Mets Finally Make a Deal

The Mets and Mariners made their deal official on Monday:

Robinson Cano is coming back to New York, and he’s bringing a closer with him.

The former Yankees second baseman was traded to the Mets on Monday, coming over from the Mariners with reliever Edwin Diaz in exchange for Jay Bruce and Anthony Swarzak, plus former first-round draft picks Jarred Kelenic and Justin Dunn and reliever Gerson Bautista. The Mariners also will be sending $20 million to the Mets to help pay for Cano.

While much focus has been on Cano, Diaz appears to many to be the prize:

The real gem of the trade, however, is Diaz, the 24-year-old All-Star closer who has four seasons of club control left. The righty was a coveted offseason piece, with the Yankees, Mets, Phillies and Braves among those showing interest, and for good reason. In 2018, he posted an MLB-leading 57 saves and a 1.96 ERA while averaging 15.2 K/9 while throwing a triple-digit fastball and hard slider.

I would rather not build a franchise around a closer. Closers can flash and burn. Diaz is skinny, as he is listed at 6′ 3″, 165 lb. Of course, people thought Pedro Martinez was too small to be a great pitcher. My main objection to Cano is that the Mets have tended to be old in the last few years, and Cano is just another old player that fans can watch break down. I suspect taking Cano off the Mariners hands might have been the real price for acquiring Diaz.

As for the prospects, Bautista is a high walk, high strikeout pitcher. In 2018, at seasonal age 23, he finally moved past A ball. While he struck out a ton of batters, he also allowed a ton of hits. Those two things are not supposed to go together. I suspect he can blow lots of hitters away with his fastball, but doesn’t really fool anyone. Those who can catch up to his heat hit him hard.

Dunn is similar, a high walk, high strikeout pitcher who again gives up more hits than I would imagine for someone with a strikeout rate over 10 per 9 IP. He’s a year younger than Bautista.

Kelenic played in rookie league this season as an 18-year-old and put up strong OBP and decent power numbers, although his power is related to his speed, as he hit six triples in 251 PA. If he can improve on that and be in the majors by age 20 or 21, the Mariners will walk away very happy with this deal.

The Mariners got rid of a contract they didn’t want anymore for a great prospect and potentially two good relievers. They gave up very little money and a closer, who frankly are a dime a dozen. The Mets get an old player who may still be able to hit, and if Diaz turns out to be the next Mariano Rivera, they’ll be solid at closer for a very long time.

Mostly, the Mets made a splash, and people are talking about the team again, even if it is somewhat negative.

from baseballmusings.com https://ift.tt/2rhKhk5