Reese Kaplan -- An All Star Sized Hole to Fill

There is an old cliché to be careful what you wish for because you might just get it.  Recently many were harping on the Mets’ depth in the outfield and how they seemed flush in that position.  Then along comes an outfield wall to collide with Michael Conforto’s side and all of the sudden folks are scrambling to fill the void.

You have to remember that some of the Mets’ outfielders are called that simply because they would not otherwise have a major league job opportunity.  JD Davis, Dom Smith and others are not really big league quality out there with their gloves or path instincts on fly balls.  Jacob Marisnick is one of those afterthought outfielders who can catch ‘em with the best of ‘em, but swings a balsa wood bat on the best day.  Other organizational castoffs like Ryan Cordell or Jarrett Parker are not going to replace Conforto’s offensive presence in the lineup.  Infielders posing as outfielders like Matt Adams and Eduardo Nunez are not long-term solutions either. 

One approach would be to trade Dominic Smith for a real outfielder.  Surely there are teams out there who could find room for Smith at 1B or DH and would be willing to cough up a real player to man one of the outfield spots.  You hate to trade away potential impact for a short-term solution, but sometimes bold actions need to be taken. 

Some folks have advocated the Mets approach one of the most high-profile players still out there on the free agent market, Yasiel Puig.  He’s been known as something of a clubhouse cancer wherever he’s played, but he is a solid hitter and defender who could help temper the loss of Seattle’s best young right fielder.  However, depending on how lucky or unlucky Conforto turns out to be with his New York-based medical diagnosis, a Puig solution might be highly preferable to seeing Davis and Smith stumbling around the outfield together.  If it’s a short-term thing, then you could live with the various NRIs hoping for a last gasp at the majors. 

As I see it, the club right now is not likely going to make any major transactional moves until they have a clearer idea of just how dire the Conforto injury is and how long it will take to heal.  If the doctors say three weeks, bank on six at minimum.  The club could muddle through with spare parts for six weeks given the quality throughout the lineup elsewhere.  Furthermore, if you’re still marketing the club for a buyer, going out now and ensuring a Puig type player for a mere $10 million or so is the best approach might make for a tough sell.  (Lest you think I’m making up this number, the LA Times reported Puig turned down a $10 million offer with an NL team already.) 

The other issue with a Puig acquisition is a long term one.  Where does he play when Conforto returns?  Where does Yoenis Cespedes play?  Where does JD Davis play?  Where does Dominic Smith play?  He’s a solution but it doesn’t appear to be a particularly good fit.  To me it’s less a matter of money or clubhouse presence than it is what to do with him when everyone is healthy.  In case no one noticed, JD Davis outproduced him offensively last year in fewer at-bats.  And, music to the Wilpons’ ears, Davis earns minimum wage.