Scouting the Mets Return for Jeurys Familia

Courtesy of NY Post

   So it's official, the Mets are sellers. With the trade of Jeurys Familia to the Oakland A's, the Mets got two minor leaguers (infielder Will Toffey and right-handed pitcher Bobby Wahl) along with $1 million in international spending money. 

   The Familia era in New York has come to an end, but the trade was necessary, as the team knew he likely couldn't be extended a qualifying offer (as most relievers aren't making $16 million next season). It was smart then, for the team to trade him and get something in return. Personally, I think they could have done better (as I suggested earlier this month that he should have been traded to the Astros for Ken Giles). However, lets take a look at the return the team got before any conclusions are reached.

Bobby Wahl

   What immediately stands out is the dominant season Bobby Wahl has had in Triple A. He is a reliever, and they usually have the shelf life of bananas, but Wahl has been so dominant that he was tough to ignore. His strikeout rate is at a ridiculous 42.8% (14.75 K/9), and has kept his walk rate under control the past two seasons in Triple A (9.9% and 3.66 BB/9 combined). It certainly is in need of improvement, as hitters will be more disciplined in the Majors, but his great strikeout stuff can easily outweigh command issues (as it does for most relievers).

   Wahl had thoracic outlet syndrome surgery shortly after his seven appearance cameo in the Majors. Despite the mixed at best history pitchers have had with the surgery, Wahl actually has looked better than ever. 

   Bobby is a hard thrower who has hit 97 and will sit in the mid 90's (very impressive considering the surgery he had will usually kill a pitcher's velocity). I can't give much of an analysis on Wahl besides his minor league stats, but here is one clip of him from this season:

   He seems to have great late life on his fastball, which suggests good spin on the pitch. High velocity accompanied by high spin and his propensity to throw high fastballs (I also noticed this in clips I saw of him from before the surgery), and that's a recipe for tons of strikeouts (including the Major Leagues).

Will Toffey

   Toffey was a fourth round pick in last years draft, and according to an article on Athletics Nation, 

"His top skill is plate discipline and he also plays strong defense at the hot corner, but he still needs to show he can he can actually hit enough to turn that discipline into productive offense."

   Great defense and plate discipline are a stellar combination for a hitter. However, in todays MLB, most hitters that don't possess elite speed need to show some power in order to be a successful player. Toffey doesn't have much of a power stroke (.140 ISO and a .159 since returning from shoulder surgery on May 31st), and that is tough.

   Toffey is essentially a 23 year old with not much of a skillset beyond a good eye and above average fielding. Overall, this makes him a fringe prospect in my eyes. However, that is not to say that I don't have faith in him, as a power stroke is something that can be taught. But when you're not killing it in A ball (102 wRC+ on the year) as a 23 year old, I think he is a bit of a long shot to provide meaningful contributions to a big league team.

Overall

   To put it bluntly, the Mets traded Familia in the hopes that Bobby Wahl becomes a nice power reliever in the Majors (which is what I thought the buy low of Ken Giles could have done for us, but maybe Houston just doesn't want to trade him) and international spending money. 

   The bonus money is nice, and can move the needle when it comes to signing international players next season. Considering the Mets have had an average of $4.86 million the past two international signing years, the $1 million they received from Oakland would represent a 20.5% increase. 

   Having that much of an increase in their international spending cap next year suggests that the team will be highly committed toward bringing in some of the top talent from next years class, and are up to the task in terms of restocking a very weak farm system.

   Like I said in the beginning of this article, the team could have done better in their return for Familia (as even though there are tons of relievers avaliable this year, he has still been one of the better relievers in the Majors the past few seasons). Hopefully they do better with their next few trades.