Inside Baseball: How these Mets were built

CHICAGO — Is this Sandy Alderson’s Mets team? Well, surely it is.

But is it also Omar Minaya’s team?

There’s been some debate lately as to whether Alderson, the Mets current general manager, or his predecessor Omar Minaya, deserves the bulk of the credit for this Mets team that’s two games from the World Series.

Obviously Alderson deserves a lot of the plaudits as he’s been in place since the 2011 season. But some don’t recognize Minaya’s huge contributions, as well.

A twitter back-and-forth started the other day when someone posted/endorsed a five-year old column suggesting Alderson inherited a “mess” from Minaya. But if a few things went wrong during his regime (who has a perfect regime?), those relatively unimportant things are easily trumped by the treasure trove of prospects the over-criticized Minaya left Alderson (as I mentioned in that twitter debate, as well).

The prospects Minaya left behind include no less than three-fifths of the great rotation of the future, including Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey and Steven Matz (plus also veteran R.A. Dickey, who Alderson turned into yet another future ace, Noah Syndergaard, plus excellent hitting catcher Travis d’Arnaud in one of the better trades in recent memory), and many more key pieces for the team that leads the Cubs 2-0 in the NLCS.

Alderson, with the aid of top lieutenants Paul DePodesta, J.P. Ricciardi and John Ricco, quite obviously has done a very fine job putting all the pieces together. But Minaya, who held the position from 2005 through the 2010 season, gave him many pieces, many more than folks realize. Riccois one key holdover from the Minaya regime.

Minaya was a much better general manager than most understood at the time, and an extraordinary procurer of talent, which is really the most important thing a GM does. In the end, does it matter if Willie Randolph shouldn’t have been fired at midnight West Coast time? Not when the Mets’ system contained so many gems, many more than publications credited them for at the time.

Alderson, of course, made some excellent trades, and formed a very fine team that’s playing its best baseball when it most counts, so he and his guys deserve serious kudos, as Minaya prominently mentioned in a recent interview with CBS Sports. Minaya is just the kind of guy who deflects credit. He also wanted it known that Mets execs under him such as Terrases and other key scouts/execs Sandy Johnson, Ismael Cruz, Ramon Pena, Bryan Lambe and others deserve credit.

Alderson and Minaya actually make a perfect tag team, and together they acquired all but one of the key players on an excellent team that may be a juggernaut for the foreseeable future. (David Wright, who was drafted by Gary Larocque in the Steve Phillips regime is the one exception.)

Here’ a rundown of the best of the 2016 Mets, and who did what to get them to Queens …

1. Jacob deGrom. 9th round, Stetson University, 2010 draft, $95,000. deGrom was mostly an infielder at Stetson not far from his hometown of DeLand, Fla. But Mets scouts saw a live arm and drafted him as a pitcher. His development was slowed by Tommy John surgery, but he’s become one of the better pitchers in the NL, with his two most impressive outings coming in the All-Star game and Game 1 of the NLDS vs. the Dodgers, who were blown away by his stuff in Game 1 and his poise in Game 5. Then scouting director Rudy Terrases and former top exec Sandy Johnson were the key guys on deGrom. Terrases is now a pro scout with the Mets.

2. Matt Harvey. 1st round (7th overall), University of North Carolina, 2010 draft, $2.5M. Different Mets people favored Chris Sale (who went 13th) or even Christian Colon (who went 4th). Terrases recalled, “Some of the guys liked Sale. But Harvey is the guy we wanted most. We were lucky to get him. He’s big and strong, and his body is built for innings.” Agent Scott Boras, seeing the top three teams were off Harvey, recruited the Mets with a call, and a Mets person recalled Boras reassuring him about the player who had turned down $1 million from the Angels out of high school, “If you take him, you’ll sign him.” Minaya said when it got to draft day, “Harvey was our guy.” Terrases saw him first fairly late, in April, but he didn’t miss a start after that. He also interviewed him, and he loved what he saw and heard (if you like confidence and directness, you’ll like Harvey). Scouts Bryan Lambe and Russ Bove agreed Harvey was the guy they wanted, and they caught a bit of a break when Drew Pomeranz and Barret Loux were picked ahead of him.

