Half 20 in a collection analyzing the New York Mets.
Wilson Ramos was Plan C, however in all probability performed extra like a C-plus in his first season with the Mets.
After the Mets failed of their try and land J.T. Realmuto in a commerce with the Marlins — he was finally dealt to the Phillies — basic supervisor Brodie Van Wagenen pivoted to the free-agent market, the place he tried to signal Yasmani Grandal. However the two sides by no means reached settlement, turning the main focus to Ramos, who arrived on a two-year deal value $19 million. Grandal, by the best way, turned down roughly $60 million from the Mets and took a one-year take care of the Brewers, however acquired his cash over the winter, agreeing to a four-year contract value $73 million with the White Sox.
Given his defensive shortcomings, the Mets would have most well-liked an even bigger splash offensively from Ramos, however acquired a decent .288/.351/.416 slash line with 14 homers and 73 RBIs. Most notably, after two straight injury-plagued seasons, Ramos appeared in 141 video games.
The Mets will face a choice on Ramos after the season — his contract comprises a membership possibility for 2021 value $10 million. The Mets can purchase out that possibility for $1.5 million. Realmuto is among the many catchers who can change into free brokers, maybe giving the Mets one other crack on the CAA shopper (Van Wagenen served because the co-head of the agency’s baseball division earlier than changing into the Mets basic supervisor).
![Wilson Ramos]()
Ramos’ largest concern final season was getting in sync with the Mets’ beginning pitchers. Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard most notably most well-liked different choices behind the plate, forcing the Mets to show extra usually than anticipated to backup Tomas Nido.
Ramos, 32, arrived at spring coaching this 12 months vowing a greater working relationship with the pitchers. Among the many modifications he had applied was dropping to 1 knee, permitting him to set a greater low goal.
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“For me it was onerous to get these [low] pitches a bit bit as a result of I’m an enormous man,” stated Ramos, nicknamed “Buffalo” and listed at 6-foot-1, 245 kilos. “Up to now I by no means labored with my knee on the bottom, so this 12 months and on the finish of final 12 months I labored extra with my knee on the bottom and that helped me to seize these pitches down very effectively.”
If this season is performed, the Mets received’t get an opportunity to see if Ramos’ chemistry with Syndergaard has improved; the right-hander underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in March that may preserve him sidelined into 2021. The Mets would accept enough from Ramos.
“[Ramos] has all the time had that problem defensively, simply by way of motion, lateral motion, he’s simply not very fast,” a scout from a Nationwide League crew stated. “Catching is all the time the kind of place, individuals used to complain about [Mike] Piazza’s protection. However then hastily they stopped complaining about it when he was hitting 40 house runs a 12 months after which hastily it was a non-issue.
“With Wilson you simply need to remind him to remain engaged defensively and to maintain the pitchers locked in. Catching is so necessary by way of getting locked in to the each day plan with the pitchers and being on the identical web page.”
Ramos modified his hitting method as final season progressed, going from a contact hitter again to his energy as any individual who tries to drive the ball.
“He’s all the time been a harmful hitter,” the scout stated. “Developing he actually stayed in the midst of the sector. He’s all the time worn out right-center subject when he was arising with Minnesota and Washington, and I believe final 12 months close to the top of the 12 months he began tapping into his pull-side energy, driving extra balls to the left aspect of the diamond with authority and we noticed extra of who he actually is, I believe these final two months of the season.”