With the 2017 season on the horizon, New York Mets fans have a few items on their Christmas list for GM Sandy Alderson to consider.
Dear “Sandy Claus,”You’ve given the New York Mets fan base so much over the last two years – including a superstar outfielder with power in Yoenis Cespedes, a pitching rotation full of aces, and even a trip to the World Series.
Your work has been accomplished through trades to enhance the organization with veteran leaders, as well as build a deep farm system that has finally come to fruition. This “small market team in a big market area” has now become a growing contender, after your substantial overhaul.
So without sounding ungrateful, the Mets-verse has just a few items on their “Christmas Wish List” for the upcoming 2017 MLB season.
Amed Rosario, the everyday shortstop
Amed Rosario – MLB.com’s No. 11 prospect – left Queens in awe and wanting more after batting .341 at Double-A Binghamton last year. Rosario looks like the real deal shortstop that Mets brass have dreamed about since a young Jose Reyes took the league by storm way back in 2003.The 21-year-old would add to the youth movement that has brought the Mets so much success over the past two seasons. Especially with 2015 having been the year of young pitching talent, 2017 could be known as the year that the kids in the field take on more prominent roles within the organization.
Outfielders Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo, along with infielders Gavin Cecchini and Matt Reynolds, could help catapult this team towards another Fall Classic. So, if Rosario could be an everyday shortstop, that would just be icing on the cake.
Trade Jay Bruce or Curtis Granderson
It has been well documented that Sandy has wanted to move one, if not both, of his veteran outfielders to make way for Conforto and an everyday center fielder. What may have caught Mets fans by surprise, though, is his reported interest in the Pittsburgh Pirates Andrew McCutchen and the Colorado Rockies Charlie Blackmon.Sandy would cement his place in franchise history as the organization’s savior if he was able to pull off such a heist. So what would it take to get McCutchen or Blackmon?
It would certainly include lefty starter Steven Matz, Rosario, and other prospects. The true fear, though, that echoes through the fan base is what if Rosario isn’t one of those Mets’ prospects that flames out when they get to the big leagues?
Although fans would drool over an outfield comprised of Cespedes, Granderson, and Conforto – at least for this coming year.
David Robertson, closing ace
The Chicago White Sox have started to clean house by trading some major pieces to the highest bidder.General manager Rick Hahn made quick work in trading lefty ace Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox and center fielder Adam Eaton to the Washington Nationals, netting top prospects in infielder Yoan Moncada and righties Michael Kopech and Lucas Giolito.
This opens a prime opportunity for the Metsies to fill a gaping hole in what is an unstable bullpen.
With $25 million left on his four-year deal, David Robertson is a luxury that the White Sox no longer need, as a complete rebuild is beginning to take shape. The annual weakness within the Mets organization is the bullpen – and it has been for a while. With the impending suspension of Jeurys Familia, Robertson could fill the void left at the end of games.
Zack Wheeler, setup man
Matt Harvey. Noah Syndergaard. Jacob deGrom. Matz. Robert Gsellman. Seth Lugo. Now that’s a rotation.So, what does Alderson do with the once top prospect Zack Wheeler?
For one year, or possibly longer, Wheeler could be a key setup man for the Metropolitans. It’s been a long absence from the big leagues for Wheeler, who had Tommy John surgery in March of 2015, with multiple setbacks plaguing his nonexistent return in 2016.
A move to the bullpen for the foreseeable future would allow him to acclimate himself to the grinds of an 162-game season again. A Wheeler and Robertson combination to close out games would also be a real threat to contend against.
Hansel Robles, Sean Gilmartin, Rafael Montero, Gsellman or Lugo could also excel by pitching in the middle innings.
Whatever is decided about Wheeler’s position in the organization, his health should be taken into consideration above all else. It would be an absolute shame to see his potential wasted.
David Wright, The Captain on the corners
The Mets have a real opportunity to have good lineup-starting pitching matchups for the majority of next season. Reyes, Asdrubal Cabrera, Wilmer Flores and Reynolds can all play multiple infield positions and bat in multiple spots in the lineup.The return of David Wright will leave Terry Collins with some tough decisions. To play Wright at third base on an everyday basis would limit the team defensively, and would likely end his season early yet again. However, many believe ‘The Captain’ has the talent to platoon at third and first base.
A major league season is long and drawn out, but Wright has done it before. A move to first base on a part-time basis could open up multiple opportunities not only to play the hot hand, but for the younger players to gain invaluable experience.
Wright is captain because of his leadership skills, so having him on the field as much as possible can only benefit this team.
Jose Reyes, the super-utility man
Personal matters aside, it was a joyous reunion between Reyes and the Mets during the 2016 season. Reyes looked re-energized after dismal seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays and Colorado Rockies. The homecoming not only resurrected the once electrifying player, but his presence enhanced the team’s chemistry in the clubhouse.A Twitter “bromance” with Cespedes allowed the birth of the “Blonde Bombers” trend that took over the Mets’ clubhouse, reminding fans of the characters that have rolled through this organization.
In October, Alderson exercised Reyes’ option to keep him for another year. The flexibility to play him at multiple infield positions allows TC to keep his speed at the top of the batting order.
There is no condoning his actions that occurred off the field, but as for a redemption story, it was nice to see the flashes of the past. If Reyes can continue his success into the 2017 season, a new contract or a starting gig in another organization wouldn’t be out of the question.
To close things up, “Sandy Claus,” if it’s not too much trouble, could we maybe get a ring?