2/12/20

Reese Kaplan -- Look at Me I Can Be Centerfield


It’s the time of year when glaring weaknesses become apparent and the fans get restless to see changes made to address them.  On the NY Mets expectations are high considering the PECOTA projections calling for them to run away with the NL East.  You’d think, therefore, that the team is pretty much set with everyone they need, but there’s always room for improvement.  Today we’ll leave out other aspects of incremental advancement and instead concentrate on just one spot – centerfield.


Last year we saw combinations of folks out there, including Brandon Nimmo, Michael Conforto, Juan Lagares and others ill-suited for the position.  Everyone liked Lagares’ defense but cringed every time they saw him step into the batter’s box.  The Mets let him walk away in free agency where he will try to resurrect his career as a minor leaguer with the Padres (AAA El Paso Chihuahuas literally walking distance from where I sit).  If he somehow makes the now Margot-less Padres, he will earn the princely sum of $1.4 million.  

Instead the Mets ventured out to acquire Jake Marisnick who has the Lagares defensive chops but might be offensively inferior.  His career numbers do not make you sing and dance, more like twitch and retch.  He hit .233 last year which actually boosted his career batting average.  His big season was 2017 when theoretically aided by Astros’ sign-stealing, he clubbed 16 HRs and hit (for him) a lofty .243.  For reference sake, he’s a replacement player with excellent defensive chops.


Right now the Dodgers got zinged in arbitration for Joc Pederson to the tune of $7.5 million.  For reference sake, that’s about $2 million less than the Mets last paid Lagares.  All Pederson did for that dough was club 36 HRs to go along with a somewhat tortured .249 batting average.  For his career he’s just a .233 hitter, but if he’s into the 36 HR level, then he is likely worth the modest investment. 

Many folks are clamoring for the Mets to make a deal to acquire him from the payroll-laden Dodgers.  After all, if the Yankees are aiming for him, shouldn’t the Mets?  Pederson is a talented defensive player and would add a big left handed bat to the lineup.  The problem is that the club is pretty much laded with lefty hitting between Michael Conforto, Robinson Cano, Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil and Dominic Smith.  From the right side they have Pete Alonso and not a lot else.   Right now there’s nowhere to play Yoenis Cespedes if his duct taped extremities are game-worthy.  JD Davis hit very well last year but he’s facing a no-room-at-the-inn situation regarding where best to hide his glove.  Wilson Ramos delivered quite well in his rookie Mets season.  If Pederson hit from the right side I’d be all over an acquisition attempt.


So what would it take to acquire Pederson?  Well, for starters think of players you don’t use enough such as Dominic Smith.  He would lower the Dodgers’ payroll and the amount he’d likely get to play in 2020 (barring injuries to others) is modest.  JD Davis would be a stiffer price to pay, particularly since the club is somewhat thin on the right side.  Rookies are always possibilities, but after being burned so badly by Seattle in 2019, it’s not as likely that Brodie Van Wagenen is going to be chomping at the bit to make that kind of deal.  Finally there are starting pitchers.  The Mets currently have 6 (including Michael Wacha), as well as some younger ones like Corey Oswalt, Walker Lockett and others who may or may not be ready for prime time.  Considering the Dodgers just dealt away a solid starter in Kenta Maeda, that might be an avenue to take.  If you offered them Rick Porcello, you’d actually save money 😊.

11 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

A deal for Joc would require some joc-keying. But I like those 36 HRs. Smith and Wacha?

JD is a righty who, if he played enough, might hit 36 himself, so he has to stay.

John From Albany said...

Reese - I like your trade proposals. Especially if they can get him for extra pieces. I do not want to give them prospects.

TexasGusCC said...

Reese, you can’t trade players you just signed as free agents until June.

Don’t trust or like the Dodgers. Pretty sure they cheat too, or acted like they knew something last May. Having said that, I still think Pederson is better than Smith. But, they have a need for good starting pitchers.

bill metsiac said...

I remember Joc being touted as the Next Big Thing when he first came up, but he never lived up to it. As Reese said, he's another LH bat anyway, so I'd rather keep JDD and Yo (if healthy).

As for Lag, that $1.4 mil is his BASE salary, with incentives that can make it much higher. I hope he reaches them and helps the Pads knock off the Dodgers.

Mack Ade said...

36 homers and ++ defense?

I can make room for that

J D Davis
Jed Lowrie (we pay 2/3 of 2020 salary)
Mark Vientos

Bob Gregory said...

The Mets demonstrated much better results last year with batters that actually maintained a batting avg. higher than .250.

Don't go back to the Alderson thinking of low avg. will be made up for by walks and homeruns.

The Mets had their chance at improving in centerfield. They chose not to pursue a Mookie Betts trade.

For 2020 Nimmo is the center fielder, backed up by Conforto. Accept it. Embrace it. They don't have to rank in the top 5 center fielders defensively for the Mets to be successful.

Remember1969 said...

This team does not need any more home runs or strikeouts. If there are any additions needed they are a .300 BA and OPS north of .360

The line up at this point can only be lengthened by somebody that does not have an all or nothing result. Joc Pederson is not going to put them over the top.

My opinion is that the only 2019 Dodger they should be looking at is Russell Martin. The catching position is the achilles heal of this team.

Tom Brennan said...

Remember1969, Russell Martin would work for me.

Mike Freire said...

I like Joc, but I don't see a fit with the current roster (i.e. overflowing with outfielders now). Nimmo doesn't have his
power, but he gets on base and fills a huge void in the lineup (leadoff hitter).

Plus, isn't Joc due to become a free agent in 2021? If so, we are adding another player who will need to get paid
in the near future (Conforto, Syndergaard, etc).

I agree with Bob.....Nimmo gets the lion's share of the starts in CF and Marsinick will pick
up the rest, provided they stay healthy.

Mack Ade said...

Like I said... bad idea.

bill metsiac said...

Me, too, even though it's a different Martin. 😉