Outfield, like many other positions around the diamond for the Mets, is an area of need the team should look to fill prior to the 2018 season.
Jay Bruce is one name that has been tied to New York, but no talks have gained any traction as the former Met is seeking a four-year deal on the open market. Unless Bruce is somehow without a new contract right before the season, it’s unlikely New York is able to land him with the just $10-15 million they have left to spend for the entire offseason.
The team will ultimately look for a player on a short-term deal. A guy that could be had on a one-year pact to rebuild their value is Carlos Gonzalez.
Coming off a solid 2016 campaign where he launched 25 home runs and drove in 100 runs while hitting to a .298/.350/.505 clip in 150 games (632 plate appearances), Gonzalez wasn’t quite able to replicate that success in 2017.
This past season, the 32-year-old appeared in 136 games (534 plate appearances) with the Rockies, clubbing 14 homers and driving in 57 RBI while hitting to a .262/.339/.423 clip. He also had a.162 ISO, .318 BABIP, .327 wOBA and 84 wRC+.
Gonzalez has captured three Gold Gloves total in his career, all as a left fielder, but has since been moved to right field in recent years.
In 1,064.0 innings in right in 2017, Gonzalez had -3 defensive runs saved with a -1.7 UZR while committing three errors.
The big knock on CarGo is that he is unable to hit left-handed pitching, and has been much worse away from Coors Field. Over the past three years on the road against righties, Gonzalez has hit .271/.338/.454 with a 108 wRC+.
The longtime Rockie would be a hedge until Michael Conforto returns, however, and could provide a useful spark off the bench, while also working as Yoenis Cespedes quad injury insurance.
MLB Trade Rumors predicts CarGo will land a one-year deal worth $12 million, but with how slow the market has been to develop for position players, I bet he gets even less than that.
The Mets have also been rumored to possibly move AJ Ramos to fill other holes this winter. If they trade him and are able to save some cash, bringing in Gonzalez could help give them more outfield depth which they desperately need while helping the team round out their bench and bringing in a veteran presence.
