New York Mets: Three Moves to Make before 2021 Season Starts
Although the New York Mets have been quite active thus far in the offseason, there are still several moves they should make.
The New York Mets have already been very active this offseason, mainly due to the blockbuster trade that gave them superstar shortstop Francisco Lindor and veteran right-hander Carlos Carrasco.
In addition to the deal with the Cleveland Indians, the Mets have also signed All-Star catcher James McCann, reliever Trevor May, and veteran hitter Jose Martinez. These moves made this roster much deeper and much more talented.
Especially since Noah Syndergaard will be healthy this season, last year’s roster does not even hold a candle compared to the roster the Mets will have for the 2021 season. The Mets are not finished yet.
Trevor Bauer and George Springer both still testing the waters of free agency. Many teams are after Bauer, and it seems that Springer is deciding between the Mets and the Toronto Blue Jays. After the big trade and acquiring a starter then, the Mets are most likely not going to be the suitor for Bauer, but Springer could easily be wearing blue and orange for the next few seasons, pending his decision.
The New York Mets are certainly better and have filled multiple holes within their lineup, bullpen, and rotation. They should not stop here. They have some more money to spend and they have players that are approaching free agency that will definitely benefit the Mets in the long-term if they want to compete for years to come.
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Here are three moves the Mets need to make before the 2021 season starts.
Extend Conforto
Ever since he debuted in 2015, Michael Conforto has always been a fan-favorite for the New York Mets. He has kept improving over the last few seasons and has found a home in right field.
The one-time All-Star’s lefty bat breaks up the lineup in a great way. He has shown he can hit for power and hit consistently. He is a career .259 hitter, but he hit .322 in the 2020 season. Conforto, who will be 28 in March, has a career OPS. of .843. In 2019, it was .856 and it was .927 in 2020. Conforto keeps getting better.
Over six years and 632 games, Conforto has 118 home runs and 341 runs driven. His power did not develop until his 2017 season, in which he hit 27 home runs in just 109 games. In 2018, 2019, and 2020, he proved he is durable and can play an almost full season, missing only 26 games over 374 games.
The Mets need to extend Conforto now before he becomes a free agent after this season. When he hits the open market, many teams will be interested. Locking Conforto up long-term, around five to six years for around $90-$100 million would be a smart move and would help them keep a talented player on the team.
Address Center Field
In all honesty, the Mets have not had a legit centerfielder since Carlos Beltran in 2011. They have had dozens of people play the position since but cannot find the right fit.
Yoenis Cespedes was decent in center, but then refused to play. Conforto played center for a while, but they settled into right field to maintain consistency. Brandon Nimmo is currently aligned to be their Opening Day centerfielder, but his bat is inconsistent, and his defense is shaky. Nimmo belongs in left field or to be coming off the bench if he cannot hit. He is a great athlete, but just not an everyday centerfielder.
Most Mets fans want their team to sign George Springer. Hold the phone. Think that through.
Springer is a two-time Silver Slugger and a three-time All-Star. There is no questioning his bat and his talent. However, he is already 31 years old and will not be a full-time centerfielder for the longevity of his contract.
If the Mets sign Springer to play centerfield for the next four years, it will be expensive and it will be difficult for Springer to stay in center. He might need to get moved to a corner as he ages.
If Springer signs elsewhere, the Mets still need to address their gap in center. Through a trade, the Mets should inquire about Starling Marte on the Miami Marlins, Harrison Bader on the St. Louis Cardinals, or Lorenzo Cain on the Milwaukee Brewers. All of these teams would be interested for the right package. Each of these guys plays at a high caliber in centerfield and would be able to contribute to the lineup as well. They can use prospects to acquire one of these centerfielders.
Extend Lindor
Just like Conforto, Francisco Lindor is a free agent after the 2021 season as well. Lindor is arguably the best shortstop in the major leagues. The Mets need him to be there long-term, no matter how expensive he will be.
Lindor, 27, is a five-tool player. He can steal 25+ bases in a season and can score over 100 runs. He has hit 30+ home runs from 2017 to 2018. The four-time All-Star, two-time Glove Glove Award winner, and two-time Silver Slugger needs to be wearing orange and blue for the foreseeable future.
New owner Steve Cohen and President Sandy Alderson said they are working wth Lindor and his team about keeping him in Flushing and doing whatever they can to have Lindor be the face of the Mets franchise.
Next. Imagining Tebow in the majors. dark
Combining Lindor with Conforto, Pete Alonso, and Jeff McNeil for the next few seasons will make this lineup explosive and help the Mets to be legitimate contenders for National League East title, the NL Pennant, and the World Series. Extending Lindor to a seven- or eight-year, for over $250 million, contract will keep the Mets competitive for a long time. He is beyond expensive, but there is a price to pay if you want to be elite.