New York Mets: How to handle the infield logjam

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 20: Jeff McNeil #68 of the New York Mets celebrates scoring a run with Todd Frazier #21 during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 20, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 20: Jeff McNeil #68 of the New York Mets celebrates scoring a run with Todd Frazier #21 during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 20, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
(Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)

Robinson Cano

Robinson Cano really wants to play second base, and for now it looks like that’s where the New York Mets will put him. Cano is getting older, so when the Mets acquired him some fans were worried about how he might handle fielding the position at the age of 36.

Weirdly, the defensive metrics show that there isn’t a ton to be worried about. For the past three years Cano has averaged a 2.27 UZR at second, and his lowest defensive value rating since joining the Mariners is only a -0.1, the only negative of his tenure there.

So, it’s actually pretty likely that we see Cano stick around as the everyday second baseman. How long that goes on for the remaining four years after his contract after 2019 is another story, but for now it looks like things should be fine.

Although, depending on how the Mets feel about their options at first, Cano could end up there at some point as well.