Time to Sign on the Dotted Line

   

    When is it the right time to lock up your young talent? The time to strike while the iron is hot and so is this team: well that time is now. With the apparent financial woes of the New York Mets ownership behind them, the moment to retain members of this elite pitching staff for the future has come.

    It is no secret that the Mets' owners were involved in the Bernie Madoff Ponzi Scheme Scandal crippling what was once their real estate fortune and subsequently hindering the daily business abilities of the New York Mets. The Wilpons estimated making $162 million off of their initial investment with Madoff, while losing $178 million in other funds in association with Madoff. Originally the Wilpons were found obligated to repay $300 million back to the victims of this Ponzi scheme. This greatly affected how the team was run. The owners would have to take loans out from Major League Baseball itself to continue to run the team, let alone try to invest in any high priced talent. As court hearings progressed, the Wilpons would begin to receive good news and better news. They were found to only have to repay the $162 million profit that they had allegedly earned. Then, as a part of a settlement agreement with the trustees, the Wilpons would owe 48.802 cents on the dollar, which roughly equals $75,132,440. Also, the payment can be made in two installments and could even get reduced again.With this new lease on life the ownership of the New York Metropolitans immediately began to reinvest in the team and payroll increased. 

    High dollar contracts are expiring, soon to be coming off the books, freeing up funds for the future. These high priced veterans like Curtis Granderson, Neil Walker, Asdrubal Cabrera, Bartolo Colon and even possibly Lucas Duda would have all paved the road for young up and coming prospects to takeover for them at their respective positions. It's worth noting that Yoenis Cespedes signed a 3 year/$75 million deal making his average salary $25 million per year, and also has an opt out clause in it for the end of the 2016 season. If taken, one could presume former Gold Glove Award winner Juan Lagares would take back duties in center field. Lagares has actually shown up to camp in what might be the best shape of his career: losing 20 lbs. in the off-season while focusing on getting healthy and in peak performing condition. Juan Lagares might be looking at a breakout year even with a lesser role. 

    Granderson in RF will most likely be replaced by prospect Brandon Nimmo when Curtis' contract expires after the 2017 season. Granderson earning $15 million a season in exchange for Nimmo's rookie contract in the $500,000 neighborhood only starts the trend of replacing aging expensive talent with cost effective home grown prospects. Neil Walker's $10.55 million/one year deal ending after the 2016 campaign, is just a place setting for top prospect Dilson Herrera and another rookie contract. Asdrubal Cabrera's tenure with the Mets will end after the 2018 season saving the team $9.25 million compared to his impending replacements Amed Rosario, Gavin Cecchini, Matt Reynolds or even Wilmer Flores (none of which at that time will be making in the millions). Fan favorite Bartolo " Big Sexy" Colon re-signed only a one year commitment with the team ending after the 2016 season for $7.25 million due to the return of Zack Wheeler who is slated only to earn $547,000. Which brings us to Lucas Duda, whose arbitration eligible, not long term contract currently sits at $6.725 million and set to become a free agent in the 2018 season. The Mets have 1b Florida State League player of the year 2015 Dominic Smith who can un-seed Duda and man the helm at first base. 

    ***Alejandro De Aza signed a 1 year/$5.75 million deal which was thought at the time to platoon with Lagares in center field, but with the return of Yoenis Cespedes he has become nothing more than an expensive bench piece. He has been highly speculated in trade rumors and will most likely be dealt for probably nothing more than salary relief. Most recently speculated the Texas Rangers were a possible destination for De Aza with LF Josh Hamilton  battling injuries, however, they just signed former SS and Washington National Ian Desmond to play some LF for them.

