The Mets need offense in the worst way next season. The team’s pitching staff could be one of the best in baseball, but as the Mets of the 1970’s found out, if you can’t hit, you aren’t going to win.
Going into the offseason prior to 2014, the Mets had a plethora of issues around the diamond. Lucas Duda emerged this year as a legitimate power threat, slugging over 30 home runs, knocking in over 90 runs and posting an 800 plus OPS, although he still continues to struggle against left handed pitchers. Travis d’Arnaud finally appears to be living up to the billing as the best catching prospect in baseball that lead to him being traded for two former Cy Young award winners. Juan Lagares looks like a keeper as he matched his brilliant defense with solid offensive production. Curtis Granderson, the Mets big free agent signing last year, provided decent production, although his numbers were, overall much lower than his career averages.
Yet holes still remain. Despite improved performance at catcher, first base and center field, the Mets were still out of the playoff race for the majority of the season and finished with an under five hundred winning percentage yet again. Shortstop will be a point of discussion throughout this offseason. Ruben Tejada showed improvement last year, but didn’t hit enough to warrant the everyday job. Wilmer Flores finally got consistent playing time in the major leagues and hit decently, but the Mets still have to be left to wonder whether he’s the right man for the job or not. Yet, at least, shortstop has some players who provided some sort of decent production. Left field did not provide something similar.
Matt den Dekker, Eric Young Jr., Chris Young, Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Eric Campbell were the primary players who held down left field throughout the season. Mets left fielders, as a group, posted a 619 OPS, which was over 100 points less than the average leftfielder in the national league. That’s something that has to be seriously rectified if this team is going to contend.
So the question is, what should the Mets do? Various names will be bandied about this offseason, but one might be the best overall option. That is Michael Cuddyer.
Cuddyer is by no means the perfect baseball player, but he would definitely provide a cheap upgrade for the Mets. Cuddyer has spent most of his time playing right field and first base. His career OPS is over 800, but that is partially related to playing the last three years in Coors Field. Before that though, he played in Minnesota, not exactly known as a band box, and never posted less than a 750 OPS in a full season. That would be a drastic offensive improvement out of a corner outfield position, and would be above the National League average for this past season.
If the Mets get some kind of resurgence from David Wright next year and Duda has a similar year, the team still lacks a middle of the order hitter. Granderson appears to be best slotted to hit sixth and d’Arnaud is hard to trust just yet in such an important slot as fifth in the order. Enter Cuddyer, who has spent nearly 60% of his career batting fourth or fifth in a batting order, posting in those slots an OPS over 800. The Mets struggled with runners in scoring position last season. Cuddyer has a career 800 plus OPS in those situations and a career 750 plus OPS in that kind of situation with 2 outs.
Yes he has struggled to stay health this past season, but that will be what makes him affordable for a team that is so evidently in a bind when it comes to spending money. The Mets also saw enough out of den Dekker and Nieuwenhuis this past year that they could provide Cuddyer with some time off here and there, to keep him fresh. Duda’s struggles against lefties could also be solved occasionally by Cuddyer, who could slot in for him at first base against a tough lefty, or even do the same for Granderson, giving him a day off and opening up playing time for the aforementioned outfielders.
Cuddyer is also known as a good club house guy and is a good friend of Wright’s, which might be a plus as Wright has always performed better when he’s had players he trusted hitting behind him. The Mets could probably get Cuddyer on a one year deal or throw in an option year. Considering that Brandon Nimmo might be ready for the Majors in 2016, the Mets might only need a short term stop gap.
Cuddyer is not Yoenis Cespedes and doesn’t carry the potential upside of Yasmani Tomas or the forty home run power of Nelson Cruz, but he might be the best fit for the Mets. The Red Sox might ask for the moon for Cespedes, Tomas could get a seven year 80 plus million dollar contract and Cruz will not settle again for a one or two year deal after leading the league in home runs this past season. Tomas is unknown and Cruz is over 34 years old and played half his season as a designated hitter. Cespedes would definitely be a better option, but will the Mets give up the farm for a player that has admitted he wants to hit free agency next year. Tomas is intriguing, but the Mets have shown very little interest in the Cuban free agency market. Cruz is a gamble as he will probably command at least a four year deal worth Granderson type money. We all debated the veracity of the Granderson contract last year, yet Cruz will probably get more money and be starting his contract even older. Is that really the option we all want?
The Mets like some of the offensive prospects that are moving through the system and many of us fans are salivating at the chance to see if Nimmo can continue to progress and observe whether Michael Conforto will fly through the system as predicted and be our long term, power hitting left fielder. Neither of those players will make an impact in 2015 and the Mets are too close to being a viable baseball team to wait. The Mets should move fast to lock up Cuddyer, like they did unsuccessfully with Chris Young last year. With him in place, the Mets could then work towards figuring out what to do at Shortstop and prepare for what could be a really interesting season in 2015.
I’d consider him as an option, but hopefully not the no. 1 or 2. At some point they’re going to have to spend a few bucks. Whether that’s throwing money at Tomas with their fingers crossed or signing Cuddyer and giving Harvey/Wheeler/DeGrom extensions…
Check out his splits, especially from 2014. They’re not great away from Coors Field, just kinda average. Hope they don’t overpay if they go for him.
I totally agree he is the perfect fit for a two year deal until our guys are ready to come up.Aoki is a nice fit too because he can leadoff,I would love to put a nice package to get Betts for our leadoff spot.
