As any fan can attest to, we are all tired of waiting.
“Just do it, Sandy.”
“Stop being so afraid and pull the trigger on the deal, Sandy.”
“It’s time to put a real team on the field, Sandy.”
Slow down. And I know that is not what any Mets fan wants to hear right now. For what its worth, I have been very content with the job GM Sandy Alderson has done considering the circumstances. And I understand that fans are tired of waiting and not playing meaningful baseball in September ever since 2008. I also understand that the Rockies/Mets are a perfect fit as trade partners. But so were the Cubs/Mets and look what happened there, nothing. But there should be no rush here.
Winter Meetings just concluded but that doesn’t mean deals still can’t be made. Understand, Troy Tulowitzki hasn’t formally demanded out of Colorado, but has said that he is open to a trade to a contender. What if the 2014-15 season started with Tulo in a Rockies uniform, how long can he handle another season of losing before he demands out?
Many fans say that a Tulowitzki deal to the Mets would be the biggest deal since the trade that brought Mike Piazza to the Mets in 1998. This is true except for these two huge caveats: Piazza wasn’t owed $118M over the next six seasons and Piazza didn’t have the injury bug Tulo seems to have attached to him. That’s not including the hip surgery Tulo just underwent and is currently rehabbing for. And bad hips can be a huge issue for players at any position (i.e., Matt Kemp & Alex Rodriguez) especially the SS position, which is probably the most important defensive position on the field. SS is also the same position the Mets have failed to put a competent shortstop in since the departure of Jose Reyes.
Lets take a look at the current and some players who we should be a bit more critical of. Our Captain, David Wright, batted .298/.377/.494 hitting 8HR/63-RBI in 2014, compared to his 2013 campaign (.307/.390/.514) where he played in 22 less games than he did in 2014. Noted, Wright had the hamstring issue in 2013 and the shoulder issue in 2014, but more production is expected from our Captain, who was a frontrunner for NL MVP the first half of the 2013 season. Curtis Granderson was brought in to provide power hitting in the middle of the lineup, only hit 20 home runs with 66 RBI’s. In his seasons with the Yankees, (if you exclude the 2013 campaign), he hit 40+ home runs with 100+ RBI’s. Granderson got off to a very poor start in the beginning of the season and more production is needed from him as well. Jon Niese needs to learn more control. Niese would start games very well and then eventually opponents would spark a huge inning against him. Matt Harvey is coming back & Noah Syndergaard should be in the Majors. There are still many other factors to the success of this team.
There is no doubt in my mind that Tulowitzki will eventually be wearing a blue and orange uniform. But I also strongly believe that as fans, need to be just a bit more patient (feels like I’ve been saying that forever). The Mets have too much to offer the Rockies in terms of starting pitching and it would be laughable if the Rockies didn’t engage the Mets in trade talk. The current rotation would include Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Zach Wheeler, Jon Niese, and either Dillon Gee or Bartolo Colon. We all know that if a deal were to be done, Syndergaard would definitely be on the move. If the Rockies also want Zach Wheeler as well, I think the Mets should do it. But don’t forget that there is a no-trade clause in Tulo’s contract. So if the Mets did come up with a sweet package to send to Colorado, no deal could be made without it being discussed with Tulowitzki.
For all we know, Sandy could be using time to see how Tulo’s rehabilitation is going and if he can still perform at an All-Star level. We cannot predict how quickly Tulo will be back to 100% and if he will still be the same player he was in years past. Oh yeah, and let’s not forget the $118M he is owed over the next six seasons. If giving up two of their top pitching prospects, one of their best positional players and some other pieces is what the Mets have to do to land Tulo, I think everyone would be okay with that. But there is always the possibility that it backfires and the Mets don’t get the player they thought they would. The Mets would certainly be considered the favorites to win the NL East and an instant contender with Tulowitzi in their starting lineup.
At minimum the fan base would be rejuvenated and Citi Field will sell out plenty of times.
But for now, let Sandy do his gambling. No question Sandy has tricks up his sleeve.
