Here is something to open up your appetites for Thanksgiving dinner.
Tom Verducci appeared on the MLB Network this afternoon and reported that the Mets and Nationals are expected to be the high bidders for free agent Ben Zobrist. Yes, that Ben Zobrist…
I find that extremely difficult to believe as being the “high bidder” will mean two things…
First, a four-year deal which I definitely don’t see Sandy Alderson doing, especially for a 35-year old player who regressed a little in 2015.
Second, an average annual salary higher than $15 million dollars for a total package worth upwards of $60 million dollars. That would mean payroll rises to at least $120 million unless they shed some other contracts.
Anything could happen, but I’m a huge “Seeing Is Believing” kind of guy…. That said, you are free to believe what you want to believe because that’s the way we roll here.
November 20
The New York Mets remain “very interested” in infielder Ben Zobrist after meeting with his agents at the GM Meetings last week in Boca Raton. According to Tim Rohan of the New York Times, the Mets held a conference call with the sought-after free agent this afternoon.
The Mets have long been interested in Zobrist going back to the trading deadline when they tried hard to acquire him before he was dealt to the Kansas City Royals.
The team now view him as someone who could replace Daniel Murphy while also playing some third base and corner outfield. Zobrist is a career .265/.355/.431 hitter with 127 home runs, 567 RBIs, and 105 stolen bases.
Last season in 126 games with the Athletics and Royals, the 34-year old Zobrist hit .276/.359/.450 with 13 home runs, 36 doubles and 56 RBIs. He had a strong postseason, batting .303 with two home runs and six RBIs.
Struggling to come back from an injury in April and May, Zobrist had a down year in 2015. But his .349 wOBA and 123 wRC+ were still better than Daniel Murphy who had his best season and produced a .325 wOBA and 110 wRC+.
Additionally, Zobrist batted a respectable .253 with a .753 OPS against right-handed pitching last season. But he absolutely torched left-handers with a .329 average against them with a .409 on-base and .926 OPS.
All of that said, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, hears that it’s unlikely the Mets make a strong offer to sign Zobrist and that the plan is to hand the job to 22-year old Dilson Herrera who they are extremely high on.
Zobrist is looking for a four-year deal worth $60 million. I think you all know my thoughts on Zobrist. If he was 2-3 years younger, I’m all over it, but this could blow up in our faces like Cuddyer only worse. Paying him $15 million a year through his age 38 season sounds like a plan for disaster.
