General Purpose Winter Meetings Thread

[MFS62]

How many deals do you think the Mets will announce by the end of the meetings? That includes the Rule V Draft.

Later

[bmfc1]

Zero. Sandy doesn't have the ingenuity or the drive (and perhaps the money) to make a big trade for a SS. As a result, the remaining options are no better than what Wilmer Flores could be. If you want to counter this by saying that the big SS options (Andrus, Castro, Tulo aren't worth the price of depleting the system, go ahead).

He'll say that they "laid the groundwork" to more talks... whatever that means.

They'll lose someone in the Rule V.
They might pick up someone in the minor league phase of the Rule V.
Perhaps they'll sign a relief pitcher but I don't expect much except lots of boring press conferences.

[Frayed Knot]

MFS62 wrote: How many deals do you think the Mets will announce by the end of the meetings? That includes the Rule V Draft. Later

75

[Edgy MD]

I am certain Alderson doesn't lack for ingenuity.

I am almost equally certain that the team will experience some meaningful cradle-robbing during the Rule V draft --- possibly both in the major league and minor league portions. But they must be planning to reel in somebody because they're facing the draft with a spot open on their roster.

[Lefty Specialist]

One minor deal/signing which will have no impact in 2015.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Frequent flyer miles, platinum card points, ball-
rubbin'-yubba-dub-dub-dub in the hot tub.

Other than that, not expecting much. Heck, we
got Cuddyer... and QUICK.

That's all folks!!

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

bmfc1 wrote: Zero. Sandy doesn't have the ingenuity or the drive (and perhaps the money) to make a big trade for a SS. As a result, the remaining options are no better than what Wilmer Flores could be. If you want to counter this by saying that the big SS options (Andrus, Castro, Tulo aren't worth the price of depleting the system, go ahead).

Messrs. Herrera, Black, d'Arnaud, Syndergaard, Bucerra, and the Davis pair beg to differ with your opinion of Alderson's trading acumen/willingness.

I think I see at least one mid-to-mid-plus-sized deal involving our big-leaguers (shot in the dark: Flores and Niese or Montero for something interesting) happening. I also think we're going to get stripped for at least three prospects during Rule V-ing.

[bmfc1]

You omitted Zach Wheeler. However, I'd like him to finish over .500 at least once before deciding that he's done a good job. As of now, he's done a lousy job and I hope he proves me wrong this week by getting an all-star SS.

[Edgy MD]

If finishing over .500 is the measure of a not-lousy job being done, acquiring an all-star shortstop --- or any winter acquisition --- certainly won't prove anything.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

bmfc1 wrote: You omitted Zach Wheeler. However, I'd like him to finish over .500 at least once before deciding that he's done a good job. As of now, he's done a lousy job and I hope he proves me wrong this week by getting an all-star SS.

I think your version of a team-in-turnaround GM's job description is a little more, um, differently-focused than, say, Alderson's.

[ashie62]

Surprise us Sandy, we aren't expecting much.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Ashie62 wrote: Surprise us Sandy, we aren't expecting much.

We aren't expecting much....we're Mets fans.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: bmfc1 wrote: You omitted Zach Wheeler. However, I'd like him to finish over .500 at least once before deciding that he's done a good job. As of now, he's done a lousy job and I hope he proves me wrong this week by getting an all-star SS. I think your version of a team-in-turnaround GM's job description is a little more, um, differently-focused than, say, Alderson's.

Really. And it's not just a turnaround, it's a turnaround executed in an inflationary market while slashing the team's own expenses some 40%.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I've been predicting they deal for a SS for a year now, I'm gonna be right eventually.

If that happens I also think Muffy and Gee go away, but you figure the prize is some Montero level prospect, so if that's the case, I think they get involved in a big, multiplayer, multiteam deal.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

I don't think it's a turnaround as much as a total reinvention.

They're rebuilding the organization and the way it goes about its business, based on building a solid farm system that will reap rewards for years, not just one year. They've tried the "buy the pennant" approach in the past, most recently under Omar. I'm not going to criticize Sandy for not throwing a stupid contract at players like Sin Soo Choo just because they're the best players available in a bad year.

Doing it right, building a system that will generate long-term success, takes time.

[Edgy MD]

Man, Shin Soo Choo. That's looking like a bullet dodged. Making Curtis Granderson look like a bargain so far.

