It would have been nice to land one of those star free agent pitchers, but it seems we have all come around to David Stearns’ point of view of not giving out five plus year contracts at a minimum of $150 million, to players in their thirties.
We all know Dipoto is a wheeler-dealer but Im not sure youd even get him to take a call after texting that to him.
Baty has not shown he can consistently hit in the big leagues. and at this point he's gonna be fighting to get any AB in Queens. How does that help Seattle? I dont see how you can convince me it does.
McNeil is rapidly becoming an unnecessary appendage for the Mets, with prospects on the way that will be replacing him soon enough, maybe even by May. he could hit in the glory days, but a struggling 32 yo McNeil and 30M$ left is nothing the Mariners would be interested in unless you eat pretty much the entire salary. Cohen could do that of course, but I dont see it.
I cant see why the Mariners would give up a prize knowing the Mets desperately need starting pitching, and take Met extraneous parts in return.
Dipoto to Stearns: "David, I got your text. Calling to see if you were injured in a car accident. No? Ok, so I can understand why you guys want Castillo. we love him here in Seattle, and Starbucks delivers gallons of coffee to the clubhouse because he likes his espresso. I'll come back with an idea for you to consider. We like Jett Williams even though he's not ready just yet, and we will need Drew Gilbert and Mauricio too. Both are risks as we see it, but we like the upside. Ready to make a deal?"
My opinion is that this is way far short of anything the Mariners would consider. For it to make any sense at all, Seattle would have to be desperate to cut payroll. Since they didn't trade him before Spring Training started, it seems safe to say they're not desperate.
It's no different than the Padres and Cease. They're not hanging up the phone if someone asks but they're going to have to be bowled over to actually pull the trigger. It's nothing more than due diligence.
These pitchers are available in the same sense a 1952 Topps Mantle in high-grade condition is available. You can definitely get it - but you're going to have to pay thru the nose to make it happen.
Can’t argue with either of you but all three enhance the M’s chances by improving on what they will trot out there in 2025. I’d part with Mauricio in the same deal but otherwise no to future pieces. And they could pick up all of McNeil’s 2025 salary as long as the M’s take it for 2026. So instead of paying off $10M they pay off $15M total. M’s still owe us for sticking us with Cano. And they are already $60 million and $80 million in payroll behind the Astros and Rangers.
If the Mets are going to decimate the farm then go after Vlad Jr not a 32-year-old pitcher. Wouldn’t go after Cease with a boat load of the future since he’s not signed beyond this year. When they got Lindor, even if they could not resign him, they only gave up two shortstops that were under achieving.
Montas was a huge risk given his health - just ask the Yankees. Of course if he comes back for the second half - you know Mets players never recover quickly, like Quintana did, that would be great. And maybe Megill steps up and Sproat surprises us, and there is enough pitching.
Want to wager who’s the next starter to run into trouble?
Ive been saying all along the starting pitching is a clown show compared to the rest of the team and is nothing but hopes and dreams. And Im interested in Castillo, but there is no way in hell they “owe” us for Cano and theres absolutely no way they part with a bona fide top of the rotation starter for Baty who has shown no evidence he can stick in the major leagues for any team and an aging declining McNeil and stick them with 35M$ to boot! I dont think those two get you much more than a B prospect and a bucket of balls.
I too think that Castillo would make the Mets better. I don't think that Seattle would take McNeil because of his salary and he is trending downward. Jose Butto would helped them. Then let them have a choice of Baty or Mauricio or Acuna. The final piece would be Williams or Gilbert. That would be a 3 for 1 deal. Stearns wouldn't do it though. He passed up Flaherty for just money. Before the injury he was content on his pitching staff. Maybe now he feels that he needs little depth. Maybe not.. There are still choices in the free agent market.
Andrew Heaney had 31 starts and 4.28 ERA last year.
Jose Quintana also had 31 starts with a 3.75 ERA.
In Stearns mind he realizes that only has to replace his fifth starter for 2 months. Spencer Turnbull was paid 2 million dollars last year. He appeared in 17 games with seven starts accumulating 54 innings with a 2.65 ERA. I think any one of these pitchers would satisfy Stearns instead of Castillo.
