“Stevie keeps flushing that money out! Those Metsies are spending, Good Lord!"
That was Brandon Tierney’s take right at the top of Friday’s Tiki & Tierney Show, which was broadcast remotely from Philadelphia ahead of Saturday’s Army-Navy Game at Lincoln Financial Field.
But across Pattison Avenue from the Linc, Citizens Bank Park is going to get a full dose of Brandon Nimmo, Justin Verlander, and David Robertson this summer, with the Mets unveiling their newest pitcher (and former Yankee and two-time Phillie) along with re-signing Nimmo late Thursday night.
And BT loves the latest signing of Nimmo, and the fact that Steve Cohen is spending heavily.
“As of now, Steve Cohen is looking at roughly a $60 million luxury tax penalty, and that’s higher than the payrolls of the Pirates, Orioles, and A’s right now,” BT said. “I’m happy Nimmo is staying, because there are certain people that fit certain times, and he’s one of those guys. Could we quibble about the length and the money? Sure, but it is what it is.”
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There’s one thing that worries BT, though: how that money, especially over the next two years of the guaranteed Verlander/Scherzer era, is allocated.
“Over the next two seasons, the Mets are going to pay Scherzer and Verlander $173 million,” BT noted. "The Braves will pay Matt Olson, Acuna, Strider, Austin Riley, Iglesias, Albies, and Michael Harris $171 million. I love that Cohen’s spending, but we can ask the question: are the Mets even better?”
Earlier in the morning, Gio had said he thinks the Mets are only marginally better, and here’s Tiki’s take on the pitching side:
“Yes, they are, because they have a more reliable two-ace system than they had a year ago; I expect Scherzer is going to be a lot less cavalier than he was a year ago, where he wanted to prove how important he was and wanted to go deep in every start,” Tiki said. “I think last year taught Scherzer that he needs it at the end much more than he does at the beginning, and with Verlander, their top two are better than they were.”
However, Tiki understands that those guys will only pitch 65-70 games max, and they need support not only then, but in the other 90 to 100 as well.
“I still think there’s a big bat that they need. The Nimmo signing is fantastic, and keeps them on par to where they were a year ago, but there’s still a need for a big bat,” Tiki said. “And, if you’re already $60 million into the luxury tax, why not go $100 million into the tax?”
BT had the same idea, saying “go for it and give Carlos Correa a buzz,” with Tiki wondering if that would satiate the Mets fan.
“I think today, the Mets fan is already largely satisfied, because you replaced deGrom and brought back someone who fits, which you can’t always quantify, because there are certain guys who are worth more to their team than they are to other teams,” BT said. “If the Tigers or the Yankees gave Nimmo eight years and $162 million, that’s not necessarily commensurate to his place on the team day-to-day as it is with the Mets.”
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Maybe so, and Tiki, as an ex-athlete, understands that “glue guy” mentality...but sometimes you need more.
“Well said, but I think the ultimate barometer for this offseason for Steve Cohen is going to be what you did to make the team better,” Tiki said. “Kudos to getting Nimmo and Verlander, but they need power, and if they don’t spend the money to get the power, it’s going to feel disappointing, even if they are better.”
How does BT feel about that?
"I don't think it's over; it's almost unfair to expect or even want Steve Cohen to do more, but he needs to if he wants to have this team swimming in the waters with the Braves, Padres, Phillies, Dodgers, and Cardinals."
Follow WFAN's midday team on Twitter: @TikiandTierney, @TikiBarber, @BrandonTierney, and @TheHoffWFAN
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