Evaluating All of Sandy Alderson Moves
In July 2015, I posted a rundown of all of the free agent signings and trades Sandy Alderson had made as Mets GM. About a week ago, I decided to update the list. And then came Alderson’s cancer recurrence, which could mean the end of his career at the helm in Flushing. So what I thought would be the latest in to an ongoing series could be the final addition.
It should be noted Alderson has been busy over the past three years. He had made just 14 trades in his first four and a half years on the job; he has made 19 since. Some of them good, some bad.
A little about my methodology. A bad trade or signing (in red) is one that either backfired on the Mets (Frank Francisco, for example) or resulted in absolutely nothing for the team (Ike Davis-Zach Thornton, Blake Taylor). A good move (in green) is one where the player worked out (Bartolo Colon) or where the team benefited just by getting rid of a player, regardless of the return (Francisco Rodriguez-Danny Herrera, Adrian Rosario or Antonio Bastardo for Jon Niese).
As you will see, Alderson has done a pretty bad job on the free agent front, while his trades have been a mixed bag. Some of the more recent poor moves could prove to be good in the long run (such as his salary dumps for a bunch of middle reliever prospects last year), but right now, they need to be in red. So without further adieu, the list of Sandy Alderson’s failures and successes. Let the argument begin.
Free Agents:
12/11 Jon Rauch: One year, $3.5 million
12/11 Frank Francisco: Two years, $12 million
1/13 Shaun Marcum: One year, $4 million
11/13 Chris Young: One year, $7.25 million
12/13 Curtis Granderson: Four years, $60 million
12/13 Bartolo Colon: Two years, $20 million
11/14 Michael Cuddyer: Two years, $21 million
12/14 John Mayberry: One year, $1.45 million
12/15 Asdrubal Cabrera: Three years, $24.75 million (including option, which Mets picked up)
12/15 Alejandro De Aza: One year, $5.75 million
1/16 Antonio Bastardo: Two years, $12 million
6/16 Jose Reyes: Three years, $3 million (approximate: includes pro-rated MLB minimum for 2016, minimum for 2017 and $2 million for 2018)
12/17 Anthony Swarzak: Two years, $14 million
12/17 Jose Lobaton: One year, $1.25 million
1/18 Jay Bruce: Three years, $39 million
1/18 Adrian Gonzalez: One year, $545,000
2/18 Todd Frazier: Two years, $17 million
2/18 Jason Vargas: Two years, $16 million
5/18 Jose Bautista: One year, $545,000
Trades:
Mets send away/Mets receive
12/10 Mike Antonini-Chin-lung Hu
3/11 Eddie Kunz-Allan Dykstra
7/11 Francisco Rodriguez-Danny Herrera, Adrian Rosario
7/11 Carlos Beltran-Zack Wheeler
12/11 Angel Pagan-Andres Torres, Ramon Ramirez
8/12 Pedro Beato-Kelly Shoppach
12/12 R.A. Dickey, Josh Thole, Mike Nickeas-Travis d’Arnaud, Noah Syndergaard, John Buck, Wuilmer Becerra
12/12 Jefry Marte-Collin Cowgill
6/13 Collin McHugh-Eric Young
6/13 Collin Cowgill-Kyle Johnson
8/13 Marlon Byrd, John Buck-Vic Black, Dilson Herrera
4/14 Ike Davis-Zach Thornton, Blake Taylor
3/15 Matt den Dekker-Jerry Blevins
3/15 Cory Mazzoni-Alex Torres
6/15 John Gant, Robert Whalen-Kelly Johnson, Juan Uribe
7/15 Casey Meisner-Tyler Clippard
7/15 Luis Cessa, Michael Fulmer -Yoenis Cespedes
8/15 Dawrin Frias-Eric O’Flaherty
8/15 Cash-Eric Young
8/15 Miller Diaz, Matt Koch-Addison Reed
12/15 Jon Niese-Neil Walker
5/16 Cash-James Loney
8/16 Akeel Morris-Kelly Johnson
8/16 Antonio Bastardo-Jon Niese
8/16 Dilson Herrera, Max Wotell-Jay Bruce
8/16 Erik Manoah-Fernando Salas
7/17 Lucas Duda-Drew Smith
7/17 Ricardo Cespedes, Merandy Gonzalez-AJ Ramos
7/17 Addison Reed-Jamie Callahan, Gerson Bautista, Stephen Nogosek
8/17 Jay Bruce-Ryder Ryan
8/17 Neil Walker-Eric Hanhold
8/17 Curtis Granderson-Jacob Rhame
5/18 Matt Harvey-Devin Mesoraco