New York Mets: Jeurys Familia trade returns next to nothing

The New York Mets made their move today to trade Jeurys Familia to the Oakland A’s but got absolutely nothing in return other than money.

The New York Mets were expected to be active in the trade market as the deadline approached. During the Subway Series game Saturday afternoon, the first big move happened as Jeurys Familia has been traded to the Oakland A’s. Here are the details:

Let’s talk about this for a minute. First, per Ken Rosenthal, the A’s are taking all of Familia’s salary themselves, which comes out to about $3 million. Now on its face, shaving off the salary is a positive. It helps the team free up money to make improvements, once they finally decide who the general manager is.

However, take a look at what beat reporter Anthony DiComo had to say:

The Mets did not absorb any of Jeurys Familia's remaining salary, per @Ken_Rosenthal. Assistant GM John Ricco said yesterday that the Mets had the ability to eat salary at the deadline if it meant getting better prospects in return. They apparently did not do so in this deal.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) July 21, 2018

Now here we have the problem. The idea was if the Mets were going to cut salary, they were going to get GOOD prospects in return. Not prospects that were bottom of the barrel types. They were supposed to bring back prospects we can be hopeful to see sooner rather than later.

The Mets are saying that the prospects they got are so bad they were unwilling to pay any of the freight for Familia. That’s not a good state of affairs, ladies and gentlemen. We need value, not just bodies. It seems like a simple enough concept, does it not?

Reports indicate that the international pool money is $1 million which has the potential to be helpful, when the Mets finally pick a general manager instead of employing a three-headed monster.

More from Empire Writes Back

Then we learn even more. Writer Michael Baron tweeted out the fact that Bobby Wahl, the relief pitcher involved in the deal, is coming off of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

Remember Thoracic Outlet Syndrome? Matt Harvey has that on his resume as one of his ailments. How did that work out for us?

Might it turn out differently for Wahl? Sure. But that is one big risk you are taking after giving up an established closer with talent.

This is why Mets fans get so infuriated with this organization. Wahl was un-ranked in the A’s organization and Toffey was the 17th best prospect.

The Mets make moves for the sake of making moves. They made this move to say, “We told you we would be sellers”. It’s almost as if they didn’t pay any attention to the package they were getting back.

Next: The five best starts by deGrom

Think about it. The trade deadline is on July 31st and the Mets make this deal on the 21st. Had they waited there is no telling what the offers might have looked like. Multiple teams were interested. But no, they couldn’t wait.

Instead, they take this offer that returns them nothing, and that was unwilling to help pay their former player. This is the same owner that is still paying Bobby Bonilla. So the Mets weren’t even happy with the players they got.

So why do it? The Mets simply don’t get it. Hire a general manager that is from outside this joke of an organization. Maybe they can right the ship.

Home/New York Mets