12/29/16

Eddie Corona - The Core

This offseason has left fans with mixed emotions… Have they done enough to fill the needs of team for 2017? Are they World Series contender? All good questions however I wondered if we won the 2017 World Series who would be around afterwards. What is the team’s “CORE”.

My definition of a team’s “CORE” is players who will be around 5-7 years. This is usually a combination of being talented, cost effective, and performance. The Cub’s have Bryant, Rizzo, Russell, Schwarber, Lester, Baez, and Arrieta. That’s a lot of names you know of who will form a CORE for years to come.

So who are in the Mets Core? Here’s my list…

In the Core:

Yoenis Cespedes – Acquired summer of 2015 and signed for 4 more years. That would put him at 5 ½ years total and in the middle of the Mets line up.

Noah Syndergaard - Most experts have proclaimed him to be the Mets Ace. His performance in the Wild card game makes that hard to argue. With 6 years left until free agency it is safe that he will be here through those years and hopefully beyond.

Jeurys Familia - Before the domestic violence case he was 100% in. I still suspect he is. His production, salary and lack of replacement mean’s he will not go anywhere.

Jacob Degrom – Probably the Rodney Dangerfield of the Mets. He always seems to have to prove himself. Well he may not be the Ace but he can pitch any big game we need for me.

Not in Core:

Jose Reyes & David Wright – Once the very definition of the team’s CORE however age and injuries have taken the core away from them. Thanks for the Memories

Travis d'Arnaud – May not last the year.

Asdrubal Cabrera, Neil Walker, Curtis Granderson, Rene Rivera, Addison Reed – all have a role in the 2017 Mets however may not be around in 2018.

Jay Bruce – Will not be on the 2017 team and shouldn’t be.

Matt Harvey - I may be his biggest fan but I may be one of the few… Many believe he will go for the last dollar which will probably not come from the NY Mets.

He had the look and the stuff of an ace. Our Dark Knight of Gotham which was good until he was blamed for 2 World Series loses that was not his fault.

Had Cespedes made a simple catch in game one of the World Series on the first batter of the game, then Familia’s game tying homerun would not have made a difference.

Had Lucas Duda been able to throw straight to home plate like 99.9 % of the major leaguers in game five of the World Series then wanting the ball would have been heroic not selfish. Then he was injured again. Alas I believe he will never be part of the future. If he returns to form then we will trade him, otherwise we will not sign him as a free agent.

Might be in CORE:

Steven Matz – He has age, potential and cost effective on his side. He has also been Injury prone. He may be the chip used in a blockbuster trade or he may be the number 2 starter besides Syndergaard for the next 5 years. It is still not clear.

Zack Wheeler – Many have soured on Mr. Wheeler but he was once thought of having a higher ceiling than Harvey or Degrom. 2017 will decide if he is in or out of the CORE… I believe in him.

Michael Conforto – See Matz and Wheeler Minus the injuries. Still all potential which I believe he will deliver on but could also be traded for other needs.

Lucas Duda - almost signed to a long term contract a couple of years ago. But a bad back and a “all or nothing” approach has made his outlook dull. With a young Dom Smith on the horizon and free agency looming, I expect this to be his last year.

Juan Legares - His reckless play on the field that makes him a joy to watch has also hurt his prospect for the future. If the front office can find a trade partner I expect they will part ways.

Like most teams we have more MAYBE’S than IN. However it is telling that we have so few IN’s that are position players. While there may be some on their way, Rosario or D. Smith, our CORE will have to be made up of pitchers for long term success. We could always trade one of our pitchers for players who would be part of a new CORE… 


So who would you add to the CORE… 

17 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

Eddie writing like a core Macks Mets editorialist. Nice.

I think Jake can be co-ace with Thor. I just think the Mets will see which minor leaguers (like Dunn and Szapucki and Molina) might come along at minimum wage to replace a few of these starters as they get more expensive. Of all of the starters, Thor won't go anywhere if he stays Thor. He is excellent and exciting...and could hit a tape measure shot at any time. Priceless.