    The departures of these higher valued contracts yield financial flexibility to spend money on other areas of the team: the pitching staff aka the strength of this ball club and the rotation that is the envy of all baseball. Starting pitching doesn't come cheap, attempting to keep all members of the "Five Aces" pitching staff consisting of Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler has some experts speculating to cost a billion dollars. Now with having the lineup riddled with young cheap talent the team may just be able to keep if not all, most of this staff together. Across the diamond the Mets' near future could appear as:

C- Travis d'Arnaud 

1b- Dominic Smith

2b- Dilson Herrera 

3b- David Wright

SS- Amed Rosario

Lf- Michael Conforto 

Cf- Yoenis Cespedes / Juan Lagares

Rf- Brandon Nimmo

    Aside from Wright and Cespedes / Lagares, the rest of the team will be making closer to the bottom tier of baseball's pay scale - most likely adding up to be around or less than $4 million total. Add in roughly $47 million between Wright, Cespedes, and Lagares, (totaling $51 million now) and if the Mets' payroll floats around $125-135 million, that leaves $74-84 million for bench help, bullpen, and rotation. This would allow those temporary unused funds to be allocated in the direction of what could go down as arguably the greatest rotation in baseball history. Now if Cespedes does utilize his opt out clause, that would be an additional $25 million that would be freed up to be dedicated to pitching. Easily this is enough to extend one or even two starting pitchers long-term deals. Now imagine if the team flirted with a payroll somewhere around the $150 million range, which would probably be enough to lock up four of the starting five for the future.

    Jacob deGrom was the first to come out publicly and state his willingness to discuss a long-term extension with the team, all while realizing his age would factor against him in the terms of that contract. deGrom has also, as a means of protest, refused to sign his $607,000 contract for this season. Doesn't really mean much besides the statement itself. These are elite pitchers and should be paid as such. Jacob deGrom was Rookie of the Year after going 9-6 with a 2.69 ERA and striking out 144 batters in his first year in the bigs. deGrom followed up his rookie campaign with an all-star nod while being in the Cy Young award picture. Jacob deGrom is out-performing many of his peers but like most of this next wave of dominant young pitching in MLB, they are compared with the best in the game but aren't paid like them. 

    This trend of young underpaid elite pitching feeling under valued isn't just a Mets' issue. Fellow starting pitching of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cy Young contender, Gerrit Cole, came forward expressing his displeasure with the current contract situation. Slated to make roughly $541,000/this year, Cole was one of the best pitchers in the National League a year ago, but will be making less than a Mets' pitcher returning from Tommy John surgery. Zack Wheeler, who didn't pitch at all last season, will be making $547,000 for the 2016 season.

    Most recently Matt Harvey has come forward saying how he is open to extending his stay with the Mets as well. As a Scott Boras client, this is unheard of. All Boras' clients test free agency and are sold to the highest bidder in a feeding frenzy. Foregoing this fairy-tale for a front-line starter is a future no one would have foreseen.Speculation and curiosity has made estimate figures circulate the media while trying to imagine what type of deal it would take to get this done. Offers estimating from three years to as many as seven and anywhere from $75 million to more than $200 million- estimates can be found suggesting what it would take to keep the Dark Knight of Gotham Matt Harvey in his orange and blue uniform for the foreseeable future. But that is just it, these are just estimates. What would it take to keep Harvey a Met?

    This rotation, as Sports Illustrated portrays it as the "Billion Dollar" rotation, very well might take just that to ensure that all the pieces stay together. Is it worth it? Having what could be the greatest starting pitching rotation that the game has ever seen and under team control for many years, is that worth it? The fans that will be able to pour into the stands each night knowing that they are witnessing something special, all the while having a legitimate chance to win each and every game, is that worth it?
     As these "Five Aces:" Harvey, deGrom, Syndergaard, Matz, and Wheeler continue to mature, hone their skills and hit their primes; leading the New York Mets to an ever-so-eluding World Series Championship or even multiple, is that worth it? One way or the other, a history of mistakes begs the question from management: will this era of Mets' lore forever be remembered in history as the team that spent all the money it had to keeping its young pitching core united? Or as the team that let some of its pieces breakaway only to leave fans and historians asking: What if?  

Arrogant in the Cage but Humble in Defeat

    Reigning and defending UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor did something at UFC 196 that most professional fighters would never think of: he moved up not one, but two weight classes and did so with less than two weeks notice. McGregor holds his championship in the 145lb division, and was originally scheduled to move up to the 155lb  Lightweight division . McGregor had plans to fight Rafael Dos Anjos for his championship belt before Dos Anjos had to withdraw due to injury. With only days before UFC 196, UFC President Dana White worked feverishly to find a fighter willing to take on McGregor with only days to prepare. Conor's eagerness to fight anyone at anytime made this decision easier for White as he selected Nate Diaz to oppose McGregor.

