One Bullet

[Edgy MD]

If you have one chance to go big on a player, one chance to take on a high-end salary for a player likely to provide high-end value, where to you look to improve?

Assume that this phat salaried big shot can come on any number of ways this winter. He can be signed with a big shot contract, he can be traded for with a big contract already in place, or he can come on board via a trade-and-sign maneuver. Let's be neutral on that question. The real question here is what position group do you want to drop a bomb on?

For the sake of this exercise, the team you are working for is the 2018 Mets.

[fimg=200:3470p91r]https://i.pinimg.com/474x/a3/29/3c/a3293cac992bdefed1007de92ac77cca--shea-stadium-baseball-pictures.jpg[/fimg:3470p91r] [fimg=200:3470p91r]https://i.pinimg.com/236x/da/65/cd/da65cde7ee5797e17b298474932feac9--shea-stadium-baseball-pictures.jpg[/fimg:3470p91r] [fimg=200:3470p91r]http://www.poulinmorris.com/img/environmental/Shea_Stadium_2_Alt.jpg[/fimg:3470p91r] [fimg=200:3470p91r]https://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/shea-stadium-player-lights-harry-perez.jpg[/fimg:3470p91r] [fimg=200:3470p91r]http://twoguysandamap.com/art/shea_6a.jpg[/fimg:3470p91r]

[Ceetar]

trick question, Shohei Otani?


otherwise, Darvish.

[G-Fafif]

If you had one more bullet, you shoot O'Malley twice.

[metsmarathon]

gotta be infielder. it's where we have the biggest holes and the least depth.

yeah, it's nice to say get me a big time catcher, but there really aren't any of those things available. big time reliver? ok, sure, but what about the rest of the team? i'd like my cake first upon which to place the icing. big ol' pitching commitment? eh,... those don't always work out so well... outfield? well, we do have conforto and cespedes.

is there a big ol infielder available that fills our needs? i.. uh.. gosh, i don't know. i don't think so. is there anyone you're thinking of?

my second choice is otani.

[Edgy MD]

I went for infielder, too.

But I think there's plenty of depth. What there isn't is a high likelihood of any of the players in that depth chart offering All Star-level productivity.

[Centerfield]

Who is the big shot infielder you have in mind?

[Edgy MD]

I'm not sure there is one that jumps out at me. I'd certainly jump at Altuve if he could be had. And I'd prefer second to third.

OE: Brian Dozier may be the best intersection of ambition and reality.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

If we could somehow land an ace starting pitcher that would be great, It's probably not the biggest area of need but might help the most if you know what I mean.

[seawolf17]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: If we could somehow land an ace starting pitcher that would be great, It's probably not the biggest area of need but might help the most if you know what I mean.

That's my logic too.

[Guest d'Kong76]

I took starter too. I'll always take starting pitching, especially throwing out all
the how 'this phat salaried big shot' can become a Met parameters.

[Centerfield]

I'm not sure I followed the rules here. I think it's hard to answer in the hypothetical. Are we supposed to consider real world options? Or just pick what position we would love an upgrade?

Because of the 2B options available, none are really game changers. But put '99 Alfonso on the table and I'd be all over that.

So I went with starting pitcher. Not sure which one will pan out the best, but I'd love to add an ace to our rotation.

[Edgy MD]

Centerfield wrote: Are we supposed to consider real world options? Or just pick what position we would love an upgrade?

I guess I meant the latter.

[Vic Sage]

i'm always cautious about giving big $$ to pitchers, due to their higher rate of injury. I prefer to give those sorts of deals to fielders, who are more reliable and consistent from year to year. Also, Mets don't need an ace... we already have 2, and the potential to have 5. Sure its always great to add an ace, but given the `Pons budget limitations, and their lack of offensive production and depth, if i'm going for 1 big player, it has to be a bat. The question for me is IFer or OFer. If Dozier was a FA, i'd go for him, but we have to give up players to get him, not just $$. Frankly, i think Flores could play every day at 2b and give us adequate D (its his best position by far) and real pop. I think he'd hit 260/25hrs if given the job. And with Rosario and Cabrera already here, i'd prefer an OFer who can also play 1b (to cover us if Smith is a bust). Particularly with the recent injuries of Cespedes and Conforto, and the annual injuries of Lagares, i think a bat in the OF is the way to go (either in CF or RF, with Conforto going to CF when healthy). My top choices among currently available FAs is Martinez and Cain, with Bruce or Morrison as lower-budget options. Either that or a 2b (by trading for Dozier) or a 3b (with Cabrera going to 2b).

