I think Stearns gets an A-,B+ for his work so far in the off season. Just because the Diaz situation backfired on him. He knew the number the guy wanted and still under bid him. Why he decided to play games with him is baffling to me. Reports that Diaz was angry with the Williams signing is moot as Diaz wasn’t on the team. He was in no position to be in on any talks involving the Mets. In fact, from what understand there are even rules about it. He should have gone 3/70 mil. And Diaz would still be here. I’ve also flipped the coin here on how sweet it will be for him to have one of his melt downs against the Mets in the playoffs. I’m counting on it now. Lol. I’m good with the rest of the moves. Is the team better? Mebbe. It sure could be incredible is Robert suddenly becomes 2023 Robert and plays 150 games with 45 HRs and 115 RBIs. I’m really most excited to watch McClean become an ACE. Following the Dark Knight and deGrom. Historically, the Mets have done a pretty good job with homegrown ACEs. Hoping Benge takes off and runs with left field too. 3 weeks and P&C’s report. LGM!
Wish you hadn't written those numbers after Robert's name, I'm afraid it'll jinx him and he'll turn out to be Siri#2. Unilke you, I'm hoping Baty emerges as primary left fielder and Benge stays in Syracuse until someone gets injured.
I really want Baty to play too. He finally broke though the second half last year and I think he will be legit. Stearns promised him 450-500 ABs. We shall see hope they don’t ruin him
Enjoyable piece today, but no, no, and no to "They could use a major league left fielder for sure, and Austin Hays or Harrison Bader fit the bill." If they get either of those two mediocrities Baty will be thoroughly buried and Benge will be stuck. It's been stated time and again that Stearns believes in giving prospects a chance (as do most of us fans) and doing what you suggest would be indisputably contrary to that.
I would have liked Brendan Donovan in LF, but Baty is likely to come up to Donovan's offensive numbers over a full year, so it's great we didn't have to move anyone else.
In fact, as I think about it, Brett will almost certainly have more pop, and he may hit north of .280, possibly by a lot. So, he's probably better than Donovan already, and maybe poised to be MUCH better.
The only question is whether or not he can be at least league average in the field. He's a really good athlete, and LF is the easiest outfield spot to play, so it's a fair guess he'll be fine on that score, too.
The rest of the offseason moves look good. Arguably, the only flub was losing Sugar to the Dodgers, but even there, if Díaz wanted to go, there was nothing to stop him.
With the Framber Valdez market down to the Orioles (who, for some reason, haven’t actually signed him), is it possible the Mets grab him late and under market value? This would almost certainly force them to make a trade - Peterson for a LF (Duran?)? I know Stearns wants to give Benge the opportunity to win the LF job full time, but if he struggles I don’t love Baty as the backup. Duran is currently the 4th OF with Roman Anthony coming back…he could serve a similar role with the Mets while providing excellent defense, a solid bad and speed on the bases.
Valdez would be a tremendous add if feasible. Don't know that it would force a trade since injuries to starters are a certainty and Senga and Manea are big question marks. Duran is a big big talent (more than a 4th outfielder) and I don't know if Peterson would be enough from the Sox' perspective as I think he'd be a one year rental. As Mr. Rogers noted earlier today, left field is the easiest of the outfield positions to play and I think it's reasonable to think an athletic guy like Baty can learn to play it serviceably.
Peralta, McLean, Holmes, Manaea, Peterson and Senga are currently locked in for a 6 man rotation to start the season with Myers, Tong and Scott as immediate replacements. Before seeing any of them pitch in Port Saint Lucie, signing Framber would almost certainly force Stearns to make a trade and clear one of those spots. I think only McLean has options and if he’s throwing well there’s no way you’re starting him in Syracuse to start the season.
Peterson and Baty could probably get it done but I feel like that’s an overpay just for Duran, so they’d probably have to send a prospect back to even it out.
Hmmm. I dunno. Replacements: I'll grant you Myers but Tong needs seasoning and Scott is a big question mark. Senga is a huge question mark and Manea wasn't good pretty much all season. I still think one injury to a starter and we're in trouble, two injuries, big trouble.
