Now Playing for the Syracuse Mets: Yesterday’s Stars, Not Tomorrow’s

“From an outsider’s perspective, it’s an organization that’s kind of in limbo,” a scout for an American League team said of the Mets, requesting anonymity to speak freely about another club. He added that franchises in similar positions average about two to three years to rebuild a farm system when done correctly.

That timeline may be extended for the Mets. Before the Stroman trade, they already shuttled out several top prospects in splashy trades for All-Stars who have underperformed.

With the Mets needing to fill roster space in Class AAA, Syracuse became an appealing option for veterans like Rivera who could only muster minor league offers last winter. When Matt Kemp, an All-Star in 2018, signed a minor league deal in late May, he said he did not expect to be in Class AAA for long, envisioning Syracuse as a quick launching pad for a return to the majors. He was right, but not in the way he expected — the Mets released him in July.

“The first thing you look at is where’s the best fit to play in the big leagues at that time,” Rivera said.

Rivera and other veterans created a private WhatsApp chat group for the former major leaguers stationed in Syracuse. They empathize over similar goals and adjusting to life in upstate New York, where the clubhouse is cramped and major league amenities like a private chef are replaced by a pantry with Cup O’ Noodles and packets of instant oatmeal.

When Carlos Gomez was called up to the Mets in May, veteran colleagues bombarded him with texts to put in a good word about his aged brethren in Class AAA.

Source: The New York Times

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