The Mets are sitting at 53-69 and the team is stuck in the middle of nowhere. The team is the midst of a search for a GM and are apparently struggling to go with a “new School” or “old school” type of approach with the next hire.
Until ownership hires a new GM, praying they don’t screw it up, we don’t really know which direction the Mets will be like going into 2019. We do know people within the organization would like to compete in 2019 and believe they have the core pieces in place for it.
Issue is ownership needs to spend money in the offseason, which we as a fan base can’t rely on.
Best bet for the Mets is that they begin the rebuild process a bit while making few offseason moves to build a more competitive roster.
With that being said, let’s look at how the Mets roster should like come opening day next season.
1. Trade Noah Syndergaard to the San Diego Padres
Syndergaard is still a young, elite pitcher with years of control left on his contract. Still it may be best to sell him this offseason. The Padres are a perfect suitor and have even flirted with trading for Noah at the deadline. Padres are search for a front end type starter and have a deep farm to make a deal happen.
A fair trade I think for both teams would be the Mets acquiring 2B/SS Luis Urias (22nd overall prospect), LHP Logan Allen (87th overall prospect), CF Manuel Margot, RHP Phil Maton.
Urias is a 21 year old middle infielder who’s the 4th overall prospect in the Padres system. Here’s his numbers at AAA this season.
Allen is a left handed starter at 21 years old who’s the 8th ranked prospect for San Diego. Just recently promoted to AAA, here’s a look at his minor league season:
With the addition of these 2 prospects, the Mets would have 6 top 100 prospects and both would have a chance to impact the Mets for 2019.
Phil Maton is a 25 year old reliever who has a career 3.70 era in 81 major league appearances over two seasons.
Manuel Margot is still just 23 years old, a former top prospect with upside and can be outfield insurance with Cespedes out to a unknown date.
2. Sign Yasmani Grandal
The Mets biggest positional need is at catcher and the best catcher on the market is Grandal. The team should be exploring every option to sign him. Grandal has posted a 2.4 WAR so far through 104 games. He has 21 homers, 59 RBI, a .245 average, and a .346 on base percentage. His ability to play both first and catcher as well as being a switch hitter, should make Grandal an immediate focus for the team.
3. Sign Jake Diekman
A lefty, hard thrower who has experience pitching in the division should be another priority for the Mets. With Blevins entering free agency, the Mets will need a lefty in the bullpen. Diekman has a 3.77 era in 43 innings and 54 strikeouts with the Rangers and Diamondbacks this year.
4. Sign Jacob deGrom to an extension
Enough is enough. Hand him a blank check and sign him to an extension. He’s the NL Cy Young this year and deserves to be paid.
With those moves, here’s how the Mets would lineup in 2019:
C: Yasmani Grandal / Kevin Plawecki
1B: Peter Alonso / Wilmer Flores
2B: Luis Urias / Jeff McNeil
SS: Amed Rosario
3B: Todd Frazier
LF: Michael Conforto
CF: Brandon Nimmo/ Juan Lagares / Manuel Margot
RF: Jay Bruce
SP: Jacob deGrom / Zach Wheeler / Steven Matz / Corey Oswalt / Jason Vargas
RP: Bobby Wahl / Phil Maton / Jake Diekman / Robert Gsellman / Anthony Swarzak / Drew Smith / Seth Lugo
Rest of the 40 man:
C: Tomas Nido
1B: Dominic Smith
2B/SS – Luis Guilmore
3B: TJ Riveria / Will Toffey
LF: Yoensis Cespedes
SP: Justin Dunn / Franklyn Kilome
RP: Tyler Bashlor / Tim Peterson / Jacob Rhame / Paul Sewald
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