Mets Do the Right Thing, Twice!

by Joe DeMayo March 27, 2019 0 Comments

A couple days can really change things, huh?

Two days ago everyone was up in arms about the deal with the Mets choosing to not release Devin Mesoraco at his request, and everything related to Noah Syndergaard’s comments regarding the Mets end of spring training travel, long bus ride to Sarasota, the workout in Syracuse etc.

Here we are a day later and the Mets have not only done one thing that was the right thing to do, but two! When is the last time that happened?

The first thing is finally settling and giving Jacob deGrom the long term contract that he very much has earned. deGrom and the Mets agreed to a 5 year, $137.5 million deal with a 6^th year team option and deGrom has an opt out after 2022.

Pen to paper, it’s official! ✍️ pic.twitter.com/n9E4snhPYc
— New York Mets (@Mets) March 27, 2019

This contract makes perfect sense for deGrom and for the Mets. deGrom gets paid like the ace he is and the Mets get to retain and keep happy the ace that they have. I am not saying that this will lead to more extensions, but it does create some much needed positivity and good will right before we kick off the season tomorrow in Washington. Bravo, Mets.

Not only did they make that right call, they then made the other correct call in carrying Pete Alonso on the Opening Day roster per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.

Source: Pete Alonso has made the team. He'll be a member of the Mets' Opening Day roster.

As promised, the Mets are starting Alonso in the Majors despite service time considerations. They were committed to carrying their best 25.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) March 27, 2019

I wrote here why they should have carried Alonso on the Opening Day roster and I am super glad that they made the right move. Forget about 2025 when he is a 30 year old 1^stbaseman. The Mets need to win baseball games now, and wasting a couple weeks for the sake of 2025 is simply not right to do if you are actually trying to win. Dominic Smith was awesome this spring, but you aren’t going to find anybody who thinks Smith is the actual better option than Alonso. Alonso has a chance to be an impact power bat in this lineup and Mets fans are already falling in love with this guy. Bravo, Mets.

I want to give Brodie Van Wagenen credit here. He has said from essentially his first day on the job that they knew how important deGrom was to the organization and wanted him here long term and he accomplished that. He also said they will carry the best 25 players regardless of service time and he proved that to be true with Alonso.

.@GMBVW says he's talked with Peter Alonso about forgoing a year of control and having him on the Opening Day roster pic.twitter.com/sgxE8Ifjuo
— SNY (@SNYtv) December 11, 2018

We can say whatever we want about Brodie’s transition from agent to general manager, but he has been very forthcoming and honest and is proving to be a man of his word. I am very happy with the work Brodie has done this off season in preparation for the 2019 season. Is it perfect? No. But the Mets have a very talented roster on the offensive side and both the starting pitching and bullpen. Bravo, Brodie.

LGM!