I mean, yeah, they definitely have to play the games. I believe the hope is Manaea should be better with a proper Spring Training, Senga is feeling healthy (physically and mentally - and past whatever issues Hefner couldn’t figure out that lost him his job). The hope is they wouldn’t need Scott or Tong until a couple months in m, at least, by which point at least one of them is pitching strong and ready to go back up to the show. But those 6 are penciled in for now, so adding another starter without an injury forced one of them off the team entirely.
"New York Mets trade Brett Baty to the Seattle Mariners for Jurrangelo Cijntje and Matt Brash
"With the Bichette signing, Baty has been pushed off third base in New York. He could slide to first base or DH, but the Mets have Jorge Polanco and Mark Vientos for those positions. Instead, look for David Stearns to use Baty to help replenish his farm system after the trades for Freddy Peralta and Luis Robert Jr. Cijntje is the hard-throwing switch-pitcher the Mariners drafted in the first round in 2024. He needs more seasoning but is a potential power arm for the rotation. Brash provides some needed bullpen depth."
Hadn't seen that and I hope it doesn't come to fruition. How about letting a home-grown guy play and prosper? Btw, I hope people realize that Polanco may flop...it isn't like he's got a record of Tucker-like consistency. Vientos may do the same.
Not to rain on the parade, but in the first half Baty had a much lower than average BABIP at .269. In the second half he had a much higher than average BABIP of .355. His year was the average of the two and the forecasts call for the same this year. Trade him!
That second half high babip corresponds with a similarly high hard hit percentage which in turn corresponds to his having hit a lot of line drives, if my memory serves correctly. Such that it doesn't look like that much luck was involved.
I think Fangraphs had hard hit % split into halves but not LD%, which is why I made reference to memory. I just seem to recall that he hit a lot of line drives in the second half , not bloops.
Not to dispute your point ... but the same goes for Baty. Baty's saving grace is Bo will likely opt out after this year leaving 3B open. I dislike these opt outs. Most every 3-5 year contract for a plus player is, in reality, a one or two year contract.
I don’t like them either. The player has all the power and the team has the risk. But, the way the Bichette contract happened, he was basically a Phillie so why not do whatever it takes to get him?
I think Stearns gets an A-,B+ for his work so far in the off season. Just because the Diaz situation backfired on him. He knew the number the guy wanted and still under bid him. Why he decided to play games with him is baffling to me. Reports that Diaz was angry with the Williams signing is moot as Diaz wasn’t on the team. He was in no position to be in on any talks involving the Mets. In fact, from what understand there are even rules about it. He should have gone 3/70 mil. And Diaz would still be here. I’ve also flipped the coin here on how sweet it will be for him to have one of his melt downs against the Mets in the playoffs. I’m counting on it now. Lol. I’m good with the rest of the moves. Is the team better? Mebbe. It sure could be incredible is Robert suddenly becomes 2023 Robert and plays 150 games with 45 HRs and 115 RBIs. I’m really most excited to watch McClean become an ACE. Following the Dark Knight and deGrom. Historically, the Mets have done a pretty good job with homegrown ACEs. Hoping Benge takes off and runs with left field too. 3 weeks and P&C’s report. LGM!
Wish you hadn't written those numbers after Robert's name, I'm afraid it'll jinx him and he'll turn out to be Siri#2. Unilke you, I'm hoping Baty emerges as primary left fielder and Benge stays in Syracuse until someone gets injured.
I really want Baty to play too. He finally broke though the second half last year and I think he will be legit. Stearns promised him 450-500 ABs. We shall see hope they don’t ruin him
Enjoyable piece today, but no, no, and no to "They could use a major league left fielder for sure, and Austin Hays or Harrison Bader fit the bill." If they get either of those two mediocrities Baty will be thoroughly buried and Benge will be stuck. It's been stated time and again that Stearns believes in giving prospects a chance (as do most of us fans) and doing what you suggest would be indisputably contrary to that.
I would have liked Brendan Donovan in LF, but Baty is likely to come up to Donovan's offensive numbers over a full year, so it's great we didn't have to move anyone else.
In fact, as I think about it, Brett will almost certainly have more pop, and he may hit north of .280, possibly by a lot. So, he's probably better than Donovan already, and maybe poised to be MUCH better.
The only question is whether or not he can be at least league average in the field. He's a really good athlete, and LF is the easiest outfield spot to play, so it's a fair guess he'll be fine on that score, too.
