As currently constructed, the Mets are scheduled to field a lineup that looks like this:
- 1B – Lucas Duda
- 2B – Neil Walker
- SS – Asdrubal Cabrera
- 3B – David Wright
- LF – Michael Conforto
- CF – Juan Lagares
- RF – Curtis Granderson
Yes, I’m aware that many believe Alejandro De Aza was signed to serve in a CF platoon. But I believe he was signed as an option if Lagares can’t claim the job in Spring Training and afterwards as a left-handed bat off the bench.
Nevertheless, this isn’t the big-dollar/big-bat option that columnists and the fan base wanted. Many wanted to sign Yoenis Cespedes to a long-term deal. I actually considered adding Dexter Fowler and trading Lagares to give us a true leadoff hitter we haven’t had since Jose Reyes.
Well both of these options are still available and looking at the 40-man roster, there’s still room for another outfielder. Connor O’Brien passed along that the Mets are still seeking a right-handed outfielder. There’s also room for a backup 1B with more experience than Wilmer Flores – who is expected to train at first base when he arrives in Port St. Lucie – and maybe Ryan Raburn is the answer.
But as the countdown clock to pitchers and catchers continues to click closer to February 17, can I explore the dream that some of these supposedly high-priced options will suddenly look longingly at a 1-year deal?
Maybe Roc Nation convinces their client Yoenis Cespedes that maybe he can showcase his skills best with a potential first-place team in a large market and break the bank next Winter? Would he take a one-year deal to play some CF, some LF and DH in AL parks? Would the Mets be interested?
How about Justin Upton coming back east for a season in Queens? Terry Collins could split his time between LF and RF, giving Granderson’s 34-year old legs some rest? Maybe the Mets could even talk Fowler into a one-year deal, basically turning Lagares into a 4th outfielder, and hoping the speedy switch-hitter cuts down on the 154 strikeouts from last year and goes back to the .370 OBP he put up 2012-2014 while in Colorado and Houston.
There’s a lot of people who are not buying the reports the Mets are locked in with De Aza as their big outfield acquisition and that perhaps Sandy Alderson is just posturing as he has before. What do you believe? All of these still available options, and I didn’t even mention Denard Span who is also still available, could only enhance the chances for another division title and a trip to the playoffs, right?
However there’s a question leering under the surface of any additional transaction – who’s getting bumped off the 40-man roster to make the necessary space?
It wasn’t big news when Johnny Monell cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Las Vegas, but to add someone else the team would need to basically release someone and hope they can stay with the organization. Glancing at the 40-man, it would have to be a pitcher and all currently listed were either recently added like Jerry Blevins or moved onto the roster to avoid losing them in the Rule 5 Draft (Gabriel Ynoa, Seth Lugo, Josh Smoker, Robert Gsellman).
So the dream scenario takes on a different feel: Which of the outfielders left on the market would you sign to a one-year deal and who would you be willing to remove from the 40-man roster and risk losing? And quite frankly, it’s still an interesting question whether they end up signing a Ryan Raburn or Steve Pearce, and of course they’ll need to remove two players from the 40 if they add another reliever as well.
