The Crane Pool Forum

The Juan Soto thread focuses on one player - and one we need to get! But I was thinking about the rest. Sterns did a great job with the one-year contract guys this season, and some increased their value and will expect to be paid well. There are bunch of prospects who might be ready to step up. Who do you want to come back, and who do wave a fond farewell to?

Status, per Baseball Reference.

Jose Quintana, free agent.
Pete Alonso, free agent.
Sean Manaea, likely will exercise player option and be a free agent.
Luis Severino, free agent.
J.D. Martinez, free agent.
Harrison Bader, free agent.
Phil Maton, free agent.
Adam Ottavino, free agent.
Ryne Stanek, free agent.
Drew Smith, free agent.
Jesse Winker, free agent

I guess all of those guys are replaceable, probably not practical to replace all , but I'll keep

Sevy
Stanek
Winker
Pete

metirish wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 9:19 am I guess all of those guys are replaceable, probably not practical to replace all , but I'll keep

Sevy
Stanek
Winker
Pete

Good calls. Do you think Manaea will be too expensive to keep, or did we get the best of him this year? (fixed typo)

Bob Alpacadaca wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 9:38 am

metirish wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 9:19 am I guess all of those guys are replaceable, probably not practical to replace all , but I'll keep

Sevy
Stanek
Winker
Pete

Good calls. Do you think Manaea will be too extensive [sic] to keep, or did we get the best of him this year?

The questions aren't mutually exclusive.

I'd keep Stanek.

I think that at least one or two of Severino, Manaea, and Quintana will be back. I don't know which, but I'd like to keep Manaea.

Martinez is almost surely gone.

I expect the Mets will import an outfielder, and I know we all hope it will be Soto. If that happens, I'd consider Marte as a DH. Winker can return if they see that as a platoon thing.

I hope Pete stays, but I realize that that may not be the best long-term decision. It will be one of the major stories of the offseason for the Mets. My guess is that he's gone, only because Boras will keep him unsigned for too long. But we'll see.

I'm pretty sure Iglesias only has a one-year deal. (Which brings us back to the not-mutually-exclusive question of will he be too expensive to keep or did we get the best of him this year.)

I don't think price is really an issue -- we have freed up all the money we were paying Scherzer, Verlander, and a bunch of catchers -- so the question for me is more years than anything else. I'd bring back most of that list one one-year deals, but I'd only consider three for Manaea (and even then I'd prefer two).

I wouldn't mind having Sean back , probably will be hoping for three years ? Not sure about that, I think both he and Sevy enjoyed it here , but alas lots of teams will overpay for pitching

smg58 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 10:01 am I'm pretty sure Iglesias only has a one-year deal. (Which brings us back to the not-mutually-exclusive question of will he be too expensive to keep or did we get the best of him this year.)

I don't think price is really an issue -- we have freed up all the money we were paying Scherzer, Verlander, and a bunch of catchers -- so the question for me is more years than anything else. I'd bring back most of that list one one-year deals, but I'd only consider three for Manaea (and even then I'd prefer two).

Was wondering about Iglesias and if there is a spot for him. If Mauricio and Acuna are both up, and whatever happens with Baty, and Jett Williams in the wings, where you you put him?

My hunch is that Baty will be traded, although there's a chance that they'd be selling low. I predict he'll go in part of a package for a starting pitcher who "needs a change of scenery".

Bob Alpacadaca wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 9:10 amWho do you want to come back, and who do wave a fond farewell to?

Farewell to: JD Martinez, Jose Quintana, Brooks Raley, Luis Severino

Would like to retain: Pete Alonso, Sean Manaea, Phil Maton (I believe the Mets have a club option)

Would consider retaining, on the right deal: Bader, Iglesias, Ottavino, Smith, Stanek, Winker

I'd keep Quintana, even though he gives me agita when he pitches.
Also, Stanek and Maton among the pitchers. I think Manaea may have shot his wad and won't be the same going forward.
Certainly, sign Iglesias . Baty's gone.
I'd prefer a cheaper Alonso option as a power hitter, like a Santander.
Maybe: Winker (depending on what else they do in the outfield (Soto).
Severino and Martinez? bye bye. Maybe the MFY fans were right when they said you can't depend on him. I'd prefer not having to find out for another year.
Bader and Smith? nope
And what the heck is a Paul Blackburn, anyhow? good bye
And I'd personally drive Ottavino to the airport when he goes elsewhere.

Later

Just looking at the pitching—

It's not their starting rotation that kept them from being a 95-win team. Assuming the purse strings are fully open, I'd bring back Severino, Quintana and Manaea. That should give the Mets a rotation of

Senga
Manaea
Peterson
Severino
Quintana

Not necessarily in that order. But the first four in the list could feasibly all be #1 starters depending on the team, based on their 2024 performances.

