A Realistic View at 2019: Part I

[Kimmi]

He'd probably be less likely to get hurt by just pitching 65-70 innings a year vs 150-200, but $15M a year is a lot for a closer.

 

I'm not sure he wants to close.

 

I would not sign him as a closer. I'd sign him with the intent that he would be in our rotation. But if something happened where he wasn't effective in the rotation or we needed to limit his innings for health reasons, then he is one who could be a very effective late inning guy.

[Kimmi]

The Mets have always been very interesting, and with there new GM/agent I don’t think it will change.

Might have another Arizona situation with Dave Stewart and Tony Larussa.

 

I don't follow the Mets closely enough to know what's going on there, but I almost never hear anything good about their FO.

I'm glad I'm not a Mets fan.

[Kimmi]

The Mets -M's deal is done.

 

The M's send just $20M and save $64M.

 

Cano, Diaz & $20M

for

Bruce, Swarzak, Kelenic, Dunn and Bautista

 

Now, word is out the Mets are looking at Kluber.

 

I don't think the Mets got 'fleeced' on this, but I do think that they overpaid to get Diaz by taking on most of Cano's contract.

 

We'll see how Cano ends up performing for the remainder of his contract.

[cp176]

I hope the Sox sign Eovaldi with intentions of having him in the rotation. I do kind of think that that is what they will do. If he happens to really struggle (which I think is unlikely), then you move him to the pen.

As for the Mets - yawn. Good luck with Cano.

 

I absolutely do not think that a signing of Eovaldi will have anything at all to do with what the Red Sox decide to do with Rick Porcello. It would be silly to let a workhorse like this get away but a hypothetical it won't happen type of question becomes who would you keep?

Eovaldi or Porcello? You surely know what you are going to get from Porcello. Eovaldi is the wildcard with the rebuilt arm - tremendous potential.

[Fisk]

I don't think the Mets got 'fleeced' on this, but I do think that they overpaid to get Diaz by taking on most of Cano's contract.

 

We'll see how Cano ends up performing for the remainder of his contract.

 

They didn’t get fleeced there mistake was giving up prospects for players they could have come close to replicating on the free agent market.

[moonslav59]

I think the Mets made a nice deal with this trade.

 

If cano is healthy, I see him having more success in New York than Seattle. Plus they add the best reliever in the game!

 

Plus the Mets unload Bruce without sacrificing their best two prospects!

 

The guy the Mets really need to put them over the top is mookie. Unfortunately I do not see desperate Dave moving mookie this offseason!

 

Bruce was just a partial financial offset for Cano.

 

The M's saved $64M, so basically, the Mets are paying Cano $13M a year for 5 years at ages 36-40. That's a horrible contract, but getting Diaz offsets some of that. The real balance tilter will be how well the prospects do going forward. (Diaz will start being paid more as well, but will still be below market value cost.)

 

[dgalehouse]

Cano is one of those guys who has become fair game for abuse , partially due to his seemingly indifferent attitude, partially due to his bloated contract , but mostly due to P.E.D. use. However , he is a career. .300 hitter with home run pop. Keep that in mind before ridiculing the Mets for this deal.

[moonslav59]

Cano is one of those guys who has become fair game for abuse , partially due to his seemingly indifferent attitude, partially due to his bloated contract , but mostly due to P.E.D. use. However , he is a career. .300 hitter with home run pop. Keep that in mind before ridiculing the Mets for this deal.

 

He's 35 and not likely to continue coming near his previous numbers over the next 5 years. In his defense, he has had 2 seasons over .845 in his last 3 years, but one was just barely near 350 PAs.

 

.803 OPS ages 22-25

.899 OPS ages 26-30

.826 OPS ages 31-35

 

 

[cp176]

Cano is one of those guys who has become fair game for abuse , partially due to his seemingly indifferent attitude, partially due to his bloated contract , but mostly due to P.E.D. use. However , he is a career. .300 hitter with home run pop. Keep that in mind before ridiculing the Mets for this deal.

 

Cano deserves the abuse.

[Kimmi]

They didn’t get fleeced there mistake was giving up prospects for players they could have come close to replicating on the free agent market.

 

I just read that Diaz has been diagnosed with bone spurs that haven't presented a problem yet. I don't know exactly what that means in terms of his ability to pitch going forward, but that definitely adds to the risk.

[Kimmi]

Cano is one of those guys who has become fair game for abuse , partially due to his seemingly indifferent attitude, partially due to his bloated contract , but mostly due to P.E.D. use. However , he is a career. .300 hitter with home run pop. Keep that in mind before ridiculing the Mets for this deal.

 

Fair enough, but Cano is at the point in his career where rapid decline is more likely than not. It was a bad contract from the get go.

[Kimmi]

Fair enough, but Cano is at the point in his career where rapid decline is more likely than not. It was a bad contract from the get go.

 

In other words, don't make the same mistake with Mookie.

 

And no, I don't need to be reminded of how great Mookie is and how Mookie will be younger than Cano was when he signed his contract. A 10 year deal would still be a mistake.

[Fisk]

I just read that Diaz has been diagnosed with bone spurs that haven't presented a problem yet. I don't know exactly what that means in terms of his ability to pitch going forward, but that definitely adds to the risk.

 

Probably will be an issue at some point.

[Kimmi]

Probably will be an issue at some point.

 

It sure sounds like it would be.

[S5Dewey]

Cano deserves the abuse.

 

YES! I'm glad somebody said this. ^^^

 

I'm aware that I may come from a different generation than some who post here but IMO if a player is going to avoid the second-guessing and fan abuse he should show character and humility. Cano could take some lessons from Mookie Betts (or Mike Lowell) as to how to conduct himself.

