Infield 2016 - Secrets revealed

[nymr83]

or more likely, hopelessly guessed at.

Lucas Duda (1B only)
David Wright (3B only)
Neil Walker (2B, maybe emergency 1B)
Asdrubal Cabrera (SS, 2B?)
Wilmer Flores (SS, 2B, 3B)
Ruben Tejada (SS, 2B)

Dilson Herrera, Matt Reynolds, Gavin Cechiani starting the year in AAA

So what are we missing here? The Walker trade made sense, but did the Mets, the same team that everyone wrecks for not spending, really spend 20 million over 2 years to not start Asdrubal Cabrera? who is seriously hurt? is it Wright? Flores? something is amiss!

[metsmarathon]

Actually I guess it does make sense. Didn't Wilmer just break a bone in winter ball? And Reuben is of course recovering from his own utley-owie. So.. Maybe it is kinda a good sort of move after all....?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Duda (1B)
Coach Cuddy (backup 1B)
Shiny New Walker (2B, 3B, emergency 1B)
Cabrera (SS, 2B)
Flores (SS, 2B, 3B)
Ruben (SS, 2B)
Sugarpants (3B)

OR

1B: Duda, Cuddyer, Walker
2B: Walker, Flores, Cabrera, Tejada
SS: Cabrera, Tejada, Flores
3B: Wright, Flores, Walker, Tejada

Pressing his face against the figurative glass, all sad and shit: Herrera

If everyone stays healthy/productive all year, it could get slightly crowded. Y'know, IF everyone stays healthy/productive all year.

[smg58]

Redundancy isn't necessarily a bad thing. (Well, we did sacrifice some redundancy in the rotation to get redundancy in the infield, but more pitchers are probably coming.) Plus, if you think Herrera could use another year in AAA -- he'll turn 22 in ST and hasn't really done anything yet with his opportunities in the show -- the Walker deal makes a lot of sense. Flores will have to earn his ABs, but I'm OK with that. Given that we have lefty hitters in both corner outfield spots and first base, I think Cuddyer will find a role. Maybe not a $10M role, but we've moved on.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I'm a little concerned at reports indicating Cabrera sucks at defense, considering I'd also found mention of Pirates fans fed up with Walker's slow first step and lack of range, which if both are true sort of undermine a theme of my offseason plan to make the Mets better up-the-middle.

Tejada I think has to go at this point. I've been waiting for the Mets to trade him forever, but this time he has to, yes?

[Lefty Specialist]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I'm a little concerned at reports indicating Cabrera sucks at defense, considering I'd also found mention of Pirates fans fed up with Walker's slow first step and lack of range, which if both are true sort of undermine a theme of my offseason plan to make the Mets better up-the-middle. Tejada I think has to go at this point. I've been waiting for the Mets to trade him forever, but this time he has to, yes?

I'm thinking Wilmer's more likely to go in a trade. Tejada has little to no trade value, whereas Wilmer could bring something back in return. Tejada's proven he can back up 2B/SS/3B adequately, but won't bring any stick.

And on a harsher note, trading Flores in the offseason means we don't have to see him cry.

[MFS62]

And, IIRC, Wilmer has played him some first base in the minors.

Later

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yeah I think Wilmer becomes the UT man, and PT starter vs. LH pitching at 2B in this configuration, with Reynolds as the backup SS.

[Centerfield]

I think the whole day yesterday was just really weird. I like the Walker trade a lot. I dislike the Cabrera signing a lot. But the whole thing is just very confusing. My thoughts on this:

1. All of these thoughts are made possible because the Mets, uncharacteristically, were very public about their moves and intentions. Don't get the value in this at all.
2. The Pirates made Neil Walker available weeks ago. If he could be had for Jon Neise, why wasn't this option #1? And why wasn't this not even on the table during the Zobrist courtship? If nothing else, at least the Mets could have saved themselves the embarrassment of not having a Plan B after Zobrist fell through.
3. It's hard to refute that the Zobrist situation was misplayed. I'm glad that it didn't happen, so no complaints from me. But if they really wanted Zobrist, I think the way to do it is to talk to Pittsburgh first, get the Niese deal floated, then put the contract in front of Zobrist last week, and say you've got to sign now, or we're pushing the button on the Pittsburgh deal. You might have even gotten him for 3 years then. It certainly beats fellating him in public the way they did.
4. The Asdrubal Cabrera deal makes no sense. He represents a marginal upgrade over Wilmer offensively and defensively. They didn't feel fit to pursue Cabrera last winter when SS was an even bigger mystery. It's odd that they would do it now. Even if you had a big market payroll, allocating $9 million plus to Cabrera seems like a terrible use of resources. (See MGIM? I am not advocating spending just for the sake of spending.) It's no secret I want the big OF bat, but I would have even been happier spending this money on a reliever.
5. All of this seems so different than the way Sandy Alderson ran things. I wonder how involved Sandy really is. Has anyone even seen him since he collapsed? I worry that there is a Weekend at Bernie's thing going on here.
6. I don't know how smart John Ricco is or isn't. But when he does interviews, he just kinda looks confused and overwhelmed.
7. How about Steve Gelbs during these Hot Stove Reports? I feel like he's made great strides. A lot more confident. Completely controlling the conversation. Obviously he's not Burkhardt, but I'm proud of the guy.

