There are two different ways you can lose 80-games. You can lose 80-games as a really bad team or you can lose 80-games as a team that has shown signs of growth. Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes the Mets are the latter.
If you begin to dissect the team, you can start to see his point. Jacob deGrom, Juan Lagares, Vic Black, Travis d’Arnaud, Lucas Duda, Jeurys Familia, Wilmer Flores, Jenrry Mejia and Zack Wheeler all took big steps forward this year. Sherman contends that Dilson Herrera and Matt den Dekker should be included in that group. I’ll let you judge that one for yourself.
Still, his point is made. The Mets were not a lost cause this year. You can see growth and you can see a core starting to form.
“There is no reason the Mets cannot go to the Braves’ $110 million range which is middle of the pack for the 30 teams,” Sherman writes.
“I can understand if they want to avoid the long-term risk. But there will be opportunities through free agency and trades to obtain assets for three or fewer years and for $10 million annually or less, and if the Mets — at such a vital crossroads moment — can’t do that, then the Wilpons really are going to have some explaining to do.”
What he is eluding to are the type of moves that keep teams like the Oakland A’s competitive year-after-year. Michael Cuddyer and Shane Victorino appear to be logical choices as far as free agents go but would that be enough?
In addition to a few key signings, the Mets will have to look into some strategic trades. The most intriguing of them could be with the Boston Red Sox. In an attempt to retool their pitching staff, the Sox could send Xander Bogaerts to the Mets in exchange for one of the top pitching prospects Alderson has worked so hard to stockpile.
As we’ve discussed on MMO a few times, a trade for Yoenis Cespedes could also make a lot of sense for the Mets and Red Sox. Cespedes has already stated that he would like to reach free-agency and with just one more year of team control, they could flip him to the Mets and get four years of Jon Niese in return. The Mets would then have to try and keep the young slugger in New York or outbid others in free agency.
We all know the Mets aren’t that far away. They may be a few small pieces away and may not need to bring in a massive free agent hitter like many fans are clamoring for. Instead, they can build around a core of d’Arnaud, Lagares, deGrom, Duda and of course Matt Harvey and developing talent through their farm system.
