Posted on by Dancehall General

Headlines

Well, it’s that time of year.

The leaves have changed colors, and the temperatures are dropping. The stove is hot and the rumors are plentiful.

The baseball off-season is officially underway.

We’ve learned to take much of what is being spread around with a grain of salt. I mean, we’re only weeks removed from “Bombshell Mania.”

Articles need clicks and views, podcasts need listens. So on and so forth. It’s best to not let ourselves get worked up about baseball news (speculations) in the dead of winter.

With that being said, could the Mets related headlines be any more depressing??

Earlier today, Ken Rosenthal posted this article on The Athletic.

As the Mets try to clear money for other moves, here’s a concept they are considering, according to major-league sources: Trading infielder Jed Lowrie and/or reliever Jeurys Familia by packaging him with a low-cost, zero-to-three year player such as first baseman Dom Smith.

To add insult to injury, the focus of the article is Zack Wheeler. Rosenthal writes that the Twins, White Sox, Reds, Rangers and Blue Jays will all be potential suitors for the right hander. Listen, I know that the teams listed above are all beneficiaries of playing in huge markets, (sarcasm) but it’s clearly evident the Mets won’t even try to retain Wheeler.

Let’s quickly discuss another mention of our Amazin’ Mets. This is from yesterday, tweeted by Jon Heyman.

So, this is where we sit currently. The Mets have been connected to ZERO players of note, and they have no money.

If we take these headlines at face value, let’s just say I’m not thrilled.

The Mets have less than 20 million dollars to spend this off-season before they would cross the luxury tax threshold. A club exceeding the Competitive Balance tax threshold for the first time must pay a 20 percent tax on all overages. 

The Mets have a ton of money coming off their books after next season, so they would immediately be right back under the Luxury Tax heading into the 2021 season. Furthermore, in the grand scheme of things, the 20 percent tax for going over should not make or break a big market team such as the Mets.

The Mets won 86 games last year. They traded three first round picks and a second in one calendar year. One of those draft picks is now the 13th ranked prospect in all of baseball. If now is not the time for the Mets to go all-in, THEN WHEN IS?!?

Speaking of those draft picks, two of them went to Toronto in exchange for Marcus Stroman at the trade deadline. The Mets decided to hold on to all their players and make a run at the National League wildcard.

I’d be lying if I told you that wildcard run wasn’t fun. I was there for Conforto’s walk off. I was there for Luis Guillorme’s surprise home run. I was also there for the Aaron Altherr at bats with runners in scoring position. I was there to watch Drew Gagnon on the mound attempting to hold leads in August and September.

What I forgot to mention from Rosenthal’s article was that he feels like Zach Wheeler will sign a 100 million dollar contract this winter. Let’s be fair. Wheeler was coming off an injury, and the haul for a pitcher in his last year of control probably wouldn’t have been massive. But the realization that Stroman is here simply to replace Wheeler hurts.

Furthermore, the ill-fated wildcard run was just another instance of the Mets stopping short of going all-in.

Again, let’s take a Mets related headline at face value. The Mets want to deal Jeurys Familia and/or Jed Lowrie this winter to score some quick walking-around money.

Let’s talk about that really quick. The Mets are terrified of the Luxury Tax. Yet, they will pay Robinson Cano, Jed Lowrie and Jeurys Familia upwards of 40 million dollars combined this year. So, maybe the Mets do spend. They just spend it foolishly.

What’s the market for Jed Lowrie and Jeurys Familia? 

Jed Lowrie had 7 at-bats last year and will turn 36 this April.

Jeurys Familia had an ERA of almost 6 last year.

I’m sure teams will be kicking down the door for these players.

Let’s not forget, the Mets traded Familia already. They got back a right handed reliever who the A’s didn’t trust to call up from Triple A during their 2018 playoff run, and the son of JP Ricciardi’s friend. Add a ten million dollar price tag, and he becomes even less attractive.

Adding Dominic Smith into the mix might sweeten the pot. But what if another deal presents itself? (Marte or Hader for example) How stubborn will the Mets be? What if they insist on including Familia or Lowrie in the deal to receive financial relief?

Now we’re likely talking about further gutting the farm system.

Either way, this all sounds like a short sighted circle jerk. What are we doing here? Trading Smith and a reliever to get money to buy a reliever?

All the writing is on the wall. It looks like the Mets’ new M.O is to use prospects as capital instead of dollars.

Again. Maybe, this is all for naught. Maybe, these are just winter headlines.

Nevertheless, I’m concerned.

Here’s the headline I want to see…

“Mets make an actual attempt to compete and capitalize on their window for contention in 2020.”