Mets Winter Meetings Update
Sorry to tease you like that, but by all accounts there is no update. The only bit of Mets news out of the Winter Meetings Tuesday, according to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, is that Sandy Alderson said if the Mets acquire a shortstop (a big if, by the way), it would likely come from free agency rather than a trade.
That means Mets fans can stop wishing for the likes of Troy Tulowitzki, Starlin Castro, Elvis Andrus and Jurickson Profar. Those are the only shortstops who actually would be an upgrade over Wilmer Flores, in my opinion. Everyone else just seems like other teams’ Flores — reasonably highly touted prospects who have never proven themselves at the major league level. In fact, they might even be behind Flores. He has shown that he can handle big league pitching and can be respectable in the field. I would have no problem going into the season with Flores as the shortstop.
In other reports, the Mets seem to be shopping Jonathon Niese and Dillon Gee. And there is apparently some interest. This would be a salary dump, with the Mets not getting back players who could make an immediate impact, except for perhaps a bullpen arm or backup outfielder.
Alderson also said he is not looking to trade Bartolo Colon and his $11 million salary. Alderson is either lying or is just plain dumb. Getting rid of Colon solves so many of the Mets problems — it clears the glut of starters and gets the Mets payroll to around $90 million, which is probably where the Wilpons are the most comfortable. The longer Colon remains on the team, the more insipid that signing looks.
The bottom line is that Alderson might swing a deal at the meetings. But it will not be one that improves the team in any significant way.
From a 46 year old lifelong Mets fan, who grew up in the shadow of Shea, and has lived and breathed every up and down of the mets since my first game in 1977, i just want to let you know that i really appreciate your opinions, your insight into the team, and your realistic assessment of the team’s progress… sometimes i think you are a bit hard on them, but only in a way that a true mets fan who pays attention would be… just wanted to let you know – keep it up!!
Thanks for the kind words. If I am harsh it is only out of frustration with watching the team we all love lose so often!