3. Noah Syndergaard. trade with Toronto. Alderson acquired Syndergaard with catcher d’Arnaud for veteran pitcher Dickey, who Minaya had originally acquired for a song. Dickey was traded in addition to Josh Thole and Micke Nickeas for Syndergaard, d’Arnaud, John Buck and minor leaguer Wuilmer Becerra. So this was a tag team effort. Minaya knew Dickey and liked him from their days together in Texas, and he came for almost nothing at the time. But Minaya said he believes a knuckleballer can emerge late, and Dickey’s fast knuckleball won a Cy Young award. Alderson correctly calculated the team was still at least a couple years away, so he sent Dickey to would-be contender, and he received two great prospects back in trade. There was some talk at the time the Mets might like center fielder Anthony Gose as that was during the period where Alderson was desperately seeking outfielders. However, he proved prescient to take the players with much higher upsides. Aaron Sanchez, Gose, and Franklin Barreto were also discussed, but the Mets weren’t that high on Gose. Syndergaard and d’Arnaud were always Alderson’s top two targets.

4. Yoenis Cespedes. trade with Detroit for prospects Michael Fullmer and Luis Cessa. Cespedes may have been their fourth outfield choice, but his acquisition by Alderson turned out to be pure magic. He lit up the scoreboard and energized the team and fan base with his booming homers and special athleticism. Their attempt to try to get Justin Upton ended when the Padres sought top shortstop prospect Amed Rosario and young outfielder Michael Conforto. The Mets pulled back from an agreed-upon trade of Wilmer Flores and Zack Wheeler for ex-Met Carlos Gomez, citing a hip condition that didn’t sideline him at all and didn’t faze the Astros. And aren’t they glad they did? Then the Reds and Mets couldn’t quite agree on a deal of Wheeler for Jay Bruce. That left the most exciting alternative of all. The reasons Cespedes didn’t originally head their list is he doesn’t walk a ton and hadn’t to that point shown interest in center field. Well, he immediately agreed to play center once in New York. As for the plate discipline issue, well, the Mets overlooked that for this short-term deal. (Some don’t think they will when it comes to a long-tem, big-money deal this winter, though.)

5. Daniel Murphy. 13th round, Jacksonville University, 2006 draft, $50,000. “We always thought Murphy had the ability to lead the league in hitting because he had the ability to lock in,” Minaya said. They had trouble finding the right spot for the college third baseman, and once tried him in left field, to disastrous results. Third base and first base were the most obvious spots, but the Mets had David Wright and Carlos Delgado at the time. “I never envisioned him at second base,” Minaya said. Well, he’s become quite adept at second, with the help of Mets coach Tim Teufel. Still, the key, as Minaya predicted, is the bat, which is booming thse playoffs (he was five home runs in seven games, all against major star pitchers). East Coast scout Steve Barningham recommended him.

6. Jeurys Familia. Latin free agent, $100,000. They saw him throw two innings as a 17-year-old, and even back then he was at 93-94 mph. Ismael Cruz, a key Minaya lieutenant who’s now aiding the Blue Jays, was a key scout on this one.

7. d’Arnaud. trade with Toronto for Dickey. The Mets loved the idea of having an offensive catcher, and he’s proving them right now by showing he’s one of the better bats behind the plate in the majors.

8. Curtis Granderson. Free agent signing, $60M, 4 years. The Mets needed outfielders, and Alderson went with Granderson over Nelson Cruz and others because Granderson plays better defense, showed he could play in New York and had an unblemished record. Cruz obviously would have been a fine choice at less money initially (though he probably wouldn’t have hit like he hit in Baltimore’s Camden Yards). But Granderson, who had a so-so first season in Queens, was arguably the team’s MVP this year, gathering clutch hit after clutch hit.

