With Yoenis Cespedes in the fold for a reported four year, $110 million contract, we get a better idea of what the 2017 Met outfield will look like. Most likely the Mets will carry five outfielders to start the season, given the way Terry Collins likes to burn through his bullpen.
Cespedes will be a fixture in left field. Given his strong arm right field might be a better fit, but he has made it known he doesn’t like right field and doesn’t care for center either since it puts more stress on his lower body, so left field it will be. He’s 32 and he had a few leg issues last season so he’s not going to play 162 games (no Met will). He could be rested for 10-15 games to keep him sharp. His overall batting stats were excellent in 2016, but he really pounded lefties with a slash line of .341/.457/.674, so ideally the games he does sit out for rest would be against right-handers.
Center field could work as a platoon for the Mets. Against lefties the right-handed Juan Lagares could start, the former gold glover is easily the best defensive outfielder on the team, but he has struggled at the plate the last few seasons. Curtis Granderson would be the other half of the platoon, he is a sub-par defender at that spot at this point of his career but he is still dangerous at the plate as his 30 homer production in 2016 shows. I would insert Lagares back into center field from the seventh inning on in games Graderson starts if the Mets have a small lead to protect.
We can’t platoon in right field since barring a trade the other two outfielders will bat left-handed. Most likely Michael Conforto and Jay Bruce will share right field, Collins could choose to play the hot hand at the time. In addition Conforto could get the starts in left field when Cespedes is rested.
Had Cespedes not signed I’m sure management would have felt compelled to obtain a right-handed batting outfielder, but that pressure is gone. This setup outlined here has three left handed batters and two who bat right-handed to handle the outfield chores. Should there be an injury, or an extended slump by any outfielder not named Cespedes, Brandon Nimmo could be brought up from the minors. He too bats left-handed, with decent average but not the power expected of a big league outfielder. He has shown adequate defense at all three outfield spots during his time with the Mets in 2016.
Having fortified the outfield by signing Cespedes, the Mets could well give Washington a run for its money in the battle for the NL East in 2017.
Bye bye Brucie…he was an odd fit for the team as it was, and with Cespedes and Duda back, he was gonzo. Smart move would be to get 2 arms if possible for the BP, double up and see if one really materializes. I like the lefty from Mariners – Ciseck, experienced as a closer as well, but he is pricey at $6m. If Mets can get Mariners to kick in a few dollars, maybe that would work, or possibly Edwin Diaz from them as well (18 saves) and no dollars kicked in. Conforto will get his chance to play everyday in RF. Hope he makes the most of it. Grandy and Lagares in CF, and Nimmo backing up all outfielders. If it were not for the Familia conundrum, Mets would be all set and ready for spring.
Thanks to him getting drunk and nutso, now Mets must mitigate that pending suspension. Too bad Colon is gone, but too many arms in the wings and cheap too (Gsellman, Lugo), it was time. Wish him the best, but not vs the Mets .
Conforto won’t share RF with Bruce, makes no sense being lefthanded. Would love to see them upgrade CF possibly by packaging Conforto in a deal for A.J. Pollock.
Why would Arizona trade Pollock for Conforto?
Eric, I did say Bruce and Conforto could share right field, with Conforto getting some time to spell Cespedes in left, barring a trade. If Bruce were traded, that might be the best option.
The Mets would be well served by trading both Granderson and Bruce. Platooning Lagares and Nimmo in centerfield and picking up a right-handed corner outfielder like Marlon Byrd for the bench.
A time-share of Bruce and Conforto makes no sense.
Bruce and Granderson should be traded for a workhorse starter and a few bullpen arms unless there’s someone who isn’t obvious who could be available for them.
I would have wanted to trade Bruce even if Yo didn’t come back. He’s a bad fit for this team. Hope Sandy can get value for him.
Bruce-Duda-Grandy…I’d rather keep Grandy, of the 3. Market Value will determine the first to go
I think Bruce is easy to trade. A nice pick-up for the right team. Put him in a bandbox and he’s Mark Trumbo, maybe. The one year contract at only $13 million is easily affordable.
I don’t think Mets can get anything for Duda until he demonstrates full health. I’d hold, for now.
I want to trade Granderson, if possible. But that is a considerable risk — he hit 30 HRs last season, and is a class act. The worry is that the Mets have to fully believe in Michael Conforto. They have to be willing to let him scuffle at times. They have to see him as a guy who can take this responsibility.
I personally believe in him. But last season was scary. There has to be a Plan B, and I think that Lagares & Nimmo provide that.
To repeat myself: Sign Fowler for CF and leadoff.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/lets-fix-the-mets-outfield/