It appears that Brodie Van Wagenen is partaking in all of our favorite December pastime: shopping.
According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, Van Wagenen “won’t be finished maneuvering big after the trade is complete.”, according to his source.
He previously reported that the Mets “will look to pair Edwin Diaz with a high-end eighth inning guy – David Robertson and Andrew Miller were two such names thrown at me – and also add a veteran multiple-innings type reliever to the bullpen.”
The Mets have attacked their biggest weakness head on by adding the best closer available, and possibly in baseball, and do not seem to be done revamping a bullpen that lost a total of 55 games last year and was dreadful past Seth Lugo and Rob Gsellman.
Puma added that the Mets could also look to add “a multiple-inning reliever, such as Adam Warren.”
As for the topic of Noah Syndergaard, Puma noted that “Though the Mets are still shopping Noah Syndergaard, it would take a ‘grand slam’ in terms of major league talent received in return, according to a source, for Van Wagenen to consider such a deal.”
On the catching front, he said “The Mets like Martin Maldonado — a defensive specialist whose addition to the lineup could be easier to accept with Cano headed to the team. But the Mets are also monitoring the market for Wilson Ramos, who would bring a bigger bat to the equation, but also a significant injury history.”
Puma then concluded to say that “Van Wagenen’s energy and creativity has impressed people in the organization, so it shouldn’t be ruled out that he can find a manner to remove Juan Lagares and the $9 million he is owed for next season from the picture, allowing the club to perhaps pursue free agent A.J. Pollock, who would give the Mets a more dependable presence in center field.”
At the very least, it seems that the Cano and Diaz trade will be the first of many, and that the Mets really are in win now mode.
