How To Turn the Mets Into Contenders...in 2013

A month ago, I called for the Mets to trade Jose Reyes. I still think that's the quickest and easiest way for them to compete in 2013. However, in the last few weeks, the baseball landscape - especially as it relates to the Mets - has changed.

-The Mets dealt K-Rod to the Brewers, ridding themselves of the possibility of having to pay him $17m+ for his services next year.

-The league seems keen on acquiring talent from the Mets, with Carlos Beltran leading the way.

- I could be completely off on this, but from an onlooker’s perspective, both Reyes and the Mets seem willing to work out a long-term deal.

That being said, here are the moves (in order) that Sandy Alderson and the Flushing brass should execute in order to put a competitive squad on the field in 2013:

1- Trade Carlos Beltran to the Giants for SP Zach Wheeler.

In my mind, Wheeler is the best prospect currently being discussed in trade talks for Beltran. He projects to be a solid number three starter.

Wheeler was the fifth pick in the 2009 MLB Draft

2- Trade Jason Bay to the Red Sox for SP John Lackey and SP Anthony Ranaudo.

The Bay experiment in New York and the Lackey experiment in Boston have been nothing short of train wrecks. After this season, Bay is still owed about $40m over the next two years while Lackey is owed about $46m over the next three. So, this deal would actually save the Red Sox some money long-term and make them a better team now.

Carl Crawford’s defensive talents are being wasted in left field of Fenway Park. He could easily shift to right field (yes, easily) while Bay could be hidden in left.

Bay has had previous success in Beantown, and it would stand to reason that the Red Sox would take a shot on him again since he’s only a year plus removed from being a top tier talent.

Lackey might find success in the friendly confines of Citi Field, and Ranaudo projects as a mid-rotation starter with local ties (he’s from New Jersey).

3- Trade David Wright to the Angels for OF Mike Trout.

This will likely be the most hotly debated move in this post despite it being the least likely to actually happen. I could (and might) write an entire post on why this trade makes sense from both sides, but here is a brief overview:

It would be tough to argue that Trout is not one of the best two or three prospects in the game. Wright is currently one of the best 20 players in the game. But, this isn’t the classic “win now, pay later” deal, as Wright is only 28 years old (nine years Trout’s elder). He’s also a sure thing.

The Angels have been shut out an American League-leading 11 times this season. If they have any hopes of competing this season, they need to acquire an impact bat.

The Mets could take back a dead salary or two (Fernando Rodney?) to make this more appealing dollar-wise.

Trout is also from New Jersey and I love creating deals that send at least one player into his old backyard. (For what it’s worth, Wright is from Virginia.)

4- Trade Scott Hairston, Tim Byrdak, and Taylor Bucholz to the Phillies for OF Jon Singleton.

These three guys are not in the Mets’ post-2011 plans. Getting a right fielder of the future is worth helping an enemy in the short term.

5- Trade Pedro Beato and Jason Isringhausen to the Diamondbacks for 3B Matt Davidson.

A strong bullpen is a luxury for a non-contender team but a necessity for a one with playoff aspirations. Davidson could form a nice offense-only 3B platoon with Daniel Murphy.

[These deals leave the Mets with Willie Harris, Mike Pelfrey, and RA Dickey as trade bait. Could they use these pieces to upgrade at catcher? I would love to see Yasmani Grandal in a Met uniform but doubt this would be enough to get him.]

6- Re-sign Reyes.

Just get it done.

7- Sign Brandon Phillips this offseason.

Phillips has been the first free agent in my recollection that has spoken good things about playing in Citi Field. He would sure up a position that has been a black hole since the days of Edgardo Alfonzo. He's also a good dude.

2013 Lineup / Rotation

C: Josh Thole
1B: Ike Davis
2B: Phillips
SS: Reyes
3B: Davidson / Murphy
LF: Angel Pagan
CF: Trout
RF: Singleton

SP1: Johan Santana
SP2: Matt Harvey
SP3: Wheeler
SP4: Ranaudo
SP5: Lackey / Jon Niese / Dillon Gee

Without too big of an imagination stretch, this team could compete for the NL East in two years while maintaining a reasonable payroll.

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The Least Shocking News I've Heard All Year

Aaron Heilman will be released.

