-to-head. As the season moves along, it’s looking like those two are the top two choices for the NL Cy Young, so each team’s offense had the chance to help their pitcher’s chances.

Both pitchers shut out the other teams’ offense, keeping the race tight. Ryu went seven innings, allowing only two hits while striking out six while deGrom matched his seven innings, but allowed three hits while striking out eight.

If the season were to end right now, it would be a toss-up as to who would take home the award. Not just between those two pitchers either, as there are actually many pitchers vying for the Award, and many have better resume’s than you might think.

Jacob deGrom

The defending NL Cy Young has been making a great case for himself to become the 10th pitcher in MLB history to win the Cy Young in consecutive seasons. He has a 9-8 record, which we learned last season will not hurt his chances to win (only to make it unanimous), with a 2.61 ERA (3rd in NL), 2.79 FIP (2nd), 1.005 WHIP (1st), 190 IP (4th), 239 Ks (1st), 6.3 bWAR (1st), and 6.2 fWAR (2nd). If it weren’t for three starts in April in which he went 0-3 with a 9.69 ERA (14 runs in 13 innings), his resume would be much stronger. It is a safe bet to call deGrom the front-runner right now.

Hyun-Jin Ryu

On August 16th, the Award was Ryu’s to lose. He was 12-2 with a 1.45 ERA across 22 starts and nobody’s ERA came close. In four starts since then before Saturday’s game against the Mets, Ryu went 0-3 with a 9.95 ERA, allowing 21 earned runs in 19 innings. He righted the ship against the Mets, as many pitchers seem to do, and he now has a 12-5 record with a 2.35 ERA (1st in NL), 3.12 FIP (4th), 1.026 WHIP (3rd), 168.2 IP (16th), 148 Ks (21st), 4.5 bWAR (9th), and 4.4 fWAR (6th). His lack of innings pitched and strikeouts, as well as his “high” FIP, might be his downfall, but he has a impressive resume nonetheless.

Max Scherzer

It wouldn’t be a Cy Young article without mentioning Mad Max. He has battled through some injuries but is pitching as well as ever, leading MLB with a 2.31 FIP. Though he has only thrown 159 2/3 innings to date, he will still compete for the strikeout title as his 12.5 K/9 and 6.94 K/BB are NL bests. His lack of starts will hurt his chances, but unlike Ryu, he might have the numbers to make up for it. On the season Scherzer is 10-6 with a 2.65 ERA (4th in NL), 2.31 FIP (1st), 1.027 WHIP (4th), 159.2 IP (27th), 222 Ks (3rd), 6.0 bWAR (2nd), and 6.4 fWAR (1st).

Stephen Strasburg

With the spotlight always on Scherzer, former phenom Stephen Strasburg has had an outstanding season and no one seems to be talking about it. With a National League-leading 17 wins and 196 innings-pitched, as well as strong peripherals, Strasburg would be a very strong contender. He is not helping his own cause, as in nine starts since August 1st, he has gone 3-2 with a 4.07 ERA. On the season, he is 17-6 with a 3.49 ERA (13th in NL), 3.29 FIP (5th), 1.056 WHIP (7th), 196 IP (1st), 235 Ks (2nd), 5.6 bWAR (4th), and 5.3 fWAR (3rd).

Walker Buehler

After finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting last season, the 25-year-old Buehler is making a strong push for an even better award. Some are saying that he has a stronger case than teammate Hyun-Jin Ryu. He has gone 13-3 this season with a 3.15 ERA (8th in NL), 2.87 FIP (3rd), 1.010 WHIP (2nd), 171.1 IP (12th), 202 Ks (10th), 2.1 bWAR, and a more accurate 5.0 fWAR (4th).

Also keep an eye on:

Patrick Corbin – 12-7, 3.20 ERA (9th), 3.41 FIP (6th), 1.153 WHIP (15th), 185.2 IP (5th), 213 Ks (6th), 5.5 bWAR (5th), 4.6 fWAR (5th)
Sonny Gray – 10-7, 2.80 ERA (5th), 3.43 FIP (7th), 1.088 WHIP (8th), 163.2 IP (22nd), 190 Ks (11th), 5.5 bWAR (6th), 4.1 fWAR (9th)
Jack Flaherty – 10-8, 3.05 ERA (6th), 3.64 FIP (12th), 1.033 WHIP (5th), 174.1 IP (10th), 206 Ks (8th), 4.5 bWAR (10th), 3.9 fWAR (11th)
Mike Soroka – 12-4, 2.57 ERA (2nd), 3.50 FIP (8th), 1.093 WHIP (9th), 164.2 IP (21st), 130 Ks (31st), 5.6 bWAR (3rd), 3.7 fWAR (12th)
Clayton Kershaw – 14-5, 3.05 ERA (7th), 3.80 FIP (14th), 1.052 WHIP (6th), 165.1 IP (20th), 176 Ks (15th), 3.2 bWAR, 3.3 fWAR (16th)

The post NL Cy Young Update: Jacob DeGrom Ahead of Pack appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The best position player in the Major Leagues, Mike Trout, is scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery this week. The surgery is to address Morton’s Neuroma, a painful condition in the foot that makes it feel as if you are always stepping on a small marble.

Trout, 28, was making a strong push for the AL MVP, an award he’s won twice and been the runner-up four times. While he still has a strong resume to win the award, Astros third baseman Alex Bregman has the opportunity to pass Trout.

In 2019, Trout hit .291 with 45 home runs, 104 RBIs, 11 stolen bases, 110 runs scored, and a 179 wRC+. At the time of this article, his .438 OBP, 184 OPS+, and 110 walks lead the Major Leagues while his 45 home runs, .645 SLG%, 1.083 OPS, 16 hit-by-pitches and 14 intentional walks lead the American League.

He had a decent season defensively, good for -1 DRS and a -0.7 UZR (-1.0 UZR/150) in center field.

Alex Bregman is his only real competition for the AL MVP as he’s slashed .295/.419/.579 with 36 home runs, 104 RBIs, 113 runs scored, and a 164 wRC+ this season while also playing a great third base with seven DRS and a 1.8 UZR (4.3 UZR/150).

Trout’s 45 home runs this season is a new career high, and if he’d stayed healthy, he easily would have eclipsed 50.

This is not a major surgery in at all and he will be ready long before Spring Training barring any complications.

The post MLB News: Mike Trout To Undergo Season-Ending Surgery appeared first on Metsmerized Online.