Reese Kaplan -- We Sure Could Use An Outfielder or Two...

With free agency lists now upon us, it's time to turn our attention to that big grass field which currently only for sure has Brandon Nimmo residing on it -- the New York Mets outfield.  Departures of Michael Conforto and Kevin Pillar helped make the team thinner out there.  Then factor in the injury recovery and lead glove of J.D. Davis.  Finally there are some folks whose position is still unknown like Jeff McNeil.  That roster scenario suggests that help might be necessary from the outside.  Since there are just so many pieces to peddle in trades without raiding the minors, free agency might be the route taken.  Let's see who's available and whether or not he makes sense for the Mets.

Draft Choice Compensation Required

Much to many folks' surprise, the utility player turned outfielder who most recently played for the Dodgers, Chris Taylor made this section of the list.  He's a very good player coming off a year in which he hit .254 with 20 HRs, 92 RBIs and 13 SBs.  In his best season he hit one more HR, stole 4 more bases and holds a career batting average of .261.  The Dodgers must like him as they gave him a Qualifying Offer (QO) which means a guarantee of over $18 million for at least next season.  Frankly I think while the numbers are solid they are not spectacular and he's a guy going into his age 31 season the Mets should not entertain.

Now their own Michael Conforto was also issued a QO and it's kind of hard to see why after the stats he produced last year.  Read it and weep -- .237, 14 HRs and 55 RBIs.  In a typical year he would do significantly better -- .255, 28 HRs and 85 RBIs.  Those numbers are a more than significantly better than what Taylor would provide but despite his lone All Star appearance seems an exception rather than the rule.  He is still under 30 and could grow into something better but it's an awfully risky bet after his forgettable 2021.  His defense is solid and there have never been character issues, though injuries have been present fairly often.  I could live with him for a year but I'm not fully convinced he's worth a long term and expensive commitment.  Conflicting reports state he's already declined the Qualifying Offer.  

Now the gaudy toy on the floor under the Christmas tree is now former Cincinnati Reds defensively inept slugger, Nick Castellanos.  He finished 2021 with stellar numbers -- .309, 34 HRs and an even 100 RBIs.  While never before crossing the 30 HR plateau, he's always shown good power.  He did hit 101 RBIs in 2017.  His career batting average surpasses the other two at .278.  His main problem is that they haven't figured out where or how to hide his glove.  His outfield conversion wasn't about his ability there but his lack of skills at 3rd base.  Even with those eye popping offensive numbers for the Reds, he earned just a 3.3 WHIP.  While that metric is good, his embarrassing play in the outfield brought it down.  He's born to be a DH and given the high likelihood that the next CBA will define that role for the NL, it's not a bad thought to entertain Castellanos who will turn 30 during 2022.  

The Next Tier of Solid Players

People who have read my posts in the past know I have advocated the now former Diamondback Starling Marte to become a part of the Mets.  He's a career .289 hitter who was on fire in 2021.  He finished the year batting .310 with 12 HRs and 55 RBIs, but it was his solid defense and his 47 SBs (not a typo) that led to a 4.7 WHIP rating.  He was paid $12.5 million last season, but his age in 2022 will be 33.  Consequently it should depress his long term contract duration a bit despite the great numbers.  He's probably topping out at a 4-year maximum.  He deserves a solid raise but not necessarily to stratospheric level.  Would a $72 million 4-year deal get it done?  If so, I'd have to strongly consider Marte.

Another "where do we put him" candidate is available in former Cubs, former Nationals and former Red Sox hefty player, Kyle Schwarber.  He's worked his way around the field from Catcher to 1st base to DH to outfielder.  No one has identified where he fits best other than the batter's box.  In 2021 he hit .266 (a career best) with 32 HRs and 71 RBIs in just 399 ABs.  He had an earlier season in which he hit 38 HRs and drove in 92 with a .250 AVG.  The key for him is making contact.  His power is probably better than what you'd get from a Michael Conforto but he will have days to embarrass you in the field until a DH is available in the National League.  He was paid $7 million last year but his $11.5 million option for 2022 was declined.  For reference, Conforto earned $12.25 million last year.  A multi-year deal for Schwarber might mirror the old Curtis Granderson deal of $16 million per year.  It would be a huge jump in pay but not to a level to preclude you from entertaining others.  

