The rumor mill is about to be churning out hypothetical scenarios with the fury of the Mets offense facing Jon Lester. Most of the rumors will lead to nothing, some will come to fruition, and on occasion, a completely separate deal comes out of the talks.
With the second wild card available, teams will not count themselves out, sometimes to their own detriment (Mr. Preller). Panic City may have had a population boom with recent play and injuries, though it is still contrary to the fact that the Mets have a very realistic chance at reaching the playoffs. For that reason the Mets should be buyer’s come August 1st.
As buyers the Mets will be dealing from a farm system that has more talent than published rankings would indicate. The list below isn’t a ranking of prospects by any means, just some names that could be on the move. You will not find Amed Rosario listed among them, and surely he will rightfully be the ask from every GM. Though a reasonable case could be made for Andrew Miller, I don’t think the FO enters a bidding war. I also don’t see the Mets shopping on the high end of the available talent pool (Jonathan Lucroy, Ryan Braun, Carlos Gonzalez) that would warrant moving a Rosario.
Gavin Cecchini – It is well known that he has been struggling in the field. He is also hitting .317/.398/.439 on the season. With Rosario breathing down his neck and Dilson Herrera at second he may have more value with another organization. His trade value is as a primary prospect with a flier or two and land a slightly controllable second team everyday player who would provide bench help or a true back end starter. (Think Trevor Plouffe or Jorge De La Rosa)
Andrew Church – It hasn’t been quite the Michael Fulmer rise for the young righty but he has gone from a forgotten 2nd round pick to someone that teams will surely ask for. The 21-year old is 5-1 with a 2.38 ERA in nine starts between the Columbia Fireflies and St. Lucie Mets.
Rafael Montero – The recent demotion to AA has more to do with salvaging whatever value he has left than it does with his play. He needs to get his head straight and a change of organizational scenery would help. Doesn’t have much if any value though and would probably be a secondary piece for a major league player.
Josh Smoker – His numbers may not be as impressive as last season, but he has a 13.3 k/9 and the bloated ERA should be chalked up to the PCL. With the Mets looking for relief help he could go in exchange for MLB reliever that can help the Mets now as it would free up a 40-man roster spot. (Paging Mr. Preller again, possibly Ryan Buchter/Brad Hand).
Robert Gsellman – The highest upside of all the pitchers in the upper minors, he gives me a very 2014 prospect deGrom like feeling. If he were to be dealt I would anticipate a starting pitcher return (Hector Santiago ?)
Milton Ramos – The glove first shortstop is buried by better all around talent at the position throughout the system. He could be among some teams best shortstop prospects, on the Mets he is sixth at best. His value is as a secondary upside piece that could sweeten a deal.
Teams will ask about Dom Smith and Dilson Herrera but like Rosario they fall into the major purchase territory that the team doesn’t seem to be shopping in. The team seems to be in cautious buyer mode that doesn’t disrupt the long term outlook. Bullpen, secondary bench pieces, and back end pitching seem to be the order of the day. Other names that could be brought up by other GMs include ranking climbers Tomas Nido, Logan Taylor, and Thomas Szapucki.
Dilson Herrera has been billed as the 2B of the future, but due to position inflexibility he is not versatile.Does Gavin Cecchini make more sense as the Mets future 2B? He came come up as a backup if the Mets end up keeping Wlaker for another year and when he is the Mets starting 2B he would also be able to double as the backup SS. If trade value were equal, I would trade Herrera before Cecchini.
Gavin cechinni was a first round pick that is hitting and doesn’t strike out much a move to second might not hurt. Dilson Herrera could be moved if the return is better.
Great analysis. I just hope that they dont give up a bunch for the second year in a row.
Upside/floor conversation. Cecchini has the floor of a solid utility guy who can start 150 games at second base and give slightly above league average production. Herrera could give AS worthy seasons Which one does the other GM value more?
While we are all counting Herrera’s future stats, I see a second baseman that cannot hit for a high average in Vegas! He topped out at about .310 and is down to .270. Blame injuries, the weather and even the slots, I have seen this for the third year now. Further, I hear that he has had problems turning a DP.
On a different note, I don’t want anyone traded. The farm system was gutted almost and the Mets were fortunate enough to have Murphy carry them to the World Series.
My point is that nothing is a given. Anderson has said that he thinks this team has enough, and I agree. Two nights ago I read on MLBTR that no team has more than the three good back-end guys in the bullpen that the Mets have and they really don’t need to add. I agree there too.
It would behoove the Mets to use their players better and continue to beat the drum of situational hitting. The difference in the standings is because the Nationals are killing the Mets. If they played to a draw, these two teams would be almost even.
Mets bullpen looked fine on Sunday. The Mets starters need to step it up and go deeper into the game. The Mets also need to have a long reliever like Seth Lugo to eat up innings when a starter gets knocked out early. IMO Jim Henderson does not have a role with the Mets. He is not an end of the game pitcher for the Mets, cannot pitch on consecutive days or for multiple innings.
Only been 1 season worth of games…
Agree. Maybe a symbolic trade for a reliever will suffice. Conforto will be a big key over the final 2 1/2 months. Same for d’Arnaud & Cespdes.
Thank you Andre. Long time no talk.
Gotta get outta Vegas
Go to Buffalo or some where else
Not New Orleans either
Those LV figures, in this case Smoker
are a joke and BA is fiction to say the least
Conforto is back after feeding off AAA
Let’s see.
the saddest thing is in an alternate universe we would still have Matthew Bowman in our roster and have him available as a call up
The Mets farm system has seen an influx over the last year from the draft and the IFA market. Combine that with the emergence of Church/Conlon/B-Mets bulloen arms. It’s not nearly as bad as it’s made out to be. Plenty of guys the Mets could trade from the system without hurting it long term like Smoker and Cecchini for example.
I agree that the return for Herrera would certainly be better.
AGREED
I hesitate to agree but you are definitely on to something. I only hesitate because he just turned 22 in March and can easily turn things around.
I have zero interest in trading church, szapucki, or gsellman at this point. Those guys basically are our minor league rotational depth right now. Cecchini and nimmo i wouldnt mind see going if the return is good, but i would also be open to keeping cecchini to play 2b and instead dealing herrera in the right deal.
this is the third year he hasn’t hit for a high average? He played only in Vegas starting last year and hit .327/.382/.511.
Can’t accept injuries? they were the reason both Rosario and Nimmo underperformed last year.
Sorry you can’t accept excuses, but those are all part of the game.
Teddy, I had forgotten that he went from AA to the majors in MLB. I stand corrected and am glad to see there is hope.
You’re right. I think I was a little overly cranky this morning.
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Rosario is the only untouchable right now, for me. With Alonso, Smith has some new competition in terms of 1B prospects and by the time Duda leaves both Alonso and Smith could be ready. Montero and Smoker both have little value and should be kept to see if they can be successful (both have been messed up by Vegas). I wouldn’t mind the Mets moving Cecchini, but I’m kind of high on him and I doubt that the Mets would get what, in my opinion, they should for him.
Well said
You are not alone my friend. I expected Herrera to rock in Vegas with some ridiculous numbers.This team is driving me crazy with their lack of offense and I just don’t see how it can improve without moving upgrading the starting lineup and getting rid of players I like. h