[Fman99]

Now that I read that last post, I want Jay Bruce back. Proved he can get it done in the Citi. Can play 1B in a pinch. Seems likable enough.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

You know who the guy we need if we're really going big is?

Miguel Fuckin Cabrera. He's a RH batter who could play first, if really needed, play third, and also play a corner OF position. Of course he's 34, signed for 30M for the next 6 years and fat, but I saw recent pics of him working out and he's looking trim and mean.

This is obviously a huge reach and probably not the wisest single thing we could do, but I'll betcha Detroit will take off a few bucks.

The other option of course would be to get Cespedes to platoon with Smith at 1B but that just seems so unlikely no matter how much sense it would make.

[Edgy MD]

If Céspedes has them so intimidated that they can't convince him to move to right, switching him to first seems right out.

That said, you know who should really play that card? Terry should. "I'm just an old man without a real job, Yoenis, but you know what I think you should do?"

That way, if Céspedes blows up at the idea, it's not like he's fighting back at the organization for an idea put on him through official channels. It's just grandpa, who is old and wise but his filter is broken and whose opinion doesn't come with any more authority than the listener gives him.

That could be Terry's whole act, in fact.

[list:3rfk6bnt]"I'm just an undersized old fart, Noah, but if I had a wing like yours, you're damn right I'd let the doctors look at it."

"Hey, Jenrry. I found some shit in your locker that has me worried. I'm really sorry I was in there. I thought it was mine. I get like that. But hey, let's talk about this ..."[/list:u:3rfk6bnt]

[dgwphotography]

I said outfielder. If you're going to go big, go for the biggest fish out there.

Reality says that there is no way the Mets get him, but Giancarlo would look so good hitting balls into the 500 section while wearing a Mets uniform.

[Edgy MD]

Oh, I think reality is wide open for Giancarlo.

The Marlins have traded a lot of big shmoes in their time. I don't see why Stanton wouldn't be one also, and I don't see why the Mets wouldn't be a candidate.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yeah, it would solve our Cespedes problem in no time flat as he'd almost have to be in the deal to get him. I'm also open to trading Cespy back to Detroit in a Cabrera deal.

The problem for the Mets would be, who else do you need to include.

[Ceetar]

I'd be awfully concerned about Cabrera's plummeting power.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I don't know what it would take for the Mets to get Stanton, but I doubt it would include Cespedes, for two reasons: His salary and his no-trade clause. I imagine the Marlins want cheap young talent in return.

[MFS62]

G-Fafif wrote: If you had one more bullet, you shoot O'Malley twice.

Old joke/ punch line.
Still a valid response.

Later

[ashie62]

McCutchen.

[Guest cooby]

Outfielder

[nymr83]

Save it all for Bryce Harper next winter

[Edgy MD]

Miguel Cabrera had just about the worst 2017 imaginable. Like he wishes he had José Reyes' season.

Experiments are always worthwhile, but I'd not only want the Tigers to throw in some $$, but also some less unstable talent too.

[metsmarathon]

Ashie62 wrote: McCutchen.

cutch would be an interesting target.... quick, somebody build a watp!

[Guest cooby]

He would but I like him as a Pirate. I already worry about their future

[metsmarathon]

Edgy MD wrote: Miguel Cabrera had just about the worst 2017 imaginable. Like he wishes he had José Reyes' season. Experiments are always worthwhile, but I'd not only want the Tigers to throw in some $$, but also some less unstable talent too.

jose reyes 2017

0.246 / 0.313 / 0.413 with a wOBA of 0.312. fangraphs has him at 2.0 WAR

miggy cabrera 2017

0.249 / 0.329 / 0.399 with a wOBA of 0.313. fangraphs has him at -0.2 WAR

yikes...

[Lefty Specialist]

Nymr83 wrote: Save it all for Manny Machado next winter

Fixed that for you.