Houston Astros: Three landing spots for George Springer

New York Mets

After Steve Cohen’s highly successful introductory press conference, the narrative around the New York Mets has begun shifting. If Cohen and the Mets can land Houston Astros outfielder George Springer in free agency, then the narrative will have flipped completely.

Of course, this narrative alludes to the previous front office: the Wilpon Family. The previous ownership was often criticized for underspending and acting like a small-market team in America’s biggest city, the Big Apple. But, adding one of the top free agents in today’s market changes everything.

Cohen has not been shy about declaring his intentions to spend big in order to upgrade the Mets’ franchise. That has yet to be seen, but signing Springer is a great start.

So, what exactly does Springer do for the Mets from a pure baseball standpoint? The 31-year-old is an upgrade, by every metric, from New York’s current center fielder, Brandon Nimmo.

From a hitting standpoint, Springer would boost New York’s above-average offense close to elite levels alongside the likes of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves.

On defense, New York ranked 12th in the league by errors per game. Springer’s arm and versatility could cut this number down, and boost the Mets into the top-10. The Mets’ pitching staff was below average last year, ranking 22nd in ERA and WHIP.

Yes, the pitching still needs work, but adding George Springer turns the Mets into one of the league’s more-intimidating lineups.