Centerfield

Yeah, to be clear, this is not what I'm saying should happen. This is what I'm guessing will happen. And it's just a guess, for whatever that's worth. And to be further clear, I didn't say that they would leave the spot completely open. I said they would likely sign a veteran to hold down the spot until he's ready. Like Adolis Garcia or, to answer Edgy's question, maybe McNeil is asked to cover it now that he's no longer needed at 2B. I don't see the Mets going long term on a corner OF (like Tucker) when they feel Benge is about ready to break through. The reason that I think this is because Stearns said about a million times that he's focusing on run prevention. He also mentioned that players were not being put in their optimum positions. So with someone like Benge, I'm guessing Stearns envisions him eventually settling down in RF. He also said that a good team will provide avenues for young players to contribute. So I doubt he'd sign Tucker to pair with Soto and block Benge indefinitely. Now, what I think he should do, is completely different. I haven't revisited my preferences since the Nimmo trade. But I tend to agree that a contender shouldn't go into a season depending on Benge, or Jett, or anyone else to contribute. Think of how long Baty, Alvarez and Vientos struggled. I mean, you have to let them play, but you can't count on their production. I think I would have kept Nimmo. I think he has two productive years left. Then you let him Marte out the rest of his contract. I would keep McNeil.

So rounding out my thoughts on this. They definitely wanted to move Nimmo's contract. I think they felt it was going to age poorly, and that if they didn't move it now, they'd be stuck with it until the end. I also think that Nimmo, while still productive, stood in the way of how Stearns wanted to construct this team. So he gets shipped out for another bad contract. And though bad, at least the contract is shorter, and Semien provides good defense. For now anyway. Some have speculated that this means the Mets will be in on Bellinger or Tucker. I think that could be true, but not necessarily. I think one of the main reasons this contract was moved, was because the Mets can only have so many long-term contracts bogging them down, and specifically, they didn't want Nimmo, Lindor and Alonso all aging at the same time. Right when Soto is in his prime. So part of this move was to remove an aging player from the equation. I don't know that they'd be so quick to add another aging veteran (though admittedly, Tucker is younger than the others). What I think this does, is make it more likely that we bring Pete back. We can have one aging, bad defense, home grown player. But two would have been too much. Similarly, we can have one bad defensive outfielder (Soto), but two is too many. If I had to guess, here's what I think happens next. 1. Soto moves to LF. 2. Pete gets re-signed, if the deal is 4 years or less. If it's 5, then Pete is gone. 3. I think they leave a corner OF spot open for Benge. So no Tucker, unless his market craters. More likely, we get some veteran, maybe like Adolis Garcia, who can hold it down until Benge is ready, and potentially platoon with him if Benge struggles against lefties. 4. I think they will look for a real centerfielder for the short term. Maybe Bader. Maybe Luis Robert Jr. But again, no long term commitment with an eye toward AJ Ewing hopefully taking over. Maybe Acuna gets some run there. He's playing CF in winter ball. 5. Semien gets the starting 2B job. But it's not guaranteed for long. If he continues to struggle, eventually they give that spot to Jett, or Mauricio. Or whoever is showing that they've earned it. Hopefully someone will. I think they try to move Semien whenever possible. This could be easier than moving Nimmo. Semien doesn't have a NTC. And because he was traded, 10/5 rights don't kick in. Maybe a SS gets hurt on a contender and they will see an opportunity to unload him. 6. I think they will pursue Bellinger, Okamoto, or some other veteran that will give them positional flexibility. The level of bat will depend on whether Pete comes back or not. 7. They offset the loss of offense by spending money on pitching. Run prevention. Plus the defense is a lot better. 8. If the offense struggles, or if the kids aren't showing they're ready, they will look to add a bat at the deadline.

I’m not so sure Semien will be starting as long as you suggest. I’m guessing he will be the 2B at the start of 2026, I can’t see him holding the job if he continues to struggle offensively and Jett/Ronny are forcing the issue. I think Cohen decided that Semien is more likely to give value at age 35-37 than Nimmo, but if he doesn’t than he’s willing to eat 3 years.

