Let me know if any trade rumors pop up involving Mookie Betts. Send me a link if you come across any articles proposing the Yankees flip Aaron Judge.
According to Forbes, the Mets are worth an estimated 2.1 Billion dollars. Owning SNY, a TV station in New York city, has been an absolute cash cow.
Yet, we as fans, now treat the Mets like a small market team.
Why would the Wilpons change their course of action? Last year, every team received a 50 million dollar windfall from BAMTECH, a streaming media company. The Mets signed Adrian Gonzalez and José Reyes. Guess what? They still sold out Citi Field every time they gave away bobbleheads, long after they fell out of contention in 2018.
In fact, there are still fans who will tell you with a straight face, that even though the Mets don’t reinvest the money they recoup from the insurance on David Wright’s contract, it should still count towards the Met payroll.
Is that not the textbook definition of Stockholm syndrome?!
To be fair, the Wilpons do have considerable resources and an impressive propaganda machine at their disposal. You can’t get TOO mad at the fans who get fooled. If we’re being honest though, way too many fans defended the Adrian Gonzalez signing, saying “he’ll be a good mentor.”
That’s neither here nor there. Let’s look towards the future.
Well, apparently our future is to actually BECOME a small market team.
Yesterday, it was reported by Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic, that the San Diego Padres were interested in Noah Syndergaard. Droves of Met fans subsequently jumped out their respective windows.
The San Diego Padres have the best farm system in baseball. I totally get the allure of receiving a king’s ransom for Syndergaard. But, hold up. Are we rebuilding?
With no money invested past 2020, are we tearing it all down?
Somehow, according to Met fans, that wouldn’t be tearing it down. The plan is to trade Syndergaard for prospects and then go out and sign the best free agent pitchers available.
My sides hurt I’m laughing so hard.
But let’s take that at face value. Let’s say, hypothetically, that the Mets are going to trade a 26-year-old stud pitcher, who is under team control for prospects. Continuing along with this fairy tale, they replace Noah with the best available arm in free agency.
Who is ownership going to open the wallet for? Who are we going to replace our 26-year-old stud with? Dallas Keuchel, who will turn 30 this winter? Patrick Corbin, who will turn 30 during the season?
Let me tell you what would actually happen. You’d be looking at a pitching staff with Jason Vargas and Jeremy Hellickson in it. Also, shout out to everyone who says Syndergaard gets injured too often, and then proposed signing Patrick Corbin in the same breath. Bravo.
Again. I have to ask.
Just like Noah Syndergaard, Aaron Nola started his career in 2015. Have you heard any trade rumors surrounding him?
No. And guess what? You won’t. You will hear rumors that the Phillies are in on every marquee free agent this off-season, though.
Not saying this is going to happen either, but what precedent would be setting? Every time a player on a rookie contract is about to get paid, we sell them for prospects? Why are we, as fans of the Mets, conditioned to think this way? When did this become the new normal?
Any other big market team would take one look at the pitching staff, as presently assembled, and go ALL IN.
The Mets wouldn’t be bold, innovative or forward thinking to consider this. Minnesota, Kansas City, Tampa Bay and Oakland have been doing it forever.