Welcome Back Jay Bruce, The Trade Was Your Ticket Out

[Ceetar]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Mets by the Numbers, on a tip from Citi Field HVAC Guy, is reporting Smith and Lagares to Pittsburgh for McCutcheon. HVAC Guy might have misheard "Harrison" though.

Pittsburgh would have to include both for that to be remotely interesting.

[Edgy MD]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I guess it also means the end of either Lagares or Nimmo as a NYM. Probably Lagares as he's too expensive to keep around as a 4th OF I'm not so sure. Unless I'm forgetting someone, doesn't the signing of Bruce give them five outfielders: Cespedes, Conforto, Bruce, Lagares, Nimmo? I can't think of who the sixth guy might be. Taijeron is gone, and so is Aoki. If Lagares or Nimmo goes, they'll need to get someone to replace the guy who leaves, right?

Four guys until Conforto is back. The fifth guy until then is Zach Borenstein or one of our infielders faking it.

[smg58]

I considered the outfield more of a luxury than a necessity compared to second base and especially compared to pitching. But if those other needs get filled well, then I have no problem at all with this.

If Conforto is not a good bet to be ready by Opening Day, I would not be too quick to push Lagares or Nimmo out the door. I'll worry about having too much depth on the active roster when we actually have too much depth on the active roster.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Ceetar wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Mets by the Numbers, on a tip from Citi Field HVAC Guy, is reporting Smith and Lagares to Pittsburgh for McCutcheon. HVAC Guy might have misheard "Harrison" though. Pittsburgh would have to include both for that to be remotely interesting.

Are you doubting HVAC Guy? Maybe they do both, he's not sure on the configuration. My remark is Smith and McCutcheon both wear 22, so it's an efficiency play.

Also I'm not terribly worried about the 5th outfielder I would assume a DeAza type will be gathered in by spring.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Centerfield wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: I guess it also means the end of either Lagares or Nimmo as a NYM. Probably Lagares as he's too expensive to keep around as a 4th OF I was thinking just the opposite. With the Bruce signing, our OF defense remains pretty weak. You almost have to keep Lagares as he's the only real CF on the whole team. I think McCutchen or Cain would have meant Juan gone. Plus, I'm curious to see what he's going to do this spring. Swing doctor. Pics show him getting jacked up and hammering tractor tires. (I didn't know tractor tires needed to be hammered.) He's either going to hit 50 HR's or tear his pectoral in March.

Holy Jeebus, I just saw the tractor hammer picture.

[nymr83]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Mets by the Numbers, on a tip from Citi Field HVAC Guy, is reporting Smith and Lagares to Pittsburgh for McCutcheon. HVAC Guy might have misheard "Harrison" though. Pittsburgh would have to include both for that to be remotely interesting. Are you doubting HVAC Guy? Maybe they do both, he's not sure on the configuration. My remark is Smith and McCutcheon both wear 22, so it's an efficiency play. Also I'm not terribly worried about the 5th outfielder I would assume a DeAza type will be gathered in by spring.

I'm not worried about the 5th outfielder for the sake of having one, I just don't want to lose Nimmo in our long term plans unless there is a good trade return.

I'm down on Lagares right now, but i want to carry a good defensive center fielder - i think the 5 (4 1/2 if Bruce is going to spend time at 1B) they have look good. still add a deaza type with a spring training invite

[Vic Sage]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I guess it also means the end of either Lagares or Nimmo as a NYM. Probably Lagares as he's too expensive to keep around as a 4th OF I'm not so sure. Unless I'm forgetting someone, doesn't the signing of Bruce give them five outfielders: Cespedes, Conforto, Bruce, Lagares, Nimmo? I can't think of who the sixth guy might be. Taijeron is gone, and so is Aoki. If Lagares or Nimmo goes, they'll need to get someone to replace the guy who leaves, right?

Yes, and so if Lagares goes, it'll be a salary dump. Because we couldn't possibly afford both Bruce and Lagares, right?

i'm ok, but not thrilled. Bruce is defensively challenged at 2 positions, and a 1-dimensional slugger. But I'm Ok with him in Rf and a Lagares/Nimmo platoon in CF, until Conforto replaces them and they become OF depth. If Dom tanks at 1b, having Bruce to split time with Flores at 1b is also useful. But yes, i would have preferred Cain overall.

If Kendrick is the 2b plan, we better get some more arms, like Addison Reed for the bullpen and Cobb in the rotation.

[Centerfield]

So after sleeping on it and trying to sell myself on Bruce I find I'm still pretty underwhelmed. Some thoughts:

*This serves to eliminate a lot of options. You have to figure all other OF options are gone. So no McCutchen, no Cain, and no stunner for JD Martinez. You also have to figure this eliminates Duda. I thought that if the Mets got a RH top of the order-ish guy (McCutchen, Cain), then Lucas might be a bargain basement 1 year power fill in as a hedge for Dominic Smith.

*Bruce is probably the "big splash" for the Mets. They will cite his 30+ HR's and talk about how they got a legitimate power guy for the middle of the lineup. Bruce certainly has power. His HR's were no doubters last year (this is something I was worried about having seen him play in that bandbox in Cincy). But he's really just not good at anything else. Was hoping for a guy that hits for average, gets on base, and does damage against elite pitchers. Right handed would be a plus. Bruce does none of this.

*This "second tier" contract is such a Mets move. Granderson, Bay, Zeile.

[Guest cooby]

Five outfielders on a team with all these pitchers needed?

[Zvon]

Benjamin Grimm wrote:

I like this one. Not a wise ass, punny, or attempting to be funny headline.

I wrote a song about it...
Wanna hear it?
Here it go..

Its not wise ass punny, or attempting to be funny heeeeaadline, ahhhAHHHHahhahhh.
Thank you very much!

MFS62^ I'm on a Calhoun Tubbs kick. lol.

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