diehardtwinsfan

Weren't the Mets openly talking about trading Syndergard this offseason?

We have a top 10 minor league system (some would say top 5), so yeah, we have prospects. I think the big lack is that we don't have a ton of blue chippers (3-5 depending on how you look at them). But we have plenty of prospects to make a splash if we want. Look what the Yankees just gave up to get Encarnacion. We could have beaten that easily if we needed another hitter. We have enough prospects to get an impact starter and impact reliever if we wanted.

I know it sounds weird, but I'm hoping they aim higher. I think there's better options out there and they need long term help. Pay the price and get Boyd, Syndergard, or Castillo (or someone of that ilk who is pitching at a #1 level now and has some control)...Bumgardner is a rental and he's been decent (in the NL), but definitely not the Bumgardner of old. I get that he has playoff experience, which is valuable, but I'd rather pony up some of the blue chip guys to get someone under control for a bit longer. Other than 2B, this lineup will all be here next year. We have some big pitching gaps, especially not knowing what happens to Odorizzi or Gibson. I'm not going to cry if they get him, but unless there's an extension for Gibson in the works, we're looking at filling 3 spots next season. I'm still interested in Will Smith though.

No not really... If you trade someone, it's Arraez.

Both the Seattle and KC games have been pretty ugly. Glad we took 4 of 6, but I really hope they tighten up their game a bit.

St. Louis is above .500 and still in the race... That's problem number one. Problem number 2 is that I'd rather target a reliever with much stronger peripherals... when the OP is openly noting that he may regress... well, I don't want that. We have enough regression candidates in the pen to begin with.

So for fun, looking at the top 15 WAR players for SP this year. Players that may be available: 2 players on the Nats (Scherzer and Strassburg) in the top 4. Not quite sure if they are selling, but given their situation, unloading one of those guys might be smart. Both have control. Both have been studs. Both are expensive. I don't know if either will be on the market, but the Nats have some real problems and testing the waters would be smart.Boyd, who given where Detroit is in their rebuild, could be on the market. He's got 3 years of control left too and won't come cheap.Frankie Montas, which will depend on how Oakland does over the next month. He has 3 years of arb, so I'm guessing unless they are tanking, he stays.The Rangers, depending on how they do have two guys Lance Lynn (wait wut?) and Mike Minor. Lynn was just signed to a 3 year deal. Minor has one year left on his. Going nowhere: Gioloto (CHW) Ryu (LAD)Cole and Verlander (Hou) Morton (Tampa)Odorizzi Sale DeGrom, whom the Mets just extended, so I'm guessing won't be available.Kendricks (Cubs) So, in summary, I think there's a decent chance that an ace or a 1/2 type gets put on the market. My bet would be Boyd. He's at a premium value right now and the Tigers won't be good in the next 3 years. I think you're paying a blue chipper and some others. I also think that either Oakland or Texas waives the white flag, making Minor and maybe Montas available. If you move into the top 30 in WAR, there's a few more names that may become available (and I'm too lazy to check the contracts): Grienke, Syndergard, Castillo, Turnbul, Stroman, Ray, and Wheeler. I'm not a huge fan of Stroman, but I think there are plenty of non-Stroman options to get if they want a starter... and well worth the prospect price in most cases.

I don't think too many people are freaking out about trading prospects. Most of those who have been against it in the past were against it because it made little sense for a bad team to do it. Now it makes a ton of sense... The only bad thing is some of the guys on the 40 man that would have been valuable have destroyed their value. Gonsalves is hurt. Romero has not been very good at all. Thorpe has been largely disappointing also. I wasn't expecting those guys to be a huge piece, but valuable enough to clear off space on the 40 man for some of the younger guys. I don't see that happening much.

I'd add him if the Mets are selling.

Which I agree is part of the problem. We could use another arm (like Holland) now so as not to let Cleveland back in it. We could use another one later too... one that will be around for another year and will most certainly cost more to get.

yeah... for a team that may be willing to wait a bit, this is a cost effective now move that gives us one more arm in the back of the pen at a controllable price. I think getting a guy like Holland early and then paying a higher price in a month for a Giles type later would be smart.

Fair enough, but the pen was asked to account for 7 outs. They got 2 Ks in that time frame I'd add too. Hoping they strike out all 7 without any balls in play on a consistent basis is unrealistic. Expecting them to not commit 5 errors most definitely is. I'm not arguing that we need help there. One extra K could have certainly changed a lot of dynamics of the game... but 5 errors... seriously, 5 errors. I've played on beer league softball teams that played better defense than that.

This... so much this. they have a deep system. Spend some assets and get some impact assets. No reason to putz around with more guys to fix.

Me thinks Littell is being groomed for that. With most of AAA starters on the 40 man hurt, your depth right now is Thorpe and Smeltzer. You may see it a bit later in the season where that depth is less critical.

as much as I want to blame the pen... the defense cost us that game.

I'll say what I've said a few other times, I think Perez is (as of now unless he can make adjustments) the guy I'd feel more comfortable with in the pen. We might be able to upgrade two spots by trading for an ace.

His WHIP is way up this season. He's still productive, but I'm not sure I'd give up much for him.

Perhaps it was just the one game and some SSS magic, but I seem to remember Houston sporting 800+ OPS players 1-8 or 9 a year or two ago..

yes please

Neither his K rate nor his BB rates are anything to write home about. I guess I can live with the grounders as he should get a lot of double plays, but I'd prefer a pitcher that can miss bats a bit more.

He's always going to be a high K guy, so to some extent you have to live with them. Not quite sure I'd call the Ks "not a problem" though. He's done much better this season laying off of pitches out of the zone, but I do think he's got to focus on that a bit more.

He couldn't hit the zone to save his life. Not sure if he was getting squeezed, but he's got to get more strikes or your going to see more outing like last night.

back to the topic: Diekman's peripherals look good. Kind of curious about the high ERA. I'd lean yes there.Yes to Giles, Green, Hand, Holland, Smith and Vazques.... not terribly interested in the others.

Personally, I don't care about his personality. I see his peripherals and scream hard pass. If they want a starter, get an ace. Stroman isn't that. I'd target Matthew Boyd, Scherzer, one of the Mets starters, or even MadBum on a half year deal

You still read the paper?