Chad ochoseis

Ceetar wrote: you know what accounts for the low return? That Bruce isn't very good and no one else has wanted him during all the other attempts to trade him. Ten days ago, there weren't any teams in a close race who had a LH hitting starting corner outfielder on the DL. Even if you buy into the proposition that Bruce isn't very good (I don't), he started looking a lot better once a need opened up. I'm not annoyed by missing out on the Yankee deal, because I don't know what "a portion of salary" and "better prospects" mean. But the Mets could have held out for more from a team that needed to make a deal. Or they could have walked away and QOed Bruce for 2018.

The Indians have had some outfield injuries. Michael Brantley just went on the DL with an ankle sprain, which explains why the Indians needed Bruce. Why the Mets need Ryder Ryan is beyond me.

Me, and I was quoting Howie Rose before the game began. It was early in the thread. And I do get the impression Howie was pissed at ESPN, not the guy, for delaying the start of the game.

Walker and Cabrera both cleared waivers. I'm guessing Walker gets moved in the next couple of days, which will make room for Smith. I did a double take (Huh? He's younger than me???) when I saw Frank Viola listed as being born in 1969. Viola was born in 1960.

Howie sounding really pissed about how long it's taking the game to start. Apparently some "network stooge" is holding up the game.

Stiff neck, according to Howie.

A 5.18 ERA in Minnesota so far. But he pitched a complete game on Friday, making him the oldest pitcher to do so (44) since Jamie Moyer (47).

And Gary goes with the Nippon (Ham Fighters) inflection rather than the (Nippon Ham) Fighters.

My goodness, that was awful.

This hasn't gotten much play at all, but at the 2/3 mark of the season, Jay Bruce has 29 home runs, putting him on pace to break Beltran and Hundley's single season record of 41.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: The thing about Bruce (and any other potential QO recipients) is that he wouldn't net us an end-of-first-round pick unless he signed somewhere for $50M or more (thanks to the new CBA). If teams outside of Queens weren't interested in trading for him as a rental during a near-career-year, do you think they're paying that much over 3-plus-years to bring him on? I don't think this is correct, based on the labyrinthine rule as discussed here. It sounds like the only function of the $50M rule is to give a revenue-sharing team a higher compensation pick than it would otherwise be awarded. MLB's website wrote: The Draft-pick compensation is also based on the financial status of the free agent's former team. If a free agent who rejected a qualifying offer signs a contract that is worth at least a guaranteed $50 million in total value, and his previous club is one of the teams that receives revenue sharing, said club will be given a compensatory pick immediately following Round 1 in the next year's Draft. If such a club loses a free agent for a contract worth less than a guaranteed $50 million in total value, the club will receive a compensatory pick after Competitive Balance Round B (which follows the second round). If a qualifying-offer free agent's previous team is over the luxury-tax threshold, said team will receive a compensation pick after the fourth round has been completed. If a team neither exceeded the luxury tax in the preceding season nor receives revenue sharing, its compensatory pick will come after Competitive Balance Round B. The value of the free agent's new contract has no impact on the compensation pick in both of these cases. I'm with smg on this - assuming we do get a mid-level compensatory pick if he declines, there's no harm in QOing Bruce and, if he accepts, trading Nimmo or keeping him on as a 4th outfielder. The better outcome is that Bruce goes away, but the worst outcome is that we non-tender him and get nothing in return. Besides Walker, has any player ever accepted a QO? It's somewhere between a serious offer and a kick in the ass. But much closer to a kick in the ass. What I didn't realize about QOs until I read MLB's website is that they can only be made once in a player's career. You can't keep QOing a Bruce-level player until he forces the issue either by moving on or playing below the level where he's worth the trouble.

Edgy MD wrote: . FREE BRANDON NIMMO![/bigpurple] Those promotional giveaways keep getting better and better, don't they?

And Bruce? QO at the end of the season, I would think. If he gets a better offer, good luck to him and we get the sandwich pick and an outfield of Cespedes-Nimmo-Conforto. If he stays, it's Cespedes-Conforto-Bruce with Nimmo as a 4th OF.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Duda is still a free agent after the season. There's no certainty that he'll still be with the Rays in 2018. Good point. I'd somehow forgotten about the whole reason why the trade made sense. But fortunately, none of the other NL East teams need first basemen, at least for now.

Centerfield wrote: I have this fear that Duda is going to turn into Daniel Murphy. Even if he does, at least he won't be doing it against the Mets 18 times a season. I think it's the AL East's turn to play the NL East in 2018, so we'll get to see him for three games next year.

From SoSH: Here are summaries on all three from Soxprosects. Callahan - Summation: Potential seventh-inning reliever profile. Has made significant progress since his move to the bullpen in 2015. Potential for plus-to-better fastball and above-average splitter with a cutter that can keep hitters honest. Upside depends on consistency with fastball command and continued development of secondary pitches. Nogosek Summation: Projects as a middle reliever. Potential for two above-average pitches in fastball and slider, both of which show bat-missing ability. Effort in delivery and lack of third pitch limit him to bullpen role, but could move quickly if the organization wanted to push him aggressively. Bautista Summation: Intriguing arm strength, but more of a lottery ticket at this point. Bullpen profile, but needs to physically mature as well as simplify and cleanup delivery. Has raw stuff to profile in a late-inning role, but extremely risky prospect with injury and command profile concerns due to delivery. Long way to go developmentally. I like it, for both sides. You buy enough lottery tickets, a few will win. And unlike the actual lottery, the payoff on the winning prospect lottery ticket is usually high enough to offset the losers. And the players look like they have the potential to be useful parts in the future. The Sox need Reed much more than we do. For the Mets, maybe Reed is the difference between winning 79 games this year and winning 81. I'd rather win 81, but I'd even more rather have some guys who can help us in the future, when in a better world we're contending for a playoff spot. For the Sox, Reed can be the difference between winning the AL East and winning nothing.

I remember last year one of the stathead groups - I think it was fivethirtyeight.com - did a study and concluded that standing pat at midseason was never the right move. Don't know if I agree, and I don't remember them showing their work. But this would definitely be a great opportunity for the Mets to restock their farm system, which will be almost completely depleted once we promote Rosario and Smith.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Mirandy Gonzalez and Ricardo Cespedes Missed a golden opportunity for a METS TRADE CESPEDES subject header there.

Welcome to the major leagues, Chris Flexen.

Yeah, I guess this makes more sense than keeping him for two most likely fruitless months and then risking that he'd accept a QO. But it leaves me feeling kind of blah. I hope in 15 years the Mets bring back Old Timers Day, and that the big lug shows up and gets a standing O. And that Granderson follows him around with a video camera.

Edgy MD wrote: Not only is Randy Jones in the house, apparently Ozzie Smith is also. Ron apparently read your post.

Flerg. Tip your hat to the Padres' shortstop.

Tyler Pill is back on the roster. Who knew?

I'm looking for "Jon Niese in disguise" among the choices.

I think that's because I uploaded those pictures from my hard drive.