Thought Exercise: What Would You Give For Cano & Diaz?

Well, an aging first-baseman/DH who costs 24M and OPS+'s 115 (realistic expectation for Cano in 2019) is better than what we've had. And I'd love to have Diaz...so, I would have liked a shot at doing that deal. I would have given up about what the Mets did. Which is not much. (I assume, once named, the prospects will be of the Thorpe/Gordon/Gonsalves/Stewart/Rooker ilk...if not, I think they gave up more than they needed to.)

Coming off an 89-win season, the Mariners part ways with one of their best young players...for the sole purpose of getting out from under a long-term contract.  Not a great look for the game.

Here is the roto projection for Cano in 2019 - and remember he will be going down from here on.  http://rotoprofessor.com/baseball/?p=34410

Not sure what a Twins package would’ve looked like. I do believe they could’ve sent lesser prospects than what the Mets did, with Twins not needing to send back a bad contract like Bruce or Swarzy. But here it goes; Kepler + Reed + Gordon + Stewart.

Cave makes Kepler expendable, Reed = Swarzy , Arraez > Gordon, and Stewart = meh.

The Twins absolutely should stay away from players with talent and big salaries and pin their hope on prospects, that way the fans always have hope for future.

Being against silly deals for guys like Cano is as dumb as hoping every prospect pans out.  You are playing both ends against the middle.

It is stunning how many of these threads have surfaced lately...

Bumgarner, Cano, Grienke???

It almost feels like people want big names just to say we got a big name

Being against silly deals for guys like Cano is as dumb as hoping every prospect pans out.  You are playing both ends against the middle.

 

It is stunning how many of these threads have surfaced lately...

Bumgarner, Cano, Grienke???

It almost feels like people want big names just to say we got a big name

I'm old enough to remember the Sears Christmas catalog. When it came it was I want that and that and that.... 

The fact that the Mets are all hot and heavy for this tells me that it’s a terrible deal so hard pass

Cano has always struck me as lazy and non caring; Someone with immense talent but cares no further than his own interests. I’d trade no one for him.

Zero interest in any trade that involves Cano. He's an over-the-hill and overrated "all star," and now one with questionable baggage. I hope the Twins aren't even thinking about trades like that, even if it brings us another phenom closer.

He's an above average offensive player and he plays well at an up the middle position on defense. Regardless of talent, how can someone be lazy and do that?

 

Moreover, how can he be called lazy when he had played in over 150 games per season for 11 straight years up until his suspension last year?

That said, a deal for Cano would be utterly insane.  If we got him I might stop watching baseball.  Can't stand him.

I wouldn't give up a ballpark frank for Cano. There is a reason to juice at 35. I wonder what their fans think.

I went over to the Mets blogosphere. The consensus seems to be that they hashed it.

Here is one such post:

Kelenic and Dunn are two top 100 prospects. I think that is roughly what Diaz is worth. Maybe slightly more, but not McNeil more (as I said elsewhere I don’t think I’d do Diaz for McNeil straight up).

I also think Cano would probably get 5 years 50-60 million on the open market (although a lot of reporters have been speculating ~30 million). That is 60-70 million in negative value. I think Bruce and Swarzak are probably ~25 million under water. So, if we get Cano and Diaz for Kelenic, Dunn, Bruce, Swarzak and Gerson (which I think is what is being reported) and they chip in ~40 million I think that is a fair deal.

But, just because it is fair value doesn’t mean it makes sense for the Mets to do. We are giving up a lot of future talent for an elite RP when the market for good RP is flooded and RP are very volatile. We are also buying high on Diaz, he will most likely never put up a season like the one he just did. I think full assessment of the deal needs to wait until we see the $$ and what other moves they make. If they then go out and sigh Miller, Ottavino and Grandal + I can maybe get behind it. Although, I also know some people are very high on Kelenic as a prospect.

I assume all the anti juicers want Polanco gone?

Not me, but Polanco is 25, not 35. It was good for him to get busted and that it happened when it did. Cano's case is much different--10 years older and unless he was super good at the cover up, clean up untl last year.

You can never fail when your goal is always three years from today.

Whose goal is that? Cano's contract may be the worst in baseball. Darvish's contract, which if memory serves, you were quite fond of, may be close.

Deal remains on hold...maybe administrative...maybe the cash?

As of now, the Mets parting ways with their 4 and 5 prospects (one of which was a #6 overall pick), plus another high-velocity young arm. That's too much, IMO...almost no matter the cash. It's not like the contract won't look horrible 2-3 years from now just because you got $60M back in 2018 as part of the transaction.

But this falls under the category of a reasonable 'win now' move, IMO...the Met's being a team that automatically has a chance in the NL give their starting pitching. However, I would think this would end any speculation that the Mets would trade any of the top starters?