David Stearns and the Mets stood firm in their offer to Pete Alonso and when they could not agree on terms, the Mets took their money elsewhere, making two additions to the 26-man roster in the past two days.
The Mets lacked a LHB DH to compliment Marte, a left hander setup man and more reliefs pitchers with minor league options that some success in the majors to shuffle back and forth to Syracuse. Stearns would prefer short-term contracts so there would still opportunities available for future. Wnker, Minter and Warren check those boxes. Stearns has a plan and he is following his plan.
As I wrote in the other article, I would prefer Profar to Winker. I don’t know the details and why they went with Winker, but I could see a platoon at DH.
They needed the lefty reliever and still can use another, but with Scott asking for close to $80MM for four years… um, ya. I’m waiting for Diaz to opt out this coming November…
I like Profar too but would he have signed here to be a platoon player? He has no real L/R split over his career. Winker's a better fit on paper and cheaper, too.
I was thinking, it’s the cheaper part that works. He can be cut if the kids are impressing. Profar has played first base in his career. Plus, I think Alonso and the Mets may need the United Nations to get involved, but something will eventually happen. They both kind of need each other.
I guess the questions are how much is Profar hoping to get and how high on an AAV can that be where he remains a preferable option to Alonso? Would the Mets sign Profar to an $18 million deal and completely close the door on Alonso?
The Mets offer to Alonso could have been a bit flexible (and maybe it was), with a bit more added for Pete (say 3 yrs/$81M), but I'm not sure he's worth even that—except to the Mets fans. More than Olson, Freeman, and maybe Gehrig?—nope! (Actually, Gehrig's 1938 salary of $39,000 would be worth $867,650 today.) Let's see if and when Pete signs with another team—and for how much.
Also, an opt out after every year? Will Pete press to finally get more $$ and years? Probably.
FWIW, I have no problem with the Mets giving Alonso opt outs after every year. However, I'd want them to have the same ability - to move on after every year if he shows further decline.
Exactly, that's the problem. It's all up to the player. And, again, there's a good chance that he'll press to "prove" that he deserves a better deal (again!).
Steve, I don’t know if you are the same Steve that I answered to on Mack’s site today, but your comment about Pete not being worth 3/$81 made me want to point out a few things that we are reading on our papers and websites (SNY specifically, but also the NYPost at times and others) that is poisoning our minds as far as Pete is a burly slugger and not worth the money.
I disagree with him being burly as he is in great shape, and all things considered, a hitter capable of carrying a team if he gets hot and those are hard to come by. On just a three year deal, I can live with $81 because he will still be in the peripherals of his prime at the end and how many true first basemen (not Bryce Harper who is an outfielder) are better than him? I can’t find more than five.
Gus, I am not that Steve on Mack's site. I do think he's not quite "worth" $81M for 3 years, but (as I wrote above), I'm OK with the Mets going to that amount. So I also can live with that deal.
Stearns made the Mets Minter with a Winker and no nodder. But the Dodgers got even minter without a Minter. Soto keep the pace, they need another big bat. Hmmm, where to find one that can handle NY, especially in the post season. It’s a Bear market now, prices are down, so for Pete’s sake (and the fans and the team), close the deal that makes the most sense.
The recent additions, in my opinion, have no bearing on the negotiations with Alonso. They were all needed pickups to support the team. Still shocked at the Mets ceiling on Alonso because if all they were going to offer was an enhanced qualifying offer for three years, then they should have stopped jerking us around. With Vientos playing only a handful of games ever at first, I’d rather sign Santander, who also does not play first base, for three years and at least as he struggles at that position, we snag a big home run bat. They need one more big bat to compete in the NL East.
I would suggest that the bearing these signings have on Alonso is to dispel any notions that either player or agent might have that Stearns and the Mets will increase their offer.
I think Stearns values keeping his options open. We are loaded with outfield players now, most of whom are on short term contracts (aside from Soto and Nimmo). Stearns has always valued the development of younger players, and the current roster construction gives the Mets the opportunity to let their younger players prove themselves, be it this year or in the near future. It also leaves the purse strings loose for future off seasons when the Mets may want to spend big on the likes of Vladdy Jr or others.
