Oct 20, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) flies out during the eighth inning against the Houston Astros in game two of the ALCS for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets are “slightly” moving in the right field fence for the 2023 season and beyond, according to the NY Post’s Mike Puma.

Owner Steve Cohen says they plan on adding a speakeasy club in the new space, featuring living-room-style accommodations with personal TVs, a private bar, and an elevated dining experience among other amenities.

But is it purely a fan experience move? Possibly. But likely there’s something going on in the backend the Mets see that they can take advantage of.

Teams adjust their fences to help their teams. The Mets have adjusted the fences multiple times since Citi Field has been opened. Recently, the Orioles made the dramatic choice to move their left field wall back as much as 30 feet and made it 13 feet tall. They turned a home run hotspot into a barren wasteland.

The Mets aren’t making as dramatic a move but it could help them maximize the talents of their own players and attract some players on the market this winter.

The main one is Aaron Judge.

Judge doesn’t really need the fences moved in. The outfielder just broke the record for single-season home runs for an American Leaguer and hits the majority of his homers to left field. But where the Mets are making adjustments can maximize Judge’s opposite field power.

If Judge played every game at Citi Field, he would’ve fallen short of the record and hit 62 home runs. Judge’s home run total each of the last four seasons would have been lower as well. With these new dimensions, it’s likely Judge would have hit the same amount or more.

The Mets haven’t said how much “slightly” is. So it presently makes it impossible to calculate what the home run total would be. We are solely relying on initial imaging and batted ball data. All graphics are 2022 data.

But Judge is just a dream. Focusing on players under contract, Starling Marte is someone who’d benefit from a shorter right field fence.

Marte would reach the fence more often, plus he’d be able to play shallower. He was a negative outs above average defender in right field on plays coming in. It’s clear the Mets don’t see him as a center fielder anymore and he’s likely staying in right whether Brandon Nimmo returns or not.

Just for fun let’s look at some free agents and possible DH options for the Mets next season.

Trey Mancini and Josh Bell are the primary couple. The Mets had an interest in both of these players at the deadline and they still don’t have a set plan for the designated hitter spot next season. The right-handed Mancini would be able to go opposite field while Bell can continue smashing balls around and out of the field.

The move might even make Joey Gallo useful as a batter.

Brandon Nimmo doesn’t need to change his approach at the plate but with the shift rules adjusting he may need to. He loves to go oppo but his power stroke is to right center. It’s possible Nimmo could unlock another level with a larger focus on driving to his pull side.

One final Met that could use the change is Tomas Nido. Nido, while better than James McCann at the plate, is still nothing special. But when he hits fly balls, he tends to go to right field. Maybe this is a move to turn him into your everyday catcher while Francisco Alvarez waits in the wings.

The Mets are making the fan experience better for the select few that can afford it but don’t think this isn’t a baseball move. The Mets have expanded their analytics department to one of the largest in baseball. I’m not qualified for that by any means but even I can see how it helps the team in the short term.