MLB New York Mets

New York Mets Need Short-Term Solution In Left Field

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By @BZarp

Mets outfield

Kim Klement – USATODAY Sports

As the baseball offseason gets underway, the New York Mets have a few pressing needs to address this winter. One of the biggest needs they have is in left field, as the outfield continues to be one of the most disappointing places on the Mets roster. But while the Mets need to fill a vacancy in their outfield, it’s imperative that they find a short-term solution and don’t lock any outfielder into a long-term contract.

For all intents and purposes, two of the three spots in the Mets’ outfield are spoken for. With his Gold Glove caliber defense and promising offensive skills, Juan Lagares is the Mets’ everyday center fielder for the foreseeable future. Curtis Granderson is also locked into right field by virtue of the three years and $47 million remaining on his contract. The Mets also have Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Matt den Dekker and Eric Young Jr. in their outfield, but Nieuwenhuis and den Dekker are better suited to be part-time players and Young Jr. is a player with whom the Mets should part ways. That leaves an empty spot in left field, where the Mets need to find someone, preferably a right-handed batter who brings some power to the lineup.

However, with Granderson having three years left on a contract he’ll likely never live up to, the last thing the Mets need is another long-term investment in their outfield, especially when it remains unclear how much payroll flexibility they’ll have moving forward. This is why any outfielder they sign in free agency or acquire in a trade must not be promised more than a year or two with the Mets.

Moreover, the Mets have a pair of promising outfield prospects in Brandon Nimmo and Michael Conforto they don’t want to block with a veteran with an oversized contract. Nimmo has a chance to make his major league debut at some point in 2015 and could conceivably be ready for full-time duty in the majors by the start of the 2016 season. Conforto, who was drafted in 2014, is expected to move quickly through the Mets’ farm system and reaching the big leagues at some point in 2016 isn’t out of the question.

Among the free agents the Mets could pursue this offseason, Michael Cuddyer and Nelson Cruz would be ideal, but both are likely off the table after receiving qualifying offers from their former teams, while Yasmani Tomas is likely too expensive for the team’s payroll. But players like Michael Morse, Jonny Gomes and Alex Rios could all be signed to one or two-year contracts and provide a short-term solution for the Mets, at least as a platoon partner with Nieuwenhuis until Nimmo or Conforto are ready for the majors.

The Mets could also make an effort to make a trade with the Boston Red Sox for Yoenis Cespedes, who has one year left on his contract. By trading for Cespedes, the Mets would be giving their lineup the boost it needs to make them a legitimate competitor in 2015. At the same time, they would avoid making a long-term commitment to an outfielder, which might be particularly important with a player like Cespedes, who doesn’t exactly have a great reputation in the eyes of his peers.

The Mets need to upgrade the outfield for the 2015 season, but they can’t do it at the expense of blocking the path of Nimmo and Conforto down the line, especially since Granderson and his hefty contract already appear to be doing that. With Lagares, Granderson, Nieuwenhuis and den Dekker in the equation and Nimmo and Conforto on their way, it’s important that the Mets don’t add an outfielder this offseason who has a long-term contract. That will make it more difficult for the Mets to find the right fit, but a short-term solution in left field is all the Mets need this offseason.

Bryan Zarpentine is a New York Mets writer at www.RantSports.com.  Like him on Facebook, follow him on twitter @BZarp and add him on Google.

Related links:

New York Mets: Top 5 Offseason Needs

5 Free Agents the New York Mets Could Pursue This Offseason

New York Mets Rumors: Trading for Alexei Ramirez Could Make Sense

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