Well, Steve Cohen has an agreement in place to purchase the Mets.
Is he the savior the fan base has been hoping for? Well, we will have to wait and see about that. We will also have to wait and see if he gains the necessary approval from 23 current MLB owners.
But, for now, let’s assume that Steve Cohen does take the reins of his beloved Mets. Lots of decisions to be made.
General Manager? That’s got to be on top of the list. Simply put, should Brodie stay or go?
Well, as poorly as things have gone under Brodie’s rule, I still believe he’s entitled to an interview.
So, have a seat Brodie. I just want a little clarification on a few things.
THE CANÓ/DÍAZ DEAL
I mean, it’s hard for me to focus on you with this 12,000 pound elephant in the room with us. At the end of the day, I want to know who the actual GM was, you or Jeff. But it would be helpful to hear your thoughts on these moves. So let’s get into it.
2019 was rough. Robinson Canó kept getting hit in the hand with pitches. Every time, Edwin Díaz pitched there were human beings in the seats. Things weren’t ideal.
In 2020, Diaz has been electric, even if he hasn’t been in many high leverage situations. Canó has been one of the best hitters in the National League.
That’s encouraging, but what was the motivation to make this deal?
Was it Jeff? I always found his quote after the trade went down to be very odd.
OK, let’s make the first move that you do a large, because your first is always your first.
Did the thought process go beyond making a big splash? Did you think you were two pieces away from a championship?
In 2019, while chasing a Wildcard spot, the Mets played 3 guys down the stretch who are now in Korea. (Aaron Altherr, Chris Flexen and Drew Gagnon.) While chasing that same Wildcard spot, relievers like Brooks Pounders, Stephen Nogosek, Tyler Bashlor, Ryan O’Rourke, Donnie Hart, Tim Peterson and Chris Mazza were given the ball. Later that year, fans were begging for Joe Panik.
Seems like poor roster evaluation.
Again, I have to ask. Was this on Jeff? Canó had a no trade clause, and only wanted to play in New York. Seattle was eager to rid themselves of his contract. You walk away without Kelenic?
Seems like a standard contract dump to me. You assume the risk of paying a position player until he’s 40, and you get a dynamic young pitcher to sweeten the pot. Somehow, during the negotiations, you ask Seattle if they can eat some of your contracts too? Ok, that does sound like Jeff.
ARE YOU RUNNING A CAA RESCUE AGENCY?
Jessica Mendoza? What was the point of that hire?
Michael Wacha? Did you check to see if Jed Lowrie had a pulse before you signed him?
Again, we discussed this already, but Canó? At age 36? Did you think the team needed a second baseman that badly? For that price? Were you under the impression that the back end of position player deals have worked out the last decade? Did you not think Jeff McNeil was a good baseball player?
DO YOU ALWAYS ABANDON YOUR PHILOSOPHIES ON THE FLY?
It wasn’t as annoying as an entire winter of listening to Mickey Callaway talk about “dirtball reads” and “dry humping pitchers,” that’s for sure.
But, still. We did hear you talk about “eliminating ifs” an awful lot when you took the job.
So, what happened? Rick Porcello? The worst qualified starting pitcher in baseball last year?
Michael Wacha? Dellin Betances? Jared Hughes?
Taking your best reliever (Seth Lugo) with a partially torn UCL out of the bullpen to stretch him out into a starter in a 60 game season?
Taking another reliever who hadn’t pitched in ten months (Robert Gsellman) and giving him a rotation spot?
That’s a lot of ifs.
TRAVIS D’ARNAUD
If the Mets had any money, they wouldn’t be selling the team.
But, sometimes the spending was reckless, if not moronic.
Why would you tender a contract to Travis d’Arnaud? Why would a cash strapped team pay 3.5 million dollars for a backup catcher?
I heard that it was Jeff who wanted to cut d’Arnaud in a fit of rage. But, we can surely agree, paying a backup catcher 150,000 dollars an at bat is a poor allocation of funds.
Did you call around the league before cutting d’Arnaud? I mean, you traded a prospect to Tampa Bay like two weeks later for Wilmer Font.
COMPLIMENT SANDWICH
I’d like to give you some praise, followed by criticism, and then some more praise.
You extended Jacob deGrom.
You traded a breathing human being for Ariel Jurado.
Good work on the JD Davis deal.
Oh, also. I thought it was a terrific move to include Pete Alonso on the opening day roster last year.
Everything else, though? Yikes.
Now, if Jeff was the actual GM, things would make a lot more sense. I don’t think anyone thinks you have a fetish for trading prospects for fourth outfielders. Maybe, you do, who knows?
But, at the very least, you agreed to be the front man for an idiot. Sorry, Brodie.