With Springer Off The Market, How Do Mets Address Center Field?

The offseason had been going very well for the Mets. They came under new ownership, added bullpen depth, a catcher, starting pitching depth, and an all star shortstop. This week, things turned a bit, with the firing of GM Jared Porter, and one of the Mets targets for center field, George Springer, signing with the Blue Jays.

With spring training less than a month away, the Mets need to figure out how to address center field for the 2021 season. They have options, both internal and external.

Option 1 – Brandon Nimmo 

 

Nimmo saw most of the action in center field last season, appearing in 44 games at the position. Nimmo’s offense is unquestionably solid (.280/.404/.484), and for this reason, he needs to play almost every day. Nimmo is below league average in center field (-5 DRS in 2020), and performs better in the corner outfield positions (-1 career DRS in right field, 5 career DRS in left field).

If the Mets have to stay with Nimmo for 2021, they can probably get by, but upgrading the defense at the position has been identified by many as a key off season objective. If the Mets can add a better defender in center, Nimmo can move to left field, which immediately upgrades the defense at that position as well (compared to J.D. Davis and Dominic Smith). Of course, finding playing time for Smith would be a challenge in this scenario, with Pete Alonso at first base and no DH in the National League (at least for now.

 

Option 2 – Sign Jackie Bradley Jr.

This is an interesting pivot option for the Mets. Bradley is a superior defender in center field (48 career DRS, 5 DRS in 2020), though his offense is not strong (career .239/.321/.412). Bradley is a left-handed hitter, which the Mets have in abundance.

However, he would not be in the lineup for his bat, and the Mets appear to have a deep offense and may not need significant offensive production from center field. Bradley will be 31 years old in 2021, and if the Mets can sign him for three or four years, he would likely achieve the objective of a defensive upgrade in center field.

Option 3 – Sign Enrique Hernandez

The former Dodger is the quintessential Swiss Army knife, capable of playing virtually every position on the field. As a center fielder, he has a career DRS of 5 over 179 games at the position. Hernandez, a right-handed hitter, has a career slash line of (.240/.313/.425). The risk with Hernandez is that he is not a natural center fielder, and jury is out on how well he’d perform in a full-time role at the position.

The upside, though, is that in Hernandez, the Mets could add a center fielder and a super sub, who could benefit the team in many ways. Hernandez will be 30 years old during the 2021 season, and probably can be obtained for a reasonable contract in both years and dollars.

Option 4 – Other FA Center Fielders

There are other options on the free agent market, such as Kevin Pillar (career DRS of 39 in center field, though the last three years his DRS numbers were negative). Pillar is a right-handed hitter, and will be 32 years old this season. His career slash line is (.262/.299/.408).

Jake Marisnick could be a defensive replacement for Nimmo, if the Mets wanted to bring him back after a season as a Met during which he spent most of his time on the disabled list. Marisnick is a good defender (career DRS of 50 in CF). He will be 30 this season, and is a lifetime .229/.281/.385 offensive players. Marisnick is a right-handed hitter who may fit in as a bench piece.

Delino DeShields is available as a free agent. The former Texas Ranger/Cleveland Indian has a 5 career DRS in center field. The 28-year-old right-handed hitter has a career slash line of .246/..326/.340. He could spell Nimmo for defense in late-game situations and start against tough left-handed pitching on occasion. DeShields also would bring some speed to the Mets, something they have in short supply.

Albert Almora non-tendered after the 2020 season. Almora will turn 27 years old during the 2021 season, and has a career DRS of 6 in center field over 6 seasons with the Cubs, mostly in a part-time capacity. Offensively, the right-handed hitter has a career line of .271/.309/.398. Almora can play all three outfield positions, and would give the Mets flexibility in that sense.

Option 5 – The Trade Route

Mets have obviously shown the willingness to fill needs via the trade market if necessary and maybe they look at that route again with center field. The trade market for center fielders hasn’t been a hot one in terms of rumors this offseason, but that should pick up with the Springer signing and lack of options on the free agent market.

Kevin Kiermaier of the Rays, Harrison Bader of the Cardinals, and Lorenzo Cain of the Brewers are all names that might turn up on the trade market.

Option 6 – Platoon 

The Mets could sign Hernandez and Bradley, and go with a straight platoon in center field, moving Nimmo to left field. Bringing in two players would require an additional roster move, and that may be a mitigating factor unless the Mets could strike a deal to obtain help at another position. As noted above, Hernandez would be more than a center fielder, and could be a valuable piece off the bench when not starting in center field.

The clock is ticking, but Alderson’s style generally is to evaluate and act deliberately. The next month should be very interesting as he takes on the responsibility of rounding out the roster for what should be an exciting 2021 season.

The post With Springer Off The Market, How Do Mets Address Center Field? first appeared on Metsmerized Online.