Under-The-Radar Offseason Moves Have Been Key to Mets’ Success

Every winter, MLB hot stove headlines are dominated by the elite players looking for a new contract. And, rightfully so — while baseball is the definition of a team sport and one player can’t sway things all that much (just ask Mike Trout), landing a big-time free agent can change the culture of a clubhouse and organization.

The New York Mets certainly did that by acquiring Francisco Lindor, and despite a slow start, he appears to be settling into his new surroundings. That’s evidenced by his 0.9 fWAR, which currently leads Mets position players. One of the biggest differences we saw this past winter under new ownership is the front office actually did what they could to “finish” the offseason.

There were some frustrating moments where it seemed like New York whiffed (or passed) on bigger-name free agents that’d immediately help the club. Players like J.T. Realmuto, Liam Hendriks, Brad Hand, and Trevor Bauer immediately come to mind. But instead of just stopping there, they continued looking around and investing in roster depth.

Based on how much action New York’s injured list has received through the season’s first two-and-a-half months, depth has never been so important.

The Signings That Stick Out

Guys like Aaron Loup and Taijuan Walker have been great, but they’re also performing in roles they were expecting to be in upon signing a contract to join the organization. Two players coming to mind here for me are the beloved -illar brothers: Kevin Pillar and Jonathan Villar.

In the name of depth, it’s hard to fault New York for signing either of these players — even if committing $8.55 million between the two of them seemed a bit steep at the time. This is the beauty of having an owner willing to spend some money, though. These kinds of signings aren’t the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

When both of these signings broke over the winter, the one thought/concern I had was they were being brought in as bench players after spending the majority of their MLB careers playing every day. It’s hard enough playing in the big leagues on a daily basis, and it’s even tougher to be a reserve player…especially when it’s a role the player isn’t used to dealing with.

Past Track Records 

Villar and Pillar certainly fit this particular mold, too. Between 2016 and 2019, Villar played at least 122 games each year, surpassing the 140-game threshold three times. He also appeared in 52 of a possible 60 games during the shortened season of 2020. It’s virtually the same story for Pillar, who played at least 140 games between 2015 and 2019, along with 54 out of 60 last season.

Neither of these dudes is super old — Villar is 30 and Pillar is 32 — and although they’ve cut their teeth as legit big leaguers, there’s a reason why they were both still available for the Mets to scoop up in mid-February.

After Pillar posted a career-high 3.7 fWAR off the back of a career-high 24 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), both numbers have gone on a reasonably steady decline. His fWAR has gone from that number, all the way down to 1.1 last season, while his DRS has finished on the wrong side of zero in each of the past three years.

Meanwhile, Villar isn’t far removed from a 4.1-fWAR effort with the Baltimore Orioles in 2019 where he slugged 24 homers and swiped 40 bases, but he struggled to a -0.3 fWAR and a 66 wRC+ through 207 plate appearances in 2020.

Two Important Cogs

If you take a gander at the Mets’ position-player fWAR leaderboard, the top five will be loaded with familiar names. You know, guys like Lindor (0.9), Brandon Nimmo (0.8), and J.D. Davis (0.7). That’s great until we remember Nimmo hasn’t played since May 8th and Davis hasn’t suited up since May 1st.

But what about the other two players in the top five? That’s right, it’s Villar (0.9) and Pillar (0.7). Judging from their respective offensive production (110 wRC+ for Villar and 97 for Pillar), they’ve more than held their weight in the absence of Nimmo and Davis (the two dudes they essentially stepped in for directly).

When players kept dropping like flies to the injury bug, these two have acted as the all-important “glue guys” every roster needs. Villar has done so with his style of play and adventurous baserunning. Pillar has done it by making it back to the active roster much quicker than anyone could’ve anticipated after getting hit in the face with a 94 mph fastball.

Did More Than Anyone Expected

These two, along with the rest of the ReplaceMets, have done an incredible job of not only holding down the fort but also excelling as a unit that’s been in first place for the majority of this season. Sure, the weekend series against the Washington Nationals was not at all fun, but let’s put it all in perspective.

If someone laid out all the injuries (and injury scares) the Mets have dealt with back in February, all of our jaws would’ve dropped. If that same person then said New York would be in sole possession of first place for six weeks and will be entering play on Tuesday with a 37-30 record and a four-game lead in the National League East, all of our jaws would’ve dropped again.

The novelty of these players getting in the lineup every day may be starting to wear off, but who knows where this team would be without them. Kudos goes to the front office for making these shrewd signings. They didn’t grab the headlines like acquiring Lindor did, but they’ve ended up being just as crucial to New York’s overall success thus far in 2021. And, who knows what important they’ll seem by the time September rolls around.