Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

As the 2018 Mets team takes shape, featuring names like Amed Rosario and Dominic Smith, there will surely be some moves that need to be made this offseason to turn the Mets into a contender. Some big names, some medium names, and even some small names must be added if this team is going to make the playoffs.

As of now, the Mets outfield will be Yoenis Cespedes in left field, Juan Lagares in center field, and Michael Conforto in right with Brandon Nimmo serving as fourth outfielder and pinch-hitter, a role he’s taken to very well. Besides Nimmo, there is nobody that stands out as a fifth outfielder, or a fourth outfielder that makes Nimmo the fifth. Nobody in the organization, that is.

Someone the Mets should at least consider adding is Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson. The 25 year-old was optioned to Triple-A when his team traded for Curtis Granderson, and with good reason. Pederson had been hitting only .215/.329/.418 with 11 home runs, 33 RBI, a 101 wRC+ and 0.4 WAR. While he struggled this season, he could be a great buy-low candidate for the Mets.

The Dodgers have Chris Taylor currently playing center field and he’s been doing a phenomenal job for them. If they choose to keep him there for 2018, with Cody Bellinger and Yasiel Puig manning the corners, there wouldn’t be much room for Pederson. If that’s the case, the Dodgers could look to move him and because of his weak 2017, it would take less to pry him away from them.

But why go for him? He is a .222 career hitter, yes, but as we all know batting average is not the most important statistic. His .345 career on-base percentage is impressive, especially considering his low batting average. He did hit 26 home runs in 2015 and 25 in 2016, accounting for a 2.9 WAR and 116 wRC+ in 2015 and 3.6 WAR and 129 wRC+ in 2016.

With proper coaching, Pederson could return to his 2015 and 2016 prowess and wouldn’t be too expensive. He made $550,000 in 2017 and is under team control through 2020. Further, he can play any outfield position but has the most experience in center field. If one of the Mets’ three outfielders were to get injured, they’d have an inexpensive option with 25-home run potential to fill in for them.

2017 was the first season in his Major League career he wasn’t an every-day starter, so his reduced playing time could be the source of his woes. The point is that Pederson is only 25 years-old and hit 25 home runs as recently as 2016. He has talent and if the Mets could sneak him away from the Dodgers without having to give up too much of anything, having that potential under team control could end up being valuable.