Reese Kaplan -- Are New DHs the Way for Mets to Improve?

Folks who watched the Monday night Mets game saw first hand what all the buzz was concerning the abilities of one Max Scherzer.  Not only did he slide easily through the formidable Braves lineup, his many strikeouts that were of the swinging variety left the Atlanta hitters looking totally befuddled.  Given the recent slide a bit in the standings and the seemingly never ending injury woes, this pitching gem was needed.

If you talk to fellow Mets fans about what they need to improve the team, few are thinking about starting pitching.  They bring up the topic of the return of Jacob deGrom, the ascendency of David Peterson, the stellar work by Taijuan Walker and the on-again/off-again quality of Chris Bassitt and Carlos Carrasco.  Some even venture to toss names like Tylor Megill and Trevor Williams into the mix, too.  Yes, the starting pitching does indeed look quite good when healthy.  Those last two words are the key phrase here.

Then there are the run scoring fans who still have no confidence in Dom Smith, J.D. Davis nor Eduardo Escobar who are looking for the Mets to obtain a "real" DH to complement their attack.  We've all heard the same names -- Josh Bell, Trevor Mancini, C.J. Cron and others.  No one would object to any of them becoming a part of the offense depending, of course, on what it would take to bring them on board.  

Take Bell, for example.  He became All Star quality while wasting away in Pittsburgh.  His 2019 season was one for the ages with 37 HRs, 116 RBIs and a .277 batting average.  After 2020's abbreviated season ended the Pirates' GM, young Ben Cherington, decided they could finish in last place with or without the increasingly expensive Bell and swapped him for high ranking pitching prospects from the Nationals.  Any time you trade an established solid star for future hope the media and fans in your home market are going to grab the pitchforks and torches.  Fortunately for Cherington the Pirates fans are so accustomed to losing that he managed to escape medieval wrath.

Now with the Washington Nationals Bell is resembling that 2019 All Star once again.  He's currently hitting a career best .304 with 12 HRs and 47 RBIs.  The long ball total may fall a bit below that previous season, but triple digit RBIs is certainly in the realm of possibility.  Right now he's earning every penny of his $10 million salary, but he's slated to become a free agent at year's end.  The Nationals have become the NL East laughingstock so it is certainly prudent for them to try to cash in on a midyear trade rather than getting at best a draft pick.

For the Mets who have an occupant at first base named Pete Alonso, Bell would have to accept and enjoy the role of Designated Hitter.  True, he could spell Alonso occasionally in the field just as Smith does, but whatever you give up in a deal to obtain him is reminiscent of last season's Javier Baez deal.  There's no guarantee he'll stick around and it's entirely possible that a high prospect like Ronny Mauricio could come back to haunt you for a two-month rental.  

Mancini in 2019 also put together a fantastic year with a .291 average, 35 HRs and 97 RBIs.  He's not approached those numbers before or since, but he's a solid hitter with a lifetime .272 average.  What is concerning is his mere 8 HRs during 2022, but he's hitting .284 and that's a big step up from the incumbent candidates to DH in the Mets dugout.  He's earning $7.5 million and has an option for a $10 million deal in 2023 with a buyout of $250K.  

C.J. Cron has meandered from team to team, occasionally catching fire but just as often not making anyone want him as a force in the middle of the lineup.  Only twice in his career has he eclipsed the 500 AB mark, but he does indeed have power.  He's hit as many as 30 HRs in a season and this year he's got 20 roughly halfway through the campaign.  His batting average might be a little inflated by the Rocky Mountains, but in two seasons for Colorado he's hit .281 and currently is hitting .292. For a slugger he doesn't fan as much as is typical.  As a right handed batter he feasts on southpaws which might make him a good fit here.  He's earning $7.25 million this year and is coming back next year for the same salary.  It might take more effort to obtain him than someone on an expiring contract.

One other name we've heard many times is Nelson Cruz who has been a formidable slugger over his long career.  Unfortunately in 2021 his power was down a bit from his multiple 40 HR seasons and he was nowhere near the 119 RBIs he produced in 2017.  Like most Washington Nationals, he's not doing much this year with a .241 average and just 8 HRs, though he has driven in a highly respectable total of 47.  At age 42 he's an old Wilpon era way of improving the team.  He earns $12 million this season and has a $16 million option for 2023 along with a $3 million buyout.  So the question you have to ask yourself is it worth $15 million pro-rated to bring in mid tier hitter assuming you don't take his $16 million option?  I think not.  

Anyway, the quiet Billy Eppler hasn't revealed his plans for the Mets for the remainder of the year.  Since the double digit lead over the Braves evaporated to about 4, many folks are getting anxious for the team to do something.  The Braves went out and landed a multiple All Star in former Met Robinson Cano, though that acquisition hasn't caused folks in Queens to lose any sleep.  What in turn will the Mets do?  The trade deadline is rapidly approaching and fans are running out of patience.