Whoops / Separated at Birth

The Business Insider - usually a source of dependable info - messed one up today.

In an article talking about Rob Neyer's suspension from ESPN, they used a picture of Billy Beane in lieu of Neyer. Whoops.


Oakland A's GM Billy Beane and the real Rob Neyer.


Thanks for the Separated at Birth idea, though. That's two Beane references for me in the last two weeks after not mention him in years.



Follow The Banter on twitter: @mspici

What a Joke

The network that owns the rights to broadcast the BCS Title game is now suing one of the NCAA's charter members, the Ohio State University.

How many OSU games have been broadcast on the ABC/ESPN family of networks? 50? 100? Maybe more. Biting the hand that feeds them.

Low class, useless, and hopefully fruitless move.

Mid-Summer Thoughts

-Congrats, Derk Jeter. Even as a Yankee-hater I have to respect/admire/worship you.


It's hard not to root for this guy.

-Baseball might be reinstated as an Olympic sport in 2020. This is great news for the millions of baseball fans in Croatia as the sport depends on funding from the country's Olympic Federation to compete.

-Let me get this straight: Qatar will host the World Cup in 2022, but because of the oppressive heat, the games might be split into three 30-minute periods instead of two 45-minute halves? Is it too late for a re-vote?

-It is impossible for me not link to a Spawn of Shawn story when I see one. Junior is headed to the Pacific Northwest to play at the University of Washington.

Some Independence Day Baseball Thoughts

Realignment is necessary

*I still can't believe the owners of teams in the NL Central ok'd a division that has six teams in it. It is a huge disadvantage to be competing with five other teams instead of four (or three in the case of the AL West) to secure a playoff berth.

*I think the best way to realign would be making two leagues of 15.

*Scheduling would be relatively simple (keeping 162-game season):
-Each team would play every team in the opposite league four times per season (15 x 4 = 60 games)
-Each team would play every team in its own league seven times (14 x 7 = 98 games)
-Based on prior year's standings, the top five, middle five, and bottom five teams in each league would play each other one extra time each. Example: if a team finished seventh in the AL in 2011, they would play the 6th, 8th, 9th, and 10th place teams once more during the 2012 season (4 x 1 = 4 games)

*Major benefit: scheduling would be much more fair than the current system.

*Potential issues: interleague games would be played every day of the season since there would be 15 teams in each league (not sure this is actually a big deal); if teams in the NL would now have to play 60 interleague games, rosters would almost certainly have to expand to allow them to carry an extra hitter (would the owners agree to this?)

At the very least, it is worth discussing.

______________________________

Non-Realignment Thoughts

-Guillermo Mota of the Giants recorded his 10th career save on Saturday. No big deal, right? Well, he entered the game in the seventh inning with a 15-run (!) lead. He proceeded to surrender two home runs and three earned runs in three innings. It's time to revisit exactly what qualifies as a save. This absolutely should not even if he did pitch the requisite three innings.


Mota will never have an easier save than the one he recorded on Saturday

-Is the luster finally wearing off Billy Beane's shining armor? Sure, he's cash-strapped, but his team hasn't had a winning record since 2006, and in his 13-year tenure, the A's have won only one playoff series.

He helped introduce sabermetrics into the game, but this is a "what have you done for me lately" game and unfortunately for the (eight) fans in Oakland, the answer is not very much.

-Do not count the White Sox out just yet. My preseason pick to win the World Series just keeps creeping back into contention.

Separated at Birth?

Nakia from The Voice and the owner of the greatest voice of all time, Luciano Pavarotti

First Round NBA Draft Thoughts

-The recurring pattern in this draft was to replicate known commodities.

Wolves: Derrick Williams (already have Michael Beasley, Kevin Love, Anthony Randolph, Martell Webster, and possibly Wesley Johnson)
Wizards: Jan Vesely (Andray Blatche, Javale McGee)
Warriors: Klay Thompson (Monta Ellis)
Rockets: Marcus Morris (Patrick Patterson, Luis Scola)

-The Spurs - again - made a great move acquiring a player (Kawhi Leonard) that slipped down the draft board just like they did with DeJuan Blair a few years back.

-My mock draft was pretty great. Not a ton of direct hits, but a ton of near misses.

