Mets’ Alternative CF Options As Jays Woo George Springer
If the New York Mets have interest in adding free-agent All-Star and Connecticut native George Springer to their outfield this winter, they’d better get in line. It would also be prudent to have a contingency plan in place. But first things first.
Per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet Canada, the Toronto Blue Jays have “progressed beyond just talking” with the 31-year-old former Astros mainstay and, more than likely, our friends north of the border won’t be the only team in the running for Springer’s services this offseason.
In the wreckage of Houston’s much-publicized fall from grace, Springer shone in 2020, hitting .265/.359/.540 with 14 homers, six doubles, 146 wRC+, a career-best 17.1% strikeout rate, and 1.9 wins above replacement, comparing kindly to his now-marred .274/.364/.491 line (140 HR, 134 wRC+, 22.8 fWAR) from 2015 through 2019.
With the Mets in dire need of a defensively-capable option in center field, Springer — who’s accumulated +13 defensive runs saved, a +3.5 ultimate zone rating, and +4 outs above average in CF since the start of 2019 (his metrics in the corners are even better) — seems to fit that bill to a tee.
Though, if a lengthy stay in Flushing isn’t in the cards for the three-time American League All-Star, the Mets need to have a fall-back option. And a strong one, at that, because solid defense is a major key to success and Brandon Nimmo doesn’t appear to be the answer — at least defensively — in center.
In a perfect world, Mets team president Sandy Alderson would simply call the Tampa Bay Rays, see what they want for left-hander Blake Snell and one of the best defensive center fielders in baseball, Kevin Kiermaier, seal the presumably expensive deal, and call it a day, moving to the next item on New York’s offseason docket. Classic two birds scenario.
As we know, it’s never that easy. And we wouldn’t be doing our due diligence without multi-tiered options to present in case of emergency, so here we go.
Jackie Bradley Jr., 30, is a dynamo with his glove (48 DRS, 6.3 UZR/150 in CF since 2013) and won’t command a salary anywhere near as substantial as Springer — expected to be a $25 million per season player, at least, moving forward — leaving the Mets with funds to spend elsewhere.
The longtime Boston fixture doesn’t possess the batted-ball profile of a player like Springer (career .239/.321/.412, 93 wRC+ hitter), but a strong showing at the plate last season (.283/.364/.450, 119 wRC+) certainly lends credence to an upswing back to his more productive days at the plate.
Enrique Hernandez, formerly of the Dodgers, and journeyman Kevin Pillar are both quality fielders, but it’s doubtful either would whet the now-frothing palates of Mets fans as everyday center fielders.
Nick Senzel, 25 and the second-overall pick of the Reds in 2016, appears to have been supplanted by Shogo Akiyama in Cincinnati’s outfield and could be a prime change-of-scenery-type candidate.
Despite absolutely raking his way through the Reds’ minor league system (.312/.388/.508 over four MiLB seasons), the University of Tennessee product hasn’t been able to translate that success to the majors.
Over 487 plate appearances with Cincy since making his debut in 2019, Senzel’s hit just .245/.305/.416 with 14 homers, 26 doubles, and 116 strikeouts. Not pretty, but we’re all familiar with the process of a player getting comfortable at the highest level (see Dominic Smith).
Of course, George Springer should be the primary target for the Mets’ still-forming front office this winter, but, again, a secondary course of action could never hurt.
