07 Jul 2015 14:43:16
Mets moves from now until the start of next season

NYM) Justin Upton
SD) Brandon Nimmo, Dilson Herrera and Michael Fulmer

SD is not catching SF or LA. They will unload some of their players at the deadline and rebuild their farm. Upton is in a contract year and will probably command more than SD is willing to pay. The Mets are in desperate need of offense and Upton will help. The Mets would be gambling here because they're not guaranteed to sign Upton, but they have to do something.

NYM) Josh Hart, OF (#22 prospect in BAL system)
BAL) Michael Cuddyer ($6 million)

The Mets are going to need to either platoon Cuddyer and Granderson or move one of them. It won't be easy, but if the Mets eat half of Cuddyer's salary he would only be owed $6 million next year and would be more attractive to someone. BAL could use him at 1B, DH or in the OF like they use Chris Davis who will be a FA at the end of the year.

NYM) Dylan Cease (#18 CHC prospect)
CHC) Jonathon Niese

CHC wants pitching, but doesn't want to give up much. Niese is inconsistent, but when he has bats behind him he is effective. He has always carried a mid-upper 3's ERA and has the ability to strike guys out. The Mets want to unload his contract for next year to open up the rotation to the young guys.

Offseason moves
2B) Ben Zobrist - 2 years $26 million
SS) Ian Desmond - 1 year $10 million
OF) Jonny Gomes - 1 year $5 million
Resign Justin Upton 6 years $160 million

Zobrist fills the 2B void and provides a veteran bat in the order. Desmond had an awful contract year so will likely sign a 1 year deal to re-establish himself and re-enter FA next year. Gomes provides the platoon with Granderson and power off the bench. The Mets would finally have a good lineup that can help their young staff.

Lineup
RF) Granderson L
3B) Wright R
LF) Upton R
1B) Duda L
SS) Desmond R
C) d'Arnaud R
2B) Zobrist S
CF) Lagares R

Staff
SP) Matt Harvey R
SP) Jacob deGrom R
SP) Steven Matz L
SP) Noah Syndergaard R
SP) Zach Wheeler R

Bench
C) Kevin Plawecki (platoon with d'Arnaud to keep him healthy)
1B/3B) Eric Campbell
2B/SS/3B) Wilmer Flores
OF) Jonny Gomes
OF) Darrell Cecillini

As a Mets fan, unfortunately I know these moves are unlikely because the Wilpon's are cheap, but this is not unrealistic. If the Mets want to actually compete they need to do something quick. They have a young (cheap) staff who allows them to spend more on offense. They need to actually take a chance and make a move. These are all fair and realistic IMO.

Before you say the Mets don't have the money to spend, keep in mind the contract that are expiring at the end of the year.

Colon ($10 million)
Murphy ($8 million)
Niese ($7 million) TRADED
Parnell ($4 million)
Wright ($20 million due to 2015 injury insurance)

The Mets have this $49 million in extra money and need to put it to good use.

1.) 07 Jul 2015
07 Jul 2015 15:18:20
Wow! Another delusional Mets fan. Its an acceptable package for Upton, but I don't think Cuddyer is worth a team's top 30 prospect. Next I think Niese could bring in slightly more. Your way to early offseason signings are ridiculous. Zobrist will get a longer deal. You're fooling yourself if you think Desmond, while not having the greatest of years, will certainly get a least 7 year 100+ million dollar contract.

2.) 07 Jul 2015
07 Jul 2015 15:19:38
Think 2015 bc we are better a lot teams when are healthy. Wright Cuddyear and Murphy need make it pass this week

3.) 07 Jul 2015
07 Jul 2015 16:55:33
BATMAN. You say i'm delusional, yet you follow that up by saying my offer for Upton was fair and my offer for Niese was not bringing the Mets enough. Please tell me how that makes me delusional? Cuddyer plus half his salary would bring back a top 30 prospect. As for Desmond and Zobrist. Desmond will NOT get 100 million over 7 years, nor would he accept that. $14 million a year is far below market for a top 5 SS. Reason he would sign a 1 year deal and bring his value back to the $20 million plus Avg annual salary that he deserves. Zobrist will be 35 next year and having a horrible offensive year. If you think someone is going to give him more than 2 years, you're crazy. Please bring valid arguments to me before accusing me of being delusional.