The rest of the offseason moves look good. Arguably, the only flub was losing Sugar to the Dodgers, but even there, if Díaz wanted to go, there was nothing to stop him.
With the Framber Valdez market down to the Orioles (who, for some reason, haven’t actually signed him), is it possible the Mets grab him late and under market value? This would almost certainly force them to make a trade - Peterson for a LF (Duran?)? I know Stearns wants to give Benge the opportunity to win the LF job full time, but if he struggles I don’t love Baty as the backup. Duran is currently the 4th OF with Roman Anthony coming back…he could serve a similar role with the Mets while providing excellent defense, a solid bad and speed on the bases.
Just a thought. 🤷♂️
Valdez would be a tremendous add if feasible. Don't know that it would force a trade since injuries to starters are a certainty and Senga and Manea are big question marks. Duran is a big big talent (more than a 4th outfielder) and I don't know if Peterson would be enough from the Sox' perspective as I think he'd be a one year rental. As Mr. Rogers noted earlier today, left field is the easiest of the outfield positions to play and I think it's reasonable to think an athletic guy like Baty can learn to play it serviceably.
Peralta, McLean, Holmes, Manaea, Peterson and Senga are currently locked in for a 6 man rotation to start the season with Myers, Tong and Scott as immediate replacements. Before seeing any of them pitch in Port Saint Lucie, signing Framber would almost certainly force Stearns to make a trade and clear one of those spots. I think only McLean has options and if he’s throwing well there’s no way you’re starting him in Syracuse to start the season.
Peterson and Baty could probably get it done but I feel like that’s an overpay just for Duran, so they’d probably have to send a prospect back to even it out.
Hmmm. I dunno. Replacements: I'll grant you Myers but Tong needs seasoning and Scott is a big question mark. Senga is a huge question mark and Manea wasn't good pretty much all season. I still think one injury to a starter and we're in trouble, two injuries, big trouble.
I mean, yeah, they definitely have to play the games. I believe the hope is Manaea should be better with a proper Spring Training, Senga is feeling healthy (physically and mentally - and past whatever issues Hefner couldn’t figure out that lost him his job). The hope is they wouldn’t need Scott or Tong until a couple months in m, at least, by which point at least one of them is pitching strong and ready to go back up to the show. But those 6 are penciled in for now, so adding another starter without an injury forced one of them off the team entirely.
Great article was a good read
ESPN prediction:
"New York Mets trade Brett Baty to the Seattle Mariners for Jurrangelo Cijntje and Matt Brash
"With the Bichette signing, Baty has been pushed off third base in New York. He could slide to first base or DH, but the Mets have Jorge Polanco and Mark Vientos for those positions. Instead, look for David Stearns to use Baty to help replenish his farm system after the trades for Freddy Peralta and Luis Robert Jr. Cijntje is the hard-throwing switch-pitcher the Mariners drafted in the first round in 2024. He needs more seasoning but is a potential power arm for the rotation. Brash provides some needed bullpen depth."
Hadn't seen that and I hope it doesn't come to fruition. How about letting a home-grown guy play and prosper? Btw, I hope people realize that Polanco may flop...it isn't like he's got a record of Tucker-like consistency. Vientos may do the same.
Not to rain on the parade, but in the first half Baty had a much lower than average BABIP at .269. In the second half he had a much higher than average BABIP of .355. His year was the average of the two and the forecasts call for the same this year. Trade him!
That second half high babip corresponds with a similarly high hard hit percentage which in turn corresponds to his having hit a lot of line drives, if my memory serves correctly. Such that it doesn't look like that much luck was involved.
Joel, a perfectly good reason for it but I couldn’t find that stat, to differentiate between halves in LD%.
I think Fangraphs had hard hit % split into halves but not LD%, which is why I made reference to memory. I just seem to recall that he hit a lot of line drives in the second half , not bloops.
Not to dispute your point ... but the same goes for Baty. Baty's saving grace is Bo will likely opt out after this year leaving 3B open. I dislike these opt outs. Most every 3-5 year contract for a plus player is, in reality, a one or two year contract.
I don’t like them either. The player has all the power and the team has the risk. But, the way the Bichette contract happened, he was basically a Phillie so why not do whatever it takes to get him?