Reese Kaplan -- So, Suppose You Want to Buy Some Bats...

It’s no secret that the Mets are going to have a relatively big pile of money available to them to shop aggressively in the free agent marketplace.  Besides long-delayed payments to ex Mets James McCann, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander finally ending, the team stands to lose up to 13 of its existing players to free agency.  

The money is indeed a very good thing as it opens up some great possibilities, but at the same time there is so much roster construction work that needs to be done it suggests that there need to be some hidden gems found to accompany the highest priced baubles available to the bidder with the deepest pockets. 

Let’s take an offensive look today at the best of the best from the position player options and see who might catch the team’s interest.

For purposes of this exercise we’re skip over the first base options as it’s more likely the Mets will either resign Pete Alonso or shift Mark Vientos across the diamond to replace him.  The same holds true at catcher with in-house options Francisco Alvarez and backup Luis Torrens.  However, from there it’s mostly an open bid for other positions.

Infielders

Willy Adames — Sometimes players stub their performance toe in a walk year and cost themselves dearly as they enter free agency.  Mr. Adames did the polar opposite and coming off a season in which he hit 32 HRs, drove in 112 and stole 21 bases, well, the line for his services is going to be quite long.  The right handed slugger is also under age 30, but on the Mets he would be forced to move to 3B due to the presence of Francisco Lindor.  That might count against his interest in this team.  His ending salary with the Brewers is $12.25 million.

Alex Bregman — A natural third baseman, Bregman has done wnders for the Houston Astros before reaching his first true crack at free agency.  Year in and year out he’ll post very solid offensive numbers while also playing the field quite well, yet despite his long career the now 30 year old has only twice eclipsed the 100 RBI mark and is coming off an ending salary just over $30 million.  He would be a nice fit but last season Mark Vientos provided more offense than did Bregman.  To me he’s a bit of a tough spend given other options.

Ha-seong Kim — The San Diego Padres stand to lose their incumbent shortstop who is a nice player but not outstanding in any particular way.  With Lindor here the thought on Kim would be at perhaps second base, but between Jeff McNeil, a return of Jose Iglesias, Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuna in house already he doesn’t seem like a great fit either.  He is an adept fielder with one Gold Glove to his credit in 2023 when he also hit 17 HRs and drove in 60 while swiping 38 bases.  However, that output was the exception of his American career.

Eugenio Suarez — This left side infielder has hit as many as 49 HRs in a season and three times crossed the 100 RBI mark including his walk year in Arizona.  They hold an option on his for his age 33 season in the $15.25 million range which is reasonable for what he provided them.  He’s not speedy and won’t hit for a high average but he will indeed produce runs.  The other red flag on him is strikeouts as he’s three times led the league in the category.  Dollar wise he’s a good fallback type of position if others are deemed too expensive.

Gleyber Torres — Here’s a guy that manager Carlos Mendoza knows very well from their joint tenure at Yankee Stadium.  Ending his Bronx tenure with a $14 million salary, imagine his contribution at second base given his offensive line of 25 HRs, 80 RBIs and a .265 batting average year in and year out to go along with about 10 stolen bases per year. Oh yeah, did I mention his career began at age 21, so now as a free agent he’s just 27. 

Outfielders

Cody Bellinger — It always seemed the Bellinger was an on again/off again type of hitter who could be quite dangerous or quite disappointing.  This coming year there’s an opt-out possible and he could make for an interested center field option.  He won a Gold Glove while playing for the Dodgers but his offensive swings are the ultimate wildcard for any team interested in his services.  

He’s hit as many as 47 HRs in a single season so there’s no question about his power potential, yet he’s entering this market having hit 18 and driving in just 70.  He can also play 1B if the Mets feel he is better served there as he approaches his 30s, but remember there’s not a lot of consistency for a guy finishing his Cubs career with a $27.5 million salary.  You’d frankly get more out of Pete Alonso for similar money.

Michael Conforto — Some folks live and die for player reunions and an old name is again available for whomever is willing to pay him.  Conforto has good power and can play a credible outfield, but his two ending seasons in San Francisco paid him $18 million per year for respectively 15 and 20 HRs.  His batting average is .251 and frankly he’s not hit 30 HRs since he last did it for the Mets in 2019.  At around $15 million or so per year for a guy turning 33, he is an adequate choice but also a regular injury risk.  I’d pass.

Teoscar Hernandez — One name quite familiar to Mets fans is Los Angeles Dodger Teoscar Hernandez who is now playing in the World Series.  The man owns a pair of Silver Sluggers from his days in Toronto and was an All Star this past season.  For a guy selling himself to the highest bidder, ending the 2024 season with 33 HRs and 99 RBIs while hitting .272 with a dozen steals is a great way to set himself up for a big payday.  

His salary with the Dodgers is $23.5 million for his single season contract in Los Angeles.  Rumor has it he’s interested in a return to Toronto, but the numbers he produces exceed many of the other options on the market right now.

Tyler O’Neill — Here’s a name nowhere near the top of most folks’ lists of must-haves but look a little closer and you might find a hidden gem.  He’s twice eclipsed the 30 HR mark and has won a pair of Gold Gloves.  The batting average is only a career mark of .246 but his last annual salary is just under $6 million.  Might he be the next Harrison Bader?

Jurickson Profar — Another bargain hunting opportunity is the former infielder turned outfielder, Jurickson Profar.  He played for $1 million last season and produced 24 HRs with 85 RBIs with a .280 batting average.  It was a standout season for him based upon his resume, but maybe something finally clicked during his age 31 season with the Padres.  It wouldn’t take a fortune to hire him but he’s in that very good but not quite great level of performance.

Anthony Santander — Here’s a guy you’ve started hearing quite a bit about as an alternative to Juan Soto (and/or Pete Alonso).  Like many other sluggers, as a career .246 hitter the batting average isn’t going to overwhelm you, but he’s coming off an All Star season in which he hit 44 long balls and drove in 102.  His ending salary with Baltimore is $11.7 million and he’s just turning 30.  Ummm...the folks clamoring for him might be onto something.

Juan Soto — I’m getting this one out of the way quickly.  Soto posted WAR of 14.6 this past season and that’s while being a mediocre outfielder.  He’s going to approach just below what Shohei Ohtani got with the Dodgers, so figure on about a $45 million per year contract for a bare minimum of 10 years.  

Great hitter, but maybe it’s my retro aversion to spending from having been a lifelong Mets fans.  I just can’t see it happening.  Let the Yankees, Dodgers and others overbid one another and spend more wisely to address multiple needs.

Designated Hitters

Marcell Ozuna — Yes, he has some baggage in his personal life but the man can flat out hit.  As a DH he doesn’t have to do anything else on the playing field and making him leave the Braves would feel especially nice.  Still, the option belongs to the Braves for him returning for a paltry $16 million so I can’t see him hitting the market. 

Joc Pederson — Like former teammate Cody Bellinger, Pederson has kind of been all over the place with his offensive output.  Right now he is waiting to hear from the Diamondbacks what they want to do with him in 2025.  This past year he hit 23 HRs and drove in 64 while hitting .272.  That last number is odd as he’s just a .241 career hitter.  I’d likely pass on him as he’s going to be looking for a longer deal for between $12 and $16 million per year.