The Florry Story

[Edgy MD]

Homegrown, appealing, with a long résumé full of big moments, and possibly (probably?) the Mets' best hitter right now, Wilmer Flores has done everything you could hope for, short of securing a position for himself. But that's a big step he has continually failed to make, and one he has perhaps two remaining weeks to accomplish, as much or most speculation suggests he's about the most tradable commodity the Mets have.

[fimg=400:2w3wln08]https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/7d34aed3ff930d9492833c40f0bca57f1d516ba5/c=0-0-731-975/local/-/media/2018/07/09/Bergen/NorthJersey/636667698245226647-bx101-362c-9.jpg?width=534&height=712&fit=crop[/fimg:2w3wln08]

[seawolf17]

If he gets dealt, he turns into Justin Turner II. LET HIM PLAY.

[Centerfield]

What would we get for him? A decent young player under team control?

Isn't that what he already is?

[Edgy MD]

He's arbitration eligible going into 2019 and a free agent after that. I think the idea would presumably be that they would get younger and more controllable talent.

The Dodgers are desperate at second base and may be a landing spot for him or Cabrera.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I envision a Flores-and-Wheeler package. I don't know what it would yield, but it should be something pretty good.

[metirish]

There are very few reasons to watch the Mets right now, Flores is one yet he can't hold down a starting job.

[Guest 41Forever]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I envision a Flores-and-Wheeler package. I don't know what it would yield, but it should be something pretty good.

Isn't that the package that we nearly sent to the Brewers for Carols Gomez?

[Benjamin Grimm]

That's right! I had forgotten about that!

[smg58]

If you think the Mets’ need for a rightanded first baseman will be less next year, and if you think that Rivera and/or Cecchini can do what Flores can do in the rest of the infield, then he’s expendable. He’s one of my favorite Mets and you wouldn’t simply take whatever you could get, but you listen to offers.

[Guest 41Forever]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: That's right! I had forgotten about that!

I think that's the classic example of a deal I'm glad we didn't make!

[metirish]

I think there is also the notion that we love Flores because we have been though so much with him, he loves the Mets etc , we feel that connection, but he's bang average and really what would you get for him? Bang average in return that's what

[Benjamin Grimm]

I could go for an average bang.

[Edgy MD]

Well, a big part of why trades are made is because two teams have different assessments of some players' value. And sometimes, one of those teams is more right than the other.

Otherwise, why give up good players, mediocre players, or bad players, if you're just going to get the same in return?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I like Flores quite a bit. I think he likes me.

If some guy likes him a lot more than me, then we have to listen.

The guy who'd be great to trade is Matz. I'm not that into him, and I don;t think he likes me. But any contendah would be thrilled to get their mitts on a lefty like him. Maybe they won't appreciate how remarkably unreliable he's really been till just now, and if history tells you anything, will become again.

[Benjamin Grimm]

A Matz-Flores package could also work. Matz, as you say, has been inconsistent, but his advantage over Wheeler is that he has more years of control. (Three more, I think.)

[Ceetar]

I'd rather not trade our pitchers unless it's in a package for something really awesome. I don't want to shuffle Matz or Wheeler away for like a Todd Frazier "pretty decently above average but not remarkable". Then you need to find another starter of that quality and you're better off just finding that hitter.

I don't think Flores, the bad defender who can occasionally get hot but is mostly average. I'm sure he'll have value as the righty platoon guy for some contenders, but not hugely valuable. There's a lot of 'homegrown' value to him that no one else will care about. And with only one, expensive, year left you're not gonna ship him off to someone like Milwaukee who might view him as a nice stand-in at a variety of positions while you're rebuilding.

This is where the Mets are going to miss having a GM though. Flores probably will be on the team as a reserve next year, but at $5 million or so you might be better off with the TJ Rivera/AAAA type guy there for free. If so, you have to trade him for basically anything, live arm, whatever, but that GM is probably not on the team right now to make that decision.

[seawolf17]

The problem with trading any of our four starters is that they're almost *exactly* what we *want* back. I'd rather ride with the horses we've got. Now, if this was a contending situation and Matz, Flores, and a prospect would get us Justin Verlander, then hey, go for it. But good young pitchers with team control are what we need, no? I don't get it.

And Flores is what Flores is, but there does come a point where I kind of like rooting for the guys I like. And I like Wilmer a lot and I'd like to continue rooting for him.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

How about if Matz gets us next year's (or the year after's) catcher and/or second baseman? Some kid who can hit? That's what a team 15 games out needs to trade for. I'm as optimistic on the volume of pitchers the Mets have (Gzelly, Lugo, Dunn, Peterson etc) as I am suspicious of Matz as a longterm guy given his fragility. It's almost like a gift that he's done so well.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Speaking of next year's second baseman, they should be using the rest of the season to find out if that might be Jeff McNeil. (And I suspect that they'll be doing that in August and September. At least I hope so.)

I think I'd like a talented young outfielder to come back in a trade. Put Cespedes at first (maybe???) and ditch Bruce (any way you can). Have an outfield of Conforto, Nimmo, the new guy, and Lagares?

[Ceetar]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: How about if Matz gets us next year's (or the year after's) catcher and/or second baseman? Some kid who can hit? That's what a team 15 games out needs to trade for. I'm as optimistic on the volume of pitchers the Mets have (Gzelly, Lugo, Dunn, Peterson etc) as I am suspicious of Matz as a longterm guy given his fragility. It's almost like a gift that he's done so well.

I mean, yeah, I guess. I like having the lefty, but if you're convinced he's fragile (well, that he's significantly more fragile than roughly every other pitcher who you might replace him with) try to swing a trade for some equal-ish value as a more stable hitter. I personally err on the side of 'keep the pitcher', but I maybe biased as both his and my daughter's first games were the same day.

[Edgy MD]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Speaking of next year's second baseman, they should be using the rest of the season to find out if that might be Jeff McNeil.

My money is on Mac coming up for the first game after the All-Star Break.

[smg58]

I think it depends on when Cabrera is traded. After all the bad breaks we've gotten over the past three seasons, I keep hoping that McNeil turns out to be the good break that turns the team around.

[Guest cooby]

I want Wilmer here forever. I adore the guy in a motherly sort of way

[MFS62]

cooby wrote: I want Wilmer here forever. I adore the guy in a motherly sort of way

As I love him in a fatherly way.

Later

[MFS62]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Put Cespedes at first (maybe???)

I know there was an article in the NY Post (today) which talked about a Cespeded move to playing first. But with his leg and hamstring problems, I think the first time he has to stretch for a throw, it would be the last.

Later

[Guest cooby]

Cespedes can jump off a pier as far as I’m concerned

Though as a motherly figure, I hope he can Swim

[Guest d'Kong76]

We're married to the man through 2020 for muchas dolares. Might as
well root for him to get better, find a place for him to stand in the field
and to stay off of piers until trading deadline 2020.

[seawolf17]

d'Kong76 wrote: We're married to the man through 2020 for muchas dolares. Might as well root for him to get better, find a place for him to stand in the field and to stay off of piers until trading deadline 2020.

Yup. Gotta cross our fingers that he can be the lineup centerpiece he's supposed to be.

[Ceetar]

d'Kong76 wrote: We're married to the man through 2020 for muchas dolares. Might as well root for him to get better, find a place for him to stand in the field and to stay off of piers until trading deadline 2020.

I don't think he'd be a good 1B and I'd rather him be Jeff Francoeur in the OF defensively over playing at first. Don't waste that arm.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I agree about the arm, but first base would put less wear and tear on his legs. I'll have to trust the Mets to make the right decision. (Good grief.)