Mets Need Bryce Harper
The Mets have been quite busy this offseason, and they have improved their roster. Their bullpen now has Edwin Diaz and Jeurys Familia. Robinson Cano is now the everyday second baseman with last year’s revelation, Jeff McNeil, hopefully becoming a super utility player in the ilk of Ben Zobrist. Wilson Ramos replaces an uninspiring group of Travis d’Arnaud, Jose Lobaton, Devin Mesoraco, Tomas Nido, and Kevin Plawecki behind the plate.
All told, the Mets are undoubtedly better. In fact, they have gone from being a 77 win team to Fangraphs projecting they will win 85 games. That’s a big eight game improvement, but when you dig deeper, it’s not enough.
Assuming the projections are correct or reasonable, that 85 win mark puts them six games behind the Nationals, and it has them just two games ahead of the Braves for second place in the division. Moreover, it has the Mets capturing the second Wild Card. It is very difficult to believe the Mets are doing this for just the second Wild Card.
Then again, despite Brodie Van Wagenen’s bravado, the Mets may be lucky to capture that second Wild Card.
First and foremost, you’re relying upon a Braves team who signed Josh Donaldson to win eight fewer games. More than that, you’re relying on the Phillies not going out and making significant additions this offseason.
We know the Phillies owner wants to spend a stupid amount of money. He has reached that threshold, but the Phillies have improved the team. The Carlos Santana trade permits the Phillies to move Rhys Hoskins to first base, which is where he belongs, and they replaced Santana’s disappointing production with Andrew McCutchen. In that Santana trade, the Phillies obtained Jean Segura, who presents a massive offensive and defensive upgrade over what the Phillies had last year.
The Phillies are also rumored to be hot in their pursuit of Manny Machado. It’s possible the Phillies will lose out on him to the Yankees or even the White Sox, who made a trade for his brother-in-law Yonder Alonso. If they lose out on him, you can guarantee they will be even more dogged in their pursuit of Bryce Harper. Either player is a game changer.
At a minimum, that makes the Phillies more of a player in the division, and it makes the Mets efforts to win the division or to even capture one of the Wild Card spots all the more difficult. Even the most ardent believer in what the Mets have done this offseason has to admit Machado or Harper on the Phillies severely complicates matters.
If nothing else, this is why the Mets have to stop it from happening. We know they will not be in on Machado, but there they can let the Yankees do their dirty work, but when it comes to Harper, they are going to have to do their own heavy lifting. They are going to have step up and try to sign Harper much in the same way they stepped up and gave up Jarred Kelenic to ensure Diaz did not go to the Phillies.
An outfield of Michael Conforto–Brandon Nimmo–Bryce Harper would be among the best in baseball. For those wringing their hands over Yoenis Cespedes, both Harper and Cespedes have indicated this past year they would be willing to move to first base. Then again, no one should be counting on Cespedes to return at any point in 2019 let alone be the type of player again who can force anyone to the bench.
More than anything, Harper is one of the best players in baseball, and he’s just only 26. He’s one of the more recognizable players in the game, and he could have a Mike Piazza like impact on the field, with attendance, and on the back pages. He could be the next Carlos Beltran. With his talent anything is possible, including not just one but multiple World Series titles.
The main point here is the Mets are far from done building this team into a World Series contender. The same goes for the rest of the division including the Phillies. One team is going to be willing to do everything it takes to win. For the first time in over a decade, it would be nice if that team was once again the Mets.
Sign Harper.
Hmmm….
How would that effect the August roster and payroll 2019 and 2021
Assuming they resign Wheeler and give Jake a $30m a year deal?
They need to put on their big boy pants and figure it out
Is that not why we post our opinions?
Where we can play GM?
•———•
Ok….
Here goes….
$200 m + payroll for years to come…
The time the Mets should have just bit the bullet was when Joe Maddon was in between TB and the Cubs
How would I make Harper happen?
Before I go there…
Didn’t post season Harper have loads of line up protection in years past?
Ok, how do I figure out who to move:
Lagares makes $9.5 m, last year on his deal.
I have no problem with him as a fourth outfielder but what is plan B in AAA Syracuse if he gets hurt?
Is Travis a fourth outfielder in training and is Tom Nido a backup catcher in waiting at AAA,
Let us say yes… so Juany stays…
We have three outfielder positions.
Let us say Harper is right field, Nimmo is our table setter that leaves Conforto as out!
So in preparation of announcing the Harper signing I hit the phone and get my best deal for Conforto or I trade Alonso and shift Conforto to first.
I ain’t trading Nimmo for anyone but a leadoff man.
I ain’t losing his exuberance
I ain’t losing his connection with the fans either…
If I get Harper and sign Moustakis then I am not going to regret uppercut lefty bat Conforto going elsewhere.
However I do not want either Nimmo or Conforto (he used to be much better but nerves have him throwing off line now) throwing to any base in a playoff game!!
I would cringe
Opening Day
Nimmo Harper Lagares
August
Cespedes Nimmo Harper
I never wanted Harper…
On the another hand, a guy who wins World Series vs first round exiter like Harper, start with Ian Kinsler or the target of the coupons and Sandy after 2015, Ben Zobrist
I would put my money into David Robertson.
Harper…. you never convinced me of why…
Why?
I’m intrigued by Conforto moving to first
I want defense and would consider him part time for he is right handed.
Yet, he may not have the skills of an infielder?
I have no info on that, whatsoever…
But are there lots of lefty throwing first baseman?
Whatever happpened to Dom Smith after year one in Vegas?
Is he just not disciplined or consistent with his professionalism?
Conforto is a very good OF
Hmmm….
How would that effect the August roster and payroll 2019 and 2021
Assuming they resign Wheeler and give Jake a $30m a year deal?
Cespesdes is adios after 2020?
Saving $27.5
But others head into arbitration or pre free agency long term deals?
Do they remotely target Realmuto when he is a free agent in 2021.
When does Conforto become FA?
Matz, Noah….?
I would do an Excel spreadsheet with columns for the years…
Would you sign a FA relief pitcher for 2019?
These fringe outfield signings?
I hope they are still looking at Mostakas, a reliever
IF NOT MARKAKIS !!!!!!
THAT IS AN OUTFIELDER I WANT ON MY STARTING LINEUP IN A PLAYOFF SERIES,!!!!
The Coupons can have a huge bump up in sales to Greek fans?
Those signings may telegraph that Lagares will be moved soon and Mets eating $2-$4m..
I didn’t know there was a large enough Greek baseball fan contingent in New York to make Moustakas a financial win-win