Can You Cano?

[Mex17]

Just for kicks, Mallex vs. Nimmo side by side.

https://www.fantasypros.com/mlb/compare/mallex-smith-brandon-nimmo.php

[Frayed Knot]

Just to be clear here, your version of keeping a "healthy Cespedes from being overused", and of "keeping Frazier involved" for that matter, has both of them sitting out some 70-80% of the time.
I don't think that's gonna fly.

[Mex17]

Frayed Knot wrote: Just to be clear here, your version of keeping a "healthy Cespedes from being overused", and of "keeping Frazier involved" for that matter, has both of them sitting out some 70-80% of the time. I don't think that's gonna fly.

That's the rub. Everyone keeps saying that they need another "big bat" in the lineup, preferably a righthanded one. Where do you put that bat? The only places that I can think of are third base, second base, and the outfield. Everyone is enamored with McNeil and no one wants to sit Nimmo or Conforto. There is a still a committment to Frazier and you have to keep a spot open for Cespedes even though no one has any idea when he is coming back or what he will be when he comes back. No one really wants to trade Syndergaard and this Mariners trade (which looks like BVW is pursuing) addresses none of the above concerns.

What do you do?

[HahnSolo]

Jeff Passan says significant momentum to these talks, meanwhile two Mets prospects names surface via Rosenthal (at least I hadn't heard their names in this deal before--we'd really consider dealing Kelenic in this trade?).

[tweet:2c2eji4c]

[/tweet:2c2eji4c]

I don't know; an aging "name" player and a closer. This move has Omar's fingerprints all over it.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

You said it (so did I in a different thread).

[Centerfield]

HahnSolo wrote: Jeff Passan says significant momentum to these talks, meanwhile two Mets prospects names surface via Rosenthal (at least I hadn't heard their names in this deal before--we'd really consider dealing Kelenic in this trade?). [tweet]https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1068183711517220864[/tweet] I don't know; an aging "name" player and a closer. This move has Omar's fingerprints all over it.

No no no. Are you fucking kidding me?

No.

[Centerfield]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: You said it (so did I in a different thread).

Maybe we can get JJ Putz again!

And the Cano contract is really not a big deal. We can spread his payments over a 100 years starting in 2031, and invest that money right now into this fund I know...

[HahnSolo]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: You said it (so did I in a different thread).

lol when I typed that I thought "I sound just like lunchbucket"

[Benjamin Grimm]

Kristie Ackert wrote: The Mets would also have to dip into their core of young players to get a deal of this magnitude done, the industry source said. They would likely have to send back a top prospect like shortstop Andres Gimenez, right-hander Justin Dunn or 2018 Mets top draft pick Jarred Kelenic. A team source said that the Mets would not include more than one of those players in any deal. It would also likely include a young major leaguer and Seth Lugo has been among those floated, the source said.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Jezus H.

[metirish]

Why are the Mets not just getting a closer type in the free agent market ? There are many available.....I fear Cano would come here and just stink

[Centerfield]

I feel like I'm living in some alternate universe.

We are not trading for Cano. Seattle is dumping his contract on us. Eating money, taking on Bruce, and sending us their closer is the consideration for this salary dump.

If we are asked to give up prospects, we hang up. If we're asked to give up prospects and Lugo, and a young major leaguer, whatever the fuck that means, then we hang up in a more adamant manner.

[Centerfield]

They're saying McNeil is being discussed.

OMG. Someone shoot me.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Hopefully, "discussed" means that the Mariners are asking, not that the Mets are offering. But I really don't know what to think.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Mets emerging as favorites for Robinson Cano, Edwin Diaz

New York Post wrote: The Mets and Mariners have gained momentum toward a trade that would send Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz to Flushing, Yahoo Sports reports. However, The Post’s Joel Sherman reports that the Mets do not feel like they are close to a deal for Cano and Diaz and that the Mariners are still unsure on how to proceed. Seattle and GM Jerry DiPoto have been back and forth on whether to maximize their return for Diaz or to include Cano and the $120 million left on his contract, which would severely diminish the return.

[A Boy Named Seo]

And Mallex Smith sounds to me like he's maybe prime Dee Gordon with less steals. Mallex has a career . 346 OBP and .384 SLG, and both numbers are trending upward. Gordon has only topped either number twice in his career. On this matter, your hearing is flawed. Also, re: PED weirdness... you have more to fear from aging. Braun, Marte, Cruz-- most good PED-suspended hitters have remained good hitters, post-PED suspension. Cano. As OUR 90s-Yankees Darryl. IMAGINE THE FLOSSIBILITIES

I stand corrected. Still want nothing to do with any of the rumored iterations of this turd of a trade.

[Centerfield]

I'm realizing that reading about these rumors is a good way to drive myself crazy over potentially nothing.

