Curtis Granderson A Blue Jay While Mets Sign His Polar Opposite
In an offseason where the Mets have been consistently linked to all of their former players, and actually signed Jay Bruce, the team was never truly linked to Curtis Granderson.
Well, they won’t anymore as Granderson has signed a one year $5 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.
As we learned from his four years in Queens, any team that adds Granderson has done well for themselves. He’s a tremendous person and mentor in the clubhouse. More than that, he’s a good and durable baseball player.
Considering these qualities, it really is surprising the Mets showed no interest in a Granderson reunion. Last year, Granderson was a 1.5 WAR player, who played all three outfield positions. That’s important because the team doesn’t know when Michael Conforto will be able to return. On top of that, Yoenis Cespedes and Juan Lagares cannot stay healthy.
Instead of looking for a versatile outfielder, the Mets opted to focus on 1B/OF due to the rookie season of Dominic Smith. In looking to sure that up, the Mets signed both Bruce and eventually Adrian Gonzalez. Gonzalez is the more interesting signing of the two because he is the anti-Granderson.
For his part, Gonzalez is not a healthy player, has not played well on the East Coast, and he has not been seen as a good clubhouse presence. Considering the purported issues in the clubhouse late last year, Mickey Callaway managing for the first time in his career, and no one on the coaching staff having any MLB managerial experience this situation seems less than ideal. Actually, it seems like it could be an impending disaster.
The reason no one is really questioning the Mets thought process here is because we all know why the Mets made the decisions they made. Mostly, the team would rather have Gonzalez making the minimum than having Granderson for $5 million. They would also rather bet on a 31 year outfielder for three years instead of a 37 year old one for one year.
On the converse, the Mets opted to try to resurrect the career of an injured soon to be 36 year old first baseman rather than have Bruce at first and Granderson in right.
Whether this proves to be the correct decision remains to be seen. However, we do know one thing – you are always better off having a player and person like Granderson in your clubhouse. For that, the Blue Jays are better today, and the Mets aren’t.
Grandy’s departure was all about numbers and numbers against lefties, his splits:
Bruce (plays first)
Cespesdes
Lagares
Nimmo
Conforto
Grandy will platoon in Toronto
The retaining team is uncomfortable offering a 2/3 paycut?
I THINK SO?
Lagares/Grandy platoon in CF…
would you have proposed that?
There was no other platoon possibility…
GRANDY IS GOING TO HAVE A THRILL PLAYING IN FRONT OF AL FANS, HE COMMANDS RESPECT OF THE BEDT FANS IN BASEBALL AND DETROIT AND THE BRONX WILL BE WONDERFUL STOPS FOR HIM!
Let us also make this equal about Grandy who deserves the bedt of playing scenarios!
THE METS SHOULD GET TRASHED FOR THE NON MOVES AFTER THE 2015 Fall Classic that the Wilpons had no confidence of a repeat return to the WS and their immediate disinterest in Murphy in November 2015….
I WOULD LIKE TO PICK OTHER BATTLES..
Grandy could’ve been the Opening Day RF, and he could’ve been insurance for Conforto. He is exactly what you want from a 4th OF.
Also, with the Mets signing Gonzalez, Bruce playing 1B is a red herring.
You win
Not on this team.
I agree, he would have been insulted being offered $5
He strikes out too much
Be had a dreadful fall
He strikes out too much to be a fourth
He can not hit lefties to be a fourth
Nimmo is #4
They want an utility player or a guy like Kipnis who can log innings in the OF.
I WAS VERY SAD IN SEPT THAT THERE WAS NO WAY HE WOULD COME BACK
VERY SAD
IT TOOK ME TWO MONTHS TO BUY HIS PRO JERSEY IN MY SIZE
GRANDY, THE BEST ROLE MODEL, EVER!
Grandy is a good and versatile OF. That’s your main consideration for a 4th OF.
Anyone who who thinks Dom Smith has a dubious future has not read the scouting reports, who has?
TWO KNOCKS ON SMITH?
Too laid back
Has not shown a great HR bat in the minors
He now projects to hit 30 dingers in a full season…
He will do that for sure in 2019
Those aren’t the knocks on Smith at all.
Enlightened me?
Knocks are weight and ability to hit for power. Tangential to his weight are concerns about his maturity and drive.
After his debut, there were newfound concerns about his defense.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/expect-dominic-smith/#2IXR45phjlL1ED1I.97
This doesn’t mention his perceived issues
https://www.mlb.com/news/dominic-smith-of-the-mets-scouting-report/c-157598992
This report is out of date
lol on this one?
Compares to Adrian who?
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1641949-dominic-smith-prospect-profile-for-new-york-mets-1st-round-pick
Four plus years ago
https://www.sny.tv/mets/news/pics-from-psl-mets-1b-dominic-smith/165554200
“Granderson hit .214/.337/.470 with 21 homers while holding the platoon advantage but limped to a bleak .202/.274/.394 slash against left-handed opponents.
As such, it stands to reason that Granderson will be largely platooned in an outfield corner with the Blue Jays in 2018. Kevin Pillar figures to lock down center field on an everyday basis, but Granderson makes a natural platoon partner for Steve Pearce in left field.
From a defensive standpoint, Granderson’s days as top-notch center fielder are in the past, though he showed in 2017 that he can still handle the position in a pinch, logging 473 innings there — mostly for an injury-ravaged Mets roster. The majority of Granderson’s corner work has come in right field, where he’s routinely posted above-average marks, as was once again the case this past season. Though Granderson logged only 273 innings in right field last year, he turned in an excellent +6 Defensive Runs Saved mark and an equally impressive mark of +5.1, per Ultimate Zone Rating.“
Yes, but?
Fourth Outfielder and Outfield Assists:
Grandy
2014 : 8
2015 : 9
2016 : 8
2017 : 3
I rather see Grandy w a platoon plus DH opportunities.
Toronto is a sprcial city, closer to his family and foundation …
God bless Curtis Granderson!
As a Mets fan, I want to see the players here who can help the team