By John Sheridan
Once again, the Mets enter the offseason looking for a center fielder. Just like last year, there aren’t many options on the free-agent market. Things become more complicated with rumors the Mets don’t have much money to spend this offseason, and the team having traded away a number of good prospects last year, the options are limited. This means the Mets may have to be a bit creative in their search for a center fielder. Here are some options:
INTERNAL OPTIONS
2019 Stats: .221/.375/.407, 11 2B, 3B, 8 HR, 29 RBI, 3 SB
Defensive Stats: -2 DRS (CF), -1.5 UZR (CF)
Speed Stats: 28.5 ft/sec, -0.7 ft/avg (JUMP)
Entering the 2019 season, the Mets plan was to have Nimmo share time in center field. That was a plan which was quickly abandoned when he spent much of the season on the IL with a bulging disc in his neck. When Nimmo returned, he looked like the player he was in 2018, a player who the team believed could be their everyday center fielder.
Keeping Nimmo in center could allow the team to platoon J.D. Davis and Dominic Smith in left. That should keep the payroll down to allow the Mets to allocate their resources towards pitching where they desperately need help. The issue is that with Nimmo not being a particularly good defensive outfielder, that is a terrible outfield defensively.
If the Mets do go that route, they could decide to bring Juan Lagares to serve in that role. While this may not inspire enthusiasm among the fan base, it could be the Mets’ best option.
2019 Stats: .318/.384/.531, 38 2B, 3B, 23 HR, 75 RBI, 5 SB, 6 CS
Defensive Stats: 2 DRS, -0.5 UZR
Speed Stats: 27.2 ft/sec, -0.3 ft/avg (JUMP)
As we saw last year, McNeil could do it all. He played second and third in addition to both corner outfield spots. His play in the outfield was all the more impressive when you consider he did not truly get to prepare for the position until Spring Training.
The Mets decision on McNeil could be influenced by Jed Lowrie. Lowrie is still under contract for next year, and he could serve as the team’s everyday third baseman. With Lowrie at third and Robinson Cano at second, McNeil may once again be pushed to the outfield for much of 2020.
While McNeil is quick, he does not seem quick enough to play center. You also wonder about his ability to withstand the rigors of playing center with his injury history. Taking it all into account, you can probably trust him to play well enough in center, but it may not be the wisest of decisions.
FREE AGENTS
2019 Stats: .243/.330/.474, 23 2B, 3B, 29 HR, 89 RBI, 12 SB, 2 CS
Defensive Stats: 2 DRS (LF), 5.7 UZR (LF)
Speed Stats: 27.4 ft/sec, -1.6 ft/avg (JUMP)
Ozuna could prove to be the right-handed bat to help balance out the Mets lineup. As Mets fans, we have also seen him make a number of terrific defensive plays. The issue with Ozuna is he hasn’t regularly played center since 2016, and that year he was a -12 DRS.
Seeing that, you could see Ozuna is not well suited for center anymore. That said, referencing above, it is possible the Mets could bring in Ozuna and allow Nimmo to be the everyday center fielder.
2019 Stats: .282/.332/.464, 25 2B, 2 3B, 20 HR, 72 RBI, 10 SB, 4 CS
Defensive Stats: 2 DRS, 2.2 UZR
Speed Stats: 28.8 ft/sec, -0.8 ft/avg (JUMP
Like with Ozuna, Garcia is a right-handed bat that could help balance out the lineup. His true strength is as a platoon bat, but it should be noted he has made real progress against right-handed pitching to the point where you can play him every day.
Garcia is a bit like Michael Conforto where he is best suited to right field, but he would moonlight in center for the Rays this year. His numbers weren’t promising with a -1 DRS in 94.0 innings. Still, he has a speed profile similar to Nimmo’s, and he has better defensive instincts. On a one year flyer, that could be of interest. Again, this could also be a move to help improve the corner outfield defense allowing them to keep Nimmo in center.
OPTION CANDIDATES
2019 Stats: .251/.343/.429, 20 2B, 4 3B, 21 HR, 62 RBI, 8 SB, 3 CS
Defensive Stats: -4 DRS (CF), -2.0 UZR (CF)
Speed Stats: 27.4 ft/sec, 0.5 ft/avg (JUMP)
Believe it or not, Heyward is still just 30 years old, and he proved this season he is capable of playing center for a full season. That is partially because he is one of the best defensive outfielders in the league. Still, while he showed he can play center, his true value is being an exceptional right fielder.
