Transcript Of Sandy Alderson's R.A. Dickey Trade Postmortem Interview On WFAN's Joe & Evan

The Mets' GM talks Dickey trade, David Wright, the outfield, and more.

Paul DePodesta On Travis d'Arnaud, Noah Syndergaard, And Wuilmer Becerra

Last night via email I asked Mets vice president of player development Paul DePodesta about the trio of youngsters — Travis d'Arnaud, Noah Syndergaard, and Wuilmer Becerra — his team acquired from the Blue Jays in the R.A. Dickey trade. Here's what he had to say.

On catcher Travis d'Arnaud:

I think we need to get our hands on him first before we start predicting where he's going to play or what his timetable will be. Considering he missed the back half of last year and the fact that he's coming to a new organization, I think the most important part of spring training will just be about getting back into game shape and learning about 25 new pitchers.

On right-handed pitcher Noah Syndergaard:

We see a big, physical presence who is athletic and a strike thrower. You just don't see many guys his size at his age command the strike zone the way he has as a professional, especially with big velocity. In addition to the power, there's also deception to what he does. As with D'arnaud, we'll refrain from making any predictions as to where Noah will be next here until we have a better feel for him in spring training.

On outfielder Wuilmer Becerra:

Wuilmer should be fine for 2013. Given the fact that he's the same age as a typical high school senior and has fewer than 40 professional plate appearances, I suspect he'll stay in our extended program, which is what we did with guys like [Brandon] Nimmo and [Phillip] Evans last year (and he is a year younger than those guys were). After that, we'll figure out which short-season club would be the most appropriate for him. As far as position, we see him as an outfielder, even though he played shortstop as an amateur. He's shown above average speed in the past, but he's a big, physical young man. We'll probably play him all over the outfield early on, as we do with most of our younger prospects.

Sandy Alderson Speaks About Dickey Trade

Sandy Alderson spoke to the media following the Mets' trade of R.A. Dickey to the Toronto Blue Jays

Mets Also Send Mike Nickeas, Receive Wuilmer Becerra

We now have the names of the two throw-in players. The Mets will send catcher and Phiten-wearer Mike Nickeas, who also has some experience catching R.A. Dickey, to the Blue Jays and will receive 18-year-old outfielder Wuilmer Becerra, who hit .250/.359/.375 in 39 plate appearances with the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays in 2012.

Jays get dickey nickeas thole

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 17, 2012

Mets get darnaud syndergaard buck and becerra

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 17, 2012

Baseball America's Ben Badler wrote up Becerra, whom the Jays signed for $1.3 million out of Venezuela in July 2011, saying:

Becerra, 17, has size (6-foot-4, 190 pounds), athleticism and plus-plus speed in the 60-yard dash, which he's run in 6.6 seconds, although he doesn't get out of the box quick enough to get 70 grades from home to first. For some scouts, Becerra was one of the better righthanded hitters on the international market last year, though there was some disagreement about scouts on his bat. Becerra has a good combination of size, strength and raw power, and some scouts felt he had good plate coverage and feel for hitting. Others contend he's not as sharp in game situations as he is in BP because he tends to get around the ball with length to his stroke and an uppercut swing, which isn't uncommon for Latin American amateurs.

In the field, Becerra's days at shortstop were short-lived due to his size, actions, hands and below-average arm. He fits better in center field, where he shows a better arm stroke than he does in the infield, though with his size he'll likely get so big that he'll end up in left field. Part of it may depend on how much of his speed Becerra is able to retain, especially given his unusual build with narrow shoulders, short arms and wide hips. Several scouts praised Becerra for his makeup and work ethic and he has impressed Blue Jays coaches early. If he develops as the Blue Jays hope, he could become a corner outfielder with a power/speed combination.

A corner outfielder with power and speed is considerably more valuable than Mike Nickeas, who seems like a nice guy and has a great head of hair, but maybe isn't super-terrific at baseball.

