13
2013
Brennan Boesch Is Certainly Worth A Look For The Mets
An article by 
We’re heading into the time in spring training when players get released, and the Mets should be all over this: Brennan Boesch was released this morning by the Tigers.
He’s an outfielder. He has some power. And, he’s still breathing. What’s not to like? And, he’s coming off a strained oblique muscle, so he should fit right in with the Mets.
Boesch is a lifetime .259 hitter with 42 homers in three years as a role player with the Tigers. He can play both outfield corners, which is an obvious need for New York.
Boesch is to make $2.3 million this year and is arbitration eligible for next winter. At 27, he’s not, well, he’s not Marlon Byrd. Boesch appeared to have a breakthrough season in 2011 when he hit .283 with 16 homers, but he missed the postseason with a thumb injury.
He regressed last year, and his strikeouts spiked to 104. Maybe it was just a bad year or perhaps there were lingering effects from the thumb injury. Whatever, he’s still young enough where he can rebound.
Given the Tigers’ depth, they have the luxury of not waiting for him. The Mets don’t have that luxury.
In 2011, Boesch had a respectable .341 on-base percentage, but after last year’s regression it is at .315 for his career, which could work against him in Sandy Alderson’s system.
Even so, he’s worth a look, because afterall, the Mets aren’t dealing from a position of strength in their outfield.
About the Author: John Delcos
I am an active member of the BBWAA and have covered Major League Baseball in several capacities for over 20 years, including ten in New York working the Mets' and Yankees' beat. I covered the Baltimore Orioles for eight years and the Cleveland Indians before that. I currently serve as an editor and senior staff writer for Mets Merized Online. Follow me on Twitter @jdelcos.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 23 | 18 | .561 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 19 | .548 | 0.5 |
| Phillies | 20 | 22 | .476 | 3.5 |
| Mets | 16 | 23 | .410 | 6.0 |
| Marlins | 11 | 31 | .262 | 12.5 |
Last updated: 05/18/2013
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I thought he was considered to be a Meh defender? Maybe not Duda, but nothing great either.
certainly worth a look if they think he has upside, otherwise he is not all that much different than Andrew Brown
Average would be the best way to describe his defense. I think some defensive metrics have him slightly below.
Not sure I see him getting thru waivers, which would be the only way he becomes a viable option (AKA Cheap). Even then, is he worth it?
He’s basically Duda, with probably a slight uptick on the D and 2 less years of control-ability.
Career.
Duda 27 yrs old. – .256 / .338 / .427 29 HRs 120 RBI – 250 GP.
Boesch 27 years old – .259 / .315 / .414, 42 HRS, 175 RBI – 380 GP.
I think he gets through waivers. Also while his offensive numbers are similar to Duda, we have a need for more than just Duda AND Duda’s defense is MUCH worse.
He is RH hitting though, correct? So that is something.
and if you are going to be a lumbering OF, might as well be named after an appliance brand. Makes the fridge jokes easier.
is the real comparison (roster wise) him vs. Byrd? Who brings more of what the mets need to the table?
Tex did point of the key issue. He will cost a lot more than the guys already floating around!
LH bat.
He could be Scott Hairston 2.0.
Oops sorry, was going off the comment before me thinking he was RH. Still I like his power potential and it looks like 2012 was the exception and not the rule.
Hairston isn’t a bad comparison as he was absolutely dreadful the year before we picked him up.
Pass.
Not a taker on this one because he is LH.
The Mets already have Duda, Valdy, and presumably Kirk and Den Dekker still in the future mix somewhere. They need a RH bat which Cowgill and Byrd seem to be at this moment.
I would wait and see what else appears on the waiver wire as ST progresses.
While they do have more of a need for a RH bat, currently it’s the LH ones that are either injured, not ready or struggling.
The Mets already have one too many Duda’s in the outfield. Do they really need another?
Sign him up and start printing out those World Series tickets….lol
He brings nothing to the table that we don’t already have. I’d rather go with Duda, Valdespin and Baxter so no thanks.
Worth a shot? Maybe.
Let him battle it out with duda for one roster spot
keep with what we got until the real deal comes along swinging a righty bat. And if Cowgill and Valdenspin keep doing what they are doing. .
I say go for it. Duda looks a bit lost with his new hitting mechanics and probably could use some time at AAA to iron his mechanics out. Boesch is a shaky defender in LF but still isn’t as bad as Duda. However, I doubt Boesch makes it to the Mets on a waiver claim, rumor has it the Astros are looking into him along with 6 other teams inc. the Yanks, Red Sox and Mets.
Duda has been better this spring than Boesch, which pretty much defeats your logic.
Go with Valdespin and Duda instead…
.259 BA? 14 HRs a year? Hit Lefty?
Don’t we have enough of that already?
If he at least batted righty I might take the flyer but the last thing we need right now is another LHB in the OF….
We should be looking to SELL some to get a decent RHB instead….
Other than Cowgill there is really no one to put there vs LHPs.
the hope is for Marlon Byrd (who has looked pretty good this spring) to fill that role.
Why do we want someone else’s trash
Vincent, because their trash is better than the mets trash.