The Mets have a logjam in their outfield at this point in the offseason. With Spring Training very quickly approaching, it could be wise for Sandy Alderson and company to pull off a late trade to open up a spot in the outfield for developing youngster Michael Conforto.
All the trade talk around the Mets has been focused around right fielder Jay Bruce, however talks have gone no where and Bruce has been told he will be the everyday starter. With that being said, here is a different route the Mets may want to consider… Trade starting centerfielder Curtis Granderson to the San Francisco Giants.
The Giants currently have a spot to fill in left field. Right now on the San Francisco roster in the outfield is Gorkys Hernandez, Jarrett Parker, Hunter Pence, Denard Span, and Mac Williamson. Only Pence and Span are guaranteed starters, with the other three competing for the third spot this spring. Trading for Granderson could solve that problem quickly.
In his third full season with the Mets, Granderson hit .237 with 30 HR’s and 59 RBI’s. He had a bit of a down year, but was still a reliable option in the power department. In his three seasons with the Mets, he has hit 76 HR’s. Defensively, Granderson’s arm is on the weaker side, however he has held his own in both right and center. Granderson’s speed and weaker arm profile him well for left field, so a move to that position could prove fruitful.
In return for Grandy, the Mets might look for a young lefty bullpen arm, like Ty Blach, or Garrett Williams. However, they might want to go the prospect route with their sights on the future. One intriguing option may be Giants top prospect and the #89 prospect in baseball and 4th best third base prospect, Christian Arroyo.
Arroyo was the Giants first round pick in the 2013 draft. In his first year in the Arizona Fall League he won the MVP award, hitting .326/.388/.511 with two home runs and 39 RBIs in 45 games. In his career, he has hit .294/.337/.423 hitting as many as nine home runs in a season. Defensively, he has the ability to play third, second, and shortstop, however scouts profile him as a third baseman going forward.
There have been no talks between the two teams at this point. However, Granderson would certainly be an intriguing option in the outfield for the Giants if the Mets were to consider moving him. Arroyo, in turn, would be an interesting acquisition for when the David Wright era is over. He would play third base in what could be the makings of a talented young infield, also including Amed Rosario at shortstop and Dominic Smith at first base.
