Mets News and Breakfast Links - 12/13/2019

The Rule 5 draft and the Mets signing Rick Porcello closed out the Winter Meetings yesterday.

As reported yesterday on Mack’s Mets, the Mets did not any players or lose any players in the MLB portion of the Rule 5 draft but they did pick 25 year old Right handed Pitcher Adam Oller from the Giants and lost Jason Krizan to the A’s in the minor league portion.

Here is MiLB’s full rundown of the Draft including how the Tigers grabbed Yankees Pitcher Rony Garcia with the first pick.

As Mack’s Mets also reported yesterday, the Mets signed Rick Porcello.

Mets 360 says the Mets are flirting with the Luxury Tax line with the Porcello signing.  “Perhaps the most interesting thing about this deal are the payroll implications. Cot’s had the Mets with an estimated OD payroll of $176.5 million and an estimated CBT payroll of $196.6 million before the Wacha and Porcello signings. Those add $13 million to the OD payroll and some undetermined amount to the CBT payroll, as we don’t know the incentive clauses in Wacha’s deal.”

SNY.TV says that Rick Porcello can succeed if he goes back to being more of a sinkerballer.

Metsmerized noted that “the issue with Porcello is Wilson Ramos was among the worst in the majors framing the low strike, and Porcello tries to live down in the zone.”

The Mets Police liked the move as Porcello the NJ native and Seton Hall student has donated money to his old school.

The NY Post thinks the move gives the Mets the flexibility to trade a pitcher. 

Metsmerized felt that Brodie’s comments left next year’s role on Steven Matz uncertain.

Amazing Avenue thinks the Mets may be shopping a starter. “Several reporters, starting with Ken Rosenthal, reported that, now that the Mets had a surplus of starting pitching, they may look to move a starter, paired with a salary dump player like Jed Lowrie or Yoenis Cespedes, to acquire a young catcher or, perhaps, some bullpen help.”

Ken Davidoff says that Brodie needs to keep things intact. “He shouldn’t trade any of his young players for established commodities like, say, Brewers relief stud Josh Hader. All prized assets should be preserved.”  Mack has been saying the same thing.

The Unbiased Sports Network says that the Mets will focus on Luxury moves now. “It’s unknown what “luxury” moves the Mets would be interested in making, but one would assume that a potential trade for outfielder Starling Marte could be one of them.”

Newsday says that Starling Marte is NOT on the Mets radar. “One reason the Mets’ Marte talks aren’t too serious: They don’t view Marte, an above-average hitter and defender, as a major upgrade on the Brandon Nimmo/Marisnick combination — especially considering the cost of acquiring Marte, plus his salary. He will make $11.5 million in 2020, more than twice as much as Nimmo and Marisnick combined.”

Empire Sports Media says the winter meetings end with more work the for the Mets needing to be done.  “The most significant piece for the Mets to sign Dellin Betances to solidify their rotation. Should they sign him, the Mets have the potential to possess one of the most dominant bullpens in baseball.”

The NY Posts says that more Bullpen help for the Mets is unlikely to come:  “The free-agent market includes names such as Dellin Betances and Will Harris, but Van Wagenen hinted he isn’t intrigued.  ‘We feel that the volatility in the reliever market, which we experienced last year, makes investment into that market a little bit riskier,’ Van Wagenen said. ‘Right now we have six starters who all have fourth starter or better ability. That value versus investing in more volatile relievers with checkered track records, we feel like this is a better way to go.’”

Amazing Avenue also says that the Mets have had discussions with the Rangers about José Leclerc.

Rising Apple says the Mets and Rangers have discussed a Dominic Smith, Led Lowrie trade with Texas.

Rising Apple also says there is nothing to the Mets trade rumors involving Houston shortstop Carlos Correa. “According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, these Mets trade rumors may have been taken a little too seriously. He called them “more fantasy baseball” than serious.”

Elite NY Sports says that Amed Rosario is a hole in the Mets lineup that nobody wants to discuss. “Amed Rosario had a career year last season. The problem is, that career year still wasn’t all that good. Among qualified shortstops, Rosario ranked 15th in baseball with a 100 wRC+, meaning he was an almost exactly average hitter. He was 18th in home runs and ISO, meaning he didn’t hit for all that much power. His 2.7 fWAR ranked 15th, right in the middle of the pack.”

Faith and Fear in Flushing continued their great series of the top 100 Mets of this last decade with players 40-31. Wilson Ramos, J.D. Davis, Marlon Bryd, Jerry Blevins, Jenrry Mejia are included.

MLB Trade Rumors reported that the Mets signed former Texas Ranger right-hander Pedro Payano to a minor league contract.  “He made a 22-inning big league debut in 2019 and logged a 5.73 ERA with almost as many walks (15) as strikeouts (17). Walks were also an issue in Triple-A ball last season for Payano, who issued 6.1 free passes per nine (against 9.58 strikeouts) en route to a 5.44 ERA across 41 1/3 frames. The Rangers designated Payano for assignment and then outrighted him in September.” Pedro, a New York, NY native, is currently pitching this winter in the Dominican for Toros Del Este where Phil Regan is the Pitching Coach.  In 5 games, 4.2 inning s this winter Pedro is 0-1, 7.71 ERA, 6 hits, 4 runs, all earned, 3 walks, 5 Ks.

No games last night In the Dominican league. 

Mack’s Mets blast from the past comes from December 2010: Mack looked at the top shortstops in the upcoming 2011 draft.

UltimateMets has this date in Mets History:

Born on this date:

• Joe Christopher (1935)
• J. C. Martin (1936)
• Ron Taylor (1937)
• Doug Saunders (1969)

Transactions:

New York Mets signed free agent Kelvin Torve of the Minnesota Twins on December 13, 1989.

New York Mets traded Chuck Carr to the St. Louis Cardinals for Clyde Keller on December 13, 1991.

New York Mets signed free agent Rodney McCray of the Chicago White Sox on December 13, 1991.

New York Mets released Kelvin Torve on December 13, 1991.

Mets drafted Kelly Stinnett from the Cleveland Indians on December 13, 1993.

Mets drafted Charlie Greene from the San Diego Padres on December 13, 1993.

New York Mets signed free agent Ryan McGuire of the Montreal Expos on December 13, 1999.

Atlanta Braves signed Kurt Abbott of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 13, 2000.

New York Mets signed free agent Dave Weathers of the Chicago Cubs on December 13, 2001.

New York Mets signed free agent Roger Cedeno of the Detroit Tigers on December 13, 2001.

Mets drafted Henry Owens from the Pittsburgh Pirates on December 13, 2004.

San Francisco Giants signed Andres Torres of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 13, 2012.

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