MMO will be looking at multiple bargain options that are still available for the Mets this offseason. With Sandy Alderson reportedly having about $10 million left to spend, the Mets best chance to fill holes will be shopping at the dollar store.
This offseason has not played out the way anyone wanted it too so far. The Mets are showing no willingness to spend any money to put out a strong product in 2018.
This issue has extended to their second base pursuit in which they no longer appear likely to acquire Jason Kipnis, lost out on Ian Kinsler, and do not appear to be too interested in signing Neil Walker.
The Mets, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, have only about $10 million left in available funds this offseason. That is not a lot of money at all.
They still have a plethora of needs that include a new second baseman, a first baseman/outfielder type, another reliever, and possibly a starting pitcher.
As a result, they’ll have to go cheap somewhere. That place very well could be second base and Brandon Phillips would be as strong of a gamble as anyone.
The three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove Award winner has been one of the most consistent sources of production at the keystone over the past decade as he has a career .275/.320/.421 slash line over the course of his 16 years in the league.
He remained productive this past season too in his first year in Atlanta as he was hitting .291/.320/.416 with 11 homers before being traded to the Los Angeles Angels.
Phillips struggled in his brief stint with the Angels which lasted a mere 24 games in September as he only had a .255/.269/.382 slash line with two home runs.
Despite this, there are a couple of qualities that stand out above the rest.
The first is his strikeout rate. Phillips struck out only 73 times in 572 at-bats this season and he has only finished with over 100 strikeouts in a season once.
The Mets have been lacking hitters with this ability and he could potentially make a solid two or six-hole hitter in the lineup with that ability.
Yes, the on-base percentage is not nice, but if he is going to consistently put the ball in play, I think his shortcomings on that end can be forgiven.
Is this anyone’s first choice? Of course not. However, it is starting to seem unlikely that the Mets are going to go out and spend the amount of money the fans deserve from this franchise. So, this means that Sandy Alderson will have to get creative and cut back in some areas.
Jon Heyman of the FanRag Sports Network projected him to receive a one-year deal worth $6 million. Now, that is also the same price he projects Jose Reyes at.
There is a legitimate chance that neither one will get that though and if they could get Phillips cheaper than that they should consider signing him and saving the remaining money to fill at least one of the other needs that still have not been addressed.
This situation is less than ideal, but Alderson will have to find a way to make it work, and Phillips could end up in a Mets uniform as a result.
