How Mets are the Mets Mets’ing when they hire Robinson Cano‘s old agent to be their GM, then immediately go out and trade for an aging slugger, coming off his worst season, who is owed $100 million (minus $20 mil M’s are taking) over the next five years and is 36 years old? Is that just so Mets or what? This feels like collusion to me. I’m not reporting them to Robert Manfred or Robert Mueller, because I used to be a CAA client, Brodie’s old agency, and just maybe the Mets will hire me now. C’mon, Bruhdee, I can catch. I mean, I think I can, how hard is it? Any hoo! The real piece is obviously Edwin Diaz, but I will get to him after the lede jump. Last year in a suspension-shortened season, Cano hit ten homers and .303. Too bad about that suspension since it tarnishes his legacy, which was previously “Guy who never hustles.” You got the title back, Machado! Until Cano doesn’t hit .280 and 20+ homers over the course of a full season, I will think he can. We haven’t reached that point in his life cycle yet. Of course, it could begin this year. We shall see! Or not. Your choice. I don’t have a ton of love for Cano in fantasy, because 20+ homers and counting stats can be had for cheaper. For 2019, I’ll give Robinson Cano projections of 84/24/92/.286/1 in 588 ABs. Anyway, here’s what else I saw this offseason for 2019 fantasy baseball:
Edwin Diaz – The real flagship piece to the trade between the M’s/Mets — Met’s? Hmm, confusing portmanteau. Couple of thoughts about Diaz’s part of the trade, and how all this pertains to real baseball. Diaz is going to be terrific for the Mets, maybe for a long time. It’s a solid move by the Mets; they needed a closer. Great closers help real baseball clubs more than they do fantasy baseball teams. Some unloading of cash by the Mets, not nearly as much as first reported. I do think the Mets won this trade, but you never know with prospects, so maybe in three years, this trade will look entirely different. Fo fantasy, SAGNOF! I don’t see any possible scenario where I own Diaz next year, even if I like him. Spend your money elsewhere, not on a closer. For 2019, I’ll give Diaz the projections of 3-1/2.51/0.94/91, 42 saves in 62 IP.
Jay Bruce – Going the other way in the Mets/M’s trade. When the big piece your team gets in return is Jay Bruce, you have to seriously consider whether or not you’re reupping your season tickets. Trust the process goes only so far when you’re saying things like, “We like Jay Bruce’s flexibility to play outfield and 1st base.” For 2019, I’ll give Bruce the projections of 51/24/58/.233/2 in 542 ABs.
Jean Segura – Traded to the Phils. At least that’s what the internet was claiming late Sunday, I haven’t heard it officially yet. JAWN Segura, as Phillies fans will undoubtedly pronounced it, fixes the top of the Phils order, and gets Just Peachy Crawford the hell out of town. Throw a Gritty doll at him on the way to the plane! I could see Segura regaining top form in Philly, and being a 20/30 powerhouse once again. I kinda love Segura in Philly. For 2019, I’ll give him the projections of 92/17/71/.308/25 in 577 ABs as I take the bet he hits 2nd vs. 1st, but that could change which would shift my runs and RBIs.
J.P. Crawford – Headed to the Mariners. There’s also talk Carlos Santana is in the trade, but I don’t know yet, so I’ll include him in my next trade/signing update. If I were a major league team, I wouldn’t want Carlos Santana over Ryon Healy or J.P. Crawford over anyone, but the Mariners are, apparently, gonna Mariner. By the way, odds for next year’s World Series are gonna be five teams at 2 to 1, and 25 teams at 500 to 1. For 2019, I’ll give Crawford 49/10/55/.217/8 in 479 ABs.
Omar Narvaez – Traded to the Mariners, because they needed a three-hole hitter. Gotta suck to be a Mariners fan right now. They won 89 games last year, but rather than try to win an extra 6-10 games this year to get into the playoffs, they are blowing up shizz. Will be fun when the Mariners have suitcases of money that are owed to different players take the field on Opening Day. “Skip, I’ve never seen this before, but it looks like the Mariners are starting a suitcase of $60 million at 1st base.” For 2019, I’ll give Narvaez the projections of 41/14/46/.266 in 387 ABs.
