Sandy Alderson in the 2020 off-season commercial market

NEW YORK – Throughout the offseason, Mets president Sandy Alderson has emphasized his desire to complete the roster primarily through free agency. The Mets, with a relatively weak agricultural system and a relatively large budget, are particularly well placed to do so. This does not mean, however, that the

NEW YORK – Throughout the offseason, Mets president Sandy Alderson has emphasized his desire to complete the roster primarily through free agency. The Mets, with a relatively weak agricultural system and a relatively large budget, are particularly well placed to do so.

This does not mean, however, that the Mets plan to ignore the major players available in the trading market – namely Nolan Arenado and Francisco Lindor. It just means that they will work with an extra layer of stealth when discussing these names internally.

• Monitoring of hot stoves

“I think the emphasis is still on free will,” Alderson said this week. “There are a lot of good players who don’t need prospects in return. On the other hand, there are also some interesting players in the trading market. So I think what we need to do at this point is to make sure that we are actively engaged in both areas and assess the opportunities that exist in both.

Much of Alderson and new GM Jared Porter charge this winter is not just about building a competitive field team in 2021, but also creating a lasting winner for years to come. come. Alderson insisted that the way to do this is to build the Mets farming system, as well as complement it with improved systems for scouting, development and analysis.

Although the Mets farming system has improved in recent years, it still ranks 20th in the 2020 MLB Pipeline Mid-Season Exam. Almost all of the top prospects, such as Ronny Mauricio, Francisco Alvarez and Matt Allan, stay years away from the Majors. The Mets’ senior tiers are so sterile that they’ve made signing veterans to Minor League Agreements a priority this winter, already inking more than a dozen players who can complete Triple-A Syracuse’s roster.

The idea of ​​further weakening that farming system in a deal for Lindor, who only has a year to live on his contract, isn’t something the Mets embrace.

“We don’t want to give up on prospects, and we’re going to be very careful about it,” Alderson said. “On the other hand, there may be something that prompts us to say, ‘OK, as far as this particular chord goes, that makes sense to us. And while we don’t want to give up on prospects, there might be a way to do it. So I think we’re going to be actively engaged in both areas, while also focusing on the fact that free will – yes, [it] requires a dollar commitment, but it doesn’t require giving up prospects. “

Arenado is one of those players who could get the Mets to rethink their strategy. Unlike Lindor, Arenado is under contract for an additional six seasons, but at a hefty price tag: $ 199 million. The Mets are uniquely positioned to absorb such a salary given the deep pockets of owner Steve Cohen, and it could prompt the Rockies to sell them Arenado at little or no cost.

Such a deal would move the Mets to less than $ 30 million of the luxury tax threshold, potentially compromising their ability to meet other larger needs in the rotation and outfield. Is third base, with JD Davis and Andrés Giménez at the top of the depth chart, worrying enough that the Mets are considering such a radical move?

“If you’re talking defensively, our situation at third base is probably a bit on hold,” Alderson said. “Is this a need as dire as that of a third or fourth starter?” I do not think so. But look, we’re going to be looking for opportunity targets. And if there are ways to improve our team in areas where we are not the weakest, but where we could use an upgrade, then these are things Jared and the organization will need to consider.

The Mets lose a pitching perspective
On Friday, the Mets sent right-hander Ryder Ryan to Texas to complete their trade on August 31 against Todd Frazier. Ryan, who originally came to the team under a deal deadline deal in 2017 for Jay Bruce, produced a 3.05 ERA primarily as a reliever in his final season in Minor League with Double-A Binghamton in 19.

The Mets still owe the Rangers another player who would later be named in honor of Robinson Chirinos, whom they acquired as part of a separate deal with Deadline.