GM faces the music after All-Star break
MIAMI — Brodie Van Wagenen avoided reporters seeking answers about the Mets on the last homestand, but the general manager’s silence is expected to end Friday.
Before the Mets open a threegame series at Marlins Park to begin the second half, Van Wagenen is scheduled to address the media. The Mets are 40-50 and have about entered “sell” mode heading to the July 31 trade deadline, hardly what Van Wagenen must have envisioned last offseason when he anointed his club as the team to beat in the NL East. Some questions the GMmight face: Who is to blame for this disappointing season?
Last month, pitching coach Dave Eiland and bullpen coach Chuck Hernandez were scapegoated for the team’s poor performance and fired. But the staff hasn’t improved under the watch of Phil Regan, Ricky Bones and new pitching analyst Jeremy Accardo. Will Van Wagenen, who ripped the coaching staff and threw a chair during a heated postgame meeting last week, stand up and take the blame for the team’s play or deflect it toward others?
What is the plan for Robinson Cano?
The disappointing second baseman continues to bat third in the lineup and play almost every day. Could Cano be reduced to a parttime player, allowing Jeff McNeil to receive more action at second base? Or is Cano essentially locked into full-time status at the position until his contact expires following the 2023 season?
Will the Mets blow it up and rebuild?
Van Wagenen was hired in part because he wanted to compete immediately, but the upper levels of the minor league system are lacking and could use prospects. Dangling Jacob deGrom — who owns a full no-trade clause — could be a place to start. Noah Syndergaard is under club control through 2021 and could be dangled, but the Mets would also be selling low on the underperforming right-hander. Seth Lugo is another asset who could help a contender, but his subtraction would hurt the Mets’ chances in the immediate future.
Is Mickey Callaway assured of finishing the season?
The Mets’ playoff hopes have all but evaporated, so changing the manager wouldn’t fix much, but is it possible Van Wagenen sees a reason to act before the season concludes? Was the chair injured? The Mets have not issued a medical update on the chair Van Wagenen threw last week.