Anyone who lives or has even visited the Big Apple knows that The New York Mets have always played second fiddle to their crosstown rivals, The New York Yankees. The franchise that has been the face of baseball since Babe Ruth was acquired from the Red Sox back in 1920 solidified The Yanks as America’s team. The Babe, who was rumored to be half-man, half-God, lived up to the hype and the rest is history. Mets fans forever have had to hear about the Yankees success, 27 Championships, multiple All- Star’s, a monster payroll and it’s hard to go anywhere in the tri-state area without seeing the most famous symbol in sports, The NY on a navy blue cap that represents the Yankees.
After an abysmal 2018 finish after starting 11-1, The Mets have hired a new GM, who was actually the former agent of Cy- Young winning pitcher and All-Star top of the Mets rotation starting pitcher, Jacob DeGrom, Brodie Van Wagenen. Brodie wasted no time making his first big splash in the East River, since taking over the day-to-day operations of the team from Queens by making MLB’s first blockbuster trade, acquiring All-Star 2B Robinson Cano and the number one closer in baseball, Edwin Diaz along with $20 Million Dollars in cash.
This trade did not come cheap by any means, the Mets gave up some huge prospects, RHP Justin Dunn and one who’s poised to be a superstar, 19-years old Jarred Kelenic, the Mets first and the sixth overall pick in the draft. He is said to be the best hitter in his class, a pure hitter with raw power, above average speed and a fine outfielder. To popular opinion on the side of Mets fans, they were not happy to let Kelenic go… at least not for a 36-year old Cano, whose best years are most likely behind him. Still, the Mets did get the best young relief pitcher in baseball period in Edwin Diaz, at just 24 years old and an absolute flamethrower leading the league in saves last year with 57. The Mets also let Jay Bruce, Jeff McNeil, Anthony Swarzack and Geron Bautista go in the trade as well.
Both front office and the Mets fanbase want to win now, and this move shows that the Mets are trying to do just that and win this year. Not in three or four years when their prospects are ready, even though the loss of Kelenic may haunt them for years to come if they don’t make a World Series run in the 2019 season. According to MLB sources, the Mets are just getting started and have some more wheeling, dealing and spending to do before the winter is over on a quest to make the Mets the number one team in New York City, at least for 2019, no cap.
