Reese Kaplan -- Cream of the FA Crop for OF and DH

While the club has many issues to address regarding its roster, the outfield and DH positions have for several seasons provided less than optimal output.  On the outfield front, no one is complaining about the offense provided by Juan Soto or Brandon Nimmo, but both have demonstrated defensive lapses that make what they do at the plate somewhat less appealing when you need to factor in glove work. 

On the DH side of things this role has been an embarrassment since the National League embraced the position back in 2022.  Yes, they did sign career DH star J.D. Martinez but at the tail end of his career he didn’t provide the output they had expected.  I won’t turn your stomach by reciting the litany of less than solid pretenders who didn’t produce the offense most other clubs enjoy from this position.  Suffice to say the Mets need to improve it significantly.

Many have argued already that Juan Soto should be moved either to first base in the event of a Pete Alonso departure or to the DH position so that he can deliver what he does best with the bat and on the basepaths.  Less often a similar sentiment has been raised about Brandon Nimmo as well, though his commendable run production is not quite in Soto’s stratosphere.  

Another DH option brought up includes the defensively challenged Mark Vientos but he has not shown the consistency needed to play regularly, let alone in this key offensive role.

Given the roster imbalance it is entirely possible that new outfielders will be needed to help enhance the team’s ability both to score runs and to prevent opposing hitters from doing the same.  Three clear names exist on the upcoming auction blocks for free agents.

Cody Bellinger opting out from the Yankees offers up the possibility of someone who can provide far better than average defense at any of the three outfield positions as well as having played 350 games at 1st base.  Offensively he’s going to provide middle of the order offense with the addition of 15 SB capability.  

He’s not going to be cheap but if Alonso departs the money you would otherwise have allocated to him could instead be used on Bellinger while adding defense and running speed.

A bargain basement solution with two Gold Gloves also comes from the Yankees in the form of Trent Grisham.  Think of him more as a Jose Siri alternative, someone whose defense is quite good but who struggles with batting average.  Closing the 2025 season he slugged 34 HRs and drove in 74 but hit .235.  That achievement is quite a flourish for the man with the career .218 batting average.  

Yes, he’d provide power but is the defense good enough to withstand the poor ability to get on base.  He earned just $5 million for 3.5 WAR last year and it may be that Stearns feels his defense makes his offense acceptable.

The crown jewel among outfielders is now former Cub Kyle Tucker.  He’s twice hit 30 HRs and twice eclipsed the 100 RBI level while playing for the Astros.  To accompany his one-time Gold Glove he also is capable of 25-30 stolen bases.  

Some are projecting a long term deal for the turning 29 year old Tucker could reach up towards $400 million.  That seems highly excessive but getting somewhere in the $30 million range for several years is entirely in the cards. 

On the DH side there are two very obvious options.  The first is the Philadelphia Phillies departing hitter Kyle Schwarber.  Embracing him is acknowledging the all-or-nothing nature of what he does with the bat as he is truly incapable of playing the field anywhere.  

This past year he hit 56 HRs, drove in 132 and hit .240.  That number is significant as he is a career .231 hitter.  Think of him as a slightly more powerful Dave Kingman who has twice exceeded the 200 strikeout plateau while finishing each of the past two years at 197.  He’s going to cost a fortune but you have to consider if the long balls make up for everything else.

Finally there is soon to be former Brave Marcell Ozuna.  We won’t dwell on his personal issue that took him off the field for domestic violence back in 2021.  However, on the field he is just as lethal with the bat.  

This past season while earning $16 million he had something of an off year but in 2023 and 2024 he hit 40 and 39 home runs respectively while hitting triple digits in RBIs.  Turning 35, it’s possible to get him on a short term deal with options but is the 21 HRs and 68 RBIs where he is now at in the latter stage of his career?