Trade Jay Bruce

[TransMonk]

Yes, I read somewhere that part of the agreement was a spoken promise that Ces will not play CF.

I wish Lagares was more of a sure thing in CF. I love his D and he has shown sparks on offense. I worry about his consistency and his health.

[Frayed Knot]

TransMonk wrote: Yes, I read somewhere that part of the agreement was a spoken promise that Ces will not play CF.

I would love to know where his hangup against playing RF stems from.
The concept of his arm in LF and Grandy's in RF is straight out of how they position players in Bizarro World.

[TransMonk]

Found it:

Meanwhile, the Mets will abide by Cespedes’ wishes and abandon using him in center field. That means the righty-hitting Lagares should share duty in center field with Conforto and/or Granderson, if Granderson is the one not traded. http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/124888/mets-may-trade-curtis-granderson-not-jay-bruce

Do we still have interest in obtaining Fowler for CF?

[Ceetar]

TransMonk wrote: Found it: Meanwhile, the Mets will abide by Cespedes’ wishes and abandon using him in center field. That means the righty-hitting Lagares should share duty in center field with Conforto and/or Granderson, if Granderson is the one not traded. http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/124888/mets-may-trade-curtis-granderson-not-jay-bruce Do we still have interest in obtaining Fowler for CF?

I'd have to think so, even if his CF is probably subpar. Probably depends on the market for him, If he's looking to get 4/80, maybe not, but if he starts to drop I oculd see Sandy jumping.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

It seems weird but Fowler is really just Granderson if he were a switch hitter with a little less power. It would seem slightly redundant to get him without trading Grandy

[Ceetar]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: It seems weird but Fowler is really just Granderson if he were a switch hitter with a little less power. It would seem slightly redundant to get him without trading Grandy

well yeah, but switchy and 5 years younger which means he probably fakes it in center better. Which is a pretty big deal imo. But yeah, that's extra outfield glut too and it probably coincides with moving the other guys.

Granderson (and Bruce too) are going to be a little problematic I think, as part of their value probably hinges on what sort of compensation you might get in 2018 from their contracts, which of course is hinging on the CBA. So maybe Fowler only comes into play if we get past that and he hasn't signed.

[seawolf17]

I can't see the Mets signing another big OF of any kind without letting one go somewhere first. As it is, you've got five guys for three spots.

[TransMonk]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: It seems weird but Fowler is really just Granderson if he were a switch hitter with a little less power. It would seem slightly redundant to get him without trading Grandy

Fowler's a real CF, though, no? Grandy could do it but would be sub-par, IMO. And is Lagares reliable enough to spend bulk time there?

I'm thinking Grandy might be dangled with the thought of Cespdes/Folwer/Bruce OF with a Conforto/Lagares bench.

[Centerfield]

Gotta be a little bit careful of Fowler. Last year might be an outlier. Has a .788 career OPS, and has played in mostly Colorado and Chicago.

I can picture him kinda sucking here. Plus, signing a speed guy for long term, on the wrong side of 30. Doesn't feel like a Sandy move.

[Frayed Knot]

Adam Rubin adds to the Bruce/Granderson speculation:

Don’t be surprised if the [OF'er] traded is Granderson, not Bruce. And don’t be surprised if that trade happens next week.
The Mets will listen to offers on both outfielders through next week’s winter meetings and may very well move one of them by the time the gathering in National Harbor, Maryland, breaks up on Dec. 9.

[seawolf17]

I could see a team that needs a "veteran leadership" type guy taking a flier on Granderson if the Mets eat money. I like him a lot and I'd be sad to see him go, honestly.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

And if that happens, we'll have cleared out DilsonShmilson AND Grandy for a RF downgrade. Swell.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

What are we hoping to get back in a trade? Replace d'Isappointment with a catching upgrade? Bullpen help?

[TransMonk]

Toronto is interested in Bruce. I'd love to talk about Russell Martin, but that dude is making $20M for the next 3 years!

[Vic Sage]

Grandy is from Chicago. White Sox could use his bat. what, in addition to Grandy, would it take to get Nate Jones?

[smg58]

Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: What are we hoping to get back in a trade? Replace d'Isappointment with a catching upgrade? Bullpen help?

That's a good question. Bullpen help could be obtained just as easily via free agency. I'm not necessarily for replacing d'Arnaud, but complementing him with a guy that at least has a higher floor seems like a sensible precaution. Bruce or Granderson should be worth more than that though, especially if you're dangling them both and seeing who gets you the best return.

[Edgy MD]

Bullpen help, outfield prospect, salary relief. Plenty of different types of value.

An alternative to Duda would be nice. If none of the Mets outfielders can play first, they're up a creek at first if the big guy doesn't come out performing next year.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Salary relief might be the most likely return.

Maybe to be saved for... this?

[Edgy MD]

At the 2015 deadline, they were juggling deals for Céspedes, Bruce, and Gomez. It'd be goofy if all of them ended up in the outfield at the same time.

[Elster88]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: DONGERSDINGERSDONGERS.

FMan?

[Fman99]

Elster88 wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: DONGERSDINGERSDONGERS. FMan?

I lean more in the other direction, if you get me. But yeah.

[ashie62]

Marc Carig, Bruce or Grandy for a reliever with team control.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/3985/curtis-granderson

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Call me a contrarian but just because we have outfielders and need relief pitchers doesn't mean we should try to trade a 30 home run guy for a friggin relief pitcher.

[Centerfield]

Yeah. I can definitely get behind that sentiment.

Especially when we still need more offense.

[smg58]

The Astros are looking to shop Evan Gattis and have two outfield openings. Gattis definitely has a higher floor than d'Arnaud and is better defensively behind the plate than most people realize. (He plays the outfield as well as I do, however.)

[Benjamin Grimm]

Andy Martino says the Mets have been discussing Bruce with the Blue Jays, Tigers, and Orioles.

[seawolf17]

Ashie62 wrote: Marc Carig, Bruce or Grandy for a reliever with team control.

I would trade Carig for a reliever. Any time you can get a useful part for a reporter, I say go for it.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I too would like them to get more than a 7th-inning reliever for Bruce. Maybe a reliever and a talented young outfielder. If, as I expect, Granderson sticks around for 2017, they'll still need a replacement for him in 2018. Lagares and Nimmo could be the guy for that, but having someone else in the mix would be worthwhile.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I think you guys have an outsized opinion of the trade value of thirtysomething, um, offense-forward outfielders with market-rate salaries.

A good reliever under multiple years of team control is about the roof for one of these guys. Any team trading for one of our corner outfielders is not going to give up a younger, talented outfielder for him.

[Edgy MD]

Maybe not, but, well, it only takes one.