Jan
24
2012

The Mets Current Market for Outfielders

An article by Former Writers

According to MLB Trade Rumors’s free agent tracker there are currently fifteen outfielders still available on the free agent market for the Mets to potentially bring in.

If we are to go by the tweet below by Adam Rubin, and Cody Ross is off the market then that number immediately drops to fourteen and we can make that number continually shrink.

Sounds like Cody Ross probably ends up with the #RedSox. Don’t think #Mets wanted to spend > $1 million. And they really need a lefty OF bat

— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) January 23, 2012

If it is a lefty the Mets seek only ten of the fourteen left are either left-handed or switch hitters.

We can immediately drop that number to nine going under the assumption that Johnny Damon can no longer play the outfield.

Now going back to Rubin’s tweet we can get rid of a few more if the Mets want to spend under $1 million dollars.

Despite a down year, Raul Ibanez still hit twenty homeruns and is likely to get a deal larger than $1 million from an American League team looking for a veteran DH type, J.D. Drew would probably retire before taking a deal worth less than a million, and Juan Pierre and Kosuke Fukudome will likely cost more than a million if/when they sign. Then there is Milton Bradley who is coming off $10 million dollars per year contract, but there is a decent chance his career could be done.

We are down to just three options left (ranked in no particular order).

1. Rick Ankiel – Ankiel will never hit for a high average due to his huge strikeout problem, but walks at a decent clip (7.9%) and has some pop (.177 ISO). Where he does provide real value is in the field where he can play all three positions with a canon like arm. He earned $1.5 million last year, but is due for a salary cut.

2. Corey Patterson – Patterson has never lived up to the hype he had as a prospect, but he has managed to hold a solid major league career and always manages to find himself on a roster. Because he is likely to receive a minor league deal he actually offers some potential upside for the Mets to sign. Definitely a guy I would keep my eye on if I were the Mets.

3. Jay Gibbons – If he offers to play for free again I think the Mets might take him up on his offer this time. Gibbons actually looked like he had something left in 2010, but 2011 was a different story. Doesn’t offer the same kind of defensive versatility as Ankiel or Patterson.

Not a terrific group of guys, but I don’t think anyone is expecting any different from the Mets right now.

About the Author: Former Writers

11 Comments + Add Comment

nathan January 24, 2012 at 8:19 am

I would takes Ankiel out of this group. It’s a pretty sorry list and I am unsure that any of them would outperform Kirk.
- Nick Pugliese January 24, 2012 at 8:24 am
  
  Couldn’t agree more with this, but it’s one of those cases where I don’t think Kirk would be getting everyday playing time so he might as well take some more time in AAA, especially since he is coming off the shoulder injury.
  - nathan January 24, 2012 at 8:31 am
    
    agreed that Kirk would be better served playing out most of the season in AAA. I just have a hard time signing backups when AAA is full of em. Ankiel is probably the most likely to give some positive WAR.
Doug Branch January 24, 2012 at 8:29 am

As Murph used to say, “fasten your seatbelts.” For a bumpy ride (and all if the off-season is an indicator….). Wilpons would’ve hired Fred Sanford if he was still alive. The “revamped” bullpen was part of a group that registered 25 blown saves in Toronto.
The Mounted Police escorted them to the border.
Now, Alderson won’t even spend loose change on another (needed) outfielder and lefty bat. This has moved past scraping the barrell. It’s grave robbing!
NJstuckinTX January 24, 2012 at 9:02 am

I mentioned Ankiel back when the offseason was just getting started. I still would like to see him on this team. As a guy who play back up CF and, while not a high average, has a fair amount of pop in his bat, I would like to see him on the bench. Even just as a PH guy. The Mets really haven’t had a HR threat off the bench in some time. Hairston from last year was probably the best option in a long time.
- any January 24, 2012 at 9:20 am
  
  Ankiel has some power off the bench, but is he going to be an automatic K in big spots? You really like to see a PH that can at least make contact!
any January 24, 2012 at 9:18 am

whoever it is, they really need to be a strong defense guy, not a bat that just happens to own a glove.

Patterson is an interesting name.

bottom line though, how much better is any of these 3 guys going to likely be than Loewen or baxter?
vinnie papandrea January 24, 2012 at 10:23 am

Rick Ankiel Stinks, Move on
Alex68 January 24, 2012 at 10:44 am

I mean, seriously, people need to stop this Fing obsession with rick ankiel.. he SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chuck January 24, 2012 at 5:35 pm

Oh my…….. this is sad! This is the NY METS?
RickeyBobby January 24, 2012 at 10:03 pm

I don’t see the Mets signing anyone else except maybe CYoung.. I actually think there’s room for Ankiel if he completely would accept a subordinate role and be an unselfish 5 th OF, there def nothing wrong with him as a 5th OF,,I think Hairston will get the majority of splits in cf/rf but if Ankiel signed he could provide OF defense and depth,,plus the outside chance Bay gets moved mid season he could get some pt…again Mets seem content, I was hoping they’d try to improve team originally with these bargain type but not looking that way…

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