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| The Mets have traded 2012 Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey to the Blue Jays as the centerpiece of a seven-player deal. (Jim McIsaac) |
After days and days of trade rumors, the New York Mets are officially trading 2012 National League Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey to the Toronto Blue Jays. Dickey reached an agreement with his new ball club on a two-year, $25 million extension that was the final piece to the trade going through.
The Blue Jays acquired Dickey, catcher Josh Thole and minor league catcher Mike Nickeas In exchange, the Mets receive top prospects Travis d'Arnaud and Noah Syndergaard, along with veteran catcher John Buck and minor leaguer Wuilmer Becerra. The Blue Jays paid a hefty price in terms of talent, but they believe Dickey could be the one piece they need going into next season.
"Clearly, he won the Cy Young. He's pitched like one the last three years," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I think he doesn't get the credit and the respect he deserves because of his age and because of what he does throw. And I understand it's so rare. But there's so much overwhelming data and evidence to point to him continuing this success. He's gotten better every single year."
The Blue Jays won back-to-back World Series in 1992 and 1993, but have not gone to the playoffs since. They have tried to rebuild through their farm system and prospects, but have yet to get past the big boys atop the AL East. However, with the New York Yankees passing on top free agents as part of an austerity plan and the Boston Red Sox are reconstructing, the Blue Jays have decided to roll the dice and try and win now.
Toronto's busy offseason got kicked off last month with a blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins. They acquired veteran starting pitchers Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle, All-star shortstop Jose Reyes and utility man Emilio Bonifacio. The Blue Jays were also busy in the free agent market. They signed outfielder Melky Cabrera to a two-year deal and infielder Maicer Izturis to a three-year contract.
The Blue Jays brought back John Gibbons as manager. As of right now, the 2013 rotation and lineup might look something like this.
1. R.A. Dickey
2. Brandon Morrow
3. Mark Buehrle
4. Josh Johnson
5. Ricky Romero
1. SS Jose Reyes
2. LF Melky Cabrera
3. RF Jose Bautista
4. 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion
5. DH/1B Adam Lind
6. 3B Brett Lawrie
7. CF Colby Rasmus
8. C J.P. Arencibia
9. 2B Emilio Bonifacio/Maicer Izturis
That is a ball club that will definitely be ready to compete in a loaded AL East and for a shot at a return to the postseason. It will be interesting to see if Anthopoulos has any more moves up his sleeves before we reach Spring Training.
The Mets will not be a team competing for much of anything next season. They did trade the reigning Cy Young winner and fan favorite, but you have to consider the bottom line in terms of the future.The Mets have had four straight fourth-place finishes in the NL East, and the Washington Nationals, Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies are the division favorites once again. The Mets were destined for a repeat finish in 2013 with or without Dickey.
The future though has become much brighter for a team in desperate need of something positive. General manager Sandy Alderson looked for a package of prospects, like he did with Carlos Beltran two trading deadlines ago. The cornerstone of that trade, right-hander Zack Wheeler, has developed into the club's top prospect. The Mets now add highly acclaimed catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud as well as Class A right-hander Noah Syndergaard to the mix from the Dickey trade.
D'Arnaud is a catcher who is able to hit well and has a lot of skills behind the plate. He is viewed as a difference maker who will play in the big leagues for more than a decade. Syndergaard was regarded as the Blue Jays' best pitching prospect by many scouts. He is a hard-throwing 20-year old who is capable of developing into a front of the rotation starter.
The Mets are starting to piece together a solid young nucleus for a few years down the road. They may not be contenders this season or the next, but they are rebuilding in the right direction. If you are a Mets fan, just hope for the best and check your minor league box scores to see how your future stars are doing as they grow and develop.
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