Offensively, he has turned things around the last few years. Part of that turnaround was partially attributed to the work current Mets hitting coach Chili Davis did with Heyward in 2018. Coming home and reuniting with Davis could be enticing for Heyward.
The problem is he would have to opt-out of the four years and $86 million he has remaining on his contract. It’s very possible he opts in on that deal putting the Mets in a position to have to trade for him. Certainly, the Cubs are interested in moving payroll making such a deal possible, but you have to wonder if the Mets have the budget and prospects at hand to pull off such a deal.
2019 Stats: .295/.342/.503, 31 2B, 6 3B, 23 HR, 82 RBI, 25 SB, 6 CS
Defensive Stats: -9 DRS, -7.6 UZR
Speed Stats: 29.0 ft/sec, 1.0 ft/avg (JUMP)
While many people will focus upon Marte’s DRS this year and his -11 DRS for his career as evidence teams should not pursue him to be their everyday center fielder. Behind that is Marte has both the speed, and as evidenced by his “JUMP”, he reads and reacts well to balls off the bat. In essence, he’s a good center fielder which likely results from poor defensive positioning.
It is very likely the team who wants him is going to have to trade for him. Looking at the Gerrit Cole and the Chris Archer trades, Neal Huntington is seemingly just giving players away. Even with there being a potential bidding war for him, the team looking to obtain him could get him and his two friendly team options at a reasonable cost.
TRADE CANDIDATES
2019 Stats: .225/.317/.421, 28 2B, 3 3B, 21 HR, 62 RBI, 8 SB, 6 CS
Defensive Stats: -1 DRS, -1.8 UZR
Speed Stats: 27.6 ft/sec, 0.7 ft/avg (JUMP)
The Boston Red Sox are said to want to get under the luxury tax putting them in a position to trade off some of their best players. While Mets fans will certainly clamor for Mookie Betts, the odds are the Mets don’t have the pieces to get him, and even if they did, Betts’ 2020 arbitration salary would prove to be too onerous for the team.
With respect to Bradley, he should make close to $10 million. Moving that salary could help alleviate the Red Sox financial burden while being able to easily slot into the Mets budget.
The issue with Bradley is he’s a glove first player who has been slipping defensively. After having a 21 DRS over the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Bradley has had a negative DRS over the past two years. While Bradley’s negative DRS indicates he is still quite capable of handling the position on an everyday basis, his not being a league average hitter for each of the past three years makes you question the wisdom of not just playing him everyday but also parting with assets to obtain him.
2019 Stats: .238/.346/.409, 24 2B, 3B, 19 HR, 67 RBI, 8 SB, 5 CS
Defensive Stats: 4 DRS (CF), -0.1 UZR (CF)
Speed Stats: 27.8 ft/sec, -2.5 ft/avg (JUMP)
Even with Ozuna being a free agent, the Cardinals have a glut of outfield options with Harrison Bader, Tyler O’Neill, Jose Martinez, Lane Thomas, and more. It may be a reason why the Cardinals have not engaged in extension discussions with Ozuna despite his wanting to return, and it may be a reason why the team looks to move Fowler, a player who just hasn’t seemed like a right fit for them.
As we saw with Fowler this year, he can still play center. After a -18 DRS in center last year, he was a 4 DRS this year, and he has been a positive DRS in two out of the last three years. He is still a smart, clutch player who can be a fixture atop the lineup.
His remaining two years and $33 million on his contract is quite reasonable, especially for a player with his skill set. The real question with Fowler is whether he can stay in center the next two years and what it would take to obtain him.
Now, this list is far from exhaustive. There are other options, but when you break them down, those options are even less enticing. Free agents like Lagares, Billy Hamilton, and Jon Jay are little more than depth. Trade candidates like JaCoby Jones and Manuel Margot are below league average at the plate, and in the case of Jones, have had a steep drop-off defensively.
In the end, the Mets don’t have many good options available. As a result, the Mets are going to have to first assess their internal options first and see if they can make it work. If they can, it would allow them to better allocate their resources towards adding a fifth starter (ideally keeping Zack Wheeler), rebuilding the bullpen, and adding depth to the bench.
