Mets Pursued Mookie Betts Trade

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the Mets tried to acquire Mookie Betts from the Boston Red Sox this offseason before he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

According to Sherman, the Mets tried to offer packages centered around Brandon Nimmo and J.D. Davis that would’ve also included a top infield prospect, with Sherman mentioning Ronny Mauricio and Andres Gimenez.

However, the Red Sox countered with a proposal that would have landed them Jeff McNeil that the Mets balked at.

Besides that, the Mets also were going to have trouble making that deal since Betts is only under control for the 2020 season and will make $27 million. It is noted that the Mets would have had to shed either Yoenis Cespedes‘ or Jed Lowrie‘s contracts to make that work financially in their eyes.

Betts, 27, is one of the best players in baseball as evidenced by his .295/.391/.524 slash line with 29 home runs, 80 RBI, and 16 stolen bases in 2019. That gave him a 135 wRC+ and 6.6 fWAR.

His elite defense in right field (15 DRS and 12.9 UZR over 1,129 1/3 innings in 2019) would have been a welcome addition to the team. He’s capable of playing center field as well (0 DRS, -0.2 UZR over 144 innings in 2019).

Sherman also talked about the Mets’ discussions with Cleveland Indians about Francisco Lindor, who he says the Mets viewed “more as a want than a need” given they were comfortable with Amed Rosario at shortstop in 2020.