He is only a fit if they can sign him to a 1 year deal at a reduced cost because the guy just can’t stay healthy. His games played in the last 4 years are 139, 101, 130, and 49, about a 100 average, and without last year, a 120 average.
I’d value him at around a 16 million dollar player if healthy and prorated over 110 games would mean i would offer him around a 10-11 million dollar contract, which is in line with his current pay.
If the Mets do sign Cuddyer, the 4th OF (either Kirk or Mdd) will likely be getting plenty of playing time.
I’d definitly go with a year and an option….I believe Duda was not a fluke and Cuddy could spell him against left handers..also I’d give SS to Flores…$ outlay would be minimal..keep Murphy for this year..give Herrara another year at Las Vegas…see where we are at the break…
I agree with pal88. He has played 265 games in his career at First Base proving that he can play the position. Duda could come in as a late inning replacement when a lefty starts. If they could get him for less than 10 million a year, it would be perfect for the Mets. He provides a stop gap until someone like Nimmo or Conforto comes up and they also have an opportunity to flip him half way through the season or if he signs for two years, during the offseason.
Wow— 36 years old…. one tool player….. 139/101/130/49 games played.
Health is a Skill!!!!
Lifetime .753 Away OPS…. Citi is The Away Minus
last 5 years Away OPS: 2014/734, 2013/852, 2012/744, 2011/784, 2010/722
It’s better than Replacement Player level, but it’s not massive….and the Health Decline means You’re gonna see alot of the Replacement Player, Not Cuddyer!!!
As a Bat Only guy…No Thanks!!!!!
Your article does give very valid reasons to sign free agent Michael Cuddyer. He should be affordable on a short term contract, he balances the line up, is capable of 15- 20 home runs and has a high OBP with a slightly below average k%
He will not cost draft picks and the Mets could use their trade chips elsewhere if they desire.The budget maintains flexibility and he could be flipped if the team falters this summer.
The red flag is the three trips to the DL, two months for a shoulder separation and two separate times for a left hamstring pull. Cuddyer is not the glamorous signing but he may be the signing which will yield the most value.
Scott I only have one question for you. How old will Cuddyer be next season? 37? Are the Mets going to invest 5-8 million dollars on a 1 tool player? Is he the new Chris Young gamble for 2015? When he goes on the DL for 2?3? times how will that improve the Mets chances of turning him over for prospects? Yes he has the reputation of a good guy in the clubhouse. And? So what does that mean? Are we as fans only interested in players who don’t rock the boat? Is it necessary as part of the team DNA to have milk and cookie players? The Mets finally appear to have replaced Delgado at first but as you correctly pointed out the team still lacks a consistent run producing bat (though I thought that was supposed to be Granderson) with runners in scoring position.
So then who’s the guy? It looks like the Orioles are going to extend Cruz. Should the Mets give Melky Cabrera a four year deal (which he will get)? I’m all for Tomas, but this is the Mets we’re talking about. Ethier?
If the team could guarantee that Cespedes resigns, then I’m all in. Outside of him, I think Cuddyer is the guy.
I’ve never been a fan of Melky (or his defense) for a 60 million dollar contract. Some players thrive on the opportunity to get that one golden contract then after a year or two just turn it off. I would be for Tomas too. But we have holes in our shallow pockets. At least Cespedes doesn’t have Boras as his agent. Not a fan of Eithier even if the Dodgers were to take on part of his salary. Puig would be more interesting and a better fit. The Mets could help the imploding Dodger bull pen and send Murphy to replace Ramirez (I know Gordon moves to SS) The problem is who currently on the Mets roster would Puig listen to and respect? I’m a Jose Bautista fan. I know he’s a lot older than Puig but he’s not an immature me first player. Bautista for 2 years in left field. His salary is affordable at 14 million per for 2 years and the Jays need starting pitching. Need to give them a hitter so again Murphy gets included with 2 or 3 SP’s (Niese, Mejia and Colon?). Wright moves into the 5 hole and Granderson bats 6th. TDA 7th and Herrera 8th. Lagares leads off with Flores 2nd.
Where do I sign?
I like where you are headed with this pete. I think Puig is as much a liability as a help. Even if you could get through all the star attention that ny would bestow on him, the larger negative effects would be much worse. That he didnt start the most important game of the season for the dodgers says a ton. What’s not to love about Joey Bats? If AA would be would be listening, I’d be talking. I’ll take the 2 years, and send back Colon, plus Niese or Gee, and something down the pipeline if that didn’t get it done…say Montero if they want more pitching. They get a lot of innings, say 350+, a wiley vet for “now”, and a veteran arm with club friendly contract for a bit. I have to say, after the perception of being fleeced for RA, I can’t imagine AA feeling very great about being locked in a room with SA!
I don’t see Cuddyer signing with the Mets on a one year deal unless it’s an overpay with a vesting option. Something like $12M with a $16M option that vests with 400 PA.
Anyone want that?
They need to make a big splash trade like the ones for Hernandez and Carter. Then they can fill holes, if needed with guys like Cuddyer. This has got to be the year like 84 was!!!
Cuddyer should be later on our list. He is not reliable, and we say we want someone for two years. Why? How do we know Nimmo and Conforto will work out? I would prefer a Cespedes, Kemp, Craig, even Aoki, before Cuddyer.
If we thought the CY signing was horrendous for under $8 million, imagine a rabid fan base if we sign Cuddyer for $10-$15 million and he’s hurt or ineffective for 1/3 of the season. If he wants to sign on a “hopefully” competitive team and play with his buddy Wright for a discount, wonderful. I just don’t imagine that happening at a price worth taking the risk.