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New York Mets: BVW’s New additions spell relief for the summer grind

By Joe Noa

Brandon Nimmo, New York Mets. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Brandon Nimmo, New York Mets. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Memorial Day marks the start of the summer grind. The New York Mets continue to add more vets as they seek relief to a team struggling to stay in the race. Can Brodie Van Wagenen stay on top of things in his first season as general manager?

In past years, the New York Mets have had to struggle with unexpected player injuries that crippled a baseball season. The Mets farm system is rated one of the lowest in baseball as teams like the San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves waited patiently for the homegrown talent to blossom. The Houston Astros tanked several seasons while drafting players that now make them a superpower in the Junoir Circuit.

New York Mets new general manager, Brodie Van Wagenen, continues to reinvent a different use of the AAA team by signing players in the twilight of their career, combined with developing homegrown players in the lower levels.

This is really an anomaly from decades of major league baseball traditions. But this is a different baseball world than there was a few years ago. After all, isn’t insanity when you keep doing the same things over and over again and expect different results?

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This is why the Mets were generous enough (tongue in cheek) to sign Rajai Davis, Hector Santiago, Rene Rivera, Adeiny Hechavarria, Carlos Gomez, and Danny Espinosa. These are minor league contracts with an invite to spring training and a chance to be called up to the majors.

Already, Davis, Hechavarria, and Gomez contributed immensely with each hitting 3-run home runs sparking a lackluster Mets offense that threatened Mickey Callaway‘s job.

There was no chance this would happen with the talent the Mets had in Las Vegas last year if they still had the developmental mindset for Syracuse this year. Sometimes you have to think out of the box and change. It may not work but you have to try.

With injuries to Jeff McNeil, Brandon Nimmo, Michael Conforto, Robinson Cano, and now Yoenis Cespedes, Van Wagenen needed to reach out for more depth. BVW recently signed Ervin Santana, Aaron Altherr, and Matt Kemp to contracts. All have had past success and are proven major leaguers. I think Julio Franco is now tossing the ball around with his grandkids, if he has any, waiting to get that call from Queens.

So with the annual summer grind beginning this weekend, the New York Mets are not repeating history as they continue to search for players to provide relief when the parent ballclub needs it. They continue to sign retreads and spare parts in the hope they can continue to push this machine past the finish line and into October. It’s out of the box thinking, but other ideas haven’t worked, so why not?

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Finally, remember why we have a Memorial Day. The majority of us had family members and friends affected by wars that have kept our nation free and strong. I have many that served and I was fortunate to see them come back. Not many can say that. So enjoy the start of summer, but remember our heroes that gave their lives so we can have our family barbeques, trips to the beach, and a hot dog at the ballpark. Have a great summer!

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