Sandy Alderson retreated from a months-long stance that neither Rafael Montero or Noah Syndergaard had any chance of making the Mets starting rotation out of Spring Training.
While a guest on WFAN, the Mets GM announced that the plan for these two exciting power arms will be similar to the tracks taken by Zack Wheeler and Matt Harvey. “No chance,” Sandy said.
At the time he also said that he expected to see both Syndergaard and Montero pitching with the big club at some point next season. “I’d be very surprised if that didn’t happen.”
That seemed to take an abrupt course-correction when he told reporters this during a press briefing:
Sandy said its possible to have one of the young prospects in the rotation starting the season. He was referring to Montero/Syndergaard
— Robert Brender (@robertbrender) December 8, 2013
He backpedaled a little later on in the evening to clarify: “I think putting that kind of pressure on the system coming out of the gate is something we’d like to avoid. It might be necessary, but I think we’d like to find someone.”
Who might that someone be? According to Ken Rosenthal last night, he said that the Mets could end up turning back to Aaron Harang and Daisuke Matsuzaka.
I could certainly see that happening, but not before they at least make an attempt to sign Bronson Arroyo, or to try and see if they could pull off a trade to get a starter. I look at Dice-K and Harang as their Plans C and D.
Getting back to Syndergaard or Montero, I would have to believe that if only one were to make the team it’s be Montero. Not because he’s better than Syndergaard, but more because he might be closer to MLB ready. On Sunday, Jim Duquette thought Montero was very underrated.
If worse were to come to worse and both would make the rotation, I look at it like this… If they are blowing away the competition in St. Lucie and more so than any of the other options don’t hold them back. I understand the concerns about losing the extra year of control but the way I see it, it’s a mute point. If these two are as dominating as we all think, they’ll most likely be locked up long before their sixth season. And if the peter out like Paul Wilson or Aaron Heilman, it won’t really matter at all.
