Surplus of starters could be used as bait for bats
ORLANDO, Fla. — As much as the Mets are wary of trading from their potential starting pitching depth, general manager Sandy Alderson is open to the proposition.
In an attempt to acquire position players, the Mets will listen if teams ask about the likes of Robert Gsellman, Seth Lugo and Rafael Montero.
“We have essentially the same depth today as we had last season and we ran through it pretty quickly,” Alderson said Wednesday at the general managers’ meetings. “But certainly 2018 is going to be predicated upon the health of our pitching staff and if we assume the majority of those pitchers will be healthy, and beyond assuming we’re doing everything we can in the offseason to ensure that, but if we are able to it’s possible we will trade somebody from out of that group.
“But I want to emphasize that we thought we had quite a bit of depth last year and ended up with none, so we do have to be careful about that.”
The Mets saw improvement from Montero in spurts last season, but aren’t ready to insert the right-hander into the rotation.
“I think [Montero] did enough to be considered at least part of our depth,” Alderson said. “I wouldn’t say that he’s done enough to de facto move into the fourth or fifth spot in the rota- tion. He wasn’t really very effective coming out of the bullpen. He has good stuff, the basics are there, and the secret sauce for us is going to be Mickey Callaway and Dave Eiland and see what will transpire there.”
Alderson indicated any outfielder the Mets acquire this offseason will have to also play first base. But he added the Mets will consider adding a player who only plays first base. The latter description fits Carlos Santana, in whom team officials have shown interest. If the Mets were to land Santana they would likely attempt to trade
Dominic Smith, who had a disappointing six-week tryout with the Mets late in the season.
Available options to play outfield and first base include Jay
Bruce, Logan Morrison and Adam Lind. In an attempt to revitalize his swing, Juan Lagares has been working out in Los Angeles with Craig Wallenbrock, the instruc-
tor who helped J.D. Martinez change his mechanics. Tim Tebow also has been working with Wallenbrock. The Mets officially named Callaway’s coaching staff: Dave Eiland (pitching coach); Pat Roessler (hitting coach); Gary DiSarcina (bench coach); Glenn Sherlock (third-base coach); Ruben Amaro Jr., (first-base coach); Ricky Bones (bullpen coach) and Tom Slater (assistant hitting coach).