- Familia, Wheeler and Harvey NOT options for the big club if there are openings due to injury this spring.

-Decision to trade Wright will not be based on 2012 teams record, mentioned the Mets hold a 2013 option (which seems to imply he realizes Wright doesn't have to be traded this year to get value)

-Parnell has 1 option left, Beato 3 (*I'd be pretty shocked if Beato breaks camp with the Mets)

- Thinks if the Mets are contending at the deadline they will have some room to add payroll (Yeah and if I grow to be 7 feet I can dunk)

-"The farm system is improving...We have players that are close to having an impact on the Major League club."

*My opinion

Updated:





So sounds like not only will they not break camp but we are looking at best case late-July/August/Sept.

Wheeler really shouldn't be an option at all this year.

With regard to Harvey, I don't want to see Harvey until after the all-star break, unless he absolutely tears through AA/AAA.

I think Familia needs the entire year in the minors as well, with a possible September call-up.

The farm is improving, sure, but I can't help but look at a guy like Cesar Puello and see Carlos Gomez 2.0. Speed, some pop but can't talk a walk and strikes out too much. He's young, sure, but after watching guys like Wilmer and Fernando! over the past four or five years and hearing how they are "young for their level", I just don't really buy into that anymore.

Realistically, I don't see many guys in the system making a major contribution except the few pitchers being discussed. Nieuwenhuis and Havens are the only two hitters I could possibly see making a difference offensively in the next couple of years and that's if Havens can ever stay healthy.

Harvey probably doesn't come up at all this year, unless we're talking about a start or two in September to get his feet wet. Once he's ready, though, you bump whomever you need to out of the rotation and slot him right in. Let's get this adjustment period out of the way ASAP so maybe he can help this team to some "meaningful games" in September 2013 (if we're lucky)

I was hoping the Mets would sign the 2012 version of 2011 Chris Capuano to help lessen the pressure to call up one of these kids if they're doing well in the minors.

I think Mike Pelfrey is an example of someone who came up before he was ready and he's never completely gotten past that. And he came up to a team that was pretty good.

Chico,
I'm guessing they think Batista, Schwinden, Hefner and maybe McHugh (plus they have been open about looking at back end guys) are enough for now.

As you may know, I like Batista, probably more than most on NYFS. But I think it's probably too optimistic to think he could do what Capuano did.

I'm thinking of one-year, incentive-laden deals like what they gave to Capuano and Young (one worked, one didn't, although Young pitched well, just not long enough).

Those guys were relatively young, but proven when healthy guys. They got win-win deals where if they were good, they outperformed their deals and if they didn't, very little was lost

Maybe there weren't guys who fit that profile on the market this year. That's not to say there weren't guys who have known success, but you also need the component of a realistic possible upside (which may have been lacking in this year's pool).

I would have been happy to sign Capuano to the deal he got to leave the Mets. He would have provided a nice solid professional cushion against some of the kids not being rushed.

I think the one year / incentive laden deal for a starter only works if the team can guarantee that guy a spot. Going into 2011, the mets had Niese, Dickey and Pelfrey. (2 spots open) - to which they signed Capuano & Young

This year, they have (tentatively) zero spots open. That's a very different situation.

I think, if come March, it becomes clear that Santana's not ready, and none of the other options impress, I think they will pick somebody up.

From what I saw last season Familia was more polished than Harvey. Although Harvey IMO has more upside, Familia is closer to being Major League ready. I would think that barring injuries Familia will be the first to be called up. My guess would be sometime after the ASB if all goes well. Harvey unless he is completely dominant I think will spend most if not the whole season in the minors (maybe a September call up). My guess is he starts the season in AA and gets promoted to AAA if all goes well at some point.

As you said, Wheeler will definitely spend the entire 2012 season in the minors (probably all in AA). Remember this regime's philosophy is to have a starting pitcher throw at least 100 innings in AA or higher before being called up. If all goes well he could be a call up at some point during the 2013 season.

Like you, I don't expect much in terms of impact call ups this season. Right now the Mets potential impact young talent is either on the big club or they are at least one season away from being Major League ready. Unless someone like Wright is dealt for a package that includes a young impact player who is major league ready, I don't think we'll see any impact call ups during the 2012 season.

If I were to guess, Familia gets a call-up in June, Harvey for a cup of coffee and Wheeler may get a taste of AAA before the end of the year. So predominantly, I am with Ital above.

I DO think Havens and Niewenhuis will see the majors this year. Likely Lutz as well.

Adding payroll?

I am nervous about the possibility that this team isn't immediately terrible to the point where Sandy starts thinking that Jon Rauch is too valuable to trade.

kinda depends on your definition of "immediately terrible"

Beltran was traded on July 27 but the serious discussions started a few days before then. on July 23 - game 100 the mets were 50/50 and 13 games out of first. That's not "terrible", but 13 games out of first (and who knows how many out of the wild card" . . they felt that was safely time to punt the season and land some prospects.


How many games over 500 will the mets have to be come late July for the "We can't trade these guys" scenario to happen?



Frankly, if they pull that off - I'd be tickled pink. I wouldn't be disappointed.

I think we'll see Mejia too. No telling how he'll come back from Surgery, but he's the most ready of the bunch.

The mets have to figure out their 2013 roster, so with that in mind, I think we'll see a number of players getting September cameos.