The New York Mets are searching for a new manager after they announced the firing of Mickey Callaway on Thursday, but apparently they are not planning to make sweeping changes to the team’s current roster.
Without being asked any question about the Mets potentially trading some of their top players this offseason, general manager Brodie Van Wagenen told reporters on Thursday that the team has no plans to trade starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard or closer Edwin Diaz. He also indicated Robinson Cano is expected to be back in 2020.
Van Wagenen, unsolicited: "Edwin Diaz is going to be on this team next year. Noah Syndergaard is going to be on this team next year."
— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) October 3, 2019
Van Wagenen on the Seattle trade: "We felt like Diaz and Cano would make impacts immediately…. We feel good about the talent those two players possess and we feel confident they will be helping us make contributions in the upcoming 2020 season."
— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) October 3, 2019
Syndergaard was the subject of trade rumors at various points throughout the 2019 season, but the Mets chose to hang onto him. There was some belief that they would deal Syndergaard after they acquired Marcus Stroman in a trade at the deadline, but the plan is for Stroman to replace soon-to-be free agent Zack Wheeler if and when he departs this winter.
Both Syndergaard and Diaz had disappointing seasons in New York. Syndergaard finished the year 10-8 with a career-worst 4.28 ERA. His 197.2 innings pitched were the most of his career, but so were the 24 home runs he allowed. Diaz, who was expected to solidify the back end of the Mets’ bullpen, posted a 5.59 ERA after he was lights out with a 1.96 ERA in Seattle last year. The 25-year-old saved 26 games in 33 opportunities.
Syndergaard supposedly had some issues with the catchers he was paired with late in the season, but that can easily be worked out during the winter. If the Mets want to contend for a playoff spot and have a strong starting rotation, building around Syndergaard and Stroman is a good idea.
