On the Mets last off day of the 2020 season, I reached out to folks that cover the team and asked them a variety of questions. Here’s what they had to say:
What do the Mets do long-term with Amed Rosario?
Anthony DiComo: At some point, the Mets are going to have to trade a shortstop. I don’t know if that’s Rosario, Gimenez or Mauricio, but it’s hard to see all three playing future roles on the Mets. I don’t think moving Rosario to center field is the answer. If he doesn’t prove he can be a consistent offensive threat in this league, it won’t matter where he plays. But I do wonder if the Mets won’t shop Rosario this winter, knowing his skill set will still be tempting for many teams.
Andy Martino: If an appealing trade came along involving Rosario he certainly shouldn’t be untouchable, but in a perfect world the Mets should probably make sure that Andres Gimenez is an everyday player on the offensive side. How does he look, say, next July, when the league has made adjustments to him? He’s been impressive so far but that’s when we’ll have a better idea if he’s the SS of the future.
Tim Healey: I’m still curious about Rosario in centerfield. The Mets probably should have tried it a year ago, or in spring training, or in summer camp. They could still do it now. Just see what it looks like. What do you have to lose? Maybe another team is into it and it ups his trade value. I would think Rosario could be had via trade this offseason. It’s probably unwise to wholeheartedly decide Andes Gimenez is a no-doubt, legitimate major-league shortstop based off these two months, but … he is awfully fun to watch, no?
Tim Britton: Avoid the temptation to read too much into 60-game samples — and I mean that about Rosario and about Giménez. We’re not that far removed from Rosario being a good major-league shortstop for four months, while showing the resilience and on-the-fly improvement that bode well for further development. I wouldn’t throw out this year’s preseason optimism because he’s looked bad in 115 plate appearances under extremely unusual circumstances.
And if you want to be all-in on Giménez as your shortstop, you have to acknowledge the potential that his bat is not always going to play like this. We caught a glimpse of that in August. Certainly I was guilty of reading too much into his offensive struggles last season at Double A: The league’s offense was down overall, it was easy to forget how young he was, and there’s a level of prospect fatigue that crops up when you start following a guy’s non-linear career arc as a teenager. But I also don’t think you can write his name in ink at short for the next half-decade yet.
That’s what makes the dilemma hard, right? I want to say, “Stick Giménez at short and see what Rosario can do in center.” The best Mets team in 2021 probably has both of those things go well. But is Rosario trying center while also being your backup plan if Giménez is hitting .220 next June? Is that too much to ask of a player, or is creating that kind of internal depth exactly what the Mets should be doing? I’m not sure.
Wayne Randazzo: This is certainly a quandary for them because of the emergence of Andres Gimenez plus Luis Guillorme has done a nice job too as a utility guy. The logical choice to keep him would be with a position change, but there’s no guarantee he’ll hit enough to make a significant contribution at a different position. He’s regressed quite a bit offensively this year. He could also be a trade candidate, but I’m sure his value has taken a hit so we’ll see. That’ll be a tough decision.
Justin Toscano: It’s too early to give up on Amed Rosario, but if Andrés Giménez continues to clearly outplay Rosario next season, it’s probably time to think about moving Rosario while he’s got some years of team control remaining. Right now, Giménez is giving the Mets more than Rosario in every facet of the game. Still, we have to see if this is the case in a normal year, too.
Deesha Thosar: After Andres Gimenez’s breakout season, it’s tough to see Amed Rosario back at shortstop next year. But I think they’ll give Rosario another shot after he works hard this winter.
Who has been the Mets MVP so far?
Anthony DiComo: It’s Jacob deGrom. All due respect to Michael Conforto and Dominic Smith, who have been great. But the Mets wouldn’t even be in fringe playoff contention without deGrom. They’d be one of the worst teams in the league.
Andy Martino: Hard to pick against the best pitcher in baseball, but I’ll say Dom Smith for the combination of production and leadership around much larger issues that have unified the team.
Tim Healey: Michael Conforto. Nothing against the terrific seasons from Dominic Smith (40 fewer ABs), Robinson Cano, Jacob deGrom or others. But Conforto will probably get some mid- and down-ballot NL MVP votes this year.
Tim Britton: Jacob deGrom, obviously.
You could probably have concocted cute ways around making deGrom the club’s de facto MVP last year: Alonso and McNeil had great offensive years for a lineup that wasn’t as good, and the team didn’t win enough in deGrom’s starts. It’s different this year. The lineup is really good, the rotation isn’t, and deGrom is the only one holding it up.
Wayne Randazzo: It’s easy to flip a coin between Michael Conforto and Dominic Smith. They’ve both been able to realize their potential and get pretty close to their ceilings this year. It’s been a joy to watch them develop into these players, and I’ve been fortunate to see just about every game that both have played at the major league level.
However, the real team MVP is deGrom. The Mets starting pitching has had it really rough, but at least every fifth day, we’ve been able to watch the best pitcher in baseball go to work. The Mets are 6-2 in deGrom’s 8 starts. He’s got a 1.69 ERA and is getting himself positioned for a 3rd straight Cy Young Award. The team has had trouble staying afloat but without deGrom, they’d be completely out of it. He gets my vote.
Justin Toscano: I’m going to go with Michael Conforto. Jacob deGrom has crazy numbers, but, unfortunately for him, his peers have let the team down. Conforto is putting up MVP-type numbers offensively while making stud plays in the field — both with his glove and arm. In my book, Conforto edges out deGrom and Dom Smith.
Deesha Thosar: Michael Conforto is edging out Dominic Smith.
Will Brodie Van Wagenen still be with Mets come December?