It worries me that Andy Martino, who has his checks signed by Wilpon, is trying to justify this trade. But other than that I'll just wait and see.

I don't know what Brodie will end up doing, so judgment is reserved on him.

But rumor Brodie is really not my favorite guy.

[smg58]

Centerfield wrote: They're saying McNeil is being discussed. OMG. Someone shoot me.

This is what scares me. The Mariners have made a point of getting players back who may already be better than what they're giving up -- and who on the Mets would better fit that description? Especially if either Dee Gordon or Mallex Smith is part of the deal, then second base opens up for them.

Personally, if I were the Mariners, I would offer up Gordon, Cano, and Diaz for Cespedes, McNeil, Lugo, and Dom Smith, while eating $10M of the last three years of the contract. Why Cespedes? Because that might be more attractive to the Mets than Bruce, and because Cespedes will be able to DH sooner than he will be able to play left field.

My fear is that the Mets would accept such an offer.

[Centerfield]

Diaz is a fucking relief pitcher. I wouldn't trade him 1 for 1 for Kelenic, or McNeil, or even Dunn.

To take on the Cano contract in addition to giving up someone is just stupid beyond words.

Atlanta is adding players.

Our offseason is sitting on pins and needles hoping we don't get worse.

[Centerfield]

And if this deal goes through, are we going to do a jersey over the suit press conference for Cano?

That might just drive me over the edge.

[Lefty Specialist]

I really, really want to believe they won't do something stupid. Afraid they will, though. Cano could be the next Robbie Alomar.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Centerfield wrote: And if this deal goes through, are we going to do a jersey over the suit press conference for Cano?

Oh, I'm sure they would.

I don't object to getting Cano and Diaz, I just worry about what the Mets will give up to get them. I do fear that it will be too much.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Lefty Specialist wrote: I really, really want to believe they won't do something stupid. Afraid they will, though. Cano could be the next Robbie Alomar.

I think the Alomar deal was a smart move that didn't work out. This one, well, until we know the details it's hard to say.

Tonight's Mets Hot Stove should be interesting.

[Centerfield]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Centerfield wrote: And if this deal goes through, are we going to do a jersey over the suit press conference for Cano? Oh, I'm sure they would. I don't object to getting Cano and Diaz, I just worry about what the Mets will give up to get them. I do fear that it will be too much.

That's the thing. The Mets shouldn't give up anything.

Cano is not an asset. He's a liability. A terrible liability. He's a 36 year old player on a huge 5 year deal. Even if they just gave us Cano and Diaz for free, it wouldn't be worth taking.

Diaz is an asset, but not enough to outweigh Cano. It has to be Cano, plus cash, plus Diaz, plus they take Bruce off our hands. And then we make the deal.

The minute they ask for prospects, or McNeil, the conversation should be over.

McNeil had a higher OPS than Cano last year. He's 26 and cheap. Why are we having this discussion?

[Centerfield]

Lefty Specialist wrote: I really, really want to believe they won't do something stupid. Afraid they will, though. Cano could be the next Robbie Alomar.

Alomar is not the floor here.

Cano is Alomar, except older, coming off a steroid suspension, and tied to a 5 year, $120 million contract with a no-trade clause.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I wonder if they see Cano as a first baseman? Or if he'd nudge McNeil to third base?

I agree that this whole thing seems nutty. Why is Cano the first player they're targeting? Maybe this is part of some bigger plan; it's really impossible to judge an offseason until all of the dust settles, and we're a long way from that. But for now I'll remain perplexed.

I would likely be willing to trade Bruce for Cano and cash. Diaz makes the deal sweeter for the Mets, so I can see why the Mariners would want a young player to come back to them. And, in theory, I'd be okay with that too. I just worry about who that player (or players) might be.

And is Mallex Smith off the table?

[Frayed Knot]

HahnSolo wrote: This move has Omar's fingerprints all over it.

Throw in a few more prospects and it'll have Steve Phillips' fingerprints all over it.

[A Boy Named Seo]

I think we're putting all the focus on Cano and underestimating the massive hard-on the Mets seem to have for Edwin Diaz.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I'm not often the contrarian here. But... I'll channel my inner Steve Phillips and say--provided Kelenic is nowhere near this deal-- I think I like it. Or, rather, that it would suit our squad's stated purpose, especially if we get Mallex and Diaz.

#TeamCanoTrade

[Benjamin Grimm]

A Boy Named Seo wrote: I think we're putting all the focus on Cano and underestimating the massive hard-on the Mets seem to have for Edwin Diaz.

Yes, you're right. I meant to make that point too but forgot.

It might very well be that Cano is the bitter pill that the Mets have to swallow to get Diaz. (And to unload Bruce as well?)