In 2015, I made a reverse AAOP trading everyone on the roster - l0nk - with a few different rules from the AAOP contest. I'm gonna toss some new rules up for me this time;
1) I will use the roster for the Mets Aug 31ish + Cespedes. No minor league players can be tossed in to sweeten the deal. I also wasn't interested in adding minor league talent in return - so that might be some of the unevenness of the trades.
2) Salary cap of 160 mil. (same as AAOP 2018)
3) All players on the new 25 must be acquired in trades, no free agents even though two players left in free agency.
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Trade 1
Jacob DeGrom to the NYY for Miguel Andujar and Clint Frazier
Why the Mets do this? Two young cost controlled players with decent upside
Why the NYY do this? They are a pitcher away and will probably sign Machado anyway
Trade 2
Noah Syndergaard and Brandon Nimmo to the HOU for George Springer and Chris Devenski.
Why the Mets do this? True centerfielder paired with dominating (minus 2018) multi inning reliever
Why the HOU do this? This will make them a power house rotation and not lose much in offense
Trade 3
Steven Matz and Jeff McNeil to the CLE for Corey Kluber
Why the Mets do this? He's Corey Kluber
Why the CLE do this? Money, Money, Money
Trade 4
Zack Wheeler to the MIL for Corey Knebel and Travis Shaw
Why the Mets do this? Back end reliever and a solid infielder that can spell multiple positions
Why the MIL do this? A true ace to rotation
Trade 5
Jason Vargas to the SEA for Alex Colome
Why the Mets do this? Needed another reliever
Why the SEA do this? I don't know? He played their before?
Trade 6
Seth Lugo, Drew Smith and Travis D'Arnard to the TEX for Jurickson Profar and Alex Claudio
Why the Mets do this? Good infielder who will fake it at shortstop and another decent reliver
Why the TEX do this? Profar and Claudio are not long term pieces, but either is Smith or D'Arnard. TDA is expiring and can be flipped if he's actually healthy. Lugo is a perfect "starter for a rebuilding team"
Trade 7
Robert Gsellman, Amed Rosario and Kevin Plawecki to the MIA for J.T. Realmuto, Starlin Castro and Jose Urena
Why the Mets do this? Desperate for a real catcher
Why the MIA do this? Money, Money, Money
Trade 8
Tyler Bashlor, Michael Conforto and Dom Smith to the PIT for Corey Dickerson, Francisco Cervelli and Ivan Nova
Why the Mets do this? Players that make the team capable of competing
Why the PIT do this? Conforto is worth all that - and probably more. Plus Money, Money and Money
Trade 9
Bobby Wahl, Daniel Zamora and Todd Frazier to the TOR for Justin Smoak and Marcus Stroman
Why the Mets do this? Decent return for throw away pieces. I wanted a Long Island native to replace Steven Matz and who better than Steven's high school nemesis.
Why the TOR do this? Why not gamble on some relievers?
Trade 10
Wilmer Flores and Anthony Swarzak to the LAA for Kole Calhoun and Cam Bedrosian
Why the Mets do this? Hoping for a Calhoun/Bedrosian bounce back
Why the LAA do this? Expiring contracts for expiring contracts change of scenery.
Trade 11
Jay Bruce to the MIN for Kyle GIbson
Why the Mets do this? Decent SP
Why the MIN do this? New DH
Trade 12
Juan Lagares to the SFG for Tony Watson
Why the Mets do this? LOOGY
Why the SFG do this? No outfield depth, one of the best centerfielders in the game for one of the biggest centerfields
Trade 13
Yoenis Cespedes to the OAK for Marcus Semien, Stephen Piscotty and Lou Trivino
Why the Mets do this? Money, Money and Money.
Why the OAK do this? Who wouldn't want to see Cespedes and Khris Davis back to back?
Free Agents Leaving
Jerry Blevins and Jose Reyes
Final Product
Player | Player | Salary | ||
1 | deGrom, Jacob | Kluber, Corey | 15,000,000 | |
2 | Syndergaard, Noah | Urena, Jose | 3,600,000 | |
3 | Matz, Steven | Gibson, Kyle | 7,900,000 | |
4 | Wheeler, Zack | Nova, Ivan | 8,500,000 | |
5 | Vargas, Jason | Stroman, Marcus | 7,200,000 | |
6 | Lugo, Seth | Devenski, Chris | 1,400,000 | |
7 | Gsellman, Robert | Claudio, Alex | 1,300,000 | |
8 | Swarzak, Anthony | Watson, Tony | 3,500,000 | |
9 | Bashlor, Tyler | Bedrosian, Cam | 1,700,000 | |
10 | Smith, Drew | Trivino, Lou | 600,000 | |
11 | Wahl, Bobby | Colome, Alex | 7,300,000 | |
12 | Zamora, Daniel | Knebel, Corey | 4,900,000 | |
13 | Blevins, Jerry | Realmuto, J.T | 6,100,000 | |
14 | D'Arnard, Travis | Cervelli, Francisco | 11,500,000 | |
15 | Plawecki, Kevin | Smoak, Justin | 8,000,000 | |
16 | Flores, Wilmer | Castro, Starlin | 11,000,000 | |
17 | McNeil, Jeff | Profar, Jurickson | 3,400,000 | |
18 | Rosario, Amed | Andujar, Miguel | 600,000 | |
19 | Reyes, Jose | Frazier, Clint | 600,000 | |
20 | Frazier, Todd | Springer, George | 12,000,000 | |
21 | Bruce, Jay | Dickerson, Corey | 8,400,000 | |
22 | Lagares, Juan | Shaw, Travis | 5,100,000 | |
23 | Conforto, Michael | Piscotty, Stephen | 7,000,000 | |
24 | Nimmo, Brandon | Calhoun, Kole | 10,500,000 | |
25 | Smith, Dom | Semien, Marcus | 6,600,000 | |
26 | Cespedes, Yoenis | DL | 0 | |
2019 Payroll | $153,700,000 |