Megill's not good enough to give a starting spot to. Might be time to Lugo*/Butto him and put him in the bullpen. None of the minor league guys proved good enough yet to consider giving a spot to, either. So that should settle the rotation.

*of course, Lugo clearly WAS good enough to give a starting spot to

As for the bullpen—

Non-tender Reed Garrett. Say adios to Adam Ottavino. Say adios to Danny Young.

I haven't exhaustively gone through the 2024 roster, but that's what I would do so far.

Cowtipper wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 11:52 am Assuming the purse strings are fully open, I'd bring back Severino, Quintana and Manaea.

I wouldn't be opposed to any of them coming back, but I don't want all of them to come back. I think there's room for an upgrade here.

Regarding Iglesias, assuming he'd even be open to a utility/part-time role, I don't know if you necessarily have room for him.

Assume that there are 13 position players.

C: Alvarez.
1B: Alonso (or someone to replace him)
2B: McNeil
3B: Vientos
SS: Lindor

RF: Soto (or another impact bat)
LF: Nimmo
CF: Taylor
DH: Marte

That's 9 starters. Assume that Torrens is your backup catcher, and you have some sort of 4th OF (Bader-type/Winker etc). That leaves two bench positions for Acuna, Baty, Mauricio. Maybe Jett Williams will be ready sometime in 2025. I think you'd want that backup utility infielder to be someone willing to start the season at AAA. Meaning, we're probably looking for 2024 Iglesias, and not 2025 Iglesias.

My predictions.

Jose Quintana. GONE
Pete Alonso. GONE. Unfortunately. Similar to BG, I think someone will pay him more than Stearns is comfortable shelling out.
Sean Manaea. Back. On a 3 year deal.
Luis Severino. GONE
J.D. Martinez. GONE
Harrison Bader. GONE
Phil Maton. GONE, though I can see him coming back for less than his option.
Adam Ottavino. GONE
Ryne Stanek. GONE
Drew Smith. GONE
Jesse Winker. GONE
Jose Iglesias. GONE

I think the “we’re not sure we have room for him” approach is misguided. There are always injuries and things moving around. You can worry about the roster cut-down in March. Sign the good players and then figure it out.

Now, if the Mets want to part with Iglesias because career-year-at-age-34 is not likely to be repeated, that’s fine. But a “space” concern shouldn’t even be entertained at this juncture, especially considering the Mets resources.

Certainly yes, it's best to stockpile as much talent as possible. But given the year he's had, he's certainly going to want a guaranteed contract. And with the crowded situation the Mets already have with backup infielders, I'm not sure they'll be in a position to give him one.

I think this is moot anyway. He just hit .337, with an .830 OPS and outstanding defense. I'm guessing he'll be certainly looking for a chance to start and more money than the Mets are willing to give him. Which, if that's the case, I'm fine to let him walk. It's great to catch lightning in a bottle. But as you suggest, I think these Dark Horse guys tend to have a bad track record of replicating their performances.

And, fire the RiSP hitting coach.
Later

I would like to move on from McNeil. There is organizational depth at the keystone. I'd prefer Iglesias who I think is a better mentor---and I think Vientos, among others, would benefit from that.

I would think Manaea follows his recent trend and opts out for a contract elsewhere, but I'd like him to stay for another two years (but not three).

I could move on from Severino and Quintana (particularly the latter).

I liked Bader but thought he was a reach at $10M/per. Winker is likewise expendable.

The bullpen should jettison Smith, Ottavino and Maton.

Martinez leaving is a foregone conclusion.

I don't think Alonso returns and I have mixed feelings about that: I'd like him to stay. he has come so far as a defender since Day 1 and busts his ass on every play---that will catch up to him as he ages, so don't want a long fat contract.

I'd like to see the Mets sign Vientos to a long-term deal that gets him two or three years past free agency. Other teams have done this with their young stars, and I think Vientos might be the guy for whom the Mets should do it.

Bob Alpacadaca wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2024 9:10 am Jose Quintana, free agent.
Sean Manaea, likely will exercise player option and be a free agent.
Luis Severino, free agent.
Phil Maton, free agent.
Adam Ottavino, free agent.
Ryne Stanek, free agent.
Drew Smith, free agent.

Another year, another off-season of re-making the majority of the pitching staff on the fly.

No faith in that Senga/Peterson/Megill/Blackburn front four?

Not really. Senga and Peterson are a good start, but they need more.

Max Kranick ain't stale raisin bread!

Wait, what? They can get stale raisin bread?!?!