Andy Martino of the Daily News says there is still lingering talk that the Mets are considering a run at free agent Nelson Cruz.
I guess if the Mets could get a REAL bargain, his power could could make sense. But given what Sandy Alderson said yesterday at being at the cusp of his payroll budget, you could bet that cutting Ike Davis might be a part of making room for Cruz.
The Mets had interest in the former Texas Ranger early in the offseason. When MMO spoke to Sandy Alderson in December, he said that the team had met with Cruz’s agent, Mitch Frankel, and ‘conversations’ regarding the two-time All-Star did occur.
Cruz, who was suspended for 50-games due to his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal, hit .266 with 27 homers and 76 RBIs in 413 at-bats last season with Texas.
That said, Martino adds that there has indeed been some dialogue between the Mets and the Cruz camp, according to a major league source, but a fit is “highly unlikely.”
Alderson emphatically said that it was unlikely that he’d be adding any major free agent at this stage of the game, and that the Mets were good to go with what they have.
Last month, several general managers suggested that a one-year deal may be best for the free agent outfielder so that the 33-year old could reestablish his value.
At the time, Nick Cafardo reported that if Cruz were to consider such a deal, it could “open more opportunities for him” with clubs such as the Mets.
These types of one-year ‘pillow contracts’ as Cafardo calls it, however, have worked well in the past for big-time players who have entered free agency looking to rebound.
So what do you think? Is this a road the Mets should go down?
