Reese Kaplan -- Outside the Box Isn't Always A Great Idea

Mets fans are a strange lot.  First they complain when things go wrong, money isn’t spent and AAAA players are expected to deliver All-Star level performance.  Then when new ownership arrives and professional ballplayers are secured to help assure that the team will indeed be competitive, then the injuries take over the daily headlines.  As a result, they’re turning to the likes of Cameron Maybin and others of that ilk who have never really established themselves as full time quality players but are available as the third month of the season is about to begin.  

Now a headline appears that the team is making a semi-serious effort at another reputed clubhouse problem in Yasiel Puig who is still unsigned and available.  Granted, in his good days Puig has delivered both offensively and defensively.  Most recently in 2019 he hit 24 HRs and drove in 84 while hitting a solid .267.  For that he was paid $9.7 million.  In 2020 he was invisible due to COVID issues and in 2021 was scheduled to ply his trade in the Mexican League since the majors were not exactly knocking down his door.

While I applaud outside-the-box thinking when it serves a purpose, I’m not quite sure what the rationale is here.  Yes, Brandon Nimmo, Michael Conforto, Kevin Pillar, Albert Almora and Jose Martinez are all unavailable due to an assortment of health issues.  On the surface it would seem a solid if problematic outfielder like Puig would be a good fit to help solve this issue.  

However, Nimmo and Conforto appear to be relatively short term issues unless the team has not been truthful in the progress of their injuries.  Then the Pillar multiple nasal fracture means he’s likely on the shelf for a month or so while his nose heals, the swelling reduces and his vision returns clearly.  

So the question is what do you do with Puig when the planned outfield resources return to Queens?  Is he playing off the bench?  Do you cut him loose after his short term stay helping bide time for the healing to complete?  

From Puig’s perspective, it is obviously desirable to get back on the field in the Major Leagues where teammate accolades and serious paydays await.  He may view a short term deal with the Mets as something of a live audition to remind folks what he’s capable of doing and how he could be an asset to them in the future.  At 30 years old, he’s not likely washed up and could provide another 5 years of reasonable production to the right team.  

Of course, finding a suitor willing to embrace the controversial Puig might be more difficult than it seems.  He threw bats, was a frequent tardy arrival to Dodger games, sulked, and clashed openly with teammates like Zack Greinke and Skip Schumacher.  Then there was the matter of a sexual assault complaint lodged against him in 2018.

In some ways, he reminds people of fellow Cuban Yoenis Cespedes.  He swings from his heels and generates awesome power WHEN he is able to make contact.  He has a cannon of an arm but doesn’t show the ambition to run out plays unless he is motivated.  It is the question of his focus that is keeping teams from racing to bid for his services.  Doesn’t that sound a lot like the former Mets outfielder who could find time to smoke but not to act like a professional player?

The Yasiel Puig approach might provide some short term benefits, but if the Mets do venture down that troubled road, they had better be able to extricate themselves from the deal when Puig reverts to his previous behaviors.