D-Trains short and SWEET Off season plan

[D-train]

It might be possible to get both Alonso and McNeil. I'm not deeply familiar with the Mets and their plans and how they feel about various prospects, but they could play Ronny Mauricio at 2B if they decided to move McNeil. This is sort of assuming that they're taking a step back next year, that Cohen has figured out he can't buy his way to a championship. On the other hand, they might just prefer to stick with McNeil. Mauricio is very high upside, but high risk as well.

I'm not putting a stake in the ground on who should go to the Mets in return, but obviously a bunch of you would like to see JK get moved, which I think is reasonable. And as I just said a little bit further up the thread, I could see Ty France going as well, because they will need to put somebody at 1B.

But the interesting thing is the salaries:

Alonso: $21,000,000 (arb estimate)
McNeil: $10,250,000 (2024)

And then the rest of McNeil's contract goes like this:

2025: $15,750,000
2026: $15, 750,000
2027: $15,750,000 (team option with 2M buyout)

From a payroll efficiency and luxury tax perspective, moving both players makes a lot of sense for the Mets, and having a willingness to take on that payroll liability should dramatically reduce the cost in players for the acquiring team. The big question is how would the Mariners feel about those 2025 and 2026 salaries for McNeil?

I used to loved McNeil and was very unhappy when the Met's Cano deal evolved from including him to replacing him with Justin Dunn. Jason Churchill said I was dumb because he wanted more lottery tickets. lol McNeil has 19.2 WAR and Dunn has 1.5 WAR.

Now though he is just a guy and even Rojas or Cabby seems better at 2B. And he isn't remotely a Corner OFer with that ~.700 OPS

[D-train]

Wow, your move JERRY! lol

I would love for Seattle to be Ohtani’s home for the next few years, but I’d bet against it. Why would a player opting out of the mess in Anaheim and frustrated by the team’s inability to put a contending product around him decide to come to a place that has most recently been in the news for its frustrated players speaking up about the need to improve the product? Do you think the hubbub surrounding the 54% winning percentage makes him excited to come here, regardless of what that number represents or what was said to clarify it? This just may be a case where perception is more important than reality, and it makes me hard-pressed to believe he will be wearing the teal next year.

There are maybe a dozen teams that would hope to land Ohtani, and I’d be willing to bet at least a few of them will turn their attention to Soto when that pursuit fails. So beat them to the punch. If I’m in the Mariners front office, I’m trying to get a deal done posthaste. I want to strike first, for a few reasons.

One, I want to get it done before Ohtani signs. This would be a challenge because the Padres would understandably want to wait to create a more robust market, but if an extra prospect gets it done quickly, I’d pay that price. Because two, it changes the narrative.

If you’ve ever heard me talk about this subject, you’ve probably heard me quote Terry Francona (and others) from whom I first heard the phrase, “manage like a fan and you will end up one.” The same is true for general managers and anyone else in a decision-making capacity. You can’t make moves because the fanbase is angry, hungry or even desperate. You have to stay true to your philosophy and plan.

But what about when the leadership of your clubhouse is aligned with the fans? Well, that changes things for me. And after Cal Raleigh and J.P. Crawford spoke many of the same words that fans have uttered, everything is different.

The Mariners need to change their trajectory, and do it quickly. Turn these frustrated players from a hindrance into an asset. Rewrite the story to make Seattle a destination for players and not a last resort. Because while the free agent market isn’t loaded with bats, there are a few, and it would sure be nice to see them interested in playing here rather than avoiding it. And who knows? Maybe it would be a sign to Ohtani that you are serious about winning right now. And maybe it would convince Soto to consider staying when the season ends.

[Coeurd’Alene J]

Salk now wants Soto. Seems even Jerry's Boyfriend has abandoned him, he could be in trouble. lol

https://sports.mynorthwest.com/1768095/ ... juan-soto/

That is a good read and coming from Jerry’s lover it obviously holds a little more weight.

Get it done Jerry you meathead

[D-train]

Salk now wants Soto. Seems even Jerry's Boyfriend has abandoned him, he could be in trouble. lol

https://sports.mynorthwest.com/1768095/ ... juan-soto/

That is a good read and coming from Jerry’s lover it obviously holds a little more weight.

Get it done Jerry you meathead

Did you see the Erik Swanson tweet I emailed you?

[Coeurd’Alene J]

Salk now wants Soto. Seems even Jerry's Boyfriend has abandoned him, he could be in trouble. lol

https://sports.mynorthwest.com/1768095/ ... juan-soto/

That is a good read and coming from Jerry’s lover it obviously holds a little more weight.

Get it done Jerry you meathead

Did you see the Erik Swanson tweet I emailed you?

Not yet been hunting and processing

[D-train]

That is a good read and coming from Jerry’s lover it obviously holds a little more weight.

Get it done Jerry you meathead

Did you see the Erik Swanson tweet I emailed you?

Not yet been hunting and processing

Nice. It is a hunting related tweet!

[Seattle or Bust]

Looks fine to me in theory.

I just don't see Bellinger being interested in Seattle. Dream of his to play for the Yanks. I have to imagine the Cubs still being very much in the picture.

Pitcher from Japan is good, but like I said in your other post... there's many other teams that need front line starting pitching more than the M's: Yanks, Mets, Red Sox, Orioles, Cubs, Cardinals, Padres... that I just don't see the M's being in play for him.

Donn, what is your obsession with Pete Alonso not being traded? I don't get it. GM flat came out and told a starting pitcher they traded that they don't intend on contending in 2024 and that it will be more of a rebuild year. That doesn't scream trading 1-year players to you?

[Donn Beach]

Not obsessed, maybe he does get traded, I'm betting he doesn't...

[D-train]

Not obsessed, maybe he does get traded, I'm betting he doesn't...

Do you think Soto gets traded?

[Seattle or Bust]

Not obsessed, maybe he does get traded, I'm betting he doesn't...

Do you think Soto gets traded?

To me, makes far more sense for the Mets to trade Alonso than it does the Padres to trade Soto.