Should the Mets trade away Noah Sydnergaard and
pursue Robinson Cano?
That is the question that faces the New York Mets right now as the
Baseball Winter Meetings fast approach. With the MLB Hot Stove heating up,
rumors are running wild that the Mets are considering two potential
franchise-defining moves, one that would send stud right-hander Noah
Syndergaard out of town, with the San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies and Milwaukee
Brewers all rumored destinations.
The other deal would bring in Seattle Mariners second baseman
Robinson Cano and closer Edwin Diaz.
Both moves are curious and would run counter to each other. Are the
Mets trying to rebuild? Or are they trying to content?
If the Mets were to acquire Cano and Diaz it would send the message to
the fan base that the team is trying to compete for a playoff spot this season.
So wouldn’t it make sense then to keep Syndergaard around?
At the same time, if the Mets were to trade Syndergaard, it would
signal that the front office is willing to blow up the entire team, even if it
means trading its top two starting pitchers.
The rumors are leaving Mets fans adrift, wondering what direction
the franchise is going in.
The Cano/Diaz deal doesn’t come without some serious caveats. For
starters, the Mariners are desperate to rid themselves of Cano’s albatross
contact, which has five-years and $120 million remaining on it. Secondly, the
Yankees are also involved. Considering the Yankees have a deeper farm system
than the Mets do, the Bronx Bombers would be a more realistic trade partner for
a Seattle team looking to rebuild.
But let’s say the Mets are go all in on this trade. The apple of the
Mets eye would be Diaz, who led all of Major League Baseball in saves with 57,
and a 1.96 ERA. The Mets need a closer desperately, and Diaz would give their
bullpen instant credibility. However the cost to get him might be way too much.
Logically, the Mets don’t have the top-flight prospects to offer to
Seattle for just its closer, unless they are willing to part ways with Peter
Alonso or Michael Conforto.
That is why Cano is involved. The Mariners are dangling the aging
36-year-old infielder in order to make the price on Diaz more appetizing for
teams.
MLB Network even projected
that the Mets would ship minor leaguers Andres Gimenez and Justin Dunn along
with first baseman Dominic Smith and outfielder Jay Bruce to Seattle in order
to get Cano, Diaz, and outfielder Mallex Smith as stocking stuffer.
As much as the Mets want Diaz, they should just flat out say ‘NO’ to
Cano. If that means they lose out on
Diaz, so be it.
While I am sure Brodie Van Wagenen has an attachment to Cano since
he was his client at CAA, adding Cano would create problems for the Mets.
Cano is at that age where a huge drop-off in production typically
happens for veterans, and the Mets have certainly seen their fair share of
aging veterans suffer huge drop-offs while wearing the Met uniform. Roberto Alomar,
Mo Vaughn and Jason Bay are all examples of former All-Stars who flamed out
when they came to Queens.
Cano played in only 80 games last year because of a suspension for
PED use. While Cano still hit .303 and drove in 50 runs in 80 games last
season, his production from 2016 and 2017 did show a significant dip.
Cano hit .298 with 39 homers and 103 RBI, while playing in 161 games
in 2016. The following year, Cano played in only 150 games, hit 23 homers,
drove in 97 and hit only .280.
So what player are the Mets getting here? Keep in mind, Cano in
Queens would mean he wouldn’t be protected by the Designated Hitter. He will
have to play the field ever day for the next four years as he pushes 40. This
is a recipe for disaster.
The Mets focus should be on giving young players like Jeff McNeil
and Peter Alonso a serious look on the infield. Even if Seattle eats up half of the $24 million Robinson Cano is due each year, this deal is a risk not
worth taking.
Not to mention, if the Mets were to make this deal with Seattle, and
still trade Syndergaard, ownership would look hypocritical for not paying a
26-year old home grown talent like Thor, while accepting the monster contract
that Van Wagenen heaped on the Mariners five years ago.
Sometimes the best trades are the ones you don’t make. Keep
Sydnergaard and just so “no” to Cano.
Comments