X

Have feedback / suggestions? Let us know!

MLB New York Mets

New York Mets Should Not Consider Trading for Xander Bogaerts

By @mturnerny

Xander Bogaerts New York Mets

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

There are several factors revolving around the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox that could lead to the teams making a trade featuring shortstop Xander Bogaerts. With the Red Sox having just signed both third baseman Pablo Sandoval and shortstop Hanley Ramirez, they could be looking to dump Bogaerts. Knowing the Mets are in need of a shortstop, the question immediately becomes if they should they make a trade and acquire Bogaerts.

The short answer is no.

For argument’s sake, let’s say the Red Sox keep Ramirez at shortstop – as they just reached a four-year $88 million agreement – and wish to move Bogaerts. The former No. 2 overall prospect didn’t fare so well in his first full season as a starter. In 538 at-bats, he hit .240 with 12 home runs and 46 RBIs. He did, however, score 60 runs and hit 28 doubles. But the Red Sox are reportedly only interested in Zack Wheeler or Jacob deGrom from the Mets. While Bogaerts has plenty of potential, so do both Wheeler and deGrom – and even further, both pitchers have had some success in the Majors, while Bogaerts hasn’t.

The Mets are building around their pitching, and to trade a young core player away for a potentially promising shortstop isn’t worth it. Another aspect of this potential trade is that the Mets have their own young shortstop – Wilmer Flores. He’s only one year older than Bogaerts but has slightly better numbers in his one-plus years as a pro. In only 259 at-bats, Flores hit .251 with six home runs and 29 RBIs. If you adjust Bogaerts and Flores’ career numbers to a 162-game average (for comparison’s sake) you get this:

Bogaerts: .241/.299/.363 slash line, 67 runs, 30 doubles, 13 home runs, 51 RBIs, and 151 strikeouts

Flores: .240/.275/.356 slash line, 56 runs, 28 doubles, 12 home runs, 65 RBIs, and 83 strikeouts

They are very close in terms of their numbers. And defensively they’re not too far apart either. Bogaerts has a career .977 fielding percentage at short, with -7 defensive runs saved, and Flores is .979 with -3 defensive runs saved – marginally better.

With numbers that close, and both with similar potential, it’s not worth it to surrender a pitcher like Wheeler or deGrom. It seems, however, the Red Sox are interested in moving Ramirez to outfield so they may keep Bogaerts at shortstop. That, if true, could make any discussion revolving around this trade moot — but in case the option is still there, the Mets should not be inclined to pull the trigger.

Matt Turner is a New York Mets writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @MturnerNY, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on LinkedIn or Google.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on