The Mets lacked a LHB DH to compliment Marte, a left hander setup man and more reliefs pitchers with minor league options that some success in the majors to shuffle back and forth to Syracuse. Stearns would prefer short-term contracts so there would still opportunities available for future. Wnker, Minter and Warren check those boxes. Stearns has a plan and he is following his plan.
As I wrote in the other article, I would prefer Profar to Winker. I don’t know the details and why they went with Winker, but I could see a platoon at DH.
They needed the lefty reliever and still can use another, but with Scott asking for close to $80MM for four years… um, ya. I’m waiting for Diaz to opt out this coming November…
As for Alonso, first base is still available…
I like Profar too but would he have signed here to be a platoon player? He has no real L/R split over his career. Winker's a better fit on paper and cheaper, too.
I was thinking, it’s the cheaper part that works. He can be cut if the kids are impressing. Profar has played first base in his career. Plus, I think Alonso and the Mets may need the United Nations to get involved, but something will eventually happen. They both kind of need each other.
Profar at 1B is an interesting thought.
I guess the questions are how much is Profar hoping to get and how high on an AAV can that be where he remains a preferable option to Alonso? Would the Mets sign Profar to an $18 million deal and completely close the door on Alonso?
The Mets offer to Alonso could have been a bit flexible (and maybe it was), with a bit more added for Pete (say 3 yrs/$81M), but I'm not sure he's worth even that—except to the Mets fans. More than Olson, Freeman, and maybe Gehrig?—nope! (Actually, Gehrig's 1938 salary of $39,000 would be worth $867,650 today.) Let's see if and when Pete signs with another team—and for how much.
Also, an opt out after every year? Will Pete press to finally get more $$ and years? Probably.
FWIW, I have no problem with the Mets giving Alonso opt outs after every year. However, I'd want them to have the same ability - to move on after every year if he shows further decline.
Exactly, that's the problem. It's all up to the player. And, again, there's a good chance that he'll press to "prove" that he deserves a better deal (again!).
Steve, I don’t know if you are the same Steve that I answered to on Mack’s site today, but your comment about Pete not being worth 3/$81 made me want to point out a few things that we are reading on our papers and websites (SNY specifically, but also the NYPost at times and others) that is poisoning our minds as far as Pete is a burly slugger and not worth the money.
I disagree with him being burly as he is in great shape, and all things considered, a hitter capable of carrying a team if he gets hot and those are hard to come by. On just a three year deal, I can live with $81 because he will still be in the peripherals of his prime at the end and how many true first basemen (not Bryce Harper who is an outfielder) are better than him? I can’t find more than five.
Gus, I am not that Steve on Mack's site. I do think he's not quite "worth" $81M for 3 years, but (as I wrote above), I'm OK with the Mets going to that amount. So I also can live with that deal.
And I can see that he's in fine shape.
Stearns made the Mets Minter with a Winker and no nodder. But the Dodgers got even minter without a Minter. Soto keep the pace, they need another big bat. Hmmm, where to find one that can handle NY, especially in the post season. It’s a Bear market now, prices are down, so for Pete’s sake (and the fans and the team), close the deal that makes the most sense.
The recent additions, in my opinion, have no bearing on the negotiations with Alonso. They were all needed pickups to support the team. Still shocked at the Mets ceiling on Alonso because if all they were going to offer was an enhanced qualifying offer for three years, then they should have stopped jerking us around. With Vientos playing only a handful of games ever at first, I’d rather sign Santander, who also does not play first base, for three years and at least as he struggles at that position, we snag a big home run bat. They need one more big bat to compete in the NL East.
I would suggest that the bearing these signings have on Alonso is to dispel any notions that either player or agent might have that Stearns and the Mets will increase their offer.
I think Stearns values keeping his options open. We are loaded with outfield players now, most of whom are on short term contracts (aside from Soto and Nimmo). Stearns has always valued the development of younger players, and the current roster construction gives the Mets the opportunity to let their younger players prove themselves, be it this year or in the near future. It also leaves the purse strings loose for future off seasons when the Mets may want to spend big on the likes of Vladdy Jr or others.