Alderson offers no assurances about future of Citi
IF YOU were hoping to hear something from Sandy Alderson that would ease some of the nausea created by the Mets’ slide into oblivion, if you wanted assurance there was a plan in place to be buyers or sellers as the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline approaches or even if you just wanted some indication when two of the team’s most important players might return from injury, you got none of the above from the general manager on Friday night.
Alderson spoke before the Mets opened a six-game homestand at Citi Field with a 5-2 loss to the Dodgers, their fourth straight defeat. Instead of giving some assurance about the immediate or longterm future of the team, Alderson offered mixed signals. “We know what we have,” was about the most definitive thing Alderson said during a 20-minute press conference.
He was talking about stars pitchers Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard. But the message wasn’t really clear. Does “We know what we have” mean the Mets covet the type of trade value the two pitchers possess and the type of prospects the franchise could acquire by dealing the two aces?
Or does “We know what we have” mean they are too valuable to part with and will remain part of the Mets present and future. “We know what we have,” Alderson repeated when asked about deGrom and Syndergaard, adding, “At the same time you never say never.”
Of course, dealing one or both of the two star pitchers or any other players of value won’t come until Alderson and the Mets decide whether they’re still contending for a postseason berth or retooling for next year. Having now lost 21 of their past 27 games, it would seem the Mets are tilting towards the latter, though Alderson isn’t ready to wave a white flag.
The Mets fell to 31-42 after a sixth-inning grand slam by Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger ruined an otherwise solid outing by Zack Wheeler, who allowed five hits over seven innings.
“I didn’t execute that one pitch and he made me pay for it,” Wheeler said of Bellinger, who crushed a belt-high fastball into the right-field seats.
Alderson admitted the obvious stating, “We need more wins,” but he suggested late June is too soon to pull the plug on another disappointing year.
“A lot will happen over the next two or three weeks,” he said.
Most of it will be bad for the Mets if they continue their current pattern. There’s no real reason to be optimistic for immediate change. There is still no timetable for the return of outfielders Jay Bruce or Yoenis Cespedes. Meanwhile, Syndergaard, on the disabled list since May 29, was scheduled to play catch on Friday as he begins his rehab back to the active roster.
Despite the injuries and the losing, Alderson wanted to point out the positives like the playing time being given Brandon Nimmo and Dominic Smith. He mentioned the acquisitions of outfielder Jose Bautista, who had two hits Friday night, including his first home run as a Met, and catcher Devin Mesoraco as examples of trying to improve the roster when possible. Alderson also wanted to talk up Jose Reyes and wondered why no one asked about the improved play of the veteran infielder, who is hitting .333 in his past 13 games after a pinch-hit single Friday night.
“A few weeks ago, everybody was up in arms,” Alderson said. “But he has value to us. He’s demonstrated that to us over the last 10 days and we’re seeing what he’s capable of doing.”
Nimmo’s emergence, Smith’s potential and an occasional contribution from Reyes aren’t exactly what Mets fans are looking for to quiet their frustration. Answers and direction would have been nice. Alderson sounds like he won’t deal deGrom or Syndergaard unless given an offer that blows him away. Maybe that’s what he means by “We know what we have.”