Reese Kaplan -- Reinventing the Mets

Through all of the will he or won’t he conversations that take place regarding the return of Yoenis Cespedes the talk inevitably turns to replacing his power should he depart.  After all, he’s a 30+ HR guy with 90+ RBI game changing potential.  The conventional wisdom says that the team will revert to an offensive mountain of Everest proportions without Cespedes or an equivalent in his place.

For those of us whose short term memory has not been adversely affected by either dementia or what’s now legal to smoke in many jurisdictions, do you remember the team that beat us handily in the 2015 World Series?  The Kansas City Royals had some excellent pitching (though some would argue not quite up to the Mets’ level of dominance, a killer bullpen (edge to them), but not a single hitter in their lineup with over 22 home runs.  What struck me even more when analyzing their success was the flip side of the offense – only two batters who eclipsed the 100 strikeout mark for the entire season (and just barely – Eric Hosmer and 108 and Kendrys Morales at 103).  Dig a little deeper and you’ll see that the big four in their lineup – Hosmer, Morales, Mike Moustakas and Alex Gordon – averaged more than 50 walks apiece. 

Now let’s take a look at some of the numbers from the 2016 NY Mets squad of players.  You had three players at the 30 home run mark, 2 more in the 20s and four players with over 100 strikeouts.  It’s no secret the team’s offense lived and died by the long ball.  The leading base stealer was Jose Reyes with a mere 9.  Compare that to KC’s Lorenzo Cain with 28 and Alcides Escobar with 17. 

What struck me is the possibility that should Cespedes depart for greener pastures and bank accounts elsewhere, rather than trying to replicate what he did, instead should the Mets look at it as an opportunity to reinvent themselves into a more balanced, high OBP club with not only some power but also with the ability to move runners along, take the extra base and test the opposing teams throwing arms? 

Towards that end, rather than focusing on the guys like Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista, Andrew McCutchen and other bonafide sluggers, who’s out there that gets on base, works the count, steals some bases and generally disrupts the pitcher’s concentration the same way the Royals did it to the Mets?  Building on that formula, amassing a killer bullpen that takes pressure off the returning infirmary squad in the starting rotation will complete the Royalfication of the Mets. 

Granted, the players who are known for high OBP are not the “sexy” names that make people’s heads swoon with their potential.  Some of them don’t even get All-Star consideration.  But take the case of someone like Colorado’s D.J. LeMahieu.  Ever since he became a regular in 2013 his batting average and OBP has steadily risen to where he now sits near the top of the pack with a .416 clip for getting on base.  Do you want to know how that compares to the Mets?  Their primary leadoff hitter, Curtis Granderson, only managed to achieve a .335 mark. 

Now until you saw the World Series, you probably didn’t even know who Jose Ramirez of the Indians was, but all he did in 2016 was provide a slash line of .312/11/76 while providing an OBP of .363.

Crusty veteran and perennial thorn in the Mets’ side, Yadier Molina, also posted a .360 OBP last year.  Granted he’ll turn 35 this season, but might he provide a nice bridge for a few years to allow a Tomas Nido to develop?  2017 is the last year of his contract ($14 million and there’s a $15 million option or $2 million buyout for 2018).  They have a guy ready to take his place named Carson Kelly who won a minor league Rawlings defensive award (similar to Gold Glove).  Maybe it’s worth a call. 

Another player with whom you are most definitely familiar is the San Francisco Giants’ Buster Posey who, in a down year, still provided .288/14/80 with a .362 OBP.  He’s eclipsed the .400 mark in OBP during his career as well.  Now there’s not likely any way to lure the face of the Giants franchise to the Mets, but wouldn’t that solve a few problems simultaneously – upgrading the catching and having a hitter who is not a human fan?  His contract is for 5 more years at $21 million per year -- less than what Cespedes would cost (and he's younger).

Even role guys like Eduardo Nunez who kicked around the Yankees and Twins until finally settling with the Giants was able to produce a solid first full season of .288/16/67 with 40 SBs.  Think what that kind of contribution could do to the Mets offense.   Hernan Perez of the Brewers followed a similar career trajectory with parallel results. 

I’m not advocating that the Mets necessarily target any of these players but I wanted to get the idea out there that there are multiple ways to win games that don’t necessarily involve putting the ball over the wall.  Other teams have seemingly found room for these productive types of hitters and base runners, yet the Mets seem to be continuing down that all-or-nothing path once again.