THE YANKEES’ INVESTED FUTURE/THE METS’ DIVESTED
FUTURE
Another
Subway Series has begun. Last night, the
Yankees defeated the Mets 4-1 in their first of 6 games against each other this
season. Tonight, the Yankees took the
second game at Citi Field. At this stage
of the 2018 season, one thing is very evident - the Yanks (42-18) are destined
for another successful season and more than likely the playoffs in 4 months,
while the Mets (27-34) are destined for another failing season. In an embarrassing current stat, the Mets’ amount
of wins (27) is almost equal to the Yankees’ amount of games over the .500 mark
(24)!
As far
as talent is concerned, the Yankees have so many youthful players with
impressive results. Some of the NYY players
showed very valuable potential last season (Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, and Luis
Severino). This season, the buzz around
baseball is directed at two other youthful call-ups (Gleyber Torres and Miguel
Andujar). Additionally, if Greg Bird
ever stays healthy (he was just added to the team a couple of weeks ago), he
may finally become yet another potential youthful additive for this team.
The
Mets have not had any new talented players demonstrate astonishment towards their
Major League roster this season. They
are still weighing in on farm system players that played for them last season
(Steven Matz, Amed Rosario, Michael Conforto, and Brandon Nimmo). Out of the latter group, both have begun showing
improvements this season, but Matz (like Bird) has to prove that he can remain
healthy. Furthermore, the Mets have not
added any significant talent from outside transactions except older players who
no one else tried to attain (Adrian Gonzalez, Jose Bautista, and their own
farmhand, José Reyes). They also
acquired Todd Frazier. With those
additives, the Mets’ roster has collectively become the third oldest in the
majors.
While the present
demonstrates a major contrast between the two teams, the greatest difference is
clearly their futures. The Yankees’ farm
system, per Bleacher Report (https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2759103-mlb-farm-system-rankings-pre-2018-spring-training-edition#slide6)
was rated at Number 3, while the Mets’ farm system was ranked at Number 29 - only
the Kansas City Royals are worse! Except
for starting pitching, the Yankees are so overloaded with talent in their minor
league system that they can confidently promote an infielder, an outfielder, or
a bullpen pitcher that other teams have shown desire to attain for their Major
League rosters. That’s what they did
when they promoted their third baseman of the future (Miguel Andujar) because Brandon
Drury was placed on the disabled list for a migraine condition and they
promoted their second baseman of the future (Gleyber Torres) when Neil Walker didn’t
demonstrate enough to remain as their regular second baseman.
The next few years
offer a great deal of potential for the Yankees with their pool of talent in
place and their money sitting in an account waiting to be spent for next season,
when their luxury tax penalties are reset.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, the Mets’ farm system will not
grow rapidly from the bottom to the top, especially without a true commitment
from them to spend on more international scouts to help them finally sign and
develop a decent-sized group of international players. The Mets also have to finally commit some
free agent spending money for players under the age of 35, or even 30.
