One element that the Mets must weigh in during the administration of new owner Steve Cohen is whether he should exceed the players’ rating, as his wealth allows.
When it came to George Springer, the answer was no.
The Mets announced Springer’s camp last weekend that they were willing to go for $ 120 million at six, but no further. At the time, the Mets were almost out of contention, as Springer was heading for a $ 150 million six-year deal with the Blue Jays on Wednesday.
If the Mets had matched that – they added $ 5 million a year to their offer – I think they have a strong chance of landing the star’s center-back, helped by the attraction of being close to Springer’s Connecticut roots.
But Mets officials felt that the Blue Jays were willing to expand because, until then, they had been excluded for the larger objects they had been pursuing, including Francisco Lindor, which was obtained by the Mets.
The Mets also weighed:
1. If Springer had signed, would that have prevented Michael Conforto from being detained? This falls into the realm of how much Cohen himself is willing to spend. Conforto will be a free agent after the 2021 season, as will Lindor. In an ideal result, the Mets would keep both.
But if they do, they also have $ 20 million a year for Robinson Cano, returning to the bottom line for 2022-23. In addition, he must either retain or probably replace two incumbents, as Steven Matz, Marcus Stroman and Noah Syndergaard are all in their prime. Cohen said the Mets will spend as a big market team, but “not as drunken sailors.” The Mets wondered, if they had all this on the payroll, would it be wise to have two outfielders to do as long as would be necessary for Conforto and Springer?
2. If Springer had been willing to take $ 120 million, the Mets would have figured it out or hoped for DH in the NL in 2021. But the lack of clarity in that area darkens their pursuit on center field. Adding a full-time center fielder would move Brandon Nimmo to the left field and force the Mets to decide whether Pete Alonso or Dominic Smith will play first base without DH. The Mets could move Smith between the left and the first and have two out of three, starting with Alonso, Nimmo and Smith. This would provide depth, but would not make full use of the bats.
Mets are asked by representatives of the non-Springer land market how many will be available if NL does not go to DH in 2021.
3. Ever since getting Lindor and Carlos Carrasco, the Mets have been trying to figure out how to share the rest of what Cohen will spend off-season: on another big play or tackling a few areas?
External directors who handled Jared Porter in his declining days, while GM Mets said he presented that the Mets are focusing heavily on the 20-30 list places because they were worried about the depth for the long season, but also that it might be the best way (rather than another big expense) to produce more victories.
The Mets would like to approach the center field, even if it’s just to add defense or a straight hit to complete Nimmo. They could pivot towards the remarkable defensive Jackie Bradley Jr., although he is a left-hander. Or they could look for a smaller, straight piece like Albert Almora Jr. They want to add to the bullpen, preferably a left that can work late in games. Brad Hand, who led the majors in rescues last year, is on their list. They want an additional stock of starting players, although they would like to have more starting alternatives that have minor league options. The fact that Joey Lucchesi, obtained earlier this week from the Padres, has two options left in the minor league, made him even more attractive for the Mets, who started this off-season with huge worries about the Triple-A alternatives when injury, poor performance or fatigue hit the league’s list major during the 2021 campaign.