Jay Jaffe of Sports Illustrated was none to thrilled with the Mets’ offseason giving them a big fat “D” for failing to seize an opportunity to make a bold move in the NL East at a time when the Braves and Phillies are going into rebuild mode.
“New York modestly upgraded its offense but burned a draft pick on an aged, oft-injured player to do so. While the team hasn’t squandered its pitching depth, it still has more than it can use — even accounting for the inevitable injuries — as well as a clear need at a key position. …The Marlins have seized the initiative and bulked up significantly, the Mets haven’t done the same — even while claiming that ticket sales are surging significantly. Yup, still business as usual in Queens.”
Jaffe’s main bone of contention is that when the offseason started he looked at the Mets as being only a few essential moves away from returning to contention and giving the Nationals a run for their money while making a true postseason run.
“Instead, what their fans have had to endure is another winter of head-scratching moves while the organization gives every sign that it is still mired in its post-Madoff financial morass.”
He really takes issue with Cuddyer who he says, at his age and injury history is more of a complimentary player.
“He turns 36 on March 27, has averaged just 93 games per year over the last three and cost New York what would have been the 15th pick of this year’s amateur draft. For a club that’s rebuilding (regardless of their stated intentions and self-perception), there was no reason for the Mets to give up that pick unless doing so brought a game-changing piece to the Big Apple, and Cuddyer isn’t that.”
He also took issue with Alderson’s lack of addressing shortstop after calling it a top priority for a second offseason in a row and says it’s further evidence of this team’s lack of will to change its circumstances.
“It’s not as though potential upgrades weren’t available,” he writes. “Instead the Mets have a pair cheap players whom they’ve jerked around the organization for years.”
“Few outside of New York believe that Flores is good enough to play shortstop regularly because of his limited range. That goes double on a team whose path to winning is through pitching and defense rather than a high-powered offense, and in an infield where second baseman Daniel Murphy is no great shakes with the glove, either.”
It wasn’t all bad, Jaffe lauds the Mets rotation and it’s because he believes it could be one of the best in baseball that he wishes the front office could have done more to support the young arms.
“That wealth of young pitching may be unequaled in the game today and it’s clearly the future on which the team’s competitive aspirations rest.”
Does he go overboard or is his criticism warranted?
[polldaddy poll=8614653]
