Back Up The Truck?

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Ceetar wrote: I do think this team is going to have a solid second half, but they seem to be digging themselves a nice pit where it'd have to be more than solid. Like Thor and David Wright healthy solid.

I wish I could believe this team had a significant run it, but I just don't see it. if you consider the second half of the season to be 81 games, then I will say that if the Mets could go 45-36 I would be shocked. Even if they could hit that performance level, it would leave them watching the postseason. Thor may be back for the last few weeks of the season, but sadly, I believe Wright's time as a MLB player are done. I do not expect to see him play again unless it is as a ceremonial farewell appearance.

[Edgy MD]

Every time the this thread pops up, a musical version of "Back up the truck" plays in my head to the tune of "Take back your mink."

[Guest d'Kong76]

Ceetar wrote: Bruce is garbage and has always been garbage.

I thought your response at the time was unnecessarily strong... he's been an
all-star a couple of years. He's hit two garbage-y ding dongs this evening.

[Ceetar]

d'Kong76 wrote: Ceetar wrote: Bruce is garbage and has always been garbage. I thought your response at the time was unnecessarily strong... he's been an all-star a couple of years. He's hit two garbage-y ding dongs this evening.

I may have exaggerated for effect. TRADE HIM NOW WHILE HE LOOKS GOOD.

His defense though, garbage.

[Centerfield]

I think we are done.

It's ok I guess. We should get a lot back for guys like Bruce and Duda and Reed. Walker too if he comes back healthy.

I think you play Dom Smith for 80 starts then try to re-sign Duda if he's not ready.

Pick high in the draft next year.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I'd be very wary of swapping Doodoo unless Smith is absolutely killing it. Is Smith killing it?

[Edgy MD]

Smith isn't killing it, but he's hurting it very badly, at .315 / .368 / .464 // .832. Of course, that loses more than a little when it get's translated not just from AAA to MLB, but from PCL AAA to MLB.

On the other hand, it's not a straight swap, as you'd be swapping but a few months of Doo. On the other other hand, do you think he brings a pick back if he gets a qualifying offer? Probably, right?

[Guest d'Kong76]

Win the next two and they'll be 8½ back again with 94 to play.

Very manageable lol...

[Lefty Specialist]

Lose the next two, though, and the beeping grows too loud for Sandy to ignore.

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, but I'm rooting for the wins.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Lose the next two, though, and the beeping grows too loud for Sandy to ignore.

I did type something about 12 1/2 out mid-June but backspaced to be positive.

[Centerfield]

You know, the cover derby will not be very fun this year.

[Benjamin Grimm]

You're probably right! But we're going to have to go through with it anyway. The home office has already booked a venue in Stockholm for the unveiling ceremony.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Edgy MD wrote: Smith isn't killing it, but he's hurting it very badly, at .315 / .368 / .464 // .832. Of course, that loses more than a little when it get's translated not just from AAA to MLB, but from PCL AAA to MLB.

Also, that isolated slugging number is lower than Rosario's. And he's a big-bottomed first sacker, yes?

[Edgy MD]

All true. When it comes down to it, he's rattling the cage a lot less than Rosario.

There's three possible arguments for promoting Smith: (1) You've traded Duda. (2) You've broken Duda (while your three other original starting infielders are already hurt). (3) It's September.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Edgy MD wrote: All true. When it comes down to it, he's rattling the cage a lot less than Rosario. There's three possible arguments for promoting Smith: (1) You've traded Duda. (2) You've broken Duda (while your three other original starting infielders are already hurt). (3) It's September.

Look I'm not arguing for this but it would seem if you're going to remake the club by trade maybe the right guy to trade is Smith.

[Frayed Knot]

That would imply you want to be proactive about re-signing the 32 y/o Duda to a _____? year deal.
Or that you'd be comfortable with handing the 1B job to Flores

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Not necessarily. I'm just wary about breaking in a new 1Bman if he's not absolutely busting down the door and might not turn out to be a MLB power hitter, and thinking that if the organization is truly undergoing a major transformation as looks likely whatever the results this year, that all options are on the table. Maybe you trade Doodoo and Smith and shock the word by getting Freddy Freeman or something. Maybe Cespedes or Jay Bruce or Conforto or David F. Wright becomes a first baseman.

Again I'm not arguing for any particular result but for right now I'm still skeptical of the idea Smith will represent an improvement over Doodoo or necessarily any option on the field -- and at the same time thinking that if this season is shot and you're left to consider truly transformative trades, maybe including the No. 2 prospect might be what it takes to get you someplace.

(I think Doodoo is destined to be a very productive 1B/DH in Anaheim or Seattle or Oakland).

