What about Iglesias for 3B as a stopgap? If Baty figures it out - great. If Jose can't outcompete McNeil in Spring Training - ok. His defense is top flight. His positive energy is off the charts. He's a fraction of the cost and he finds a way to contribute offensively even if he isn't going to be a HR hitter.
Notably, both Iglesias and Bregman are also Scott Boras clients. And, like Pete, neither is signed yet.
That's a bang up job Scott Boras is doing for clients not named Soto!
Perhaps we should consider ourselves lucky for having struck a 3yr/$75MM deal with Manaea (another Boras client) relatively swiftly. In light of Sevy's 3yr/$67MM deal with the Athletics, I was actually surprised that Manaea didn't get more.
Aside: Manaea and Alonso work out together. How awkward must that be?!
I appreciate Stearns and Cohen discussing the negotiation. I believe that while Alonso is valuable to the Mets, a great leader on the team, and deserves to be paid well, it is possible that Boras is asking for too much.
If Alonso leaves, the options are not clear. Vientos put a lot of work into improving at third. Now he is working at first and he could be an answer there. But I don’t believe Baty is the answer at third based on his track record. Mauricio is an unknown based on his recovery. Acura is better in the middle of the infield. And Meneses and Young are long shots at first IMO. So the Mets could have holes at one or two infield positions.
This blog provides a good summary of the challenges.
I wouldn’t hate the Arenado idea except he’s still under contract for 3 years. No way we can assume Baty starts at 3rd. If he can get some playing time and earns it then great. I just think we need Pete and he needs us.
Play Ball soon! With or without Pete as the 1st sacker. The Rolling Stones said, " you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you might get what you need"! Pete , get back to where you belong!!
The pit in my stomach grew slightly larger while reading this column. Expectations are higher this year than last. And yet, we're starting off the season with arguably bigger holes and question marks. The Mets players sound like a collection of the walking wounded and pitcher reclamation projects. And I agree that the young'ns cannot yet fill the holes. We're going to look/feel terrible if we stink this year - especially after having acquired Soto. And we won't even get the benefit of Soto's bat if we don't add at least one other big bat to protect him in the lineup. Instead, by the end of the season, he'll own the record for most walks.
With respect to Alonso/Boras -
Will Sammon of the Athletic reported that after Alonso/Boras rejected the Mets's latest offer last week, the Mets withdrew it. In other words, there's nothing on the table right now. Further, Steve Cohen did not preface his straightforward, negative comments about the negotiations with an "of course, we really want Pete to come back, but ..." Those two factors tell me the door is nearly closed. Moreover, Alonso's fair market value has arguably decreased even further due to the length of the negotiations and the apparent souring. The Blue Jays may get a real bargain. I can't help but feel sad for Pete no matter how much he may be to blame.
Personally, after reading Jordan Montgomery's negative comments about Boras, I suspect Boras sold Pete a bill of goods and then botched the negotiations. I also suspect that Boras's ego has probably contributed as much to the problems as Pete's ego. Does this matter right now? Nope. I just hope that other players think more than twice before hiring Boras in the future. (Nimmo - another Boras client - may have been lucky.)
As for Vientos -
On BNNY, Todd Zeile made an interesting point. For career purposes, Vientos should want to remain at 3rd rather than move to 1st. Apparently, third basemen are more valuable than first basemen. (Vientos may not have a choice, of course.)
It's been reported that Pete turned down a $158 million, 7 year extension. What year would that have kicked in had he accepted it? Has that been reported?
I think I read somewhere, it would have kicked in last year and modified the last season of the contract he was on. So technically, it would have been six years at $138 million (or something like that) starting in 2025. But the total value of the deal was seven years, $158 million.
This blog is one of a precious few sources of Intelligent and entertaining writing on baseball...thank you, Mr. Baron!
I agree wholeheartedly!
I'm a ditto on this. Well done, as always, Mr. B!
What about Iglesias for 3B as a stopgap? If Baty figures it out - great. If Jose can't outcompete McNeil in Spring Training - ok. His defense is top flight. His positive energy is off the charts. He's a fraction of the cost and he finds a way to contribute offensively even if he isn't going to be a HR hitter.
do you really want Iglesias or a player like that getting 500 PA? Not so sure that's wise. They need someone better and more sustainable.
Notably, both Iglesias and Bregman are also Scott Boras clients. And, like Pete, neither is signed yet.
That's a bang up job Scott Boras is doing for clients not named Soto!
Perhaps we should consider ourselves lucky for having struck a 3yr/$75MM deal with Manaea (another Boras client) relatively swiftly. In light of Sevy's 3yr/$67MM deal with the Athletics, I was actually surprised that Manaea didn't get more.
Aside: Manaea and Alonso work out together. How awkward must that be?!
This is well-written.
I appreciate Stearns and Cohen discussing the negotiation. I believe that while Alonso is valuable to the Mets, a great leader on the team, and deserves to be paid well, it is possible that Boras is asking for too much.
If Alonso leaves, the options are not clear. Vientos put a lot of work into improving at third. Now he is working at first and he could be an answer there. But I don’t believe Baty is the answer at third based on his track record. Mauricio is an unknown based on his recovery. Acura is better in the middle of the infield. And Meneses and Young are long shots at first IMO. So the Mets could have holes at one or two infield positions.
This blog provides a good summary of the challenges.
I wouldn’t hate the Arenado idea except he’s still under contract for 3 years. No way we can assume Baty starts at 3rd. If he can get some playing time and earns it then great. I just think we need Pete and he needs us.
Play Ball soon! With or without Pete as the 1st sacker. The Rolling Stones said, " you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you might get what you need"! Pete , get back to where you belong!!
The pit in my stomach grew slightly larger while reading this column. Expectations are higher this year than last. And yet, we're starting off the season with arguably bigger holes and question marks. The Mets players sound like a collection of the walking wounded and pitcher reclamation projects. And I agree that the young'ns cannot yet fill the holes. We're going to look/feel terrible if we stink this year - especially after having acquired Soto. And we won't even get the benefit of Soto's bat if we don't add at least one other big bat to protect him in the lineup. Instead, by the end of the season, he'll own the record for most walks.
With respect to Alonso/Boras -
Will Sammon of the Athletic reported that after Alonso/Boras rejected the Mets's latest offer last week, the Mets withdrew it. In other words, there's nothing on the table right now. Further, Steve Cohen did not preface his straightforward, negative comments about the negotiations with an "of course, we really want Pete to come back, but ..." Those two factors tell me the door is nearly closed. Moreover, Alonso's fair market value has arguably decreased even further due to the length of the negotiations and the apparent souring. The Blue Jays may get a real bargain. I can't help but feel sad for Pete no matter how much he may be to blame.
Personally, after reading Jordan Montgomery's negative comments about Boras, I suspect Boras sold Pete a bill of goods and then botched the negotiations. I also suspect that Boras's ego has probably contributed as much to the problems as Pete's ego. Does this matter right now? Nope. I just hope that other players think more than twice before hiring Boras in the future. (Nimmo - another Boras client - may have been lucky.)
As for Vientos -
On BNNY, Todd Zeile made an interesting point. For career purposes, Vientos should want to remain at 3rd rather than move to 1st. Apparently, third basemen are more valuable than first basemen. (Vientos may not have a choice, of course.)
It's been reported that Pete turned down a $158 million, 7 year extension. What year would that have kicked in had he accepted it? Has that been reported?
I think I read somewhere, it would have kicked in last year and modified the last season of the contract he was on. So technically, it would have been six years at $138 million (or something like that) starting in 2025. But the total value of the deal was seven years, $158 million.