    A war of words that has been waging for months would finally come to a head, as these two vicious verbal vigilantes were scheduled to meet on Saturday March 5th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. These two fighters are both well known for their crazy antics on the microphone with some of the best abilities to promote a fight. Because this match-up became official only days before the fight,  fans were seemingly shortchanged on what could have been a lengthy entertaining build up to fight night. The few brief interactions at press conferences and interviews had left the fans begging for more unfortunately due to time restraints. The PR train had only a few stops. Hopefully the fight would not disappoint the fans, leaving them wanting more in that aspect also.

    The stipulation arose that the weight for the fight would be an issue for Diaz to make what was originally scheduled to be at 155lbs. McGregor's pretentiousness led to him agreeing to fight at the weight in which Diaz would be comfortable: 170lbs. This could have been the beginning of the end for Conor McGregor as he did not even meet this weight, coming in at only 168lbs. This unheard of jump in weight classes in such a short period of time would most certainly have an effect on his fighting ability inside the octagon. Even if this insane jump in weight classes would push McGregor's physical faculties, seemingly nothing could hinder the swagger he brings to the mic.

    What has become a regularity surrounding Conor McGregor fights, his Mystic Mac persona revealed himself to make a prediction on the outcome of the fight. Mystic Mac predicted that the fight would end via knockout in the first round due to McGregor landing one of his capoeria kicks. Trying to make this prediction come to fruition was possibly the final nail in the coffin that led to McGregor's downfall to Diaz. Conor frequently attempted to land his signature capoeria kick only to swing and miss or have it blocked. This could have ultimately spent the last bit of reserve energy that McGregor had and he consequently gassed out in the second round.

    Even after round one in which Conor McGregor controlled the fight, dealing damage and landing punches at will; a bloody and battered Nate Diaz still stood. Narrowly withstanding everything that Conor could throw at him, Diaz began to go on the offensive in round two in which he landed 54 punches, more than in any previous McGregor fight total. A hard left hand landed and a stunned McGregor with a glazed look over his eyes, stumbled as he found himself in unfamiliar territory. As onlookers and paper-view subscribers watched an outcome only a few had predicted, McGregor desperately attempted to take Diaz down, which only played to Nate's strengths. Clearly superior on the ground, Diaz gained full mount and in a final act of desperation Conor rolled over which surrendered his neck for a rear naked choke submission, a tap out, and the victory for Nate Diaz.

       A broken man sat at the post fight press conference, humbled in defeat, Conor gave nothing but respect for Diaz as he said Nate was the better man that night. Social media was in an uproar taking shots at McGregor attempting to kick the man while he is down. Essentially pointing out that McGregor's mouth backed him into a corner that his fighting talent could not get him out of. Former Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo wrote on social media that "The Fairy Tale Was Over." Was it due to an ever growing ego that needed to be put into check, and arrogance that was running awry?           Conor McGregor could have easily stayed within his own weight class and most likely continued his course of dominance while being considered one of the best to ever step into the cage. What if McGregor would lose his Mystic Mac persona or at the least maintained a game-plan inside the cage not based on some fictional prediction? Arguments could be made that the flaws in Conor's game are not even inside the octagon but due to his ego, driven by arrogance that miss-manages his career and his fights. Only time will tell what the future holds for McGregor as he plans to return to the division where he found the competition easier to handle.

Are the UFC Fighters Scared of Conor McGregor?

    
     This is a very familiar road that the UFC is traveling down. A road in which not just a fighter but a champion fighter pulls out of a mega-fight due to a questionable injury at the last minute. Injuries happen, especially in this type of sport. The curious thing is when both of these highly promoted fights were against the same individual. This is of course referring to passed potential cards with Jose Aldo and Rafael Dos Anjos. When both ended with the same result: one might ask themselves are the UFC fighters scared of Conor McGregor?

