Have the Mets spotted Brodie Van Wagenen anywhere in San Diego this week? Forget the big splash, there isn’t even a ripple. The inaction is inexplicable.
The Mets have verified that their General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen is indeed in San Diego to attend the annual Winter Meetings. And sometimes, no news is good news. But this is getting ridiculous…
So far this month, the Mets have made the following illustrious moves (Source: mlb.com)
| 12/3/19 | New York Mets signed free agent LHP Chasen Shreve to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. |
| 12/5/19 | Houston Astros traded CF Jake Marisnick to New York Mets for LHP Blake Taylor and OF Kenedy Corona. |
| 12/5/19 | New York Mets signed free agent LF Jarrett Parker to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. |
| 12/5/19 | New York Mets signed free agent SS Max Moroff to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. |
| 12/6/19 | New York Mets designated RHP Chris Flexen for assignment. |
| 12/6/19 | New York Mets signed free agent RHP Brad Brach. |
Brodie Van Wagenen is not exactly bringing home the bacon. There appears to be zero chat in San Diego coming from the Mets – and it’s not because they’re keeping possible signings and trades close to their vest.
That wouldn’t be the case with Brodie, who never saw a camera or a microphone he didn’t like. So, what is the problem?
Are the talks with the Pirates about Starling Marte now DOA because the Mets traded for Jake Marisnick, who didn’t even make Spotrac’s list of the free-agent center fielders on the board this year. Really?
And how far deep in the free-agent mine of relievers did Van Wagenen have to dig to find Brad Brach, without tripping over Will Smith (Braves), Drew Pomerantz (Padres), and Jake Diekman (Oakland)?
Mets: Always more questions than answers
No one wants to think this is another case of Mets dysfunction brought on by the sale of the team to Steve Cohen, and Van Wagenen has no firm direction on the budget for payroll from the Wilpons.
Or, that the Wilpons are doing a cut and run – meaning there is no budget because they don’t intend to spend another dime on the team.
We always have more questions than answers with the Mets.
A week ago, there was a giddiness about the team when the ownership change was announced. That mood is quickly evaporating in San Diego.
The Winter Meetings are not the end of the world. But aside from text messages, they represent the only time general managers have for face-to-face dialog. Plus, GM’s come and go, and there are new GM’s Van Wagenen has never met.
In between yawns though, here’s something to whet the appetite:
According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, the seeds are there for a Mets-Indians blockbuster involving shortstop Francisco Lindor and veteran starter Corey Kluber.
Wanna bet that’s the last mention we’ll see of this “blockbuster”? But what if there’s some truth in those “seeds”? And who are the Mets offering in return?
Surely Amed Rosario is history with Lindor on board to play shortstop and bat leadoff. But who else – Jeff McNeil? But with five years of team control, it’s non-sensical for the Mets to give an All-Star away. Ah – Michael Conforto. Yup – he’d have to be included.
But once again, here we are with more questions than answers. Meanwhile, how about sending a scout out to check all the beaches in San Diego for a sighting of Brodie Van Wagenen…
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. Not all holes, or games, are created equal.
