The Mets have been looking to acquire an impact bat for the lineup this off-season and one of the options that has emerged is a trade for Andrew McCutchen.
Mike Puma of the New York Post reports that the Mets have extended conversations with the Pittsburgh Pirates to include Josh Harrison and Andrew McCutchen, in order to offer appeal to them as a salary dump option.
Harrison will make $10.5 million next season and is under control through 2020 while McCutchen is only under control for next season and will make $14.5 million.
One name that was listed as part of an expected turn is Juan Lagares, who has two years and $15 million left on his contract.
The 28-year old has never been known for his bat over the course of his career. Lagares has a .257/.297/.366 slash line with a wRC+ of 84 in his five seasons in the majors.
This past season was no different as he hit .250/.296/.365 with three home runs and 37 RBIs to give him a below average 77 wRC+.
However, his glove is as good as it gets. He has 79 defensive runs saved for his career, including 15 this past season. That last number is only at his median as well. At his peak in 2013, he recorded a phenomenal 28 defensive runs saved.
His UZR was also strong this past season at 10.4 and over the course of his career at 62.3.
McCutchen has a different skill-set though.
His offensive production ranks supreme with a .279/.363/.486 slash line to go along with 28 home runs, 94 RBIs, and a 122 wRC+ this past season.
That is in line with his career production at the position which includes a .291/.379/.487 slash line and a 137 wRC+.
The defense is another story.
McCutchen has compiled -44 defensive runs saved in center field over the last two seasons, including -14 this past season.
For his career, he has never been considered a plus defender either as he has -70 throughout his career.
He did play right field a bit in 2017, though, and in 13 games compiled two defensive runs saved which would suggest that he might be better suited to be a corner outfielder at this stage in his career.
So, clearly, if the Mets have a decision to make about what matters more to them. Do they care more about outfield defense or offensive production?
According to Jon Heyman of the FanRag Sports Network, the Mets are comfortable with the idea of playing Michael Conforto in center field next season once he returns from his shoulder surgery in late April.
If that is the case, then the Mets could theoretically shift McCutchen to right field.
Another thing to note is if the Mets were to acquire Josh Harrison in the same deal, despite it being labeled unlikely by Puma, the Mets would gain better infield defense as well.
Harrison recorded six defensive runs saved at the keystone and also recorded one defensive run saved at third base last season.
As much as it would be nice to keep Juan Lagares’ glove on the team, a deal for McCutchen and Harrison would almost certainly require the Mets to relinquish him, even if just to make the financials of the transaction work.