R.A. Dickey Passes Physical With Toronto, Trade Is A Done Deal

Andy Martino reports that R.A. Dickey passed his physical with the Blue Jays — presumably they were given advance warning that he was missing the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow — and the deal to send the reigning National League Cy Young winner is done.

Source: Dickey has passed his physical. So there you go. The CY Young winner has been traded to Toronto. It's done.

— Andy Martino (@MartinoNYDN) December 17, 2012

We still don't know who the throw-in prospects are on either side, but we know the principles.

Mets get:

Travis d'Arnaud, catcher
John Buck, catcher
Noah Syndergaard, right-handed pitcher

Blue Jays get:

R.A. Dickey, supernova
Josh Thole, catcher

Dickey will earn $5 million in 2013, after which his newly inked contract extension kicks in which will pay him $25 million in aggregate for 2014 and 2015. There's also a $12 million option for 2016, though it's not yet clear who holds the trigger.

It's a bittersweet day for Mets fans, who welcome two great prospects but say goodbye to one of the most likable players in recent — or any — memory.

Blue Jays, R.A. Dickey Agree On Two-Year, $25 Million Extension

Per Ken Rosenthal, the Blue Jays and R.A. Dickey have agreed on the terms of a two-year $25 million contract extension.

Source: Dickey in agreement with #BlueJays on two-year, $25 million extension that he had requested from #Mets, pending physical.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 17, 2012

The extension would presumably be on top of Dickey's $5 million contract for 2013, so all told his deal would be for three years and $30 million.

Blue Jays Are Expected To Finalize R.A. Dickey Extension Tonight

While the Blue Jays have until 2pm on Tuesday to work out a contract extension with R.A. Dickey, Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star says that the Jays won't need that much time and that the completed deal could be announced as soon as tonight.

Dickey, whom Omar Minaya signed to a minor league contract before the 2010 season after a mediocre 2009 half-season with the Twins, won the Cy Young with the Mets last year and has become one of the most beloved players in recent franchise memory. Speaking personally, the only three-year Met I can recall enjoying so much was John Olerud, who was sublime from 1997-1999.

Along with Dickey, the Mets will send Josh Thole — whose experience catching the knuckleball doubtless precipitated his inclusion in this deal — and an as-yet-unknown prospect to Toronto in exchange for catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud, right-handed pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard, big league catcher John Buck, and another as-yet-unknown prospect. John Sickels suggests that d'Arnaud would be the Mets' new #1 prospect; Syndergaard would be #3, with Zack Wheeler sliding to #2.

Mets (Finally) Trade R.A. Dickey To Blue Jays

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Mets and Blue Jays have agreed on a deal which would send reigning Cy Young winner and Amazin' Avenue cult hero R.A. Dickey to Toronto, pending the Jays' ability to negotiate a contract extension with the knuckleballer.

Sources: #Mets, #BlueJays have agreement in principle on Dickey trade. Window open for Jays to extend Dickey, which would complete deal.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 16, 2012

Negotiating window for Dickey extension is 72 hours, expiring Tuesday at 2 pm ET. #Mets #BlueJays

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 16, 2012

Details of the would-be final players involved have not yet been reported, but the permutation we last heard would have had the Mets sending Dickey, catcher Josh Thole and a mid-level prospect to the Blue Jays in exchange for elite catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud, well-regarded right-handed pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard, big league catcher John Buck, and a mid-level prospect.

For now, the Jays have 72 hours to negotiate a contract extension while we wait around for the deal to be finalized. If Rosenthal is right that the extension window expires at 2pm on Tuesday, rudimentary math would place agreement of the players involved in the deal at 2pm Saturday afternoon.

Sherman Reports Mets, Blue Jays Would Swap R.A. Dickey, Josh Thole + Prospect For Travis d'Arnaud, Noah Syndergaard, John Buck + Prospect

UPDATE, 9:58 PM: The Post's Joel Sherman has the firmest info yet in terms of the deal's parameters.

