Matt Harvey dominates Sox, almost perfect

Last night Matt Harvey had a fantastic game against the White Sox, striking out 12 batters in 9 innings, and letting up one infield single that came in the 7th inning.
Unfortunately Harvey did not get the win because the team did not give him any run support. However, he dropped his ERA to 1.28, and already has 58 strikeouts on the season.

Harvey has easily been the biggest bright spot for the Mets this season, and, barring any injuries, will be on this year's National League All-Star team.

So far in his brief career, Harvey has lived up to his incredible hype. He is becoming the leader of the starting rotation, and fans are very eager to see him go out every fifth day and toss gems.

Zack Wheeler status update

Zack Wheeler has been the top prospect in the Mets' organization for the last two or so years, and it is expected that he will make his major league debut sometime during the 2013 season. Due to an oblique injury, he didn't get a chance to prove himself in Spring Training. He also has had the Super-Two status problem hovering over his back for quite some time now. However, due to the rotation's recent struggles, fans have gotten impatient. Zack Wheeler could be up in Queens sooner than later.

At the moment, his 4.00 ERA in 7 Triple-A starts is nothing to get excited about, but the 10.0 K/9 ratio is impressive. Wheeler has shown that he has the ability to become a major league ace, but control issues have held him back. His 4.2 BB/9 rate will keep him in Triple-A a little longer, as he still needs some more seasoning.

Overall, Wheeler still needs a good 5-6 solid starts until the Mets will give him a crack at the major league rotation. His strikeout numbers have been impressive but he will need to cut down on the walks in order to have success at the professional level. I expect him to be with the team sometime after the All-Star break, and to stick with the club throughout the rest of the season. 

Mets bring up Lagares, demote Nieuwenhuis

The Mets have announced that they have called up outfielder Juan Lagares from Triple-A. Kirk Nieuwenhuis has been demoted to create roster space for Lagares. Lagares, 24, was hitting .346 in 78 at-bats with Las Vegas this season, and is known for his solid defense.

"There are people in the organization who think he may be a better center fielder than Matt den Dekker," Terry Collins told reporters on Wednesday.

Collins did say that Lagares will be in the starting lineup on Wednesday. but the outfield situation remains a competition. Lagares will wear No. 12, which was previously worn by Scott Hairston.

Optioning Nieuwenhuis to Triple-A was a move that we expected to come. Nieuwenhuis will be better off getting every-day at bats in Triple-A. Pitchers have discovered his weaknesses, and despite his solid defense, his strikeout rate will need to come down.

I am excited to see what we have with Lagares. We have heard his name for a while now, and he started the season strong down in Triple-A. He is known for his glove, but his speed would be a nice welcome addition to the team. He has every opportunity to make a name for himself right now as there is little outfield competition.

Mets sign DJ Mitchell

The Mets have signed pitcher DJ Mitchell to a minor league deal. Mitchell was involved in the Ichiro Suzuki trade last year, and posted a 3.86 ERA with the Yankees before going to Seattle. He has a combined 3.86 ERA in 50 career Triple-A starts. The Mariners designated him for assignment recently and he elected free agency after clearing waivers on April 13.

Mitchell will basically serve as a Triple-A filler for now, but I expect to see him in the rotation soon if he has success in the minor leagues. The pitching depth is so thin right now, and the team needs a stop-gap like options in the rotation.

Keep in mind that Mitchell is still 25 years old, and was once a decently regarded prospect in the Yankees organization. The Mets could catch lightning in a bottle with him, but like mentioned before he will probably just be a rotation filler.

Jays claim Laffey off of waivers, Mets promote Carson

The Blue Jays have announced that they have claimed pitcher Aaron Laffey off of waivers today. Laffey was designated for assignment by the Mets on Sunday in order to create roster space for fellow left handed pitcher Robert Carson. Laffey was with Toronto in 2012, throwing 100 2/3 innings as a spot starter. Over the winter he joined the Mets on a minor league deal. Carson posted a 1.17 ERA in 7 2/3 Triple-A innings this season.

We all knew that Laffey's time was running out with this team. He had a very poor start in Colorado which some of us blamed on the weather. However, after a second bad start in better conditions, the Mets knew that it was time to let him go. 

The Blue Jays seem like they are claiming every player out there, and Laffey should provide rotation depth for them. However, it is definitely the right move for the Mets to keep him out of their rotation. Carson is not a starter, rather a promising relief pitcher who could be a decent left handed specialist at some time. 

D'Arnaud breaks foot, out 4-8 weeks

Mets catching prospect recently broke his left foot during a Triple-A game. Sandy Alderson said that d'Arnaud will be in a walking boot for some time, but will not undergo surgery. It is estimated that d'Arnaud will be out for the next 4-8 weeks. He was hitting .250 with 5 doubles and 1 home run in 36 Triple-A at bats this season. 

When this story initially broke out, it seemed as though d'Arnaud would be out for at least a few months. So, 4-8 weeks is probably the best case scenario here. John Buck has done a fantastic job filling in as the temporary starting catcher, and I still expect to see d'Arnaud make his major league debut sometime in July or August. 

I am not terribly concerned with d'Arnaud's brief injury history, because catchers often get roughed up and involved in tough situations. Hopefully he takes his time and is 100% when he returns, because the Mets will need him long-term. 

Mets looking at CarGo and Stanton

According to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News, the Mets are currently monitoring the situations of both Carlos Gonzalez and Giancarlo Stanton. One Mets official told Martino that there is "heat" in the trade talks, and the Sandy Alderson has definitely had preliminary discussions about acquiring either player.

The Mets have shown us time to time that they are "interested" in a certain player, but never make the full push to acquire him. However, Alderson could be using the same method that Frank Cashen used with the Mets in the 1980's, as Martino points out. Cashen loaded up on top prospects in the early stages of the decade, and traded them away to receive All-Star players such as Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter. 

Carlos Gonzalez has turned himself into an All-Star outfielder ever since coming to Colorado in the Matt Holliday deal. However, many people, including myself, believe that the hitter-friendly conditions of Coors Field have drastically helped his numbers. In 2012, Gonzalez hit .368 with 13 home runs at home, and a mere .234 with 9 home runs while on the road. Despite that, Gonzalez's defense is solid. In 568 career games in the field, he has a total of 10 errors, and 1071 putouts. 

The Rockies would ask for pitching in a potential deal, and due to Gonzalez's inconsistency, I definitely wouldn't offer Zack Wheeler. Instead, I would give a 2nd-tiered prospect or two such as Hansel Robles and or Jacob deGrom. Gonzalez would be a great fit in Citi Field, but the Rockies need to have a bad 2013 season to even think about dealing him.

As for Stanton, he is easily the best rising star in the game. The 23 year old outfielder would require a king's ransom, especially if the Marlins have to trade within the division, but the Mets certainly have prospects that could interest Miami. I wouldn't give up Travis d'Arnaud, but Zack Wheeler could be let go. Wheeler's potential is sky-high, and the Marlins need a top-of-the-rotation pitcher to lead them to success. It is also interesting to consider that Alderson recently said that he wouldn't have a huge problem dealing Zack Wheeler, given that he originally acquired him via the trade. 

Stanton would clearly be a solid upgrade in the lineup, and the Mets would be getting four years of team control over him. The question is: is it worth risking your entire future for one single player who has the potential to be great?