9. Steven Matz. 2nd round, Ward Melville (East Setauket, N.Y.) HS, 2009 draft, $895,000. Mets Long Island-based scout Larry Izzo saw Matz throwing at Baseball Heaven in Hauppauge on the Island when Matz was a 11-year-old and handed Matz’s father his card, telling him to stay in touch. “I tell all lefthanders to stay in touch,” Izzo said, joking. The Mets didn’t have a first-round pick that year and prayed he’d get to them. Matz was a Mets fan who seemed quite interested in signing, yet on deadline day to sign he got in his car and started to drive to Coastal Carolina. He was about halfway there a few minutes before the deadline when his agent Rob Martin called with the news that they had a deal. “We liked him in the first round and we were able to get him in the second,” Terrases said. They almost didn’t finish the job, but Mets co-owner Jeff Wilpon approved the extra money within the last hour to sign a rare hometown kid. “Jeff stepped up,” Minaya recalled.

10. Wilmer Flores. Latin free agent, $700,000. This one was a little more money than the other Latin free agents. But they loved the bat of this Venezuelan kid. “He always put the bat on the ball,” Minaya recalled. They envisioned him winding up at second or third but started him at short. That’s kind of how it’s gone in the majors, too. Cruz and Ramon Pena were the key guys, but the rule was that Minaya had to see any potential signs over a few hundred grand.

11. Lucas Duda. 7th round, USC, $85,000, 2007 draft. He wasn’t a big star for the Trojans, but Minaya recalled that they saw a good hitter with power potential. They actually went to see Brennan Boesch of Cal and wound up being more impressed by Duda, who was cracking balls into the parking lot deep beyond the right field wall at USC’s home field. Tim Fortugno and Steve Levitt were the West Coast scouts on this one.

12. Michael Conforto. 1st round (10th overall) 2014 draft, Oregon State University, $2,978,000. He was higher than Kyle Schwarber on DePodesta’s draft board, and Schwarber was a bit of a surprise to go No. 4 overall, leaving the Mets with the college bat they really coveted.

13. Bartolo Colon. free agent signing, $22M, 2 years. They sought a veteran starter, and got him when they were the ones willing to give him two years. Good thing they did. While Colon was seemingly on the trade block much of his first year, he became invaluable in the second. He was a dependable starter but also was entertaining as a hitter and fielder (the behind-the-back flip was quite memorable).

14. Juan Lagares. Latin free agent, $60,000. He was originally a shortstop they converted to center field because the bat started to affect his defense on the infield. That switch was the key for Lagares, who won a Gold Glove last year in center field.

15. Tyler Clippard. The Mets needed veteran relief to aid Familia on the back end of the pen, and he became that much more vital when Jenrry Mejia suffered a drug ban. Clippard cost less than old friend K-Rod, they were familiar with him from his days with the Nats and Mets people are extremely close to A’s folks, making a trade that much easier.

16. and 17. Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson. Trade from Atlanta. The pair came in a trade with the Braves for a couple of lesser pitching prospects. Uribe had been out on the market ever since the Braves got him from the Dodgers, but Alderson wasn’t all that motivated until the Braves mentioned that Johnson also could be had. The package deal helped cover third base until David Wright got back, and turned their bench liability into a strength. Uribe was a big plus in the clubhouse, which turned out to be an added benefit.

18. Jon Niese. 7th round, Defiance (Ohio) HS, 2005 draft, $250,000. The Mets pocketed Mike Pelfrey in the first round that year, then didn’t have picks for several rounds due to free agent signings. Thus, they were quite happy to give Niese an over-slot deal to get him into the fold.

19. Ruben Tejada. Latin free agent, $38,000. The Mets saw him as a shortstop with great instincts for the game. “He was a kid that was smarter than 10-year veterans,” Minaya recalled.

20. Addison Reed. trade from the Diamondbacks. He had just started to throw better for the D-Backs when the Mets made the trade in the waiver period. It was a low-cost buy for Alderson.

21. Hansel Robles. Latin free agent, $25,000. Minaya’s men caught him throwing 92-93 mph in the Dominican. Said Minaya, “We thought he’d have a heavy ball, and that’s what he has.”

