When Josie Gets Home

[Edgy MD]

As players potentially return from the disabled list, very frequently, a new situation makes room for them.



But sometimes that is not so, and so, your challenge is to create a mid-range plan. You see, the subs have frequently outplayed the guys who have been hurt, and now you've got to find the best way to reconcile both groups into a team and say goodbye to some.



The following players are due back over the coming weeks and months, and are listed in reverse order of expected return. Your job is to assume nobody more gets hurt, and to tell how you intend to respond to their return. What role do they get? Who loses time to them? What does the role of the displaced player become? And ultimately, who gets removed from the roster and how?



For instance, Jeff McNeil seems due back earliest. In response to that you might say,



(a) Jeff gets his secondbase job back, but initially mainly against righties.

( José Peraza still gets most lefties.

© Guillorme gets bumped, and must satisfy himself getting spot starts all around the infield, and defensive replacing on occasion.

(d) Brandon Drury gets DFA'd.



For another guy, you might simply say,If he comes back, he gets immediately optioned to the minors. If he has no options, he gets DFA'd. Tough nuts.



So, how do you respond to the following returns:

1) McNeil (within the week?)

2) Conforto (shortly after?)

3) Almora (late June?)

4) Betances (early July?)

5) Fargas (early July?)

6) Nimmo (mid July?)

7) Martinez (mid/late July?)

8) Davis (mid/late July?)

9) Hunter (mid/late July?)

10) Carrasco (late July?)

11) Yamamoto (early August?)

12) Syndergaard (late August? probably September but he'd have to be activated before that to qualify for the post-season)



Yeah, those fudgy return dates are guesses made after reading a few injury update pages made for gamblers and fantasy players, and those pages are themselves guessing, so please don't hold me to nuttin'.



The point is, when some of these guys get back, it's going to be bloody. And only you can make sure the wrong blood isn't shed.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Would Syndergaard have to be activated before September 1? I'm not so sure about this. He's a player who has been injured, not someone coming in from another organization.

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, that's the rule. Even callups from within the organization historically have to be added before 9/1 to qualify.



There's a loopy-hole that allows organizations to be clever, however, in which a rule allows them to use somebody who came up after 9/1 if one of their players used before 9/1 is on the 60-day and not available for the playoffs.



Anyhow, sorry to ask a long question. I'm just trying to brace myself for the blood.

[MFS62]

Betances gave up 5 ER in 1/3 IP at low A St. Lucie in his first rehab appearance last night.

Unless he can prove in a few more appearances that was just "getting the rust out", maybe early July is optimistic.

And even if he does, his recent major league performance doesn't guarantee they'll bring him up.



Later

[Lefty Specialist]

McNeil- DFA Drury

Conforto- DFA Williams

Almora- stays at AAA



After that is too speculative.

[Edgy MD]

Betances gave up 5 ER in 1/3 IP at low A St. Lucie in his first rehab appearance last night. Unless he can prove in a few more appearances that was just "getting the rust out", maybe early July is optimistic. And even if he does, his recent major league performance doesn't guarantee they'll bring him up. Later

It's not like you can keep him on rehab assignments indefinitely. He's on the clock.



Either he gets his game together or he doesn't and get waived or released.

[MFS62]

Edgy MD wrote: Either he gets his game together or he doesn't and get waived or released.

Agree.

Later

[roger_that]

Edgy MD wrote: Betances gave up 5 ER in 1/3 IP at low A St. Lucie in his first rehab appearance last night. Unless he can prove in a few more appearances that was just "getting the rust out", maybe early July is optimistic. And even if he does, his recent major league performance doesn't guarantee they'll bring him up. Later It's not like you can keep him on rehab assignments indefinitely. He's on the clock. Either he gets his game together or he doesn't and get waived or released.

How many chances

do we give Betances?

[Lefty Specialist]

The Wilpons would force him onto the roster since they were paying him. Uncle Steve can cut him loose since he's a rounding error.

[seawolf17]

This is assuming all these guys actually come back AND nobody gets hurt or traded:



1) McNeil (within the week?) - Drury is probably the casualty here. Thanks for your service.

2) Conforto (shortly after?) - Mason Williams.

3) Almora (late June?) - I think he finds his way back up. Peraza, probably.

4) Betances (early July?) - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA no.

5) Fargas (early July?) - Stays in AAA.

6) Nimmo (mid July?) - This is right around where Billy McKinney turns into Billy McKinney.

7) Martinez (mid/late July?) - Released/traded. I don't see a fit.

8) Davis (mid/late July?) - Guillorme, theoretically, and I don't like it one bit.

9) Hunter (mid/late July?) - Drew Smith, maybe?

10) Carrasco (late July?) - Lucchesi, most likely.

11) Yamamoto (early August?) - Released/traded. Again, I don't see a fit.

12) Syndergaard (late August?) - This would have to be Peterson, because there's nobody left, unless you want to send down Reid-Foley again.

[Fman99]

Quality Steely Dan reference there, hat tip.



Betances is done. I can't see him ever donning a major league uniform again for the Mets or any team.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Betances can be waived and can go to Syracuse if he clears.



I would trade JD Davis for the best starting pitcher I could get for him.

[bmfc1]

How about having one less reliever so decent players like Williams and Drury can stick around? Williams seems to be good, with some pop, speed, a good glove, and I'm not sure if Almora is that much better, although Almora is a righty bat which they need. Drury has 2 PH HRs and plays IF and OF so he'd be a nice "piece". The last relievers in the bullpen are interchangeable so I don't mind if they have to go through waivers. The Mets would lose Drury and Williams if they have to go through waivers.

[Lefty Specialist]

Smith, Reid-Foley and Gsellman have options. So no risk sending them down. But with all the games coming up, they'll need every ounce of that bullpen. And probably an extra starter.

[TransMonk]

She's the raw flame

The live wire

She prays like a roman

With her eyes on fire

[Edgy MD]

How about having one less reliever so decent players like Williams and Drury can stick around? Williams seems to be good, with some pop, speed, a good glove, and I'm not sure if Almora is that much better, although Almora is a righty bat which they need. Drury has 2 PH HRs and plays IF and OF so he'd be a nice "piece". The last relievers in the bullpen are interchangeable so I don't mind if they have to go through waivers. The Mets would lose Drury and Williams if they have to go through waivers.

Sure. You've just got to decide which reliever you're sending down or, if he doesn't have options, waiving.

[Edgy MD]

You know, two consecutive shutouts has a way of making these decisions a lot easier.



Decision #1:

2. McNeil returns to the lineup, gets 75% of the starts at second, hopefully increasing that figure as he settles in.


4. Peraza returns to the bench, but helps out against the odd lefty.


6. Guillorme returns to the bench, getting spot starts at second, third and short. (Lindor could use an occasional day off.) Pinch-hits when they need to get the leadoff man on. Occasionally double switches to improve late-inning defense.


8. Drury learns what it is to be DFA'd.

McNeil went 2-3 with a walk and a homer last night for Syracuse. He's had five rehab games. It's hard to think he won't be back before the weekend is done.



Unless he gets hurt first.