[oldtimer]

In other words, don't make the same mistake with Mookie.

 

And no, I don't need to be reminded of how great Mookie is and how Mookie will be younger than Cano was when he signed his contract. A 10 year deal would still be a mistake.

 

I think a 7 year deal would be reasonable for Mookie.

[moonslav59]

I'd sign him to 10 years right now, but I admit giving him 10 after he becomes a free agent in 2 years is much more risky.

[moonslav59]

In other words, don't make the same mistake with Mookie.

 

And no, I don't need to be reminded of how great Mookie is and how Mookie will be younger than Cano was when he signed his contract. A 10 year deal would still be a mistake.

 

It's not really a close comp.

 

1) The 10th year of Cano's deal he will be 40. Betts would be 37.

2) Betts has hit .897, .803 and 1.078 in his last 3 years with 2 more to go before he reaches free agency at age 28. Cano hit .914, ,882 and .899 the 3 years before he became a FA at age 30.

3) My opinion here, but Betts has the tools that age well.

 

[cp176]

It's not really a close comp.

 

1) The 10th year of Cano's deal he will be 40. Betts would be 37.

2) Betts has hit .897, .803 and 1.078 in his last 3 years with 2 more to go before he reaches free agency at age 28. Cano hit .914, ,882 and .899 the 3 years before he became a FA at age 30.

3) My opinion here, but Betts has the tools that age well.

 

 

 

You know I would probably be ok with signing Mookie up for 10 not simply because of the awesome talent but I also think that a great franchise needs to identify with a great player. He really is someone the kids - the truly important people - look up to. As in my grandson questioning me about that Clemente guy.

I'm not sure that I agree with you though about Mookie physically being built for the long haul. He plays with intensely great energy. The kind that has and likely will continue to put him on the threshold of injury. He has already suffered a few. He does not have a large body. The type that we often think of as being able to deal with the wear and tear of everyday baseball. He is lightening quick with incredible reflexes but it won't surprise me at all to see him spending his fair share of time on the il.

[cp176]

YES! I'm glad somebody said this. ^^^

 

I'm aware that I may come from a different generation than some who post here but IMO if a player is going to avoid the second-guessing and fan abuse he should show character and humility. Cano could take some lessons from Mookie Betts (or Mike Lowell) as to how to conduct himself.

 

I really hope that we have turned a corner and refuse to bring in guys like Cano or for instance a Machado regardless of how talented they might be. Could be wishful thinking on my part.

[dgalehouse]

We are getting a little silly when we decide that Mookie may be worth eight years , but certainly not ten . Please .

[dgalehouse]

I really hope that we have turned a corner and refuse to bring in guys like Cano or for instance a Machado regardless of how talented they might be. Could be wishful thinking on my part.

 

Yeah . Then we can win fairly and squarely. We will be the good guys. The babyfaces.

[Fisk]

I really hope that we have turned a corner and refuse to bring in guys like Cano or for instance a Machado regardless of how talented they might be. Could be wishful thinking on my part.

 

Those bad teams from 2011 and 12 and then 2015 were filled with bad clubhouse influences, They definitely have steered away from those type of players. This years team was a joy to watch. Want no part of a Machado on this team.

[Fisk]

We are getting a little silly when we decide that Mookie may be worth eight years , but certainly not ten . Please .

 

 

Agree

[Fisk]

I see Mookie eventually joining the pantheon of Williams, Yaz, Pedro and Ortiz. Hopefully he becomes a lifetime Redsox.

[moonslav59]

You know I would probably be ok with signing Mookie up for 10 not simply because of the awesome talent but I also think that a great franchise needs to identify with a great player. He really is someone the kids - the truly important people - look up to. As in my grandson questioning me about that Clemente guy.

I'm not sure that I agree with you though about Mookie physically being built for the long haul. He plays with intensely great energy. The kind that has and likely will continue to put him on the threshold of injury. He has already suffered a few. He does not have a large body. The type that we often think of as being able to deal with the wear and tear of everyday baseball. He is lightening quick with incredible reflexes but it won't surprise me at all to see him spending his fair share of time on the il.

 

I could be wrong, but I think his body type is the kind that ages well. Yes, he may get hurt crashing into walls, but I think he will be very good into his late 30's. To me, h

is main skill is his reflexes and his "twitch responses" are off the charts good.

 

I'm not sure there is a comparable comp in MLB history, but personally, I think that will help him as he ages. Besides, 37 is the new 35.

[moonslav59]

I see Mookie eventually joining the pantheon of Williams, Yaz, Pedro and Ortiz. Hopefully he becomes a lifetime Redsox.

 

Exactly. Watching him continue his greatness for 10 years with another team would be very sad and depressing.

[jacksonianmarch]

Fair enough, but Cano is at the point in his career where rapid decline is more likely than not. It was a bad contract from the get go.

 

He is at that point, but he’s also been worth it through the first half of his contract. If he eeks out two more great seasons, then the last three years are gravy. You don’t measure these long contracts on how they finish. Any team agreeing to a huge contract knows the last year or two will not be pretty

[cp176]

Yeah . Then we can win fairly and squarely. We will be the good guys. The babyfaces.

 

I'm assuming your post to be sarcasm, so here is a question for you, was there something about this year's team that had no apparent ass holes on it that you didn't like? You sure and hell can win with good people.

[cp176]

Those bad teams from 2011 and 12 and then 2015 were filled with bad clubhouse influences, They definitely have steered away from those type of players. This years team was a joy to watch. Want no part of a Machado on this team.

 

 

I agree with you very much here. I have to tell you though in all honesty I would rather lose with decent humans working hard than with a bunch of pukes being idolized simply for athletic prowess.