New York Mets: Clueless at the top as uneventful trade deadline passes
The New York Mets once again prove how clueless they are as an organization as they make no final moves at the trade deadline.
So much for a rebuild, right, New York Mets fans? All we heard about was how the Mets would be sellers at the deadline. How did that work out for them?
Other than those two trades, they did NOTHING. And they certainly did nothing of any significance. Oh wait, congratulations on bringing back low-level, and in one case recently injured prospects back for Asdrubal Cabrera and Jeurys Familia. Other than that they did zippo.
That part is infuriating enough. I am not sure how this team expects to get better unless they actually DO something to make it better.
It’s the way this general manager by committee is doing its job and the way it’s reporting that job to the media and to all of us, the Mets fans. Let me show you what I mean.
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The three acting general managers, John Ricco, Omar Minaya and J.P. Ricciardi held a conference call with the media shortly after the deadline passed.
They were asked if the lack of action means they aren’t rebuilding next year. Here is what John Ricco said (via the NY Times):
"“We want to build around the pitching we have and have a winning team and compete for a playoff spot next year,” Ricco said. “There was no deal on the table that we thought made sense at this point in time. That does not say anything about how we’re going to treat our assets heading into the off-season and how we’re going to plan for next year.”"
Buster Olney spoke about this on Twitter, so let’s hear his words. They pretty much state the obvious and are a perfect response:
Mets will keep deGrom, Syndergaard through deadline b/c they don't want to rebuild--which is also part of reason why they aren't lowering price on Wheeler. They intend to contend next year, and will need to round out their rotation, and looks like Wheeler will be part of it.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 30, 2018
Thank you Buster! Thank you for telling us what the Mets clearly aren’t willing to tell their fans. Either you rebuild, or you try to contend. If you keep your team together, it means you are trying to win with this team that you have.
The idea of the Mets not being up front with their fans unfortunately isn’t new. That doesn’t mean it isn’t frustrating. It also makes them as clueless as ever.
Ricco said they weren’t going to make a move with the bigger players, especially the pitchers, without getting significant talent in return. On its face, that makes perfect sense.
However, it does beg the following question. Does anyone really believe that the offers the Mets might have received for Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and/or Zack Wheeler were terrible? Come on folks.
No, they may not have included a ton of major league talent. Guess what, Mets, you aren’t the ones in the driver’s seat! The other teams are! That’s what being a seller is all about. Without seeing the offers I can just about guarantee that teams offered front-line minor leaguers.
You make your deal now, not over the winter. Why? Their value may go down. What if Wheeler gets hurt again? What if deGrom goes into a slump for the last two months of the season? The value can look different when the winter meetings come around.
Make the move at the peak of value. Don’t wait.
Mets wasting everyone's time. dark. Next
An on a Thursday conference call, Ricco admitted (via Anthony DiComo of MLB.com) that they DO expect to contend in 2019.
No kidding.
There is a narrative out there that things will change when they hire a GM, whether it’s one of these three or someone from the outside.
While I agree that they need one GM, this is still the Mets. What indication have we had, ever, that things are going to change? Jeff Wilpon is still there. The new general manager will still have to report to him.
The Mets screwed this up. Again. Or maybe it’s screwing it up still. Why don’t they just let Jeff Wilpon pick the players? By the end of that, all of the fans at Citi Field will be able to go home in one car.