Anybody think that if they just put Butto in the starting rotation, he will exceed what Castillo will give you before each hits free agency? I could see that - why would I want to include him in a trade for a 32 year old who had a down year last year (the beginning of his breakdown??) when Butto is under team control until 2031 and has established himself as an important member of the staff?
Megill pitched very well down the stretch last year and has thrown some very good starts in the past. It would be a cool analysis of both Butto and Megill to look at their stats as starters and as relievers (not sure Megill has much relief work??). but it could certainly be extended to look at his effectiveness the first, second, and third times through the order. I think Megill could be effective as a 'piggy-back' guy that can throw three or four effective innings behind a starter (perhaps Peterson in a lefty-righty combo with different pitches).
In 2024, Castillo had a 3.15 ERA in the most offense suppressed stadium in baseball and a 4.25 ERA on the road. Too, his strikeout and walk rates are much better at home because he has the confidence to attack. Is he better than Manaea? I doubt it. Is he better than Senga? I doubt it.
Is Castillo a good pitcher? Yes, he is. Is he an ace? No. Sorry. That ERA has climbed three years in a row from 2.99 to 3.34 to 3.64. He’s a #2/3 pitcher and that’s why DiPoto hasn’t traded him yet, because he’s looking for the next Brodie Van Wagenan to tell him Castillo is an ace.
Great comments all. At least we can all agree that their fingers crossed rotation needs help as it is currently constituted. They will certainly score runs but how many will they give up in the first 5-6 before the call goes to the pen? Seems like not all that long ago, even with their injuries that they had Senga, Verlander and Scherzer for another team to agonize over and now we hope that Clay Holmes injects the same fear. LGM
I am actually OK with the staff as it sits right now - as long as everybody else stays healthy through the spring. I am fairly confident that a crew of Senga, Manaea, Peterson, Holmes, Megill, and Canning can average 3 earned runs or less for the first 6 innings. They will have their days they blow up as all teams do, but overall, they will pitch to a 4.50 ERA, probably quite a bit better than that. This team will be an offense first team, and the pitching will be fine. They don't need aces. To go back to Brian's piece last week, I am still not worried about them.
We all know Dipoto is a wheeler-dealer but Im not sure youd even get him to take a call after texting that to him.
Baty has not shown he can consistently hit in the big leagues. and at this point he's gonna be fighting to get any AB in Queens. How does that help Seattle? I dont see how you can convince me it does.
McNeil is rapidly becoming an unnecessary appendage for the Mets, with prospects on the way that will be replacing him soon enough, maybe even by May. he could hit in the glory days, but a struggling 32 yo McNeil and 30M$ left is nothing the Mariners would be interested in unless you eat pretty much the entire salary. Cohen could do that of course, but I dont see it.
I cant see why the Mariners would give up a prize knowing the Mets desperately need starting pitching, and take Met extraneous parts in return.
Dipoto to Stearns: "David, I got your text. Calling to see if you were injured in a car accident. No? Ok, so I can understand why you guys want Castillo. we love him here in Seattle, and Starbucks delivers gallons of coffee to the clubhouse because he likes his espresso. I'll come back with an idea for you to consider. We like Jett Williams even though he's not ready just yet, and we will need Drew Gilbert and Mauricio too. Both are risks as we see it, but we like the upside. Ready to make a deal?"
The lead-up to your proposal was nicely done.
My opinion is that this is way far short of anything the Mariners would consider. For it to make any sense at all, Seattle would have to be desperate to cut payroll. Since they didn't trade him before Spring Training started, it seems safe to say they're not desperate.
It's no different than the Padres and Cease. They're not hanging up the phone if someone asks but they're going to have to be bowled over to actually pull the trigger. It's nothing more than due diligence.
These pitchers are available in the same sense a 1952 Topps Mantle in high-grade condition is available. You can definitely get it - but you're going to have to pay thru the nose to make it happen.
Can’t argue with either of you but all three enhance the M’s chances by improving on what they will trot out there in 2025. I’d part with Mauricio in the same deal but otherwise no to future pieces. And they could pick up all of McNeil’s 2025 salary as long as the M’s take it for 2026. So instead of paying off $10M they pay off $15M total. M’s still owe us for sticking us with Cano. And they are already $60 million and $80 million in payroll behind the Astros and Rangers.