Omar Minaya deserves a lot of credit for the construction of this Mets team. (USATSI)

Around the Majors …

Team	News
Manager Joe Maddon is setting exactly the right, relaxed tone for the Cubs, down 0-2 in the NLCS to the Mets. “Nobody’s in there making excuses,” Maddon said. They do seem like a loose bunch, and that could also have something to do with them already beating expectations by quite a bit … Maddon thought the difference in Games 1 and 2 was the secondary stuff of Harvey and Syndergaard … There seems to be some understandable concern on the Cubs’ part after Jake Arrieta was actually hittable in Game 2; his velocity was off a couple mph and his location wasn’t as pinpoint as usual. No one could blame Arrrieta if he’s lost a little after beating his career high in innings by 70 already. He is also repped by Scott Boras, but unlike Matt Harvey, Arrieta has never had arm problems. Arrieta’s off game illuminates just how amazing Madison Bumgarner was last year … Addison Russell (hamstring) is trying to get back for the World Series if the Cubs make it … Cubs people marvel at what a great athlete Kris Bryant is. He’s even “cleaned up” his throwing motion from third during the year. He’s playable at most positions … The Cubs are be applauded for putting together a viable bullpen on a shoestring. Hector Rondon was a $50,000 Rule 5 pickup, and Clayton Richard, Fernenado Rodney and Trevor Cahill all came for far less than that. The Cubs had tried for Cahill a couple times previously.
Indications are, the Mets now plan to extend a $15.8-million qualifying offer to Murphy following his spectacular postseason. But that doesn’t necessarily mean their chances to keep him are any better. This may well be a case of a team extending the offer so they can get the draft choice. It’s possible the While it’s possible Mets could wind up keeping Murphy, that still seems unlikely. There are much cheaper alternatives — Flores and Dilson Herrera. Of course, the Mets will need a No. 3 hitter if, as expected, Murphy goes … One scout said of Conforto, “He’s going to be the best hitter on the team next year.” … While Uribe isn’t active for the NLCS, he has a chance to become a rare player to win rings with three different teams. He already has won them with the White Sox and Giants … Flores and Ruben Tejada have earned folk-hero status, but one rival scout says he anticipates the Mets seeking a shortstop in the winter … Get well to Shannon Forde, PR person extraordinaire, who has been valiantly battling cancer. She is undergoing chemo and made it out to one of the playoff games.
The early belief is that the Yankees will not be players for Cespedes. Some of them may be skeptical about the focus of players who are represented by Roc Nation. The Yankees’ outfield is full, anyway, with Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran … Maybe they should have kept Kevin Long after all. Jeff Pentland was fired after just one year as Long’s hitting coach replacement.
	Oakland A’s News
Congrats to Barry Zito who really had a terrific career. He was generally better on the east side of the Bay, but he had some great moments in San Francisco, too.
San Francisco is disappointed by MLB’s decision to award Cuban outfielder Eddy Julio Martinez. The Giants thought they had a deal for Martinez for $2.5 million, but for some reason it was ruled invalid. While the Giants may still discuss a possible recourse, ultimately there probably isn’t one.
The Mariners have interviewed Jason Varitek for their manager opening. Varitek hasn’t been anxious to leave the Boston area, where his kids live, especially for a West Coast opportunity, so it’s also uncertain he’d strongly consider the job. Varitek, widely recognized as one of the smartest players in the game during his 15-year tenure as Red Sox catcher, has been serving as a special assistant to the general manager for the Red Sox since late 2012, when then-GM Ben Cherington hired him. Seattle let him get away once, when it traded him and Derek Lowe for Heathcliff Slocumb, an ill-fated deal for them indeed. Tim Bogar has been considered among the favorites for the Mariners job since it was mentioned in this space a few weeks ago. Alex Cora is also a candidate there. … Chris Davis fits them as a free agent, though it’s hard to get sluggers to go play in Safeco.
The Jays are so great at home it still seems strange they gave away the home-field advantage with two season-closing losses at the also ran Rays … Toronto is not seen as a team likely to hit $200-million for David Price …. One column contributor suggested Tulo should be called Too-long as he hasn’t seemed to have gotten memo about pace of play
Some believe Matt Williams would make a great hitting coach. Word is, he did wonders with wunderkind Bryce Harper.

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