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Mets: Three lessons Brodie Van Wagenen seems to have learned

By Tim Boyle |
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 04: Carlos Beltran, left, is introduced by General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen during a press conference at Citi Field on November 4, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 04: Carlos Beltran, left, is introduced by General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen during a press conference at Citi Field on November 4, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 20: New York Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen answers questions during a press conference before the game between the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals at Citi Field on May 20, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 20: New York Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen answers questions during a press conference before the game between the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals at Citi Field on May 20, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

New York Mets General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen appears to have learned some valuable lessons running a baseball team.

During Brodie Van Wagenen’s tenure as New York Mets General Manager, he has had plenty of time to learn from his mistakes. Those errors have been gigantic and in 2020, he’ll have to cross his fingers and hope some of them don’t get worse.

Van Wagenen hasn’t been a complete disaster. As a general manager, he’s going to get beat up a little more than he probably deserves.

This offseason for the Mets has been imperfect, but it also includes fewer questionable moves. Sure, we can debate the merits of each. However, BVW seems to have learned some important lessons.

Don’t sell the farm

How many prospects can Van Wagenen sell before his tenure is up? If trading away highly-ranked minor leaguers was a sport, he’d be its Mike Trout.

Although none of the prospects Van Wagenen has traded has made a major impact in the big leagues, Mets fans will hold their breath and hope guys like Jarred Kelenic, Anthony Kay, and Justin Dunn never become superstars. Otherwise, the trades BVW made which sent them elsewhere will look a whole lot worse.

This winter has included plenty of trade rumors about the Mets potentially pursuing another big-name player. From Mookie Betts to Nolan Arenado to Starling Marte, nearly every player rumored to have a spot on their team’s trade block has been linked to the Mets in one way or another.

Instead of going after the big splash, Van Wagenen has avoided selling the farm for some immediate success. There are times when this is perfectly fine.

However, with a depleted minor league system at the moment, I would be incredibly hesitant to make a trade to shrivel it further.

There’s plenty of offseason left for Van Wagenen to actually go out there and acquire a big-name player. I have my doubts. Other teams can outbid the Mets for a superstar and many of them have contracts that may push the team a little too out of budget.

Steve Cohen is already in the ownership office measuring the windows. Van Wagenen’s reputation is on the line and his plan appears to include keeping some of the best prospects the team has.

DENVER, COLORADO – SEPTEMBER 18: Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets hits a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 18, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO – SEPTEMBER 18: Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets hits a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 18, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Trust the kids

Haters are, as the kids who have probably grown up now would say, “gonna hate” and people who despise Van Wagenen are going to say I’m reaching here. Does he actually trust the kids? His lack of action may be in part because he hasn’t gotten a good deal for any of the younger players already on the MLB roster. Another element may be that he actually trusts the youngsters.

Let’s go back to Opening Day 2019 for a moment. Pete Alonso made his way onto the roster out of Spring Training. Other general managers may have attempted to delay his MLB debut to save a year of control.

Van Wagenen did do the sensible thing here. And as a former agent, I think his mind was still in the “what’s best for the player” mode.

Alonso is only one example. This winter, it’s the not trading away Brandon Nimmo (yet) which has me wondering if this is a lesson he has learned. Compared to last offseason when the Mets added Robinson Cano and Jed Lowrie, it seems like the team is disinterested in taking risks on more veteran players.

Sure, BVW has added older guys this winter. However, none are nearly as ancient as the duo of Cano and Lowrie.

Van Wagenen doesn’t fully trust all of the kids. Thank goodness he doesn’t. Not all of them are capable of performing at a high level in Major League Baseball. I’m specifically referring to the army of relievers we’ve seen shuttled back and forth from Triple-A.

The trust the Mets’ GM has in the kids is nothing too outlandish. I think after what many of them did in 2019, we all believe in them a little more.

NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 29: Fans are seen prior to the start of the Opening Day game between the New York Mets and the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field on March 29, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 29: Fans are seen prior to the start of the Opening Day game between the New York Mets and the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field on March 29, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Sometimes Mets fans do know best

Spend one minute too long on Mets Twitter and you may want to break your computer. Social media is a hotbed of ridiculousness. It’s at its truest when talking sports.

Many Mets fans have been right all along—for the most part. After weeks of urging them to sign Dellin Betances, it finally happened. The Mets outbid the competition for the Brooklyn native’s services in 2020. That one move completely changes the way this bullpen could look.

Mets fans have also taken a strong stance against trading Jeff McNeil. Reportedly, he was a must in any trade package for Francisco Lindor. Fortunately, Van Wagenen is either a big fan of the Flying Squirrel or realizes two years of Lindor isn’t worth paying the price.

The only time Van Wagenen has gotten something right before everyone else was about a year ago when he traded for J.D. Davis. Who knew Just Dingers would become such a stud? Brodie knew. And hey, I’m glad he did. Mets fans got to learn a lesson from that. Sometimes a broken clock is right.

Van Wagenen has swung big plenty during his tenure. He’ll be defined by a few things. Ultimately, it’s whether or not he can get this team a championship.

Even if the team fails to make the playoffs again in 2020, I think Van Wagenen is becoming a wiser general manager. When he speaks, I can almost feel the screaming from behind his strong jaw telling us he’s handcuffed by ownership.

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The real test comes when Van Wagenen gets to go out and spend with Cohen’s money. First, he has to keep his job until then. Listening to more Mets fans could keep his job safe.

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