Potential External Cost Effective Power-Hitting Options For 2023

Note, article one of this series, published earlier today, can be read here.

It has been a busy off-season for the New York Mets who have already ensured the payroll close to $350 million in 2023. However, as mentioned in article one of this series, a vital need still remains. That being the need to address the lack of power in the lineup.

If you missed what was outlined in article one, despite finishing fifth in runs scored in 2022, the Mets tied for 15th in MLB with just 171 home runs. Further, they also ranked low in a number of important power metrics.

So, given the Mets need for power, and their already inflated payroll, what are some potentially cost-effective options the Mets can explore?

Note, coincidently enough, a report came out today explaining that the Mets are not prioritizing power this off-season. Which is interesting given their lack thereof last season. 

Brandon Belt

For teams wanting to inject a true thumper into the middle of their lineup, they should probably give Brandon Belt a call at some point this winter. The veteran slugger has built his career on hitting, as he boasts an OPS+ of 123 and a .356 OBP across his 12 seasons in the majors. All of which were spent with the San Francisco Giants.

Granted, 2022 was a rough one for Belt. The left-handed hitter was hampered by injuries all year long as he played just 78 games before seeing his season ended by knee surgery. Ultimately, Belt slashed just .213/.326/.350 with eight home runs and 23 RBI. It was the worst hitting year of the veteran’s career.

Belt will turn 35 years old not long after Opening Day in 2023 and some may worry that he’s on the decline given his tough year in 2022. However, he is just a year removed from crushing 29 home runs in 325 at-bats in 2021 and he could be a weapon for the Mets in different ways in 2023.

Specifically, potentially being a part of a platoon at designated hitter (DH), filling in at first base when Pete Alonso needs a rest, or pinch hitting late in games. Regardless, Belt could be very effective if used in the right way and there’s no reason why he can’t reach double figures in homers if he can remain healthy.

Fangraphs’ crowd-sourced projections list a one-year deal worth around $10 million for Belt. For someone who has hit 15-or-more home runs in six season, he would bring a much-needed thump to the Mets’ lineup. Further, he is a respected presence in the clubhouse and a proven winner with two World Series rings.

Nelson Cruz 

Despite being 42 years old with a sparkling 18-year career in the majors already under his belt, Nelson Cruz has made it crystal clear that he intends on playing during the 2023 MLB season. The righty bat recently had eye surgery after dealing with inflammation in his left eye for more than a year. That may have had something to do with why Cruz endured the worst season of his lengthy career in 2022, hitting just .234/.313/.337 with 10 home runs in 507 plate appearances.

However, there is no doubt that the seven-time All-Star can still play a key role for a contender in the right role. Just as Albert Pujols did with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2022, Cruz could provide a decent level of production from the DH spot and just be relied upon to provide some pop from the bottom half of the lineup.

Granted, his best baseball is probably behind him but he would add a wealth of experience to the clubhouse and he did hit 32 home runs as recently as 2021. There’s no reason why he can’t hit between 15-20 homers in 2023 and act as a mentor to the likes of Francisco Álvarez, Brett Baty and Mark Vientos.

Cruz should command less than $10 million per season, as he looks for one more shot at a World Series title. This could be a very low-risk move for the Mets who are looking for some veteran pop.

Adam Duvall

Adam Duvall is similar to Cruz and Belt in that he has built his career as a slugger that can hit for power, but he suffered a down year in 2022 due to injury. The 34-year-old hit just .213/.276/.401 (.677 OPS) with 12 homers and 36 RBI in 2022 before left-wrist surgery cost him almost all of the second half of the season.

However, when healthy, Duvall is a highly-effective slugger and he crushed a career-high 38 homers with a league-leading 113 RBI for the Marlins and Braves in 2021. That is only a year ago which proves that the veteran can still mash at a very high level and provide some big time pop.

An excellent defender that can make flashy plays with the glove, Duvall was on pace for 20 home runs before injury cut short his season in 2022. He’s primed for a bounce-back campaign in 2023 and he would offer Mets’ manager Buck Showalter some flexibility in that he can play solid defense in the outfield if needed.

However, due to his ability to hit absolute bombs, Duvall could be a better option as a designated hitter in a platoon role with Daniel Vogelbach. He would come cheap too given he’s projected to earn just $6.9 million in 2023, per Spotrac.com. He could be the perfect answer to the Mets’ lack of power in the lineup.

Again, part one of this short two-article series that was published earlier today can be found here.