It’s not often that I compliment the Mets. Today is that day. The New York Mets just went all in acquiring Marcus Stroman from the Toronto Blue Jays. New York will send Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods-Richardson to Toronto. While the Mets might be down 6 games in the NL Wildcard race, they are trying to shake things up.
Ken Rosenthal of MLB Network first reported the news:
I love this move for the Mets. They just got Stroman without handing over a single top 100 prospect. Anthony Kay is a former first round selection in 2016. Kay, 24, probably will get a chance right away with the Jays. Still, Kay got smacked around in AAA this year posting a 6.31 ERA in just a smidge over 31 innings. Simeon Woods-Richardson seems like a lottery ticket that may or may not pan out. Woods-Richardson was a 2nd round pick in 2018. He’s currently in A ball so it’s tough to say what you’re getting. Overall, the Mets gave up their 4th and 6th ranked prospects. For a pitcher the caliber of Stroman, this feels like a win.
Stroman is great for the Mets. He’s a big game pitcher and loves the pressure. Big spots, Stroman shines. He also gets a chance to come back to New York. The former Duke product was born in Long Island. On the 2018 season, Stroman has recorded a 2.96 ERA, 1.227 WHIP, and 7.1 K per 9 over 124 innings pitched. Stroman is an ace. If he’s not an ace, he’s certainly a number two. On the Mets, he’s a number three behind Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard. New York doesn’t have to worry about making the postseason this year. They have him under control through 2020. This is a huge win for the Mets.
Stroman can be part of the Mets future. Now they can focus on trying to reshape the rest of the roster. Go for a big haul on Syndergaard. Maybe they can get a similar type of package for Zack Wheeler who is an impending free agent anyway. They can always use the qualifying offer on Wheeler and bring him back too. Maybe Jason Vargas can net a prospect to lessen the blow of dealing for Stroman. Todd Frazier might be able to coup some prospects too. The Mets have options now. Things look a hell of a lot better after landing a pitcher like Stroman. This is a great day for the Mets. Brodie Van Wagenen redeemed himself a little bit today.
