Fansided

If the Mets want to rebuild the right way, here’s the perfect blueprint

By Matt O'Leary

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 16: Pitcher Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets reacts during an MLB baseball game against the Washington Nationals on April 16, 2018 at CitiField in the Queens borough of New York City. Nationals won 8-6. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jacob deGrom
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 16: Pitcher Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets reacts during an MLB baseball game against the Washington Nationals on April 16, 2018 at CitiField in the Queens borough of New York City. Nationals won 8-6. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jacob deGrom /
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NEW YORK, NY – MAY 20: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Noah Syndergaard #34 of the New York Mets in action against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field on May 20, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Mets defeated the Diamondbacks 4-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 20: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Noah Syndergaard #34 of the New York Mets in action against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field on May 20, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Mets defeated the Diamondbacks 4-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Keep Noah Syndergaard at all costs

It’s going to hurt, but the first step of the rebuild is trading deGrom. Of Syndergaard and deGrom, deGrom has more value, is older, and has fewer years of controllability which makes sense to move him. He just turned 30 and I highly doubt the Wilpons are ponying up the cash for a 32-year-old deGrom in a couple years so they might as well start the rebuild with getting a boatload of prospects for him.

No, I don’t want the Mets and Yankees to trade, but what about the Mets and the Rockies? Colorado is on the verge of contention, they just have no pitching. deGrom gives them a true ace, something they’ve lacked since 2010 Ubaldo Jimenez.

Trading Jacob deGrom for top prospects

The number in parenthesis represents their ranking the Rockies system. In order for two and a half years of control of Jacob deGrom in his prime, the Rockies have to give up two top prospects in Rodgers and Lambert, and two middle-tier prospects in Almonte and Hilliard.

Brendan Rodgers hitting .287 with 14 home runs and an OPS of .849 in AA and can be ready by 2019. Lambert’s 7-2 with a 2.31 ERA in AA. Almonte had a 2.91 ERA in AA and AAA last year, while in AAA this year he’s struggled but in two innings of relief work in the big leagues, he hasn’t allowed a run. Finally, Hilliard is hitting .291 in AA this year but is coming off a 21 home run season in A+ ball last year. At 24 he’s a much older prospect than the other two.

deGrom isn’t the only piece they could sell, Asdrubal Cabrera could have some value for a team that could use another infielder. In 74 games he’s hitting .275 with 13 home runs and a .792 OPS. For an infielder who makes $8.25 million that’s pretty good value.

Logan Forsythe has been a disaster for the Dodgers at second base. Maybe they’d be in the market for Cabrera as they try to get over the hump, and win a championship that they came so close to doing last year.

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