We are heading into the start of the free agent season so pundits are posting their predictions all over the place. We already looked at MLBTR, here we are going to take a look at what Jim Bowden at The Athletic (subscription required and suggested) says and see where MLBTR and Bowden line up!
MLBTR links players to teams and then makes a prediction for where they will go. Bowden just links teams that either he predicts will be interested or we know have already showed interest. Bowden also includes more SABR friendly stats like wRC+, OPS+, FIP’s, Curveball spin rates, etc
Players the Mets are interested in according to Bowden:
- Manny Machado (SS/3B)
- Craig Kimbrel (RHP)
- AJ Pollock (CF)
- Yasmani Grandal (C)
- Wilson Ramos (C)
- Zach Britton (LHP)
- Adam Ottavino (RHP)
- Jeurys Familia (RHP)
- David Robertson (RHP)
- Joe Kelly (RHP)
As a quick reminder MLBTR had the Mets linked to Kimbrel, Grandal, Britton, Robertson, Soria with the Mets signing the last two.
Both websites agree with the publicly known notion that the Mets will be rebuilding their pen and several of the names between the two are the same. If MLBTR had a “linked to” section for Famila, I’m sure the Mets would have been there. If Bowden wrote about the top 50 FA’s so Soria would be on his list, he would probably have the Mets there too.
They differ in a couple key places. For MLBTR, they see the Mets going after Grandal or no catcher as Bowden, more conservatively has the Mets linked to Grandal and Ramos, the latter who will benefit this off-season in a bidding war for the former (or will benefit due to the QO tag).
Bowden also sees the Mets at least entertaining the idea of entering the Machado sweepstakes as it makes sense outside of the existence of Jeff and Fred Wilpon and Bowden sees the Mets interested in AJ Pollock. That point is more interesting. If the Mets signed Pollock, would they move one of their outfielders? They are still missing a true CF
