On a conference call this afternoon, Sandy Alderson said the team’s next step this offseason is to address the shortstop situation.
“We’ve looked at our shortstop situation, as many of you have. It would be next on our list to consider,” Alderson said. ” It’s definitely something we’ll be taking a look at over the next week and through the rest of the offseason.”
As we’ve speculated on MMO all day, Alderson conveyed that the team has the flexibility to add players via their surplus of starting pitching, and not to expect the current roster to stay as it is.
“We have the flexibility to go out and add players, but that doesn’t mean the roster we have currently is simply going to be added to.”
I got the distinct feeling that Wilmer Flores is no longer a consideration at shortstop, but he could certainly be an option at second base.
10:00 AM
So what’s next for the Mets after reeling in free agent Michael Cuddyer? Well industry sources told Adam Rubin of ESPN New York that they will now turn their attention to shortstop as the primary area to upgrade, but that they’re also in the market for a left-handed reliever and utility infielder.
About those Troy Tulowitzki rumors that made the rounds last night, Rockies GM Jeff Bridich said the Rockies and Mets have not discussed any deal involving Tulo.
“We have literally not had one substantive conversation with the Mets,” Bridich said. “I talked to [Mets GM] Sandy Alderson, he said congratulations on the job and he said, ‘What have you got in store?’ Then he told me what he had in store
Rubin says the Mets are unenthusiastic about the free-agent shortstops available (Asdrubal Cabrera, Stephen Drew, Jed Lowrie). And because they were able to acquire a starting outfielder on the free-agent market and did not have to part with any prospects, it makes the ability to acquire a shortstop via trade that much more viable.
That makes a lot of sense to me.
“We are pretty happy we addressed one of our biggest needs, and though we sacrificed a draft pick to sign Cuddyer, we didn’t give up any of our current talent,” Mets Asst. GM John Ricco said last night. “I think we are still in a good position to make some moves here and at the winter meetings. We are looking to improve the team in some areas. That is well known.”
One shortstop that the Mets have been linked to is Alexei Ramirez of the Chicago White Sox. According to Bruce Levine of CBS Sports, the Mets were are among five teams that have checked in on him. Levine also said the Mets have been the most aggressive in their pursuit of a shortstop.
“General manager Sandy Alderson has had his top scouts looking at shortstops such as Ramirez, the Cubs’ Starlin Castro and free agents Asdrubal Cabrera and Hanley Ramirez extensively this past season. The Mets also have exactly what the White Sox are looking for if they agree to move Ramirez.”
The White Sox covet right-handed power pitchers and Noah Syndergaard and Rafael Montero are at he top of that list, says Levine.
Ramirez, 33, is owed $10 million in both 2015 and 2016 (club option) and batted .273/.305/.408 last season. In 158 games he hit 15 home runs with 74 RBI and 21 stolen bases. He leads all American League shortstops in base hits and RBI since 2009.
Andy Martino of the Daily News also reported that the Mets checked in on Castro and Ramirez within the past week.
