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When Sandy Alderson shipped R.A. Dickey to the Toronto Blue Jays, he did so with an eye on the future. According to the Mets GM’s latest WFAN radio hit, a key piece of that future could debut with the Mets sooner than later. Alderson hinted that Travis d’Arnaud could open the season with the big club, via New York Daily News:

“I just don’t want to rule anything out,” Alderson said. “But at the same time, I don’t want to create false expectations for our fans or put pressure on Travis. He hasn’t played since last June (because of a knee injury). . . . As far as Opening Day is concerned, he could be with us. But we have a very capable veteran in John Buck as well.”



d’Arnaud, of course, was the centrepiece that the Mets coveted in the package of Noah Syndergaard, Wuilmer Becerra, and John Buck that led to them jettisoning the reinging National League Cy Young winner. Alderson’s suggestion that the game’s top catching prospect stands a reasonable chance of making the Mets out of spring training shouldn’t come as a shock, as he was more or less building on praise he offered d’Arnaud last week in an ESPN New York piece from Adam Rubin:

“We viewed d’Arnaud, and I believe the industry views Travis, as the top catching prospect in the game,” Alderson said. “And not just the top catching prospect, but the one who is closest to major league ready, if not now major league ready. In addition, we think his upside is such that he could be a significant player for us over the next many years.

“Understand he’s only a prospect. Understand he has not done anything at the major league level. But given his ceiling, given his position and given what we think he can do not just long term for the Mets — near term, medium term — we think he can be a difference-maker.”

DonYon wrote:He can be their next Piazza for all I care as long as we win the WS

tecumseh18 wrote:

DonYon wrote:He can be their next Piazza for all I care as long as we win the WS

Piazza would hurt. He had a 6.8 WAR his rookie season, 16.2 his first three seasons. Dickey was 5.6 in 2012, 12.1 over the last three seasons.

TDA's probably not gonna be Piazza. But there's no question that JPA's offence and defence is a weak link in the Jays chain. So "wins above replacement" is a fairly meaningful stat in this situation.

tecumseh18 wrote:Piazza would hurt. He had a 6.8 WAR his rookie season, 16.2 his first three seasons. Dickey was 5.6 in 2012, 12.1 over the last three seasons.

DonYon wrote:

tecumseh18 wrote:Piazza would hurt. He had a 6.8 WAR his rookie season, 16.2 his first three seasons. Dickey was 5.6 in 2012, 12.1 over the last three seasons.

He can be the next Herman Ruth and I still wouldn't care

I guess my point is that no one should feel bad as long as Dickey does what he's supposed to. People get too caught up in who the 'winner' of these trades are, but it really shouldn't matter as long as both teams benefit from it (no matter how much or little).

flatjacket1 wrote:

DonYon wrote:

tecumseh18 wrote:Piazza would hurt. He had a 6.8 WAR his rookie season, 16.2 his first three seasons. Dickey was 5.6 in 2012, 12.1 over the last three seasons.

He can be the next Herman Ruth and I still wouldn't care

I guess my point is that no one should feel bad as long as Dickey does what he's supposed to. People get too caught up in who the 'winner' of these trades are, but it really shouldn't matter as long as both teams benefit from it (no matter how much or little).

That would be the worst point of view of management ever... We would get so bad so fast if we continued down that path.

Lateral Quicks wrote:Don't want to be a debbie downer, but this trade could easily bust for the Jays. Dickey could lose a few mph on his fast knuckler and instantly become much more hittable, while d'Arnaud could quite conceivably be better than Arencibia in his rookie year. I didn't like the trade when it was made, and still think it was a mistake now.

Excited about the season though! Hopefully the trade works out for both teams.

RyderMike wrote:How is that a terrible management point of view? If the trade does what it is supposed to for you team, it shouldn't matter about the other team. Look at it this way: Would you rather win the battle (trade), but lose the war (World Series)? The end all and be all is to win the World Series. Whatever you do to get there is worth it. The best trades are the ones that benefit both teams, just like this trade has the potential of doing (don't get me wrong I love winning a trade - I would never say no if we acquired Strasburg+Harper for a player to be named ). It takes value to get value.

flatjacket1 wrote:

RyderMike wrote:How is that a terrible management point of view? If the trade does what it is supposed to for you team, it shouldn't matter about the other team. Look at it this way: Would you rather win the battle (trade), but lose the war (World Series)? The end all and be all is to win the World Series. Whatever you do to get there is worth it. The best trades are the ones that benefit both teams, just like this trade has the potential of doing (don't get me wrong I love winning a trade - I would never say no if we acquired Strasburg+Harper for a player to be named ). It takes value to get value.

So if we trade 4 fWAR for 3 fWAR it's a good trade still?

Lateral Quicks wrote:Don't want to be a debbie downer, but this trade could easily bust for the Jays. Dickey could lose a few mph on his fast knuckler and instantly become much more hittable, while d'Arnaud could quite conceivably be better than Arencibia in his rookie year. I didn't like the trade when it was made, and still think it was a mistake now.

Excited about the season though! Hopefully the trade works out for both teams.

Brew666 wrote:

Lateral Quicks wrote:Don't want to be a debbie downer, but this trade could easily bust for the Jays. Dickey could lose a few mph on his fast knuckler and instantly become much more hittable, while d'Arnaud could quite conceivably be better than Arencibia in his rookie year. I didn't like the trade when it was made, and still think it was a mistake now.

Excited about the season though! Hopefully the trade works out for both teams.

I think the probabilities are on the Jays' side with this deal (prospects v. proven mlbers). Even if Dickey does lose a few mph off a knuckler, it's nothing as long as he can pitch for strikes, which he's been doing for 2.5 - 3 seasons.

There's no guarantees with D'Arnaud but I think people have a bit of an inflated view if people are fearing we gave up a once in a generation catcher. We gave up good prospects to get an ace, that's the cost.

MikeM wrote:If that 3 fWar is replacing Aaron Laffey then yes.

If we're chasing a world series of course.

If we're the Mets then no.

Priorities change when you're trying to actually win baseball games.

flatjacket1 wrote:

RyderMike wrote:How is that a terrible management point of view? If the trade does what it is supposed to for you team, it shouldn't matter about the other team. Look at it this way: Would you rather win the battle (trade), but lose the war (World Series)? The end all and be all is to win the World Series. Whatever you do to get there is worth it. The best trades are the ones that benefit both teams, just like this trade has the potential of doing (don't get me wrong I love winning a trade - I would never say no if we acquired Strasburg+Harper for a player to be named ). It takes value to get value.

So if we trade 4 fWAR for 3 fWAR it's a good trade still?