Are the Mets competing or conceding?

[TheJesus]

I'm confused as to what the Mets are doing here. Are the Mets competing (signing David Wright to a long term deal at age 29, hardly a spring chicken) or conceding (looking to trade RA Dickey?).

I feel like doing both isn't ideal. Smart money would have been dealing Wright last year, dealing Dickey now, and re-stocking for the future. But trading Dickey after signing Wright makes no sense.

Mets have a few assets contenders would love, so if the Mets want to concede they should concede fully.

But if they want to compete? Keep Dickey.

What do you guys think?

[knicks_champ]

I think it's a mix... We keep our offensive star and face of the franchise in DW. And if they trade R.A that means they feel like they can get a package that can help us win long term rather than just 2-3 years.

[metswon69]

I'm confused as to what the Mets are doing here. Are the Mets competing (signing David Wright to a long term deal at age 29, hardly a spring chicken) or conceding (looking to trade RA Dickey?).

I feel like doing both isn't ideal. Smart money would have been dealing Wright last year, dealing Dickey now, and re-stocking for the future. But trading Dickey after signing Wright makes no sense.

Mets have a few assets contenders would love, so if the Mets want to concede they should concede fully.

But if they want to compete? Keep Dickey.

What do you guys think?

Keeping Wright transcended "competing" or "conceding", it was about keeping the face of their franchise here for the next 8 years. He will hold nearly every offensive Met record when he retires and possibly be a HOF as a Met (The Mets only having Tom Seaver represent them in the Hall currently)

It was also about the fact that it is very difficult to find a 3rd baseman as productive as David Wright. He was the best defensive 3rd baseman in the league and he is still very productive offensively.

Wright could also have a longer productive lifespan than Dickey if they have him switch positions at some point.

The Mets are not that far away from competing dealing Dickey or not, we have an abundance of young SP. It's about fixing other weaknesses like the bullpen, the OF, and the catcher's spot.

If they do that they can turn a 74 win ballclub into a competitor for that 2nd wildcard spot or more.

You aren't talking about a 55 win team in need of complete rebuilding.

[Sick Of It All]

The Wright deal is not just for 2013, but for beyond obviously. The Mets intend on competing by 2014 and after and to do that they have to give up an older pitcher who could net them some of those pieces that they need to field a contender in that time frame. They are not going to spend big on free agents and that is clear, so trades is the only way to get impact players.

[dunbummin]

Agreed.

The big question is what do they do beyond Dickey. We don't know what they'll be able to get for R.A., but that one trade is not going to put them over the top. We don't even know if we'll get players who are ready to be starters on opening day. So, assuming Dickey is dealt shortly, they need to assess what remaining holes that leaves them with, and then go about filling them with capable players.

[acerimusdux]

The Wright deal is not just for 2013, but for beyond obviously. The Mets intend on competing by 2014....

This. The Mets don't have enough bats in that lineup as it is, so it made no sense to trade Wright. They do have a surplus of starting pitching. So it makes sense to deal one of Dickey or Niese, if that will get them the premium outfielder they need.

They probably won't have enough to do it this year, but one premium young position player to go with the young pitching they'll be breaking in this year, and they can contend by next season.

[Marty Mcfly]

They had no option but to extend Wright, anything else is public admittance that they're not even trying. The long-term benefits of having a real franchise player to represent you is priceless IMO.

Trading RA and keeping DW is probably the best fudge for a team that won't be winning next year, and probably won't the year after either.

Now it's about getting the best package for RA, and praying the return works out. It's a real gamble because I think RA will be a good pitcher for another 3-4 years at least.

They have to find some impact bats from somewhere, because the farm is producing talented position players at anywhere near the rate required.

They've done the stand pat move, now they have to make moves to improve. It's also no use whining about FA's failures like Jason Bay (could have been avoided anyway) and get back on the horse next Winter.

I think the whole thing rests on whether Harvey and Wheeler can become Lincecum and Cain.

[I<3ourProspects]

Wright is the face of the franchise, hes the guy that is the leader of the team, mets did great by resigning him it was a must do. We have very nice pitching in wheeler, harvey, and niese all young and locked up for a while. Santana will free up a lot of salary next year, and alderson has said that they will make a splash next year during the offseason, and wheeler should be big league ready by then, all the pieces fall togeather in 2014. We need OF help badly thats the reason we are trying to trade dickey. the SS prospect from the bosox Bogarts would be an exception cuz hes a 5 star prospect with lots of upside.