Even though we are in the second week of January, there are still a significant number of top tier free agents that remain unsigned. On Sunday, Jim Bowden of The Athletic highlighted the top 10 remaining players out there and predicted where they will end up in 2018.
Bowden discussed the possibility of Mike Moustakas taking his talents to New York and this is what he said.
“The Mets have sent mixed signals on what their intentions are,” Bowden said. “But their actions with agents indicate they will sign at least one significant free agent.”
Moustakas, 29, slashed .272/.314/.521/.835 with 75 runs, 24 doubles, 85 RBI and career-high 38 home runs in 2017 for the Royals.
The two-time All-Star struggled defensively though with 3.6 UZR/150 and -8 defensive runs saved, but otherwise he’s been known as a pretty good defender. In 2016 he had a 15.5 UZR/150 and one DRS.
Over his seven season big league career Moustakas has been a 11.4 WAR player including 1.8 WAR this past season.
MLB Trade Rumors predicted that Moose would get a five-year, $85 million contract this offseason.
In the article, Bowden also mentions Lorenzo Cain and Jay Bruce and where they fit best next season. The Mets are not among the teams for either of them.
Nobody can really predict what Mets will do. MMO’s own Joe D. summed it up pretty succinctly last week:
“The Mets talk out of both sides of their mouth so as to obscure reality. If they don’t sign someone it leaves them the out that at least they tried. The truth that runs beneath all the confusion they create, is that the Mets are still a team that is paralyzed financially. They are a slave to a bottom third payroll in a top flight market.”
Also, a “significant free agent” is a subjective and rather ambiguous term. What the team views as a significant free agent could be a lot different than what actually is one.
