NEW YORK, NY – Major League Baseball is at the All-Star Break, so I’m going to take this opportunity to talk some baseball. Actually, I think I’m going to limit the talk to the New York Mets, if that’s okay with everyone. Since we have no shortage of Mets-Knowers that frequent these parts, I’d love to hear from some of the Flushing Faithful in comments today. I’d also like to hear from those of you who really don’t care for the Mets because, let’s face it, your input has a lot better chance of being funny. You all know who you are, and you ALL know better than me. Let’s go!
Are the Mets Good, Bad, or Mediocre? As the MLB Trade Deadline approaches and the Mets sit squarely on the postseason borderline, this is the most important question to ask. The thing is, on any given day any of these answers is correct. They have looked amazin’ at times, god-awful at others, and flip-a-coin who-the-heck-knows for stretches too. If you’re running the team right now, you gotta throw mediocre out and make a choice between good or bad. Which is it gonna be?
The Fate of Pete Alonso. The Mets’ lone All-Star this year, Pete Alonso, exited the Home Run Derby Monday night with a whisper. His Derby pitcher, Dave Jauss, was tying him up inside like he was just named closer for the Braves. Anyway, what are the Mets going to do about Alonso? He’s about to become a free agent and his agent is Scott Boras, so he will 100% be hitting the open market. If they can get any trade value for him now (a big IF), should they try to move him? I say “yes” but I have my doubts that teams will be falling all over themselves trying to unload prospects for a 29-year-old power hitter hitting .240 (.217 last season) who will only be 2-3 month rental. If the Mets continue to stay in post season contention it’s doubtful they trade him, so the question is: Do they sign him to an extension this off season? You know Boras is going to be looking for Pete to get Aaron Judge type money, but he ain’t Aaron Judge. If someone really wants to pay him anything even approaching $40 million a year, the Mets should say “mazel tov!,” step aside, and go about plugging Mark Vientos at first to replace him. But, if they can bring him back for something more in the Freddie Freeman contract range (5-6 years, $25-30 million per) I would probably support that. He may not be Judge, but he is kinda the Hamilton “Ham” Porter of this club. What would you do?
Trade Deadline. This is where supposed whiz kid, David Stearns, gets to prove the hype is real and his hiring a steal. The Mets need a lot of things, but mostly pitching. Still, that shouldn’t stop them from trying to unload Adam Ottavino on some desperate shmoes. They won’t get anything for Jake Diekman, so maybe just leave him near a bus station somewhere. As for the rest, Francisco Alvarez is untouchable, and listen to any offers on anyone else. Also, how is Ben Gamel still on a major league roster. Buy him a ticket to go see Despicable Me 4 in a nice air-conditioned movie theater and move on.
Time for me to move on. The temperature is too high and so is my word count. Come back tomorrow for Buddy Diaz, who will hopefully be dissecting Alex Verdugo’s Bad News Bears-like error from last Sunday. Really took me back to my little league days.
