MMO will be looking at multiple bargain options that are still available for the Mets this offseason. With Sandy Alderson figuring to have about $10 million left to spend, the Mets best chance to fill holes will be shopping at the dollar store.
With Michael Conforto set to miss potentially the first month of the season, the Mets are set-up currently to have an outfield alignment that features Yoenis Cespedes, Juan Lagares, and Brandon Nimmo until he returns.
However, that would be less than ideal and it would be smart for the Mets to consider some alternatives to Nimmo in right field.
With the lack of funds the Mets appear to have available, they should probably try to acquire an outfielder on the cheap, knowing that whatever player they acquire will, at the minimum, be reduced to a part-time role upon the return of Conforto. As a result, the Mets should turn to Melky Cabrera in free agency.
The 33-year-old still has plenty of life in his bat after hitting .285/.324/.423 with 17 home runs and 85 RBIs for a wRC+ of 98. These stats are in line with his career norms as well as his slash line over his 13 years in the league is .286/.335/.418.
He also managed to strike out only 74 times in 620 at-bats, which is the type of hitter the Mets could use in a lineup that features many hitters that strike out their fair share of times.
Like all of the players we have talked about in this series, he does have a serious drawback. His defense is absolutely terrible, which is why the Mets would be able to get him so cheap. Last season, he had a career worse -18 defensive runs saved between the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals and also had a -0.1 WAR.
That number is not in line with his previous norms completely, though, as his previous career-low was -7, but in the prime of his career, he was a plus defender and even had 13 defensive runs saved in 2009.
While he might be nearing the end of his career, he still might have value to the Mets for a month as a starter and can then transition to a reserve role as a switch hitter that can make it difficult for opposing manager’s to plan out their bullpen strategy on a given night.