If the Mets are going to decimate the farm then go after Vlad Jr not a 32-year-old pitcher. Wouldn’t go after Cease with a boat load of the future since he’s not signed beyond this year. When they got Lindor, even if they could not resign him, they only gave up two shortstops that were under achieving.
Montas was a huge risk given his health - just ask the Yankees. Of course if he comes back for the second half - you know Mets players never recover quickly, like Quintana did, that would be great. And maybe Megill steps up and Sproat surprises us, and there is enough pitching.
Want to wager who’s the next starter to run into trouble?
Ive been saying all along the starting pitching is a clown show compared to the rest of the team and is nothing but hopes and dreams. And Im interested in Castillo, but there is no way in hell they “owe” us for Cano and theres absolutely no way they part with a bona fide top of the rotation starter for Baty who has shown no evidence he can stick in the major leagues for any team and an aging declining McNeil and stick them with 35M$ to boot! I dont think those two get you much more than a B prospect and a bucket of balls.
I too think that Castillo would make the Mets better. I don't think that Seattle would take McNeil because of his salary and he is trending downward. Jose Butto would helped them. Then let them have a choice of Baty or Mauricio or Acuna. The final piece would be Williams or Gilbert. That would be a 3 for 1 deal. Stearns wouldn't do it though. He passed up Flaherty for just money. Before the injury he was content on his pitching staff. Maybe now he feels that he needs little depth. Maybe not.. There are still choices in the free agent market.
Andrew Heaney had 31 starts and 4.28 ERA last year.
Jose Quintana also had 31 starts with a 3.75 ERA.
In Stearns mind he realizes that only has to replace his fifth starter for 2 months. Spencer Turnbull was paid 2 million dollars last year. He appeared in 17 games with seven starts accumulating 54 innings with a 2.65 ERA. I think any one of these pitchers would satisfy Stearns instead of Castillo.
I like the Turnbull option - I actually read a piece earlier this winter on how his underlying metrics point to a potential turn-around.
Anybody think that if they just put Butto in the starting rotation, he will exceed what Castillo will give you before each hits free agency? I could see that - why would I want to include him in a trade for a 32 year old who had a down year last year (the beginning of his breakdown??) when Butto is under team control until 2031 and has established himself as an important member of the staff?
Im with you Bill. Id get Butto in the rotation before adding Megill
Megill pitched very well down the stretch last year and has thrown some very good starts in the past. It would be a cool analysis of both Butto and Megill to look at their stats as starters and as relievers (not sure Megill has much relief work??). but it could certainly be extended to look at his effectiveness the first, second, and third times through the order. I think Megill could be effective as a 'piggy-back' guy that can throw three or four effective innings behind a starter (perhaps Peterson in a lefty-righty combo with different pitches).
In 2024, Castillo had a 3.15 ERA in the most offense suppressed stadium in baseball and a 4.25 ERA on the road. Too, his strikeout and walk rates are much better at home because he has the confidence to attack. Is he better than Manaea? I doubt it. Is he better than Senga? I doubt it.
Is Castillo a good pitcher? Yes, he is. Is he an ace? No. Sorry. That ERA has climbed three years in a row from 2.99 to 3.34 to 3.64. He’s a #2/3 pitcher and that’s why DiPoto hasn’t traded him yet, because he’s looking for the next Brodie Van Wagenan to tell him Castillo is an ace.
Great comments all. At least we can all agree that their fingers crossed rotation needs help as it is currently constituted. They will certainly score runs but how many will they give up in the first 5-6 before the call goes to the pen? Seems like not all that long ago, even with their injuries that they had Senga, Verlander and Scherzer for another team to agonize over and now we hope that Clay Holmes injects the same fear. LGM
I am actually OK with the staff as it sits right now - as long as everybody else stays healthy through the spring. I am fairly confident that a crew of Senga, Manaea, Peterson, Holmes, Megill, and Canning can average 3 earned runs or less for the first 6 innings. They will have their days they blow up as all teams do, but overall, they will pitch to a 4.50 ERA, probably quite a bit better than that. This team will be an offense first team, and the pitching will be fine. They don't need aces. To go back to Brian's piece last week, I am still not worried about them.
Let's sell high before the kids have a chance to disappoint. Vientos and Acuna for Kirby.