    The phenomena all began at UFC 189 in 2015 when Conor McGregor was scheduled to compete against Jose Aldo for the Featherweight Championship. Just weeks before the bout was scheduled to take place, Aldo pulled out of the match due to injured ribs. This, however, was predicted like many of his knockouts by the "Mystic Mac" persona of McGregor. Conor spouted in many press interviews that Aldo would not make it to UFC 189 and would pull out before that fight, which strangely enough, came true. McGregor went on to beat a formidable opponent, Chad Mendes, at UFC 189 for the Interim Featherweight Championship belt via KO/TKO stoppage in the 2nd round (also predicted by Mystic Mac).

    Aldo and McGregor would finally meet at UFC 194 in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2015. After the long wait was finally over, these two men would step toe to toe with hopes not to disappoint. Within a flash, one punch and thirteen seconds later, the fight was over. As Conor McGregor again predicted exactly how the fight would turn out, moment by moment as it was portrayed. A defeated Aldo laid humbled on the canvas as the newly crowned Featherweight Champion celebrated his KO/TKO victory.

    Rafael Dos Anjos was slated to be the next scheduled opponent for McGregor at UFC 196 in March of 2016. The contest in which Conor has moved up in weight to the Lightweight Division to challenge Dos Anjos for his championship belt. Dos Anjos has also pulled out of what was shaping up to be an epic showdown just weeks before the contest was to take place. Dos Anjos withdrew from the fight due to a broken foot. Originally Dos Anjos presented the idea of taking a pain killing injection in his foot to UFC President Dana White, but later declared that was no longer an option as he claims he is unable to compete. 

"When we told Conor, he said, 'Come on! This [expletive] guy! Oh my God! He's pulling out?'

But when we went through the options, he said he'd fight any of them.

I swear to God, he said, 'I'll fight anyone.' He just doesn't give a [expletive]. People talk about this strained relationship between us and Conor, and he has a different style than I've ever seen, but I have never seen anyone like Conor. The closest was Chuck Liddell, but we've never had one like Conor. You think he's not hurt? But when he says he's going to fight, he's going to fight no matter what." -Dana White, UFC President

    The options seemed numerous, but finding willing opponents was another story entirely. Jose Aldo emphatically stated that he will not take any other fight until he has his rematch with Conor McGregor, but when asked to fill in at UFC 196, Aldo declined. Frankie Edgar has come out through the media saying that he wants to fight McGregor and put an end to all the hype that surrounds him. Edgar was also given the opportunity to fight McGregor at UFC 196: his response was that he is unavailable. Many fighters have spoken freely about their dislike for the antics of Conor McGregor and all claiming that they would be the one to dethrone him. The opportunity is here, the time is now, and the silence is deafening. 

    The king of trash talk McGregor not only delivers in promoting fights but shows up on fight night (which no one else can seem to do). McGregor's in-ring reputation in addition to his bigger than life, outside the octagon persona, puts him in a league of his own. His willingness to fight anyone at any time anywhere proves he is more than just words. Seems like all these other fighters are just talk, and are not able to step up when its time to put up or shut up. 

    Solidifying McGregor's stance that he will fight anyone at anytime, his opponent was finally set for UFC 196, that man is none other than Nate Diaz. These two men have exchanged less than pleasantries with each other in the past, while demonstrating the willingness to oppose each other inside the octagon. 

    "I don't care about weight divisions. I'll run through everyone on the roster." Conor McGregor 

    Normally known for fighting at the 145 weight class which he currently holds the belt for;  eyebrows were raised, questions were asked and concerns expressed when the initial matchup against Dos Anjos was in the 155 weight class. Could McGregor affectively make the jump? Will he still be as dominant? Not only did Conor dismiss those accusations but expressed interest in challenging for the Welterweight belt at 170. When Diaz had issues with what weight this fight at UFC 196 would be at, McGregor told him" to get comfortable " and he would make things easy on him proving no weight class matters in his eyes and the contest would be set at 170.

   McGregor has more than proven he can sell any fight. His promoting skills are par to no one in this business. But If Conor McGregor's talent level was half as deadly as his words, he may go down as the greatest champion in UFC history.