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[Centerfield]

I found this writeup of upcoming free agents helpful.

https://www.mlbdailydish.com/2018/9/7/17780982/previewing-2018-2019-mlb-free-agent-class

The class may not be as strong as once thought a few years ago, but there's gold to be found so long as someone has the resources and the right set of eyes.

Let's go get Bloom, increase the budget by $75 million and win it all next year.

[Lefty Specialist]

And ponies for everyone! Don't forget the ponies!

[MFS62]

Lefty Specialist wrote: And ponies for everyone! Don't forget the ponies!

Forget the ponies. They've just been horsin' around the free agent market for years.

Later

[metirish]

I will like many be very interested to see what Harper gets.....and where Harvey lands and gets too. Big money to Grandal?, not impressed

[smg58]

My high priorities are a high-impact right-handed bat (either at third base or centerfield), a reliever capable of closing, and a front-end lefty reliever. Catcher and starting pitcher would be nice luxuries.

[smg58]

I'm also a bit concerned that enough teams are going to go the route of under-using their starting pitchers that relief pitching becomes seriously overpriced.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

1) I'd see if I couldn't pull off a spectacular trade* netting us a pitcher who could challenge Wheelie, Syndy and degrommy for No. 1. Or sign Eovaldi as discussed elsewhere. Bonus of that is you net a RP in the process as Matz-Vargas-Flexy-Oswalt etc. all become options there. Eovaldi might make a killer kloser if he's interested.

1a) I'd see what it would take to get Machado to take over 3rd base, otherwise find a way to upgrade Frazier somehow.

3) Shop for catchers, maybe in the spectacular trade referred to above

4) Bolster the pen with good arms on smart contracts, and not by lugging a suitcase of cash to the free agent with the most saves.

* Tradeable = Just about anyone (hopefully not the top 3 starters, but everyone else. And I mean everyone if the deal is spectacular enough).

[Centerfield]

For 3B, Josh Donaldson is also out there. Don't know enough about him to know if he was hurt, or if he's shot.

[smg58]

He was definitely hurt. Did fine in a tiny sample size over September for Cleveland, but less fine in playoffs. I didn't get the impression that the injury is something he can't be 100% over in time for spring training. He may want one year with a player option, but with Arenado on the market next year I'd be down with that.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I've said this a few times, and if I turn out to be wrong there will be abundant proof of that, but I see this guy as a 2019 Met:

[Centerfield]

I've said this a few times, and if I turn out to be wrong there will be abundant proof of that, but I see this guy as a 2019 Met:

I think if, as expected, Melvin is announced shortly, the chances of your prediction coming true improve greatly.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

smg58 wrote: He was definitely hurt. Did fine in a tiny sample size over September for Cleveland, but less fine in playoffs. I didn't get the impression that the injury is something he can't be 100% over in time for spring training. He may want one year with a player option, but with Arenado on the market next year I'd be down with that.

Yabbut, this isn't all new. He missed a month and a half during the previous season, too, and he's played 165 games overall over the last two seasons. And this year's injuries-- back and shoulder and such-- ARE the kind of thing that can sap power/ruin defensive game beyond repair, given a recurrence.

On the plus side, everyone in baseball knows this. On the minus side, all it takes is one strange bidder to foul the market.

Edited October 25, 2018 by Guest

[Centerfield]

David Price elects to stay in Boston.

No word yet on Kershaw. He has until midnight tonight.

[Benjamin Grimm]

From MLB.com: Nine stars we could see traded this offseason

None of the nine are Mets, but one of the players had the Mets listed as a possible destination:

6. Wil Myers, 3B/OF, Padres For now, the Padres are still trying to make it work. Myers moved from first to the outfield and then third base after the signing of Eric Hosmer. If San Diego can acquire a third baseman, Myers would move back to the outfield. But the Padres are loaded there, too. Probably a better option is to trade him to a team that would put him back at first base. Given that Myers has four years at $16 million per season remaining on his contract, it will take some creativity. But he has averaged 29 home runs and 29 doubles in his past two full seasons, which should make him attractive. Possible destinations: Yankees, Mets, Orioles

[smg58]

Myers isn't a bad player, but I'm not sure where he'd play for us (does he play third well enough to displace Frazier?), and four years is a steep commitment.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

smg58 wrote: Myers isn't a bad player, but I'm not sure where he'd play for us (does he play third well enough to displace Frazier?), and four years is a steep commitment.

His play there last year was... the word "Reyesian" comes to mind.

He's a first baseman and occasional corner OF, and middling THERE with the glove.

[ashie62]

Myers did come up as a catcher lol. He has played OF

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I mean, Anthony Recker has pitched.

Myers is okay-- probably-- at first. He's Duda-plus in the corners in the outfield, and a nightmare in center.