Sandy Alderson in the off-season 2020 trading market

NEW YORK – During the early low season, Mets president Sandy Alderson has emphasized that he wants to fill in the selection primarily through a toll-free agency. The Mets, with a relatively weak farming system and relatively large budget, are uniquely positioned to do so. However, that does not mean that the

NEW YORK – During the early low season, Mets president Sandy Alderson has emphasized that he wants to fill in the selection primarily through a toll-free agency. The Mets, with a relatively weak farming system and relatively large budget, are uniquely positioned to do so.

However, that doesn’t mean the Mets intend to ignore the top players in the trading market – namely Nolan Arenado and Francisco Lindor. It simply means that they will operate with an extra discretion when discussing such names internally.

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“I think the focus is still on free agency,” Alderson said this week. “There are many good players who don’t need prospects. On the other hand, there are also some interesting players in the trading market. So I think at this point we need to make sure we are actively involved in both areas and evaluate the opportunities that exist in both areas. “

Much of Alderson and new CEO Jared Porter’s job this winter is not just about putting a competitive team on the pitch in 2021, but also creating a sustainable winner for years to come. Alderson firmly believed that the way to achieve this is by building the Mets farm system and complementing it with enhanced scouting, development, and analysis systems.

While Mets’ farming system has improved in recent years, it still ranks 20th in MLB Pipeline’s 2020 mid-term review. Nearly all of the prominent prospects within, like Ronny Mauricio, Francisco Alvarez, and Matt Allan, remain years away from the Majors. The higher tiers of the Mets are so barren that they have made recruiting veterans to Minor League deals a priority this winter, already hiring more than a dozen players to fill the roster at Triple-A Syracuse.

The idea of ​​further weakening that ranch system in a deal for Lindor, who only has one year left on his contract, is not something the Mets are embracing.

“We don’t want to give up prospects, and we’ll be very careful about that,” said Alderson. “On the other hand, there may be something that makes us say, ‘Okay, with regard to this particular deal, this makes sense to us. And while we don’t want to give up prospects, there may be a way we can do this. So I think we’re going to be actively engaged in both areas, while still focusing on the fact that free power – yes, [it] requires dollar commitment, but it doesn’t require you to give up prospects. “

One such player who could get the Mets to rethink their strategy is Arenado. Unlike Lindor, Arenado is under contract for six more seasons, albeit at a significant price: $ 199 million. The Mets are uniquely positioned to absorb such a paycheck given owner Steve Cohen’s deep pockets, and this could entice the Rockies to trade them Arenado at low to no potential cost.

Such a deal would put the Mets within $ 30 million of the luxury tax threshold, but potentially undermine their ability to meet other more prominent rotation and outfield needs. Is third base, with JD Davis and Andrés Giménez at the top of the depth map, enough of concern for the Mets to consider such a drastic move?

“When you talk about defensive, our situation at third base is probably a bit in the air,” said Alderson. ‘Is it as much of a need as a third or fourth starter? I do not think so. But look, we’re looking for opportunities. And if there are ways to improve our team in areas where we are not the weakest but could use an upgrade, then those are things that Jared and the organization need to consider. “

Mets is losing a pitching prospect
The Mets sent right-handed Ryder Ryan to Texas on Friday to complete their exchange for Todd Frazier on Aug. 31. Ryan, who originally came to the team in a 2017 Trade Deadline deal for Jay Bruce, produced a 3.05 ERA, mainly as a reliever in his last Minor League season with Double-A Binghamton in ’19.

The Mets still owe the Rangers another player later named after Robinson Chirinos, who they acquired in a separate Deadline deal.

Minor League Signing
The Mets have signed left-handed pitcher Cam Opp, a West Point alumnus, on a Minor League deal. Opp, a UK resident who has pitched for the British national team, last appeared for Evansville of the independent Frontier League in 2019, posting a 2.70 ERA over 21 relief appearances.