IWMT--Winter Meetings 2019

[bmfc1]

Welcome to the Winter Meetings at Mandalay Bay! It's a bit of walk to the heart of the strip but you're not leaving because BVW could do something at any time!
Here is John Harper's "bold prediction" of BVW's Winter Meeting haul:

Mets Sign A.J. Pollock, Andrew Miller, Martin Maldonado The romance is on between Brodie Van Wagenen and the Wilpons, meaning he'll have freedom to raise the payroll, perhaps to the $170-$180 million level. And these three free agents would fill holes nicely. Two of them come with injury concerns, but as a right-handed-hitting CF, Pollock is a perfect fit, and the addition of Edwin Diaz gives the Mets room to gamble on Miller's dominance when healthy. Finally, Maldonado makes sense as a defense-first catcher for a team whose success will depend mostly on its starting pitching.

https://www.sny.tv/mets/news/here-are-10-bold-winter-meetings-predictions-including-mets-signing-few-free-agents/301595724

BVW can do his pressers in front of the fake Statue of Liberty next door at New York, New York.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Such a weird time warp, seeing the Mets interested in expensive, established, injury-prone veterans so that they can ship off those inexpensive, controllable assets with underwhelming name recognition.

I'm still firmly in the Nimmo + Grandal camp. Screw Pollock. Clown fish over imitation crab.

[Mex17]

I'm hoping that, at the very least, Andrew Miller to the Mets happens relatively quick.

[A Boy Named Seo]

I think I would be very happy with that dude in the pen.

[Mex17]

The Yankees and Phillies speculative moves in that link are huge!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Maldonado is 31 with career-high 235 batting average, coming to ShitHitty Field. I'd much prefer Grandal if they are going to sign a catcher.

I'm not as sour on Pollock as some, I can see it. And if they want to also add Miller, I'm cool with that too.

I also think the Mets should get Machado and Harper.

[Mex17]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I also think the Mets should get Machado and Harper.

That's great.

I think that I am entitled to a harem consisting of Margot Robbie, Taylor Swift, and Kate Beckinsale.

[Lefty Specialist]

Ha. Taylor Swift would dump you and then write a song about you.

Get me Grandal, please.

[bmfc1]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Maldonado is 31 with career-high 235 batting average, coming to ShitHitty Field. I'd much prefer Grandal if they are going to sign a catcher.

I don't disagree but Maldonado is a good fielder and it would be nice to have one behind the plate when Syndergaard is on the mound instead of seeing the usual "Bugs Bunny"-type conga line around the bases.

[MFS62]

Mex17 wrote: I think that I am entitled to ... Kate Beckinsale.

You can have her now.
Oh, and, she wasn't that good.
Eat your heart out.

Later

[Mex17]

MFS62 wrote: I think that I am entitled to ... Kate Beckinsale. You can have her now. Oh, and, she wasn't that good.

I like brunettes.

Maybe we can talk about brunettes until some actual stuff gets reported from the meetings.

I like this brunette too. . .
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eRfyFjeS50s/UxjzxvFUOJI/AAAAAAAARGA/tN_b9Kycgtw/s3900/Lauren+Graham+photo-008.jpg

And this one (weird choice, I know). . .
https://d2z1w4aiblvrwu.cloudfront.net/ad/woVE/toyota-time-sales-event-sienna-or-highlander-large-10.jpg

[ashie62]

You can have about anybody in trade if you are willing to take on the salary.

A Grandal signing would be sweet.

[MFS62]

Mex17 wrote: And this one (weird choice, I know). . . https://d2z1w4aiblvrwu.cloudfront.net/ad/woVE/toyota-time-sales-event-sienna-or-highlander-large-10.jpg

Very weird, since I read a while ago that she is among the most disliked spokespersons on TV.
So, what's going on at the winter meetings?

Later

[Centerfield]

Mets Hot Stove just wrapped up. Their first report from the Winter Meetings.

They described Realmuto as the number one target not only for the Mets, but across baseball. A real franchise changing player.

They discussed A.J. Pollack. Gary Apple pushed Andrew McCutchen. Nelson Figueroa, to his credit, pointed out that the metrics say he’s declining. So Apple switched to what good leadership he supplies blah blah blah.

From watching this broadcast, you’d never know Harper and Machado were free agents. Their name was not mentioned once.

[Mex17]

Centerfield wrote: They described Realmuto as the number one target not only for the Mets, but across baseball. A real franchise changing player.

I guess this is ironic because I was the guy pining for him earlier, but I don't see it. I see "solid behind the plate and a good to very good complimentary hitter". I do not see "carry the franchise on his back".

[Centerfield]

Mets beat writers continue to use words like "aggressive" and "bold" to describe Brodie. They mirror his line that they are going after all the best players.

Ignoring completely that the Mets are out on Harper and Machado.

Sometimes I wonder if baseball is one big practical joke and I'm not in on it.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Are they saying that he's going after the "best" players, or that he's being "bold"?

It's possible to be bold without going after Harper and Machado, but it's not possible to be going after the best players and overlooking those two.

[Centerfield]

I'm not sure how to embed the twitter like some guys do.

But exact quote from Joel Sherman:

Mets remain in on Realmuto because Van Wagenen determined that his version of NYM always pursue best players. But internally still see as a long shot. Someone like Martin Maldonado remains more likely to emphasize defense.

So many things in that statement.

Clearly the Mets are not pursuing the best players. The two best players on the market are not even on their radar. Also, if you don't get Realmuto (and at that asking price you should not), then what about Ramos/Grandal? Why does it then fall to the guy who can't hit?

[Benjamin Grimm]

I agree with you. If you step back from Realmuto, Maldonado shouldn't be Plan B. He seems more like Plan D or Plan E. He's like getting Doug Mientkiewicz* after missing out on Carlos Delgado.

And anyone claiming that the Mets are going after the best players is clearly deluded or spinning the story for whatever reason.


* I spelled that correctly from memory!

[Guest d'Kong76]

MLB channel just said the Mets had a meeting with Adam Jones this
morning. Not sure if thread worthy just yet.