-I love Utah's draft. Enes Kanter will be the best player from this class and Alec Burks fits a gaping hole at the 2. They have the pieces to compete next season with these two Devin Harris, Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, and Derrick Favors.

-Mark Jones was flat out awful during this round.

-The Rockets will miss the playoffs again.

Separated at Birth?

NBA players Serge Ibaka (Thunder) and Elton Brand (76ers)

NBA Mock Draft

Who am I kidding? I can't pass up an opportunity to mock a first round.

Here is the way I think the first round will play out:

1. Cavs: G Kyrie Irving, Duke
2. Wolves: F Enes Kanter, Kentucky/Turkey
3. Jazz: F Derrick Williams, Arizona
4. Cavs: F Tristan Thompson, Texas
5. Raptors: F Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State
6. Wizards: F Jan Vesely, Czech Republic
7. Kings: G Brandon Knight, Kentucky
8. Pistons: F Bismack Byomobo, Congo
9. Bobcats: G Kemba Walker, UConn
10. Bucks: G Klay Thompson, Washington State
11. Warriors: G Alec Burks, Colorado
12. Jazz: G Jimmer Fredette, BYU
13. Suns: F Chris Singleton, Florida State
14. Rockets: F Jonas Valanciunas, Lithuania
15. Pacers: F Marcus Morris, Kansas
16. 76ers: F Markieff Morris, Kansas
17. Knicks: F Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
18. Wizards: F Jordan Hamilton, Texas
19. Bobcats: Nikola Vucevic, USC
20. Wolves: F Tyler Honeycutt, UCLA
21. Blazers: F Tobias Harris, Tennessee
22. Nuggets: G Darius Morris, Michigan
23. Rockets: G Marshon Brooks, Providence
24. Thunder: C Donatas Motiejuneas, Lithuania
25. Celtics: G Iman Shumpert, Georgia Tech
26. Mavs: G Norris Cole, Cleveland State
27. Nets: G Reggie Jackson, Boston College
28. Bulls: G Charles Jenkins, Hofstra
29. Spurs: G Nolan Smith, Duke
30. Bulls: F Bojan Bogdanovich, Serbia

NBA Draft Thoughts

With the new job and a recent vacation, I'm not sure if I will have time to do a full (my partial first round mock can be found here) NBA Mock Draft. In the interim, here are some things that I want to see happen in relation to Thursday's festivities:

1. I would like to see one team draft the Morris twins... and Darius Morris. The most likely candidate: Charlotte. The Bobcats pick 9th, 19th, and 39th and this scenario isn't completely out of the question.


Maybe with these three, Bobcats fans (if they exist) would show up.

2. I would like to see Cleveland select Kyrie Irving... and Derrick Williams. Some crazy things would have to transpire, but again, this too could happen.

3. I would like to see Chad Ford get some sleep. He's already six mock drafts deep with a seventh due out on Thursday.

4. I would like see the Knicks draft either Kemba Walker, Jimmer Fredette, or Klay Thompson. It will likely take a trade by Donnie Walsh (what does he care about the future, this is his last draft anyway) but the New York faithful will be thrilled... at least until they see their 50% increase in season ticket prices.

5. I would like to see the Rockets get "the best value available" with each of their picks and still miss the playoffs. Of all scenarios on this list, I have the most confidence in this one.

6. I would like to see the OKC Thunder make a move for a proven veteran. They don't need to plan for the future anymore. They have enough young talent with KD, Westbrook, Serge, and Harden. I'm not sure who exactly the target should be, but GM Sam Presti is creative.

7. I would like to see the Wizards draft Enes Kanter. I think he and John Wall can build something special in DC. Kanter is the top rated player on my board.

8. I would like to see local superstar Charles Jenkins get picked in the first round (Celtics, Bulls?).


Other thoughts:

-Irving is the top ranked player on almost everyone's board, but what would Minnesota do if he slipped past the Cavs at number one?

-Jan Vesely shot 44% from the free throw line last year. Good luck with that team wasting a top-10 pick on him.

-Over/under on seniors taken in the first round: 4.5 (I'm taking the under).

-I'm a JaJuan Johnson believer. He's a poor man's Marcus Camby.

-Wisconsin F/C Jon Leuer would be a perfect second round pick for the hometown Bucks.