Author Archives: Cleon A.

Could the Mets Pick Up Former World Series Hero Joe Panik?

7 Aug

Joe Panik

NYPost.com:

The Mets don’t have an everyday answer to replace second baseman Robinson Cano, who’s out indefinitely with a torn left hamstring, which is why Joe Panik being designated for assignment by the Giants could be a factor for them.

Panik, the Long Island native and former St. John’s star, hitting .235 with just three homers, but the second baseman might be worth consideration.

Sources said the Mets hadn’t yet made a decision on whether to take a serious look at the 28-year-old, who was cut loose by the Giants after they traded for the Reds’ Scooter Gennett.

Panik is making $3.8 million and players on waivers no longer are eligible to be traded this month. He either can be claimed, with the team that gets him picking up his salary or clear waivers and be released — and eligible to be signed as a free agent.

Personally, I was hoping for a reunion with Asdrubal Cabrera, but the Nationals have already signed him. Now with Robinson Cano most likely out for the rest of the season, Panik (or even Ruben Tejada, who’s currently tearing it up in the minors) could make the sense to play 2nd base for the rest of the year.

Now Sporting 5.67 ERA, Edwin Diaz Could Be Removed From Closer Role

6 Jul

Edwin Diaz
MLBTradeRumors.com:

Mickey Callaway has little choice but to consider removing Diaz from the closer role. Diaz now carries a 5.67 ERA, a far cry from the 1.96 ERA he put together last year en route to 57 saves for the Mariners. The situation is further pressurized by the prospects whom the Mets surrendered for Diaz, who continue to climb up prospects boards as they near their new futures in Seattle. Robinson Cano, either the tax in the deal or Diaz’s sidekick, depending on your perspective, hasn’t helped matters either. Hampered by injuries, Cano has produced just a .244/.292/.368 batting line while drawing boos from the New York crowd.

The devolution of Cano isn’t all that stunning – though Brodie Van Wagenen clearly did not see this coming – but few expected Diaz to stumble into the All-Star break such as he has. How bad Diaz has been is a matter of debate, as he’s been worth -0.4 wins above replacement by measure of rWAR, whereas Fangraphs takes a brighter view, putting his worth on the year at a positive 0.4 fWAR. Neither are what the Mets hoped for, but by Fangraphs measure there is some hope that Diaz hasn’t lost what made him so special last season.

No one expected this, especially with a reliever who had so much success in the AL coming over to the DH-less NL. So what now? Make Seth Lugo the closer?

Noah Syndergaard Dumps on Wilson Ramos

2 Jul

Noah Syndergaard Wilson Ramos
NYPost.com:

Noah Syndergaard returned from the injured list wanting Tomas Nido as his personal catcher and was granted his wish by Mets officials in recent days.

That has left Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom as members of the starting rotation with Nido as their personal catcher, placing Wilson Ramos — signed in the offseason to a two-year contract worth $19 million — in a job share.

Before the Mets faced the Yankees at Citi Field on Tuesday, manager Mickey Callaway explained to The Post the decision to pair Nido with Syndergaard.

“With what we’re trying to do with Syndergaard, keeping the ball down, [Nido] is a good complementary catcher for him,” Callaway said. “He receives the ball down better, so it’s something we have to continue to do.”

Blocking balls in the dirt has been a challenge for the 31-year-old Ramos, whose nine passed balls entering play were most in the National League. Mets pitchers had also been charged for 17 wild pitches with Ramos behind the plate.