[Ceetar]

Rockin' Doc wrote: Ashie62 wrote: Surprise us Sandy, we aren't expecting much. We aren't expecting much....we're Mets fans.

I'm expecting much over here.

[Frayed Knot]

Some fans also get the idea into their heads that the conclusion of the winter meetings signals the end of the off-season to the point that whatever your team looks like come Friday is the one you're stuck with throughout 2015.
Now I'm sure lots of chess pieces will get moved around this week but there'll still be lots of stuff going on afterward too.

[Edgy MD]

Ceetar wrote: Rockin' Doc wrote: Ashie62 wrote: Surprise us Sandy, we aren't expecting much. We aren't expecting much....we're Mets fans. I'm expecting much over here.

I'm so pregnant with expectation, I'm putting in for maternity leave.

[MFS62]

Told ya' so.
A while ago (don't remember the thread) I predicted that around this time, some writer would drag out the Bobby Bonilla payoff and tie it to whether the Mets would have money for free agents.
Let it be written.
Let it be done.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7879021/mlb-new-york-mets-pay-bobby-bonilla-millions-years-come-espn-magazine

Later

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

The story was published 3 years ago.

[Centerfield]

I don't think anything will happen.

As far as I can remember, Sandy hasn't made any moves that caught us completely off guard. Maybe the Cuddyer move was the most surprising, but even that was rumored beforehand. All of his trades have materialized after a certain level of expectation had been established. I am not expecting anything this week.

As to his job performance, I think Sandy has done a very good job. He has rebuilt the farm system, but he has had the luxury of being handed some very valuable assets in order to do so. People put a lot of blame on Minaya, but Harvey, Familia, Mejia, Murphy, Lagares, Duda and Davis were all Minaya products. Sandy was also given some very valuable pieces to unload to help build the system in Beltran, Dickey and Reyes. Two of them he turned into gold, one of them he badly muddled.

Sandy's biggest strength, I feel, has been his patience, and his ability to wait out a trade market until the deal he is looking for develops. And as he did with Davis, to carry that player if that deal never materializes. I also think he did a great job with the Marlon Byrd sign and trade. We ended up with Dilson Herrera for almost nothing, which helps to soften the blow of losing Reyes.

So, in general, I think he has missed a few opportunities, but is a bright guy. I trust his judgment.

[Guest d'Kong76]

MFS62 wrote: Told ya' so. A while ago (don't remember the thread) I predicted that around this time, some writer would...

For my next trick... ;+)

[Edgy MD]

Mets were the first out of the gate with the Cuddyer signing, after outlet after outlet explicitly reported that it wasn't going to happen because the Rockies gave him a qualifying offer.

Bartolo Colon was signed a year ago at the meetings, not long after Alderson told the press the team was probably done with major acquisitions. His lieutenants were apparently putting finishing touches on the offer to Colon while he was out there doing his misdirect.

Surprises happen, and it's certainly likely a starting pitcher will be dealt sooner or later.

[Ceetar]

Sandy: "We like Bartolo Colon and aren't looking to trade him."

Sandy: "We'll certainly listen to offers on any of our three veteran pitchers, not just Gee and Niese."

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Mets fans setting themselves on fire wrt Sandy's predictable but somewhat depressing payroll forecast and acknowledgment that maybe nothing would happen at the meetings including moving Colon.

Chatter in the meantime says Mets making Syndergaard available in the right deal.

[metirish]

I love Alderson with these interviews, he talks a lot bit says nothing, and that I or other Mets fans expect something out of him is funny. Makes for good Twitter fun too.

[Edgy MD]

SNY's Rob Brender reporting that he's in the room as the Mets and Rangers are getting MIGHTY CHUMMY!

Last deal between the Mets and Rangers? Jeff Francoeur for Joaquin Arias.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Could it be they're discussing Roughned "Stinky" Odor? Great start last year as a 20-year-old but strictly a 2B. Would suggest that Muffy goes (or maybe Herrera?) and that Flores stays at SS. Others speculate they are after Jurickson Profar who is also a highly prized young middle infielder, but who missed all of last year with a shoulder injury.

However this works out I have a hard time seeing where Muffy fits into the 2015 Mets.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Notorious T.H.E.O. be all, "My key to stocking the Cubs? Mo' money, mo' Lester." (6 years/$155M, as per Jeff Passan.)