[Frayed Knot]

I agree that Smith shouldn't be treated as a lock to out-shine the current incumbent.
It's just that with Smith and Rosario as the in-house replacements most likely capable of stepping into a full-time job in the next year, and neither he nor Duda able to play anywhere else on
the field, dealing him away would necessitate either the risky move of retaining the 32 y/o oft-injured Duda on a multi-year deal or going in a completely different direction at a time when
four or five other positions are also up for grabs.

That said, if Smith could say be a piece in an Adam Eaton-like trade such as the Nats pulled off this past winter (with Giolito as the anchor) where he helps net us a leadoff/CF type of guy (Eaton's
busted-up knee aside) or some other position where we're weak, I certainly wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger on it.
Rosario, Conforto, and Céspedes, for all practical considerations, should be viewed as the only untouchables among position players at this point.

[Lefty Specialist]

Well, we're no longer arguing about WHETHER to back up the truck, but in which direction we want it to back up. The problem is they've tanked a month too early; teams will still be evaluating if they can make a run for the next few weeks.

Agreed that Rosario, Cespedes and Conforto are the only untouchables. The problem with Smith is that he tends to have a Prince Fielder body without Prince Fielder numbers. He came into camp really slimmed-down this year but I don't know if he's been successful at staying away from the buffet tables in Vegas. Smith does have the plus of good defense at first on a team with a lot of tuning forks for gloves, but you worry that if he's not slugging in the PCL, he may never do it. Even so, I think signing Duda long-term is a mistake- he's too inconsistent. Trade him if you can, because QO'ing him isn't worth the risk to get the pick.

The problem with deadline trades is that you're usually dealing 'knowns' for 'unknowns'. Jay Bruce is a known quantity. You'll probably get back someone in Double-A who may be able to help you in a year or two, at least that's the hope. If Sandy truly Roto-Rooters the roster, it's going to be ugly to watch this team over the next three months (not that the last three months have been peeled grapes and chocolates). Terry's probably going to wish he still had Eric Campbell.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Mike Puma in the Post suggests that the Mets who would bring back the most trade value are Reed, Blevins, Bruce, and Duda.

http://nypost.com/2017/06/19/which-mets-would-bring-back-the-greatest-trade-haul/

[Ceetar]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Mike Puma in the Post suggests that the Mets who would bring back the most trade value are Reed, Blevins, Bruce, and Duda. http://nypost.com/2017/06/19/which-mets-would-bring-back-the-greatest-trade-haul/

If they can get surplus value from the first three they should trade them regardless.

..but it's Mike Puma.

[Centerfield]

I don't think Puma is saying that the Mets will get a lot, just that he thinks these are the players what will bring "the most". Whatever that might be.

I'm thinking with so many teams out of it, the return may not be all that great. We are probably looking at a bunch of Dilson Herreras.

[Ceetar]

I'd take what Dilson was when the Mets traded him back for all those guys probably.

Granderson should fetch some stuff too.

[MFS62]

Those are the only trade-able players?
Jeff will be happy to know he doesn't have to rent a semi.

Later

[Ceetar]

MFS62 wrote: Those are the only trade-able players? Jeff will be happy to know he doesn't have to rent a semi. Later

Literally everyone is tradeable. Let Wheeler get back on track and he'd net a pretty penny. deGrom too. That's probably unwise though.

You might be able to get something for Flores. Walker and Asdrubal when they come back are always easily expendable for literally anything.

Duda too though I'd like to keep him.

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, seriously. The ones who will bring the most back in a deal are Conforto, deGrom, and maybe Rosario. What that list is really is the guys who can bring something back, among those he believes folks can stomach losing.

[Guest 41Forever]

If we're not getting anything of value back, then what's benefit in trading them? I get the players who are at the end of their contracts and we would likely -- or want to -- lose at the end of the season anyway. But I don't understand why we would trade a young, under-control player like Wilmer who can be an important part of a winning team.

Is it a matter of clearing roster space for someone like Rosario, or an everyday spot for Conforto?

[Ceetar]

I mean, not for _nothing_ of value. you want value to trade guys

but like, Flores isn't very good and is sucky on defense. But he's young enough that other teams might see something in him and give him more favorable time mostly against lefties. He can be an important part of a winning team the same way anyone can,but it represents a rather key spot to upgrade.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Well, if you trade Bruce or Granderson for nothing, you at least get salary relief.

Why trade Wilmer Flores? We could have said the same thing about Hubie Brooks in 1984. The best scenario for trading Wilmer is if he's part of a package that brings you a top-quality player.

Blevins is the one (of the four listed by Puma) I'd be most reluctant to trade. The Mets have him under control for 2018, and they'll need as many reliable bullpen parts as they can get.