Alex Colome – Traded to the White Sox, who are going the opposite way as the Mariners, because, I’m told, you can either be a very good or very bad MLB team nowadays. Who is going to close for the Mariners next year? They might have to break Nicasio an emergency. My guess is Colome is the White Sox closer now, and I’ll project him in 2019 for 2-3/3.31/1.22/64, 27 saves in 60 IP. Going low on saves projection here because he hasn’t secured the job yet.
Yan Gomes – Traded to the Nats to split time with the newly-acquired Suzuki. The Nats are shoring up their catching corps this year, which you can take to mean a crew of guys ready to go to war for the Nats, or take it to mean, I misspelled ‘corpse’ and that’s what they’ll be for the Nats’ WAR. I’ll give Gomes the projections 41/15/42/.241 in 337 ABs.
Josh Donaldson – Signed with the Braves. *rips up imaginary Johan Camargo sleeper post, person passes by noticing me*
Them: What are you doing?
Me: Miming the tearing up of fantasy value for Johan Camargo.
Them: The Donaldson signing, huh?
Me: Yeah, how’d you know?
Them: Because you’re imagining this conversation.
I don’t believe Donaldson will ever stay healthy again in his career. He also seems in the mode where he will play injured and cost his team and fantasy owners, so this hurts his value and Johan. Lowercase yay! Maybe if we’re lucky, it will cost Dansby Swanson’s fantasy value instead of Johan’s. Maybe yay! For 2019, I’ll give Donaldson the projections of 54/22/63/.263/2 in 422 ABs.
Brian McCann – Signed with the Braves. He will platoon with Flowers, so swallowing everything off the plate will lead to the fresh scent of Flowers ‘n McCann. It’s better than blaming it on the dog. For 2019, I’ll give McCann the projections of 42/16/49/.238 in 312 ABs.
Lonnie Chisenhall – Signed with the Pirates. He hit one home run last year, and a high of 13 homers in the majors, which is to say I can’t wait to see who hits more homers on the Pirates: Chisenhall or Josh Bell? For 2019, I’ll give Chisenhall the projections of 46/12/51/.272/2 in 377 ABs because I’m obviously feeling charitable.
Matt Moore – Signed a deal with the Tigers. Denny McLain had bankruptcies, waved a gun at a reporter he didn’t like, was suspended for gambling, spent time in prison for embellzement, had mob ties and might be dead if I Google him. I don’t mean I’d kill him by Googling him, I mean he could be dead, but I don’t know unless I Google his name. Yet, I’d take him over Matt Moore.
Tommy La Stella – Cubs traded him to the Angels for cash. Cubs are going crazy with their new Venmo account! Right now, I see La Stella getting under 200 ABs, so I’m not projecting him. Angels have a direct line to God, right? Good, then God willing, La Stella won’t see more than 200 ABs.
Garrett Richards – Signed with the Padres. Makes sense that an old Angel would become a Padre. Working that religion angle today! Any hoo! I briefly guffawed when I saw Richards is 30 years old and had only one season over 200 innings, and many seasons below it. He hasn’t sniffed 100 IP in a season since 2015. I wonder if James Paxton calls him daddy. It would be weird since they’re the same age, but we’re living in weird times. Obviously, I’m intrigued by Garrett Richards when he returns, but that might not be until 2020, due to Tommy John surgery.
C.J. Cron – Twins claimed him off waivers, because the Rays DFA’d Cron after he hit 30 homers and cost next-to-nothing. Gentlemen, this is a good time to point out you should never sleep with your boss’ daughter like Cron repeatedly seems to do. Either that or his shit-eating grin is just too much for any organization. I think there’s at least a half a percentage point that the Rays didn’t designated him for assignment, but said to someone, “He’s our designated hitter,” and the league misheard, and the Rays just didn’t care enough to correct them. For 2019, I’ll give Cron the projections of 64/31/80/.249/2 in 517 ABs.