SportsNet New York is reporting that the Red Sox have shown an interest in third baseman T.J. Rivera to fill the hole left after releasing Pablo Sandoval.
New York Mets Should Not Trade T.J. Rivera
Jon Heyman of Fanrag Sports broke the news earlier this morning.
red sox scouted 3 mets — flores as well as asdrubal and (tj) rivera — as 3b alternatives. lowrie, harrison, solarte also seen as in mix
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 19, 2017
Rivera should not be considered in any trade offer for the Mets. He should be a cornerstone of what they are building toward.
So far while up with the big club this season, Rivera is hitting .289/.333/.437. He also has 12 doubles and five home runs. At 28-years-old, Rivera is still young enough to build around, while being old enough to be a veteran presence in the locker room.
Rivera has not only been solid offensively, he also has played well in the field. He’s been almost everywhere on the Mets infield. Despite not having one home, he has only committed only seven errors for a fielding percentage of .968. Once he has a permanent home, that should improve. His versatility is also gives the Mets someone who can spell other guys when they need rest.
At 34-years-old and injury riddled, David Wright should be replaced sooner rather than later. Rivera has shown he has the tools to make it in the majors. The Mets signed Rivera as a rookie free agent in 2011, after he was attending Troy University by way of Lehman High School in the Bronx. A New Yorker playing for the Mets starting in their farm system is almost as home-grown as it gets.
Rivera is a guy the fans could get their hearts wrapped around. With the combination of Rivera and Amed Rosario, the left side of the infield would be set for the foreseeable future.
Now imagine this young infield growing together: 1B Dominic Smith, 2B Gavin Cecchini, SS Rosario and 3B Rivera. You add the veteran presence of Yoenis Cespedes, Michael Conforto, and others, including Rivera. This could be the makings of a solid future for the Mets.
The Mets can then turn the business model on it’s proverbial head. In New York, fans get a bad rap for wanting immediate results. However, even though fans want the team to win, they are also smart fans.
They will show up and watch on television if you give them a product that they can believe in, even if it’s not immediate. Fans want a team that’s going somewhere, not one that they believe will be stagnant or perpetually bad. So if the team can show they’re heading in the right direction, fans will appreciate that and be patient. All the Mets need to show the fans is the direction they are heading in will lead to something down the road.
The Mets should be thinking about their future, because they’re likely going nowhere in 2017. The future is bright, if the Mets can make the right moves before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
