As far as scrap-heap signings go, you could do a lot worse.
The Mets are said to be interested in former All-Star Adrian Gonzalez, who is coming off the worst season of his career. He batted just .242/.287/.355 with just 14 runs, three home runs, 30 RBI, and a -1.2 bWAR in 71 games.
The Atlanta Braves just released him days after acquiring him in a salary-dump trade, so he will have to settle for a minimum-salary deal — which is probably why the Mets are so interested in him.
A lot of fans online seem to be fervently opposed to signing the veteran first baseman. Given his performance last season and his spotty clubhouse reputation, the fanbase’s reservation toward Gonzalez is certainly understandable. You’d ideally want to do much better than a guy who had a 69 OPS+ last year.
But this is not an ideal situation. The reality is, the Mets have an ownership group that clearly has no interest in spending any money. So while having someone like Eric Hosmer — heck, even Lucas Duda — would be preferable to Gonzalez, this is the reality.
Given this reality, bringing in Gonzalez on a minimum-salary deal is hardly a bad move. Why not take a chance on someone who has an All-Star track record?
Gonzalez was still producing like a star as recently as 2016, when he batted .285/.349/.435 with 18 home runs and 90 RBI. Whether last year is an isolated incident or a sign of atrophy remains to be seen, but taking a minimum-salary flier on Gonzalez to find out the answer is well worth the risk.
He was a model of consistency prior to last season: From 2006-16, he batted .292/.364/.495, averaged 27 home runs, a 3.4 bWAR, and drove in at least 80 runs every year.
Can he return to that form? Maybe not, but most guys in the Mets’ price range don’t have that kind of a ceiling.
Gonzalez also fits the profile (albeit loosely) of a first base/outfield type, who the Mets have reportedly been looking for. He has 21 games of outfield experience — far less than you’d want from a first base/outfield guy — but someone who could fit the bill nonetheless. Especially on the Mets’ budget.
And honestly, what is the great risk to signing Gonzalez to a minimum-salary deal? If he has a bad spring, plays like he did last season or is a clubhouse cancer, he can be released. Plain and simple.
It’s not like the Mets would be taking on a hugely prohibitive contract. And if not Gonzalez, who else would you rather have on the Mets’ budget? Even as a pinch-hitter, Gonzalez could suffice.
The fact of the matter is, few players in the Mets’ price range have the reward potential that Gonzalez has. He produced like a star as recently as 2016, and has had just one bad season over the last twelve.
It’s understandable that Mets fans don’t want to bring in a guy who got on base at a .287 clip last year, but he might be all that this team can afford.
