Colorado Rockies: Three Potential Landing Spots for Nolan Arenado
Top Landing Spots for Nolan Arenado: New York Mets
Unlike the Blue Jays, it is no secret that the New York Mets plan on making some big moves this offseason. New billionaire owner Steve Cohen has made it clear he wants this team to win now, and will pursue the top free agents on the market.
While there is a lot of excitement buzzing around their new leadership, there is still plenty of work to clean up the mess the last regime made. Cohen started by cleaning out the front office and rehiring former Mets GM Sandy Alderson as team president. The duo now look to hire a prominent front office that is keen on spending, but spending wisely.
The organization has been connected to almost every high-profile name from J.T. Realmuto to DJ Lemahieu. So why not add Nolan Arenado into the mix? The team is clearly in pursuit of powerful right-handed bat, and Arenado has been consistently one of the best since he came into the league.
The Mets have some good pieces in their lineup, but they still struggle immensely driving in runs. In fact, they ranked dead last with 3.77 runners left in scoring position per game in 2020. Arenado is an RBI machine with a league-leading 760 since his debut in 2013. He would provide guys like Pete Alonso and Michael Conforto some much needed protection in the middle of that lineup.
The Mets could also use the help defensively. As a team, they had the 5th-worst fielding percentage at 3B last season with .941 mark. J.D. Davis played the most games at third with 34, but has seen more success as an outfielder. It is clear they could use Arenado’s defense at third, allowing them to move Davis back to the outfield and Jeff McNeil back to second.
Financially, the Mets have the money to pay anybody. With Robinson Cano‘s recent suspension, the Mets will save $24 million in their infield, which they could allocate to Arenado’s $35 million 2021 price tag. They need stars and positive locker room presences, and Arenado has proven to be both throughout his career. They are a big market team looking to win now, which might be intriguing to a guy like Arenado who has spent his entire career in Colorado’s small market.
There is no question the Mets will make some big splashes this offseason. Cohen is the only owner not financially impacted by the pandemic, so It will be interesting to see which route they take to remodel their team. It’s possible they elect to stay away from depleting their already weak farm system. But if they do decide to make a blockbuster trade, Arenado should be at the top of their wishlist.