Anthony DiComo: That’s really going to depend upon how long it takes for the new ownership to transition. I could easily see a scenario in which the new owner comes in early in the offseason and immediately cleans house. I could also see a more measured approach where Van Wagenen and the current regime gets one more offseason. Call it 50/50.
Andy Martino: Yes, I expect Brodie will be here in December and April. The ownership change doesn’t become final until November at earliest. However, I don’t claim to know if Cohen plans sweeping change on Day 1. Brodie does have two more years on his deal.
Tim Healey: Haha good question. This is my take: You need more than two years to fully and fairly evaluate a general manager. But he hasn’t done himself many favors as far as the moves he’s made. With a new owner coming in, it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see Steve Cohen install his own baseball ops leader.
Tim Britton: I was asked this last month in a chat and really hemmed and hawed on it. I think it’s less likely now than it was even then, first because the sale is further along and now looks in line to be completed relatively early in the offseason, and second because the hot mic incident — as much as fans and players might agree with what Van Wagenen said — reflects poorly on the GM from an owner’s perspective.
Wayne Randazzo: This is a difficult question to answer without all the specifics in place. As we know, there is a potential for ownership change. If that happens, that could mean immediate changes, or Brodie could be given another chance by the new bosses. Either way, whoever is in charge will have to determine if Brodie has merited more time or not.
Justin Toscano: It’s hard to say, but I’ll guess no. There’s just always too much uncertainty when new owners take over, and it’s tough to not see them wanting their own guys for a fresh start. Brodie Van Wagenen also hasn’t had the best track record, though it could theoretically improve if his bosses actually open the checkbook and give him more possibilities that way.
Deesha Thosar: Depends if Steve Cohen wants to give BVW a chance to be GM without the Wilpon’s puppet strings. I’ll go with no, he won’t be around. But I can see Luis Rojas continuing to manage.
Do Mets make the playoffs?
Anthony DiComo: No, probably not. They’re a talented team, but don’t have the starting pitching to overcome the hole they dug for themselves.
Andy Martino: I don’t think so, but I’ve been wrong before.
Tim Healey: I would say no, but the expanded playoff field is *so* big and it is *so* easy to get in that I still have to say yes. As I write this, they’re four games under .500 and only two games back! Yeash.
Tim Britton: The part of me that watches the Mets every day scoffs at that question. Like, of course not, right? They haven’t won more than three in a row all season, haven’won a single series against a team that isn’t the Marlins all year, and lack the consistency we typically associate with good baseball teams.
The part of me that looks at the standings each morning and realizes the postseason will include teams we wouldn’t typically describe as good baseball teams wonders, “Why not?”
(But no, I don’t think they do.)
Wayne Randazzo: I hope so. They have a lot of work to do over the final two weeks. It’s possible for deGrom and Lugo to start half of the remaining 16 games thanks to a couple off days so that should give you some hope along with the way the team has been hitting. Another plus has been Edwin Diaz‘s bounce back. I know the fans still have trouble trusting him with late leads, but he’s been one of the most dominant relievers in baseball this year. There are still some solid ingredients here for a strong finish. If they do get in, they could be tough to knock out in a short series.
Justin Toscano: I’m going to say no. The offense is good enough to push them in, so I realize I could be wrong. But the bad starting pitching continues and, at times, the bullpen has melted down. Those issues can be fatal, and I don’t see the Mets being perfect enough to make it.
Deesha Thosar: Slim chance. They can only afford to lose about six of their 16 remaining games. It’ll be close, like last year, but I think they’ll fall a couple of games short.
Who should be Mets top free agent target this offseason?
Anthony DiComo: Trevor Bauer. I know everyone wants J.T. Realmuto and the Mets should pursue him. But starting pitching is a bigger issue than catching, and Bauer is a legitimate ace. He represents their quickest path back to contention.
Andy Martino: The guy they should have traded for two offseasons ago – J.T. Realmuto. A great player and leader.
Tim Healey: Go straight to the top of the market at their positions of need: J.T. Realmuto and Trevor Bauer. I’m open to George Springer too — I’ve been a fan of his since he was at UConn — but since he’s turning 31 and tends to play all-out I’m not super confident about how he’ll age. I can definitely be sold on it — maybe via the argument that paying for these next couple of years will make the overpaying late in the contract OK, which is how I see a theoretical Realmuto deal — but among this trio he is probably third on my fake GM priority list.
Tim Britton: The easy answer is J.T. Realmuto, though I’m overdue in researching the aging curve for really good catchers in their early 30s. I’d need to do that before strongly advocating a long-term deal for him. Furthermore, and I’ve banged this drum all year, the rotation’s pretty significant questions don’t go away next year, and finding a really solid No. 2 starter might be the biggest improvement this team could make.
Wayne Randazzo: J.T. Realmuto would make all 30 teams better. He will be very well paid and sought after, rightfully so. He’s as good as they get in every facet of the game for a catcher.
However, this team needs starting pitching badly. Noah Syndergaard had Tommy John surgery in March so I wouldn’t expect him back until mid 2021 at the earliest. Seth Lugo should be counted on along with deGrom, but they need a lot more than that so I would make a bid for Trevor Bauer. Trevor’s battled some inconsistencies in his career, but he’s been absolutely terrific this season. He’s a guy with a personality that would thrive in New York and his throwing regimen will help him stay healthy over the terms of a long contract. He would be number one on my list. I would also give George Springer some consideration as well. Springer’s a Connecticut kid, a true center fielder and has big time October credentials. I would go after those two before thinking about Realmuto.
Justin Toscano: J.T. Realmuto. A catcher — and player — of his caliber is a perfect building block to the talented, young core they have now.
Deesha Thosar: Starting pitching and catching.
