Boldness and creativity were on the agenda for the Mets the last time the Winter Meetings came to Las Vegas, in 2008, when team officials were movers and shakers, adding stud free-agent closer Francisco Rodriguez and participating in a three-team trade with the Mariners and Indians that netted reliever J.J. Putz, among others.
A decade later, baseball’s winter festival is returning to the city, with Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen maybe ready to play the role of Omar Minaya — now a special assistant within the organization — and orchestrate the kind of moves over the next four days at Mandalay Bay that can generate buzz for the franchise and put this dormant team in position to win next season.
Van Wagenen’s indoctrination came last week with the trade that brought Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz from the Mariners for Jay Bruce, Anthony Swarzak, prospects Jarred Kelenic and Justin Dunn, and reliever Gerson Bautista. In Cano and Diaz the Mets filled significant needs at second base and closer, but they still have glaring holes that need to be addressed if Van Wagenen is going to fulfill his stated mission to compete in 2019.
“We have a winning mindset and collectively we believe that everything is possible and nothing is impossible,” Van Wagenen said earlier this week.
Technically, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are not impossibilities, but unless owner Fred Wilpon has an epiphany and is willing to take next season’s payroll north of $175 million, neither slugger will be seriously pursued by the Mets. In no specific order, the Mets need a catcher, reliever and right-handed outfield bat.
Much of the organization’s direction could be predicated upon whether Van Wagenen can orchestrate a trade with the Marlins for J.T. Realmuto, bringing the Mets a high-caliber catcher without having to pay free-agent dollars for the addition. If Van Wagenen can get Realmuto, it would allow the Mets to think bigger in filling their bullpen and outfield needs.
But if the Mets need to go the free-agent route in a catching market that includes Yasmani Grandal, Wilson Ramos and Martin Maldonado, their chances of adding say both A.J. Pollock and Andrew Miller to address the outfield and bullpen, respectively, would decrease. Maldonado would be the least-expensive of the free-agent catching options, and the thought process is if the Mets added him they would almost certainly have to chase another bat such as Pollock or Marwin Gonzalez to compensate for his lack of offense.
Grandal and Ramos bring respectable bats to the equation. But industry sources recently indicated the Mets are hesitant to pursue Ramos because of his defensive shortcomings and injury history. Even so, if Grandal were to become cost-prohibitive the Mets feared getting shut out on an outfield bat they still could pivot toward Ramos based on their limited options. As it stands, the Mets have Kevin Plawecki, Travis d’Arnaud and Tomas Nido under club control for next season, but could look to trade from that group if another catcher is added. Van Wagenen recently indicated d’Aranud could be considered for utility duty and see action at third base, first base and left field if needed.
The Mets are expected to at least inquire about Yasiel Puig, whom the Dodgers have on the trade block, but it’s also possible the Mets, if they didn’t acquire Pollock, would gamble on Juan Lagares, who has struggled to remain on the field the last three seasons.
Miller would make the most sense for a bullpen that badly needs a quality lefty presence, but the Mets can expect to have plenty of competition for the veteran, who is coming off an injury season that in all likelihood will keep him from commanding closer’s dollars. If Miller eludes their grasp, the Mets could look to righty options such as David Robertson and Joe Kelly. Zach Britton is another premier lefty, but he’s expected to seek closer’s money, which may push him beyond the Mets’ price range.
Three goals for Mets
1. Get a catcher
J.T. Realmuto is Brodie Van Wagnen’s former CAA client. Can the Mets’ GM orchestrate a trade to put Realmuto in the same lineup with another former client, Robinson Cano? If not, the Mets might be left considering free agents Yasmani Grandal, Martin Maldonado and Wilson Ramos.
2. Get a reliever
Edwin Diaz is an elite closer, but Van Wagenen admitted at last month’s GM Meetings that one reliever won’t be enough for a bullpen that ranked among the worst in the major leagues last season. Andrew Miler is high on the Mets’ wish list, but a righty such as David Robertson would be considered if the Mets can’t get Miller.
3. Add a righty outfield bat
A.J. Pollock has struggled to remain on the field in recent seasons, but options are limited among center field bats. It could lead the Mets to gamble on Juan Lagares and Brandon Nimmo in center and search for another corner outfield bat
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