New York Mets GM Sandy Alderson Must Make A Splash In Free Agency This Offseason

Sandy Alderson, Wilpons Cannot Be Conservative This Offseason

When former New York Mets General Manager Omar Minaya was fired after the 2010 season, many “baseball people” in the media proclaimed the Mets made an incontrovertibly savvy decision by hiring the highly respected Sandy Alderson; a move that was recommended by the commissioner’s office as the team was submerged in controversy following the Wilpons’ involvement in the Bernie Maddoff ponzi-scheme.

The Mets were to owe a huge amount of money, after claiming they had already lost a ton of money, and Alderson was allegedly the “man with the plan” or the “right guy for the job” according to whispers that were vociferous in nature.

Due to Alderson’s time with the pauper Oakland Athletics as GM, he already had plenty experience winning with a cash-strapped organization operating on a boot-strap budget.

I thought these proclamations were absolutely outrageous, tremendously uniformed and essentially pipe-dream(ish) at best. And I still do to this day.

What has Alderson actually done since he arrived other than build some of the most hopelessly inadequate bullpens Flushing-Meadows Corona Park has ever seen, while missing on outfielders like Chris Young and overvaluing SS Ruben Tejada?

There’s no denying Alderson’s built a solid system, but when does he finally add the pieces to make the major league team solid? Here’s a look at the Mets record by season under the Alderson regime.

"2011: 77-852012: 74-882013: 74-882014: 79-83total: 297-339"

Now — in fairness — some of this was expected as the team was in need of a rebuild after years of high priced free agents like Johan Santana and Jason Bay that just didn’t work out. However, in the New York market, this team should have been ready-to-rock by year three if the funds were allocated to even 85% of what they were under Omar Minaya.

The National League East has been mediocre at best over the last few seasons and the Mets missed out on ascending sooner by being painfully frugal. The majority of the top talent on the Mets roster was drafted by Omar Minaya, including the franchise’s most important asset Matt Harvey.

The Curtis Granderson signing was at least something to hold Mets’ fans over until 2015. But 2014 was the year Alderson and ownership billed as the year we were to root for a team that was actually trying to win again.

Yet, as soon as it was evident that Harvey would miss the whole campaign, the bill of goods they sold us went out the window — that is after they gained back a few of the many season ticket holders they’ve lost since Alderson came to town.

Imagine if a Broadway play tried to operate the same way the Mets have over the last four seasons; if a theater continued to demand high NY prices for attending — yet put on a terrible show perennially but kept promising that it would get better in a few years — they would have been out of business as well as run out of town by now. We all know this is true and it’s unassailable.

Mets’ fans are fed up and that was obvious in the attendance numbers in 2014, although some people were excited that the team improved led particularly by the emergence on rookie SP Jacob deGrom. However, they were still 21st in MLB in overall attendance, even being beat out by the floundering San Diego Padres.

The Mets are one of the most valuable teams in MLB, play in the world’s capital, yet have operated as if they were Savannah Sand Gnats of low A-ball.

This is simply and utterly appalling. With Harvey expected to be ready for Opening Day, the Mets have arguably one of the top-five starting staffs in the majors but their offense will continue to hinder an otherwise promising roster if significant changes aren’t made.

While I understand he’s a fan-favorite, CF Juan Lagares is not much of an offensive player and the club still lacks a true leadoff hitter.

The Mets have no clear answer at shortstop and really can’t afford to carry both Lagares and Tejada in the same order. Daniel Murphy‘s future with the club is uncertain at this point and if the Mets were to lose him and have to find two middle infielders in a scarce hitters market they are doomed from the get-go.

Minaya would have made a move for Hanley Ramirez in free-agency, and although I wouldn’t like the contract, it would undoubtedly make the team better.

The best option in free agency this offseason that will actually end up available will be Nelson Cruz — who just came off a monster season with the Baltimore Orioles and is going to cost a king’s ransom if he would even accept a return to the team in Flushing that signed him originally as an amateur international prospect.

The next best outfield option would be Melky Cabrera — who wouldn’t be a huge difference maker — and neither would Asdrubal Cabrera at shortstop. If Alderson does not get creative and open up to the idea of trading one of the young pitchers in the system such as Noah Syndergarrd or Zach Wheeler, they’re not gonna get much in return on the trade-market and this will render 2015 another ‘could have, should have’ season which this organization cannot endure.

It’s put-up or shut-up time for Alderson and the Wilpons at this year’s winter meetings.