The Mets have reached an agreement with Albert Almora in anticipation of a physique and it is possible to determine how they will approach the central field this season, the former Cub serving as a caddy for Brandon Nimmo.
But they’ve done so much background work on Jackie Bradley Jr. that I will continue to believe that if the designated hitter is adopted by NL and Bradley remains a free agent at the time, the Mets will at least consider him.
Last week, the Mets had an extended meeting with Bradley that included incumbent GM chairman Sandy Alderson Zack Scott hitting coach Chili Davis and head coach / outfield coach Tony Tarasco. Scott, in particular, knows Bradley well from his time with the Red Sox.
The problem was that Bradley never fully fits the Mets, because they are built without them being able to use a DH. His presence would have forced the Mets to decide every day who does not play among Bradley, Nimmo, Pete Alonso and Dom Smith.
Right now, MLB continues as if there is no universal DH in 2021. But many directors and team agents believe there may be another last-minute reversal, in part because the union wants it, but so do clubs as a way. to subsequently protect the pitcher. MLB has not only shown itself to give in and hand it over to the union without receiving reciprocity in some form. Their preference was to change it for extended playoffs. The union was firm and it is not an exchange it would make.
If NL adopted DH, it could be argued that no free agent still available would help the 2021 Mets more than Bradley because of a domino effect: Bradley is an elite defensive center player, he would move Nimmo from the bottom … an average center fielder to an above average left player who would move Dom Smith from an below average left player to at least a first base and make Pete Alonso – a lower first base Smith – DH.
That would improve the Mets offense by keeping all the bats in line. But it would especially help pitching staff with a much better defense. The Mets have been a terrible defensive team in recent years. But if they ever managed to land Bradley in a free agency or Lorenzo Cain of Milwaukee in a transaction (Cain owes $ 35 million for the next two years), their top-middle lineup would followed by Wilson Ramos, Robinson Cano, Amed Rosario and Nimmo’s James McCann, Jeff McNeil, Francisco Lindor and Bradley / Cain. So, from one of the worst to one of the best.
In theory, if DH were to come to the NL, the Mets could try to sign Justin Turner to, say, play third base 110 games and DH 50. But that wouldn’t impact defense as much. .
For now, the Mets are making a low-cost protection move with Almora. He will essentially play the role that Jake Marisnick played last year as a complementary complement to Nimmo. Except that Marisnick is better on both sides of the ball than Almora.
Now, former Mets GM Jared Porter was the Cubs chief of professional scouts in 2016, when Almora joined and there were beliefs that he would turn into a two-way good. But Almora looks a lot like Juan Lagares. He had a promise of early and offensive defense. But the crime never came and now even the defense has regressed at least one degree.
Maybe Almora starts against lefties, though he only hit .212 vs. southpaws with a .533 OPS in the last two seasons. Probably playing defense late, although among the 59 central players with the most attempts last year, Almora ranked 45th out above average. However, Nimmo was in 58th place. Bradley was second.
Almora is basically checking a box – a straight hitter who is better in the center than Nimmo. So the Mets enlisted him to take on a role. Bradley is a much bigger difference maker, which is why teams like the Red Sox, Giants, Astros and a few others remain engaged. If DH comes to the NL and Bradley remains available, the Mets should return to him or try to trade Cain.