But right now it's Dickey/Thole/prospect (told not elite) for d/Arnaud/Syndegaard/Buck/prospect (told not elite)

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 15, 2012

From the Mets' standpoint, this seems the best case scenario. d'Arnaud and Syndegaard are two top-flight young talents, and under this deal they would not have to give up what few jewels their farm system has. This also suggests that the teams are probably haggling over which "not elite" prospects to exchange. That, plus everything else that happened today, suggests no imminent resolution to this situation. Assuming this is correct, though, it does indicate an ideal return for Dickey.

FROM EARLIER

According to the Post's Mike Puma, this morning the Mets and Blue Jays discussed the parameters of a deal that would send R.A. Dickey, Josh Thole, and another Mets player or prospect to the Blue Jays for catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud, right-handed pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard, big league catcher John Buck, and another Jays player or prospect.

So to recap, Dickey, Thole and another player to Jays for d'Arnaud, Buck, Syndergaard and another player was on table this morning.

— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) December 15, 2012

Meanwhile, Andy McCullough of the Star-Ledger says it could be Syndergaard or fellow righty Aaron Sanchez in the deal.

The Mets have also discussed Noah Syndergaard and Aaron Sanchez for this deal.

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughSL) December 15, 2012

Minor League Ball's John Sickels has ranked d'Arnaud, Syndergaard, and Sanchez 1-2-3 in Toronto's system, saying this about the three:

1) Travis d'Arnaud, C, Grade A-: Borderline B+. He's not perfect, but d'Arnaud is either the best catching prospect in baseball or the second-best behind Mike Zunino. Could use a bit more polish with his throwing and his plate discipline, but overall he's the complete package.

2) Noah Syndergaard, RHP, Grade A-: Borderline B+. I love him. Strong sinking fastball, good changeup, breaking stuff coming around, solid command, good body, good makeup, strong sabermetric profile. Just needs to stay healthy.

3) Aaron Sanchez, RHP, Grade B+: Borderline A-: Stuff is even better than Syndergaard's, three plus pitches, but needs to sharpen his control. Noah has a better balance of stuff and command than Aaron at this point, but they are very close.

Ken Davidoff Throws R.A. Dickey Under The Bus As Pitcher's Trade To Blue Jays Looms

Entertainer with memoir engages in self-promotion. Writer writes hatchet job about athlete leaving. Sun comes up in the morning.

Blue Jays' Catching Prospect Travis d'Arnaud Centerpiece To R.A. Dickey Trade

Per Jon Heyman, the Mets and Jays have apparently agreed that stud catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud, who was sent to Toronto in the deal that shuttled Roy Halladay to Philadelphia, would be the centerpiece to any trade sending R.A. Dickey to the Blue Jays.

Moreover, Dickey, who indicated yesterday that he wasn't interested in signing a contract extension with the Jays, may have softened on that stance. Toronto would be understandably reluctant to part with their top prospect for one season of Dickey.

#mets, #jays still working to finalize. Jays willing to include d'arnaud, but said to want prospect back with dickey

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 15, 2012

As @joelshermand1 said, #mets not taking gose in deal. Tor believed early offer of gose/arencibia rejected. #RA

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 15, 2012

So both sides agree d'arnaud can be centerpiece. Trying to finalize last piece.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 15, 2012

Once players finalized, dickey now thought willing to talk extension with #jays

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 15, 2012

Mets Trade Rumors: Mets And Blue Jays On The Verge Of Deal

Reports say teams are near completion of a trade that would send Dickey to Toronto.

Mets Trade Rumors: Dickey Trade To Toronto Could Involve Other Mets

Potential deal between Mets and Blue Jays for Dickey could involve several other players.

Mets Trade Rumors: Dickey Could Be Traded Soon

The Mets are reportedly making progress on a deal that would send Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey to the Toronto Blue Jays.