4.) 07 Jul 2015
07 Jul 2015 16:57:10
SHIZZEE75. I wish I could look at 2015, but I just can't see Wright coming back this year, or us managing to stay healthy. d'Arnaud is just an injury machine and Wright will not be back. I think we would be at least 8 games better had we stayed healthy, I really believe that, but we cant. I think 2016 is our chance.

5.) 07 Jul 2015
07 Jul 2015 18:18:35
So ok, maybe delusional wasn't the word I should have used but none of this is great. Yes I said the Upton trade is acceptable, but it might possibly need one more piece. I also don't think the Mets are going to get him. For Cuddyer it doesn't matter how much of his salary you put in a trade. He really isn't worth a team's top 30 prospect. You could still get a couple good quality prospects though. Have you even looked up Zobrist's career numbers? Because he is having pretty much a typical season for him. Desmond will probably get a multi year contract, because there is always someone out there who will hand one out. No one thought Cano would get a 10 year contract or even leave New York, but Seattle was desperate enough and gave him one.

6.) 08 Jul 2015
07 Jul 2015 18:59:29
You put a lot of thought into this and most of the trades seem to be pretty fair
NO WAY you want Desmond unless it's a one year deal

7.) 08 Jul 2015
07 Jul 2015 23:08:23
No way is Ian Desmond going to sign a 1-year deal anywhere. Not. A. Chance.

Guy won't get a 7-year deal, but I promise, he's going to get something along the lines of 4/$70M.

8.) 08 Jul 2015
08 Jul 2015 01:11:18
Good grief. The amount of emphasis people put on prospects is stupid. seriously, "Cuddyer isn't worth a team's top 30 prospect"

Seriously. most teams #20 prospects and lower are complete project pieces that have little to no trade value whatsoever. A good portion of them will be Rule 5 picks in a couple of years.

Talk highly about teams' top 10 picks, fine. but this is ridiculous.

9.) 08 Jul 2015
08 Jul 2015 06:29:02
Desmond is going to get 5/90, secondly as much as I love a young rotation full of studs I feel like you need to have a vet in there to mentor them

10.) 08 Jul 2015
08 Jul 2015 13:43:43
Clark, Harvey and deGrom are not rookies anymore. Each have pitched for 2 years and have had vets mentoring them in that time. Both have been named to All-Star teams also. Matz, Syndergaard and Wheeler can learn from them.

NateDub I completely agree about Cuddyer. 22nd ranked prospect is almost too low for Cuddyer. Hart has upside and was once considered a top prospect, but hasn't lived up to it. For a guy that can step in for Davis right away it's a fair price; Maybe even too low. However, I still disagree about Desmond. I think for him, signing a long term deal isn't beneficial. He will want to sign a 1 year and build his value back up. He turned down 7 years 100 million from WSH last year. He is obviously chasing more.

11.) 09 Jul 2015
08 Jul 2015 20:44:46
No way. Nope. Never.

It would make zero sense for Desmond to sign a 1-year deal. None. No player is going to willingly sign a 1-year deal before the month of February. if Desmond sits long on the market, sure. but he won't. Desmond will be 30 this winter. it's his last chance at a great market. With lots of teams looking for SS upgrades, he'll get paid handsomely.

12.) 09 Jul 2015
09 Jul 2015 01:15:34
I know they're not rookies but Harvey had tj, wheeler had tj I just think they need a innings eater to ease the stress on them. Maybe not a starter but a bullpen guy