[Ceetar]

Personally I would've taken that 20 million to Cabrera and tossed it on top of the Zobrist deal to swing him.


I don't get why you guys seem to think they mishandled the Zobrist deal. I know some of you don't think he was a good signing, but let's assume the Mets did want him over Walker given the opportunity, and approach it from that angle.

Popular reports are that he chose Cubs based on a non-money desire to be a part of it. So acting all aloof and "we don't need you, we might get Walker" doesn't seem like the way to woo him.

Hence the taking him out to Connecticut, talking about batting him second and giving him second and all that.

[Edgy MD]

I don't know that the Niese/Walker trade hadn't been on the table as an option before the Zobrist offer didn't bear fruit.

[Centerfield]

Edgy MD wrote: I don't know that the Niese/Walker trade hadn't been on the table as an option before the Zobrist offer didn't bear fruit.

We don't know for sure. But indications are strong that this was the case since:

1. The Mets were very public about what they were doing.
2. All beat writers uniformly reported that the Mets were all in on Zobrist, and had no plan B.

[smg58]

And yet plan B materialized awfully quickly. I try not to read too much into how things look in the media (or read too much in general where sports is concerned), because that ultimately has no bearing on how things look on the field.

[Ceetar]

I definitely saw a "If the Mets do get Zobrist it might not be the only thing they do at the Meetings" tweet early on Tuesday.

[RealityChuck]

The people who said is was Zobrist or nothing were just plain wrong. Before Zobrist turned them down, there were reports that the Mets were interested in Walker.

December 7:
http://www.amazinavenue.com/2015/12/7/9865356/mets-trade-rumors-neil-walker-pirates

So the claim that there was no plan are just ignoring the evidence. The Mets most likely told the Pirates, "we'll trade Niese for Walker if we don't get Zobrist." The rapidity in which they made the deal shows they had laid the groundwork prior to Zobrist's decision.

Oh, and Cabrera has the same agent as Zobrist. Wanna bet that signing wasn't discussed, too?

[Centerfield]

Maybe I'm giving too much credit to the beat writers. It's just not common that they all agree on something.

Anyway, that brings me back to why Walker wasn't option #1 in the first place. For me anyway, Walker is far preferable to Zobrist.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Centerfield wrote: 7. How about Steve Gelbs during these Hot Stove Reports? I feel like he's made great strides. A lot more confident. Completely controlling the conversation. Obviously he's not Burkhardt, but I'm proud of the guy.

I agree. Something about non-stadium-settings agrees with him, I think.

[Guest themetfairy]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Centerfield wrote: 7. How about Steve Gelbs during these Hot Stove Reports? I feel like he's made great strides. A lot more confident. Completely controlling the conversation. Obviously he's not Burkhardt, but I'm proud of the guy. I agree. Something about non-stadium-settings agrees with him, I think.

I started warming up to Gelbs in August when we were in Colorado and he took the time to come over to The 7 Line group and hang with the fans for a little while. Agreed that he's no Burkhardt, but those were some really huge shoes to fill.

[A Boy Named Seo]

IMO, Walker and Cabrera both being switch-hitters (and competent form both sides) played largely for the Mets. Zobrist was that guy, too. Seems a clear MO for this offseason.

Though I don't love the Cabrera pickup, it does provide depth and having 6 guys to run out in mix/match configurations served us really well after the Uribe and Johnson trades last year.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Walker has a heavy RHP platoon lean, though. Cabrera less so, though he's gotten a lot less good against lefties in the last 3-4 seasons. Which gives Billy Flowers a nice little 200 or so AB, right there, even before you pencil him in for Wrightwork.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. I don't think Flores is likely to get totally buried. (Ruben Tejada, on the other hand, might.)

I think Walker will play almost exclusively at second base. Flores will back him up, and get starts against lefties there. And he'll get some starts against righties at third base because you'd probably choose, whenever possible, to not give David his days off against left-handed starters.

[Edgy MD]

With Murphy all but gone and Campbell all but DFA'd Flores may have just become our third-string first baseman too, depending on what they do with the catchers. And he probably isn't altogether finished at short.

[Ceetar]

Blevins may or may not return, but I suspect Asdrubal gets 13.

Walker probably gets 18 from Tueful? He could move to 19 (Monell)

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Ceetar wrote: Blevins may or may not return, but I suspect Asdrubal gets 13. Walker probably gets 18 from Tueful? He could move to 19 (Monell)

Yeah you should probably know I tackled this issue this morning.

Walker will get 18, Teufel will take 11 when Tejada gets bounced (I can't see him sticking around).

http://www.mbtn.net/?p=2454

[Ceetar]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Blevins may or may not return, but I suspect Asdrubal gets 13. Walker probably gets 18 from Tueful? He could move to 19 (Monell) Yeah you should probably know I tackled this issue this morning. Walker will get 18, Teufel will take 11 when Tejada gets bounced (I can't see him sticking around). http://www.mbtn.net/?p=2454

I should've figured but I didn't check. I'll just go retweet that instead.

I'm not so sure Tejada goes away though.