What’s the Plan?

[MFS62]

I will gladly take Robert ahead of Kyle Tucker "if" Tucker has an opt out after year one

 

I'd take Tucker if WE had an opt-out after one year.

Later

[Edgy MD]

Luis Robert is unlikely to be an answer to any question other than "Who is that guy who makes me think of Cedric Mullins?"

He has a lot of centerfieding experience, but he's almost as likely to make the team worse as he is to make them likely better.

 

False, he's going to have a big year as a Met

I will gladly take Robert ahead of Kyle Tucker "if" Tucker has an opt out after year one

 

Well, I certainly did not state anything definitively, so please give me some house credit here.

But it is hard to float my boat on spending $20 million*+talent for a guy who has had two straight counterproductive years for a very bad team and isn't really demonstrating that his glove can carry his bat through the bad patches.

He also comes with a second year in 2027 at the same price, with a $2 million buyout, so that's a minimum $22 million guaranteed.

[Centerfield]

To be clear, I'm not saying I'd be good with Luis Robert as the big bat. Kyle Tucker would be that guy. Robert would be asked to bat 8th, and would be an upgrade over Taylor.

And yes, he would be an upgrade over Taylor. Robert has had two down seasons in a row, but his down season is still a .661 OPS, 14 HR, 33 SB, and a 1.4 WAR. Taylor had a .598 OPS, 2 HR, 12 SB, and 1.0 WAR. And if you're talking upside, he's 2 years removed from being a 5.3 WAR, 38 HR star. So to me, this is a worthwhile gamble to take.

Assuming, of course, the cost to get him is not significant. And if it is, then I agree that we have to take a pass.

[Lefty Specialist]

I'd only take Roberts for the proverbial bag of balls. He's trending sharply in the wrong direction. Sox want too much for him which is why they still have him.

[Edgy MD]

The various projection systems fangraphs plays with like Luis Robert.

Or, anyhow, they like him two wins better than Tyrone Taylor and Ji Hwan Bae over 162 games.

 

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[th][/th]	[th]FGDC[/th]	[th]FGDC[/th]	[th]Steamer[/th]	[th]Steamer[/th]	[th]The Bat[/th]	[th]The Bat[/th]	[th]The Bat X[/th]	[th]The Bat X[/th]	[th]Mean[/th]	[th]Mean[/th]	[th]Mean[/th]
[th][/th]	[th]G[/th]	[th]fWAR[/th]	[th]G[/th]	[th]fWAR[/th]	[th]G[/th]	[th]fWAR[/th]	[th]G[/th]	[th]fWAR[/th]	[th]G[/th]	[th]fWAR[/th]	[th]fWAR/G*162[/th]
[th]Luis Robert[/th]	[td]136[/td]	[td]2.0[/td]	[td]117[/td]	[td]1.7[/td]	[td]136[/td]	[td]2.6[/td]	[td]136[/td]	[td]2.3[/td]	[td]131.25[/td]	[td]2.15[/td]	[td]2.653714286[/td]
[th]Tyrone Taylor[/th]	[td]97[/td]	[td]0.7[/td]	[td]83[/td]	[td]0.5[/td]	[td]97[/td]	[td]0.0[/td]	[td]97[/td]	[td]0.3[/td]	[td]93.5[/td]	[td]0.375[/td]	[td]0.64973262[/td]
[th]Ji Hwan Bae[/th]	[td]6[/td]	[td]0.0[/td]	[td]13[/td]	[td]0.1[/td]	[td]6[/td]	[td]0.0[/td]	[td]6[/td]	[td]0.0[/td]	[td]7.75[/td]	[td]0.025[/td]	[td]0.522580645[/td]

 

It's hard to project guys without guaranteed roster spots, as you don't know if they will play in 10 games or 110, but as it stands now, there is room for Robert.

[The Hot Corner]

There is even more room for someone who is actually good, like Cody Bellinger or Kyle Tucker. Plus, Luis Robert will cost prospects in addition to money.

[Edgy MD]

Oh, I certainly agree. I don't want anything to do with the guy, but the board had a lot of opinions, and mine were more bearish than most, so I went and looked at those projections.

[Centerfield]

I mean, I know there's still time. But they have just have so much to do.

The rotation that ranked 18th in ERA hasn't been addressed at all.

The bullpen that was 15th in ERA lost the best closer in the game. They replaced him, and a small army of relievers, with two guys who had ERAs near 5 last year. I mean, with bullpens you never know, but you certainly can't go into 2026 thinking this is going to be a strength.

And the lineup that tied for 9th in runs scored is now even worse. Alonso is gone. Nimmo is gone. We downgraded offensively at 2B. Polanco offsets Nimmo, but we still have glaring holes at LF, CF and 1B or DH. And one of those guys has to bat behind Soto.

Is there a solution? Sure. Kyle Tucker. Trade for Luis Robert. Trade for Peralta and find a high leverage reliever. Do I think it's possible? Probably not. Especially given the rumored asking prices for the trade candidates. I'm sure there are other ways to get there too, but I don't think Cody Bellinger, or Eugenio Suarez, or Austin Hayes will be enough.

 

Here's where I was two and a half weeks ago. It's crazy how close we came to this. I can't believe Tucker was available short-term. We almost got him. Bo Bichette wasn't even on my radar. And had he been, I don't think I would have thought he'd sign short term either. So I guess we're a lot better off than I thought they would be a few short weeks ago. I'm still not convinced Bichette is a big enough bat to replace Alonso and protect Soto. But I'll take it over the other options.

The range of outcomes is crazy for this team. With all the question marks everywhere, this team could win 95 games, or it could win 82. I'm guessing they'll split the difference and end up around 88-90. That should be good enough to snag a wild card.

[Centerfield]

If I had to summarize:

Lineup. Not sure if it's better or worse. Definitely different. I think the fact that it's not clearly worse is a win from where we were a few weeks ago.

Bullpen. Again, not sure if it's better or worse. I think bullpens are unpredictable anyway. At least we have some bounce-back candidates.

Rotation. I think we are clearly better. We have Peralta. Hopefully a full season of McLean. Scott and Tong could be ready sometime this year. Obviously the key will be Senga, Manaea and Peterson. All can pitch like a Number 2 starter. All can be unpitchable.