Unlike Conforto, former Brewers outfielder Avasail Garcia chose his departing year to have his finest season.  He hit .262 with a career high total of 28 HRs and a career high best 86 RBIs.  You know who matches those numbers?  Conforto averages .255 with 28 HRs and 85 RBIs.  So is Garcia a right handed option worth exploring?  He earned $10.75 million last year and his $12.5 million option was declined.  Who's a better bet?  That's hard to say, but even with the solid 2021, Garcia has a weaker overall baseball card based upon stats.  Consequently he would be cheaper than Conforto.  

Jorge Soler apparently spent all his time learning the game in the batter's box and put as much effort into fielding as gamblers do when it comes to responsible budgeting.  In 2021 he hit 27 HRs and drove in 70 but only hit .223 and earned a very pedestrian 0.4 WHIP score.  In 2019 for the Royals he hit an unbelievable 48 HRs and drove in 117 while also leading the league in strikeouts.  An average season is worth 30 HRs and 84 RBIs with a low batting average and a ton of strikeouts while making batters happy whenever he is playing the field.  In 2021 he earned a tick over $8 million.  

Eddie Rosario has had one truly outstanding season in 2019 for the Twins when he clobbered 32 HRs and drove in 109.  That season has never been approached before or after.  Buoyed by that one outlier year, an average season would produce .275/27/90.  He's a highly problematic fielder and his ending salary for 2021 was $8 million.  I can see him hitting the $10-$12 million level and currently at age 29 he should have plenty of suitors.  

Joc Pederson worked for many years for the Dodgers as a slugger and rock solid fielder.  He moved on from there to the Cubs and Braves during 2021 and was not great.  He hit .238 with 18 HRs and 61 RBIs.  He once hit 38 HRs in a season but he's struggled to be more than a platoon solution, only twice eclipsing 500 ABs.  He earned just $4.5 million last year and likely isn't going to get a payroll busting contract, though he might be smarter taking a one year deal to reestablish his value for a longer term offer after a solid season. 

There are others available both onshore and offshore who could fill a roster spot, but most have devolved into marginally acceptable starters or capable fill-ins 

One End-Of-His-Career Good Choice

Do you remember the days when Andrew McCutchen was in five consecutive All Star games, won an MVP, and finished in the top five MVP voters three other times?  Yes, that was way back in the period of 2011 to 2015.  Since then he's been very solid but not at the same level...until 2021.  For the Phillies he finished with 27 HRs and 80 RBIs in less than 500 ABs while hitting a paltry .222.  For that effort he was paid $20 million but he's not worth anywhere near that salary anymore.  For a club looking for a stop gap solution, a two year deal for perhaps $12 million per season might be worth exploring as he plays 2022 and 2023 at ages 35 and 36.  

From Across the Pond

How would it sound if I could find you a career .309 hitter with three outfield Gold Gloves who is capable of slugging 38 HRs to boot?  Nice, huh?  His name is Seiya Suzuki and the Hiroshima Carp are posting him after his age 27 season.  Expect a major bidding war for someone in his prime with that kind of resume.  First there's the fee to pay to Japan and then there's the annual contract.  Expect he will easily eclipse the $167 million Ichiro Suzuki earned during his 18 years on this side of the Pacific.  In fact, expect he might double it.  

The other interesting Asian option is from South Korea, named Sung-Bum Na.  Turning 33 this upcoming season, he also hits for power and usually with a batting average north of .300.  In 2020 he hit .324 with 34 HRs and last year although his average dipped to .281 he still blasted 32 over the fence.  He has had knee trouble but last season played right field in 134 games, so perhaps that issue is at least managed.  He won't earn nearly as much as Suzuki given his age and recent health scare, but he won't come cheaply either.