Potential Additions for the Injury-Filled New York Mets

The idea of the “ReplaceMets” was all fun and games when they were contributing and winning ballgames, however we all knew it was absolutely unsustainable.

The kids have been playing hard and without a doubt have been fun to watch at times, but there’s not denying over the past few games they’ve proven to be a bit overmatched by some not so dominant pitching.

During their current losing streak, which extended to three games with the 3-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Monday night, the Mets offense has mustered just a combined four runs against Pablo Lopez, Cody Poteet, and Austin Gomber.

With all due respect to these three pitchers, this make-shift Mets offense is starting to become unwatchable at times. To go back even further, they’re 3-4 and have averaged just averaging just three runs per game over their past seven games.

The addition of Cameron Maybin has not worked out at all, Johneshwy Fargas has provided a bit of a spark but he is now injured too, and Khalil Lee looks overmatched by big league pitching, just to name a few.

With potential return dates from some of their big league bats still in question, the time is now for the Mets to jump and make an addition to this club. They need a spark, a legit big league addition that can and will contribute.

While it might not be an ideal time to make a trade, Mets General Manager Zack Scott said on Monday afternoon that he is looking at all options, and is “on the phone pretty much all day everyday” looking for ways to improve his injury-depleted ball-club.

“We’re trying to find the best internal options, the best external options, trying to get the most out of the guys that we have,” Scott said. “We’ve gotta cover everything and explore everything that we can to get the best team on the field at all times.”

Scott mentioned that there are a handful of teams that are certainly open for business at this time. It may cost them a bit more to land a trade this early, but it’s time, enough is enough with this depleted offense.

The internal option just are not getting it done for this group. With that being said, here are some potential external options Zack Scott and the Mets could consider in free agency, on waivers, and on the trade market.

Free Agents

At this point in the season, there really is not much out there on the free-agent market. The three outfielders left are Yoenis Cespedes, Yasiel Puig, and Ryan Braun.

While back in the day that may’ve been three big-name additions, at this point in their respective careers, all three players appear to be on the down-swing and certainly come with their fair-share of baggage along the way.

Would it hurt for the Mets to take a shot on one of them on what would most certainly be a very cheap deal? I don’t know. But would the production be worth the potential baggage and backlash they could carry over to the club? It doesn’t seem like it.

Braun, now 37-years old, produced a .769 OPS and eight homers in 39 games for the Brewers during the 2020 pandemic shortened season. Puig hasn’t played at the big league level since 2019, and as we know, Cespedes opted-out of last season after just eight games.

At this point, who knows if they would even be in game-shape and able to help this team right away.

If the Mets were interested in making a move for one of these three, they likely would’ve pulled the trigger already. That’s why I feel like they have no interest in adding these aging veterans, and are looking elsewhere to improve.

Waivers/Recently DFA’d

Just like with free agency, there really isn’t much out there that is enticing for the Mets.

Three of the outfielders currently sitting in DFA limbo, as pointed out by SNY’s Jacob Resnick, are Giants OF Braden Bishop, and Brewers OF Billy McKinney and veteran utility-man Jace Peterson.

Bishop is a 27-year old outfielder, who is yet to find success at the big league level, but has a decent minor league track record. During the 2019 season, he produced a .830 OPS in 50 games with Triple-A Tacoma.

He was claimed off waivers by the Giants after being DFA’d by the Mariners, but his tenure in the Bay Area didn’t last very long, and he was DFA’d again last week. Bishop does have one minor league option left on his deal, so he could help out at the big leagues until the regulars return and then be sent down.

Peterson was rehabbing a thumb injury in Triple-A when he was DFA’d by the Brewers on Monday afternoon. He played a bench role for Milwaukee during the 2020 season and saw one of the his best offensive years of his career.

In 26 games coming off the bench, Peterson produced a career-high .749 OPS and a .393 OBP. Throughout his eight-year big league career, Peterson has spent time at both corner outfield spots, and all of the infield positions.

Perhaps the most interesting name on this list is 26-year old outfielder Billy McKinney. Due to injuries the once top-100 prospect started the season off playing often and red-hot, but ultimately lost more and more playing time as the Brew Crew got healthy.

McKinney was ultimately DFA’d this past weekend as he had no minor league options left. Over his four years at the big league level, McKinney has produced a .706 OPS and slugged 24 doubles and 21 homers.

MMO’s own Pat Ragazzo also brought up speedster Dee Strange-Gordon in an article released yesterday. Strange-Gordon was recently DFA’d, and is now a free-agent, and is someone the Mets should seriously consider.

His last full season in the big leagues, he hit .275 and stole 22 bases with the Seattle Mariners. Over 45 games to begin this season with the Milwaukee Brewers Triple-A affiliate, the Nashville Sound, he was hitting .333 with four extra-base hits and a stolen base.

As Pat mentioned, he is someone who can contribute both in the infield and the outfield. Strange-Gordon would be an interesting low-risk, potential high-reward option. Let’s be real, at this point, what’s the harm in seeing is he has anything left to contribute at the big league level.

Trade Market

Obviously the big names Mets fans would love to see here and have been throwing around so often are Cubs 3B Kris Bryant and Rangers OF Joey Gallo. Honestly though, I don’t see Bryant being moved anytime soon, and it’s not clear whether or not the Rangers are listening to offers on Gallo.

I’m not saying to completely write those two off, it seems less likely, at least for now. However, there are still some intriguing options out there who should be available on rebuilding teams. Ideally, it would be nice to see the Mets add an infielder and an outfielder.

The Arizona Diamondbacks already sit 12 games back in the NL West, and two of their more interesting players that could be available include corner outfielder David Peralta and third baseman Eduardo Escobar.

Peralta is a above-average middle of the order bat that can play both corner outfield positions. He won a Silver Slugger in ’18 and a Gold Glove in ’19. Peralta has had his fair-share of injury problems, but has produced a .819 OPS over his eight year big league career.

Escobar is a guy who can bounce around the infield, having spent time at third, shortstop, and second base in his career. After a bit of a down 2020 campaign, he has popped 12 homers and leads the league with 35 RBI to begin the 2021 season.

While they may have to pay up a bit this early, both guys should be able to be had for relatively cheap as Escobar is a free-agent after this season and Peralta would have just one year left at $7.5 million on his current deal.

Tim Britton of the Athletic also recently mentioned Adam Frazier of the Pittsburgh Pirates as an option. As we all know, the Pirates are still in the midst of a deep rebuild. Like Peralta, Frazier would come with one more year of control.

Frazier has been on-fire to being the 2021 season, and would make for an intriguing addition to the top of this lineup. He leads the league with 61 hits and has produced a slash-line of .335/.396/.462 with a 138 OPS+ so far this season.

He also has experience at every outfield position, second base, third, and shortstop during his career.

Two other outfielders to consider are Gregory Polanco and Robbie Grossman, and on the infield side of things Niko Goodrum, Freddy Galvis, or maybe even Ryan McMahon of the Colorado Rockies could make sense.

No matter what route they decide to take, as I’ve said, the Mets are likely going to have to pay up in any trade this early in the season, but that is unfortunately the position they’re in right now. Whether it’s a big splash or another small move, I do have a feeling we’ll see some sort of addition sooner rather than later.