You guys. We need to stop for a second and think about the things we’ve been saying regarding the current state of the Mets and their front office. We’re contradicting ourselves with tweets and statements that will age poorly. Trust me, I know. Rays fans are still letting me have it after suggesting trading 2018 Cy Young Winner Blake Snell. Your words will not age like a fine wine. 

My point here is this, we cannot sit in the stands at Citi Field cursing the Wilpons and the Front Office for not making moves and bettering the team, for trotting out cheap and inefficient players, and throwing money at guys likes Jason Vargas, Todd Frazier, and Jay Bruce, all of whom are being paid for their talents at their ceiling, for not taking the time to think about the consequences of their actions. We can’t do all of that and then sit here and bemoan the loss of top prospects. 

This is how a big market ball club operates. And for years we’ve been screaming at the top of our lungs to become a big market ball club. 

Some Examples…

Think about the 2018 World Champion Boston Red Sox, who traded away their entire farm system, including the MLB’s #1 prospect Yoan Moncada, for Chris Sale. Sale was an intregal part to the Red Sox road to a World Series ring in both of his years in Boston. He was worth the trade even if they gave up the future. 

The Red Sox then let their young studs in Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Andrew Benintendi and Rafael Devers, off the leash to wreak havoc on the AL East. 

Yes, they spent the money on J.D. Martinez, David Price, and Rick Porcello, but they also spent money on Pablo Sandoval and Rusney Castillo. That was dumb money for the latter. 

But the prospects were sent away for the missing piece: Chris Sale.

The Cubs similarly let go of some top-tier prospects on their way to the 2016 World Series, sending 2018 Rookie of the Year finalist Gleyber Torres to the Yankees in a deal for Aroldis Chapman. They also shipped Dan Vogelbach to the Mariners, a guy Seattle believes to be their future at first base… whenever he decides to show up. 

Also in 2016, the Cleveland Indians sent Clint Frazier and Justus Sheffield to the Yankees in exchange for the services of Andrew Miller, who was a key component to their 2016 World Series run. That deal was insane when it happened, but it panned out well for the Tribe, despite their extra inning defeat in Game 7.

More recently…

Justus Sheffield was then sent to the Mariners as the big piece in the trade that sent James Paxton to the Yankees. 

The Milwaukee Brewers landed Christian Yelich by sending four prospects, Lewis “Future of the Marlins” Brinson, and the current #2, #9 and #17 players in the Marlins system, down to Miami. Christian Yelich goes on to win the 2018 MVP. The Brewers come within one game of the World Series after making the playoffs for the first time since 2011. 

Hell, even more recently, Manny Machado was shipped to Los Angeles for FIVE players, four of which are within the Orioles current top 30 prospects, including their #1: Yusniel Diaz.

This is a move that a big market ballclub makes. 

At what point do we decide what kind of team we want to be? Do we want to the Minnesota Twins? Or do we want to play with the big dogs, like the one in the Bronx? You cannot have it both ways. You gotta pick one. 

Jared Kelenic was drafted this year, with an MLB ETA of 2022. Justin Dunn would have to shoe-horn himself into what could be the best rotation in baseball. 

You know who the Mets still have? Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Zack Wheeler, JEFF MCNEIL, Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo, Amed Rosario and will soon have Peter Alonso, the #1 first base prospect in the game. 

Once this deal is done they’ll have an elite closer, arguably the best in the game, who’ll be under team control for the next four years. The Mets also get a top 10 second baseman, something they haven’t had in a long time. 

It’s worth it, you guys.

This team is young as hell, and Jared Kelenic won’t reach the majors for another 3 years. When he does, all the guys mentioned above will be in their PRIME.

Also, take a look at Luis Santana, the Mets #26 prospect. Santana tore up the Appalachian League and put up better offensive numbers than his teammate, Jared Kelenic. Santana also did all of that for much less money. 

You’re upset about losing one guy, and I get that. Kelenic was good in the Gulf Coast League, but didn’t continue that success in Kingsport. Regardless, the kid has a lot of potential. Think of it like this: without winning games now, all the guys I named  could walk to a winning club once their time in Queens is up. I’d rather keep them here with rings. I’d rather give them a connection to this city and to all of us fans than see them win in a jersey that’s not Orange and Blue. 

Prospects are casualties of Big Market Clubs making Big Market moves. 

You cannot have it both ways, you guys. 

When you want to be a big dog, you have to start trading like a big dog. 

Welcome to the future.