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.