An Early Look at the New York Mets' Top 10 Offseason Targets
The New York Mets will very likely finish the 2014 season with their sixth consecutive losing season. This, of course, means that the current team probably is not a team that could really contend for the postseason. But at the same time, at least a good number of the players on the current roster could be part of the solution for the Mets.
In other words, the Mets have a few areas of the roster that could certainly use upgrades, and free agency is one way in which the Mets can find some temporary and/or long-term fixes for those positions.
Here are the top 10 soon-to-be free agents that the Mets should go after in the offseason.
10. Alberto Callaspo
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Infielder Alberto Callaspo may not exactly be a great update at shortstop for the Mets, but he is still a solid infielder who has had a few decent seasons over the years.
Shortstop, of course, is a big concern for the Mets, with Ruben Tejada struggling and Wilmer Flores still not having reached his full potential just yet. Callaspo, at the very least, could provide more stability at the position for a season or two. He is also a switch-hitter, which is always nice for lineups to have.
Callaspo is currently hitting .227 with four home runs, 39 RBI and a .586 OPS. He is clearly not the best possible everyday starting infielder out there, but if the Mets fail to sign a bigger name and could use a cheaper alternative later on, Callaspo could fit the bill.
9. Colby Rasmus
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The Mets' other big area of concern is left field. Eric Young Jr., Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Matt den Dekker are all decent young options, but for the Mets to become more of an elite team, they'll have to find a significant upgrade there.
One option could be Colby Rasmus, although he is a natural center fielder. But with Juan Lagares' speed and amazing defensive range, Rasmus would almost certainly play left field if he were to become a Met.
For the current season, Rasmus is hitting .228 with 17 home runs, 38 RBI and a .738 OPS.
With his inconsistent batting averages throughout his career and his OBP never being particularly high, Rasmus may not be the best fit offensively for the Mets. But nonetheless, he is someone worth considering for a possible left field upgrade.
8. Grady Sizemore
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Grady Sizemore has had a decent season this year with a .252 average, five home runs, 27 RBI and a .704 OPS. He could be a good outfielder for the Mets or whichever team he plays on in the future.
Sizemore clearly would not be a top choice for a left field upgrade, but he is someone who is worth keeping on the radar in case better opportunities do not end up working out.
If the Mets could get Sizemore for a relatively cheap two-year contract, for example, that would not be a bad signing at all.
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7. Melky Cabrera
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Melky Cabrera is another outfielder who has had a nice season so far. He is hitting .300 with 16 home runs, 73 RBI and an .805 OPS. He has also been a reliable defender in the outfield throughout his career and can play in all three outfield positions.
The switch-hitting Cabrera is in the prime of his career and has played well for five different teams over the years. He could be a very good fit for the Mets for a season or two, especially if it's at a relatively cheap price. He is definitely one of the best outfielders among this upcoming free-agent class, so the Mets most likely will look into him at least.
6. Mike Morse
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This offseason, if the Mets try to find a right-handed hitting platoon outfielder or a hitter who would be good depth at first base and in the outfield, Mike Morse would be just the kind of player they would need.
Morse has hit .280 with 16 home runs, 61 RBI and an .815 OPS this season. However, he has only played in over 120 games in one season out of 10 seasons in his career thus far.
Morse should really be higher on this list, but there's a good chance the Mets will look at him as more of a platoon hitter than an everyday starter. Nonetheless, Morse would be a great fit with the Mets and could give them some much-needed power from the right side of the plate.
5. Nelson Cruz
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Nelson Cruz has had quite a season this year with a .259 average, 37 home runs, 93 RBI and an .848 OPS thus far. He has a lot of power, which is exactly what the Mets need, and they should go after him because of it.
Cruz is not getting any younger, but if the Mets can hammer out a one- or two-year deal with him, he could certainly boost the Mets offense in 2015.
4. Asdrubal Cabrera
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One of the best free-agent shortstop options this offseason will be Asdrubal Cabrera. Cabrera is only hitting .245 for the season but has 14 home runs and 54 RBI, along with a .712 OPS. Those numbers are pretty good, generally speaking, for a shortstop, although Cabrera has been playing second base for the Nationals ever since he got traded there earlier this season.
Cabrera is just reaching the prime of his career at 28 and could have at least a few more really good seasons ahead of him. He would likely want a long-term contract in free agency. If the Mets can pay an affordable price, there is no reason why they should not make it happen. Cabrera has a track record of success at the plate and has been good defensively as well.
If the Mets plan on supplanting both Ruben Tejada and Wilmer Flores at shortstop, Cabrera is someone who is certainly worth signing to do so.
3. Jon Lester
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This is not to say that the Mets desperately need an ace starting pitcher next season. But not that many pitchers as good as Lester end up going into free agency.
Lester, who is 13-10 this season with a 2.54 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP, is one of more elite southpaws in baseball today. And at 30, he is still in his prime right now. The Mets could certainly look into signing Lester for at least two or three years and then try to trade one of their younger pitchers for a big offensive upgrade, which would certainly help the team improve overall.
Unless Lester wants more money than the Mets are willing to pay, he could be a smart investment for them.
2. Max Scherzer
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Lester, though, is not the only premier pitcher who could become a free agent. Max Scherzer is also on his way to becoming a free agent and has turned into an elite pitcher in recent years.
Scherzer is currently 15-10 with a 3.25 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. He is another pitcher the Mets could sign and then trade a younger pitcher for a big lineup upgrade of some sort. He will almost certainly command a lot of money and most likely get well over $100 million altogether. However, if the Mets have enough money and really believe they can make trades to fix other needs through the trade market, they should definitely enter the bidding for Scherzer.
1. Hanley Ramirez
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It would be hard to picture the Dodgers letting Hanley Ramirez walk and go into free agency, but if it happens, the Mets should without a doubt do everything they can to sign one of the best all-around hitters in baseball and one of the most elite shortstops around.
Ramirez is currently hitting .262 with 13 home runs, 60 RBI and a .784 OPS. He is a special player with a lot of talent in hitting, especially hitting for power and speed. He's still in his prime at 30 years old as well, which means he would definitely be worth a long-term deal.
More than likely, many teams will be very interested in Ramirez if he indeed becomes a free agent, but if the Mets are capable of outbidding the competition, they should pull the trigger and bring Ramirez to New York because he is a difference-maker and could really help lead the Mets back to the postseason.
The 2015 free-agent list was compiled by MLB Trade Rumors.
All statistics are courtesy of MLB.com.
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