John Franco just got back from Italy, making it home in time to join Tiki & Tierney as they broadcast live from Joe Torre’s Safe at Home Foundation golf event in Westchester County Thursday!
Franco is about to become a grandpa – where does the time go? – but he’s still in tune with the young players, and knows Juan Soto is a generational talent that “comes along once in a lifetime.”
And because of that, the Mets need to be serious suitors in his eyes, even as reports come in that they’ve already offered a package and talks have fizzled.
“I think they’re probably exploring it and seeing what their options might be,” Franco said. “You don’t know if these prospects are going to pan out, but you have a guy who is established, a superstar home run hitter who has won a World Series…if you can get him without giving up too much, a guy that comes along once in a lifetime, I would do it.”
As Tiki said, you can’t say “same old Mets” anymore now that Steve Cohen is willing to spend money to acquire the players the team needs – but this isn’t just any player, and even if the cost is supreme, he fits the profile the Mets need AND comes with a superstar status.
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“Especially because you need a big bat behind Pete Alonso…you have an owner who is willing to spend, and if it can be done, I think it will be done,” Franco said.
BT has been beating that big bat drum for months, but Franco is also optimistic that even if the Mets don’t get Soto or another bat at the trade deadline, their philosophy this season has been a success to the point that they can make a deep run in the postseason.
“I think they can; hitter philosophy has changed a lot this year, and that’s a lot of credit to new hitting coach Eric Chavez, who brought in a philosophy where he’s simplifying information for the guys – hit the ball where it’s pitched and success will come,” Franco said. “He’s simplified things really down to see the ball, hit the ball, and with that pitching staff, especially if (Jacob) deGrom comes back healthy, they’re going to be tough to beat.”
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Another ace up the Mets’ sleeve? The skipper.
“Buck (Showalter) is great. That’s probably the best move they’ve made in four or five years,” Franco said. “Buck is very detail-oriented, and I heard that he walked around the complex in spring training and had them make some changes on things he didn’t like. He’s earned respect, and I think he does a great job with the organization, and with the kids – and that’s what the team needed, a guy who wouldn’t let the inmates run the asylum.”
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