I think ultimately the Mets decided they need to move on from Nimmo before it was too late. I think they figured another year and the contract would be unmoveable. So do it now while they had the chance. Semien was the cost of unloading that commitment. Semien doesn’t save them any money in the short run. But I think they figured he’ll give them elite defense for this year at least. And if they have to eat two years, it’s better than eating 4 years of Nimmo. I also think this will open up Soto moving to LF.

The Mets will save a net of $29.25 million across 2029 and 2030 as a result of this deal. That’s…not really impactful. Also, Nimmo’s contract wasn’t really bad. This is not at all like Rojas/Bonilla. Semien won the gold glove at second base last year. He’s not useless. He’s better defensively than any option the Mets could put there other than Acuna who of course cannot hit. But I am still not enthused about the trade at all. Nimmo’s contract is unquestionably bad. He’s 33 with 5 years left guaranteed. That alone makes it not great. Factor in he’s 2 years into his decline. Has plantar fasciitis. A mid 700s OPS is about the best you can hope for. And is bad defensively. His one elite tool was his OBP. But that’s gone now. Put it this way. If you offered up Brandon Nimmo for free, would anyone take him? Obviously not. Unless you think Stearns willingly took on the Semien contract. So it’s a bad contract for bad contract. One of the players is still productive, but the contract is longer. One of the players looks to be shot. But the commitment is shorter.

It’s kind of like the Mel Rojas/Bobby Bonilla trade. Bad contract for bad contract. But this time we got the shorter one.

I’m guessing this is what needed to be done to get out from Nimmo’s contract. We’ll have to see what else they do before we can really gauge this trade. Maybe Semien is a placeholder until Jett is ready. And then they eat the rest of his contract in 2027/2028.

That package is way too much. (that's what she said about Fman and me) All kidding aside, it definitely feels like we're giving up too much. From Detroit's side, they'll likely ask for McLean. Which suggests this deal will never get done.

I wonder how many forums are even alive. Message boards kinda seem like a Y2K thing. Were dinosaurs

Except I think you’re quoting me. Never trust guitar dudes. They’re always high and sleep deprived from all those groupies.

I have a hard time believing that anyone really knows what the Mets are planning. I get that Passan is well connected, and may have sources that have talked to the Mets, and can speculate based on those conversations. But this Cohen regime has been extremely tight-lipped. And even local guys have a hard time getting any nuggets of information. It's a good article, and fun to speculate. But you know, grain of salt, blah blah blah.

Cool! I didn’t know we were archiving. And as for Montas, yeah I hated it.

We don't archive threads any more right? It would be fun to read through our reactions at the time of the signing. From memory, I think it was a head scratcher. Like I think I gave Stearns some benefit of the doubt, but questioned the move, and strongly preferred Luis Severino.

I will ****ing cry if the CPF dies.

Lee Mazzili

I read this wrong and thought that the majority guy was also from the 21st century. Reading is important.

Todd Zeile.

Damian Easley

Bobby abreu

BTW, $92.5 million on the Naylor deal. So $18.5M AAV. I think this doesn't really say anything about the market for Alonso.

David Herbert Aloysius Wright

Willie Mays looked great for 156 years old! I'll start with Moises Alou.

It's hard to know what, if anything, Naylor's deal means for Alonso. Especially since we don't know the terms yet. Other than the position they play, Naylor is really different than Alonso. He's a different kind of hitter. Higher average, better contact, but much less power. A lesser hitter overall. But he's 2 and a half years younger, a better defender, and a better base stealer. My guess is that Naylor gets less AAV, more years. Pete gets more AAV, less years.

Josh Naylor off the board. Goes back to Seattle on a five year deal. I didn’t like Naylor as an option. And that takes Seattle out of the Pete sweepstakes. So I think good result all around. Naylor is 2 years younger than Pete. So 5 year deal makes sense.

I don't understand the underappreciation of Jeff McNeil. Even with his bad September, his final OPS puts him like top 6 or 7 among 2B in the league. His defense is average. His contract is reasonable. I see no reason not to keep McNeil until someone forces their way into the lineup.