From everything we hear, not-yet-Met Amed Rosario will be a core guy.

Mack Ade said...

Eddie -

I like your list though guys like Duda and Lagares fall more into the 'woulda coulda shoulda' category

Reese Kaplan said...

If there was a better manager then Wilmer Flores would be part of the core as a regular 400+ AB player all around the infield.

Tom Brennan said...

Reese, if I go to a game, I may bring a banner that says, "Wilmer, slide feet first"

That and Cespedes' hurtle into the stands were the 2 dumbest plays of 2016, IMO.

bgreg98180 said...

How long did it take Theo Epstein to assemble the Cubs core?

How long did it take Dave Dombrowski to assemble the new Red Sox core?

How long has Alderson been working to build a core? Or...maybe his philosophy does not include a core?
Maybe his philosophy values "payroll flexibility" as more valuable than developing a core?

Mack Ade said...

I believe that Sandy thought that the drafting of Harvey and the pieces received in the Dickey trade would have strengthened any core the Mets would develop.

Robb said...

My biggest hope besides a ws and in general health for the 2017 mets is a big rebound from Matt harvey. I believe if he does that Sandy will trade him before 2018, because there is virtually no way they will be giving him the 175mm he'll get or the 220 million he wants.

Conforto is in the core. he jsut doesnt know it yet.

great article

Unknown said...

I think Matz and COnforto will be part of the core starting this year.

Unknown said...

Here's two approaching cores: T.J. Rivera and Gsellman.

Tom Brennan said...

Richard, good point on Gsellman being viewed as a potential core guy. Rivera has, as ever, a logjam in front of him.

Eddie from Corona said...

Great points ...
Rosario I believe is a future Core member but I think he has to be Big leaguer before labeling one..

Duda was a maybe because if he has a good year and Sandy is pressed into including D. Smith in a trade at the dead line for a piece to put us over the top Duda may be here a while...

I didn't include guys like Flores and TJ (Lagares as well) because I don't think the front office is sold on them and unless they tear the cover off the ball (a La Murphy did) and and makes it impossible to take them out of the line up they will never be given enough of a leash to be included... Especially as Arbitration comes around.


Eddie from Corona said...

@Robb
I agree with you... Conforto has to stop selling out for Home runs and just be the PRO hitter he is... (315, 25, 90+) is what i expect from him...
Harvey has always been my guy... but I don't think he will be for too much longer... I became a Mets fan in the 80's so I don't need my guys to be choir boys...
I don't mind them having a mean streak... Seaver, Darryl, Keith, Doc, Heck Reggie Jackson, Paul o'neil... They don't all have to be Gary Carter and Mike Piazza...
BTW I so wished Piazza tore Clemens apart...

Tom Brennan said...

Clemens no longer throws baseballs, just sawed off bat heads. He is a bat head. You can substitute a 4 letter word starting with s for the word bat if you'd like.

Tom Brennan said...

Another guy highly similar to Roger Clemens who should have been (to use your words) torn apart - Bob Gibson.

The poor hitting Mets acquired Tommie Agee before the 1968 season. I was super excited - speed and power. Then, he was hospitalized after being beaned by Bob Gibson on the 1st pitch of spring training.

THE FIRST PITCH OF THE SPRING, ON TV...I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT AND THAT GIBSON WOULD BE SO UGLY IN "INTRODUCING TOMMIE AGEE TO THE NL". Boy, he deserved to be beaten.

Agee had a horrendous 1968, but a terrific 1969 (and World Series).

Reese Kaplan said...

Gibson and Drysdale were the types of pitchers who owned the plate. Not that I advocate headhunting, but I think the scales have been tipped a little too far in favor of the batter and throwing inside has become a lost art.

Tom Brennan said...

Agreed, Reese. Headhunting is out, though.

Tom Brennan said...
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