FanPost

AAOP: Honky Tonk Woman

The Penultimate Scene

You turn off your iPhone and are relaxing, finally, at a corner booth in Pinewood Social when you see her. She glides like Cespedes toward you from the copper-topped bar, her long blond locks bouncing about her head like Thor’s on a windy Chicago day. Course, as athletic as they are, neither of them have legs nearly as intriguing or long as hers. You watch semi-entranced as her skirt bounces so perfectly off her thighs while she strides closer. Of all the stinking gin joints in Nashville, she had to pick this one.

"Whatcha having tonight hon?" she asks in something that does not quite sound like a local accent.

"Double Macallan, 18 if you have it, straight," you say.

"Coming right up," she says smiling and then stops just as she had started to turn.

"Hey, you’re the guy who filled in for the Mets this winter, yeah?"

You smile. "I am indeed. How did you know that pretty lady?"

"Saw you on ESPN last night. They said you had one of the best performances down here."

"Well, I hope my friends from AA agree," you say, still not quite accustomed to your newfound notoriety.

Her big blue eyes seem to grow even larger. She tilts her hide sideways while still gazing right at you, kind of like your German Shepard does when she wants something. Then it dawns on you.

"Oh, no, no, no, not that AA. It’s a long story."

The Opening Scene

It was the best of assignments, it was the worst of assignments. Take a team that fell just short of a world championship and find the missing pieces for ’16. The catch, of course, was that you had to stay within the $120 million budget. Get it done and you’ll be the talk of the town or at least the proud owner of the Times’ Mets History tome. Screw up and you’ll be derided endlessly on AA. Well, then again, if the world were perfect it wouldn’t be.

The Plan

To pull this off, you knew you needed a plan. You also knew you needed to get twenty-seven outs a game to win. Priority one: upgrade the bullpen. Make those last six outs as bullet proof as possible.

Priority two: a playmate for Juan Lagares or maybe even a flat-out upgrade there.

Beyond that, you planned to be flexible. You would address the primary needs and anything else would be icing on the cake.

Step One: Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow

The non-tenders were relatively easy: Addison Reed, Buddy Carlyle, Carlos Torres, and Eric Young, Jr. Savings for 2016: $8.2 million. The revised starting payroll falls to $85.8.

Step Two: A White Knight Rises

This kid David Wright, you gotta love him. Not worth $20 million a year though at this point, of course. But boy, this kid really wants to win. Did not blink when you proposed he defer a couple of million from 2016 to be paid over two years after he retires. The kid gave you some breathing room as the revised starting point fell again to $83.8

Execution on The Pen and Infield

Rome was not built in a day, and neither were the 2015 National League champs, but you sure know how to move quickly. As soon as Murph declined his qualifying offer, you solidified the pen. Darren O’Day at 3 years for $24 million felt like a bargain to you, as did Jerry Blevins at 2 years for $6 million. Mission one accomplished. Opening day pen: Jeurys Familia, O’Day, Hansel Robles, Blevins, Erik Goeddel, Sean Gilmartin, and Logan Verrett. Payroll now back north to $94.8. The Kelly Johnson signing a short time later on a one-year $3 million contract brought the tab up to $97.8 but the infield was now set too: Lucas Duda, Dilson Herrera, Wilmer Flores, Wright, and Travis d’Arnaud, with reserves Johnson, Reuben Tejeda, and Kevin Plawecki. Now it was onto the fun stuff.

All Betts Are On

The first two fell like dominoes. David Price to the Cubs and Zack Grienke to San Francisco. But Johnny Cueto to the Jays was only announced the day before the Nashville Summit. The losing suitors resided in Boston, and the first text from Dave Dombrowski came only hours after the Cueto signing leaked out: "Any interest in Bradley?" "Betts," you replied.

"Harvey and deGrom?"

"I could throw in Matz too if you want," you responded and the wheels were now in motion. You sprang into action because while you knew full well the future’s uncertain you also knew the end game is always near.

The Jordan Zimmerman negotiations progressed. You had your doubts but held firm on five years max. Finally, the tentative deal was in place: 5 years for an even $100 million. Mark Pieper was easy to work with and with all the other offers his client had in hand, he readily gave you the 24 hours you requested before the deal would be cemented.

So, with time now a factor, you finally gave Dombrowski the ultimatum. "It’s straight up. And I need to know. I am ready to move in another direction." Of course, you were bluffing. If Harvey was to be dealt, it would have to be for Betts. But Dombrowski did not know that, especially when other Harvey deal rumors somehow mysteriously leaked out.

While he maintained a straight face, you knew he was just dying at the thought of trying to compete without a true ace in 2016. I mean, Jeff Samarzdija? Guy would have done better had he chosen to catch touchdowns thrown by Eli Manning.

Finally, he blinked. "Okay deal. Harvey for Betts." Twenty minutes later you texted Pieper and cemented the Zimmermann acquisition.

And so with a day still to go in Nashville, you had your 2016 opening day outfield in place: Michael Conforto, Betts, Curtis Granderson, Juan Lagares, and Michael Cuddyer, as well your starting five to open the season pending the return of Zack Wheeler: Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz, Jordan Zimmerman, and Jon Niese. You saved $4.1 million in 2016 salary on the Harvey for Betts deal, which off-set the $20 million tab for Zimmerman. Total tab: $113.7 million.

Epilogue

"Wow, I thought New York was expensive," you say looking at the bar tab and she laughs.

"Well, I think they up the prices a bit while you guys are down here, but don’t tell anyone. Besides, you drank enough to where you may need to check out the real AA."

You laugh and hand her your GOLD American Express card--no PLATINIUMS per Jeff Wilpon. She starts to turn but again stops and goes into German Shepard mode.

"Hey, I’m off in five. Can I treat you to coffee to make up to you for this expensive bar tab?" she asks.

You take another deliberate swig of the remaining Mac, laugh, and say, "Not necessary. Starbucks on me. I still have $6.3 million to spend."

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