New York Mets Offseason Outlook Part II: Finding Outfielders

This year’s crop of free-agent hitters is nothing to write home about. Luckily for the Mets, between Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil currently on the roster and the impending promotions of Drew Gilbert and Jett Williams, the outfield is all but figured out for the future. That being said, Gilbert and Williams aren’t expected to start the year with the Mets, so they could use at least one more competent outfielder to join Starling Marte and DJ Stewart on the opening-day roster.

The Mets were sorely missing what I like to call “the Jose Reyes factor” from their lineup last season. A role Marte filled with aplomb in 2022, yet due to injuries and deteriorating skills, it’s doubtful Marte, now in his mid-30s, can rekindle that spark. This again is an area the Mets prospects will be able to contribute in soon, whether that may be Gilbert and Williams or Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuña. All of them are capable of hitting line drives to all fields, running the basepaths at an elite level, stealing bases and putting pressure on the pitcher.

These are all crucial in being a catalyst for an offense. Especially in today’s game with the rise of stolen bases and in this new shiftless era, small ball is a critical, yet underrated, aspect for offensive production. Having a multitude of ways to score is essential for running production and “keeping the line moving.”

Yet, this still leaves the Mets with a hole to fill on their opening-day outfield. A platoon of Stewart and Marte in the corner outfield spots is underwhelming, to say the least. Considering how McNeil might be used to spell Mauricio and Brett Baty, as well as provide a safety net in case they falter early on in the season, acquiring at least one outfielder is vital.

For the first time in years, I expect the Mets to acquire position players who are good baseball players. To explain, since the Alderson era, the Mets focused on acquiring players who were not necessarily well-rounded and were more likely to excel in one area while leaving a lot to be desired in others. Therefore, players who can run and play defense will take precedence in their search to shore up the outfield

The Market

The top free agent targets are Lourdes Gurriel Jr.,  an excellent hitter who leaves a lot to be desired defensively, and Jung-Hoo Lee. Lee is a very intriguing young player, yet he too needs time to adjust to the Major League level. Given that it may take him the whole season to adapt, it hardly makes sense to pay him well above what you would have to pay Gilbert, Williams, etc.

Everyone wants to talk about Juan Soto, and who wouldn’t want a young superstar on their team for the next decade? I mean, the guy’s numbers are on pace with some of the best players in MLB history. Anytime a player is mentioned in the same breath as Ted Williams and Stan Musial, you must take notice. The problem isn’t the player, it’s the timing of the move.

It hardly makes sense for the Mets to part ways with a number of their top prospects to acquire Soto this offseason. The first reason is that Soto is a free agent at year’s end, and with Cohen’s willingness to pay what it takes, they will be one of the top destinations for him next offseason. Secondly, this season is crucial in terms of developing the future core, and subtracting young talent from that group preemptively contradicts the intended plan for 2024.

I expect the Mets to target a list of players who can impact all facets of the game and for one reason or another, are undervalued. In other words, this list won’t be sexy, and it definitely won’t be anyone the fanbase is clamoring for, but try to keep an open mind because some of these guys can fit the ’24 team perfectly. So without further adieu, here’s the list of potential outfield targets for the Mets this offseason:

Michael A. Taylor, FA

Michael A. Taylor is a fascinating player. As someone who excels in centerfield and provides ample ability on the basepaths, his value is already close to the league average. Yet, the former top prospect has fallen well short of his lofty projections from earlier in his career as he’s never been able to provide much offensively. This may have started to change last season with the Twins. Not only did Taylor hit 21 home runs, a feat not many glove-first centerfielders can claim to have ever done, but he also had a tremendous 2nd half of the season, unbeknownst to most baseball fans besides maybe those from Minnesota.

Taylor will be 33 on opening day, so it may seem like a peculiar time for him to finally materialize his top-tier talent. That being said, Taylor worked tirelessly on his swing throughout the past season with the Twins and may have finally started seeing the results of his labor. He not only hit for a 120 wRC+ in the second half, albeit in a small sample size but also raised his walk rate to a career-high 9.7%, doubling his first-half rate. 

These changes, coupled with the power and his stellar defense, provide a unique opportunity for the Mets to potentially see Taylor achieve a level of success that was unlikely just one season ago. A short-term contract may be the perfect fit for both parties, and the Mets may be gifted with a solid starter in the outfield rather than a fourth outfielder.

Austin Meadows, FA

 Similarly to Jeimer Candelario last offseason, Austin Meadows is a former top prospect who fell on hard times in Detroit. In Tampa, Meadows was one of the better platoon left-handed bats around. And at a relatively young age, there is little reason to think his skillset has eroded. Meadows should prove to be one of the better buy-low options in free agency, as he provides upside, unlike older, more established veterans. A one-year deal in which he can reestablish his value while giving time for the Mets prospects to develop may be a perfect situation. He would also provide well-needed protection at DH, especially as a left-handed bat.

Hunter Renfroe, FA

While Hunter Renfroe‘s best days seem to be behind him, he still provides plenty of power potential and a solid glove in a corner outfield spot. He will probably have to sign a very cheap contract and may not even find anything guaranteed. This is a solid low-risk move, and a player David Stearns once acquired as the PBO of the Brewers. There is little to lose with this kind of acquisition, while Renfroe still has a chance at hitting 20-30 homers in a season.

Seiya Suzuki, CHI

Somehow nobody knows that Seiya Suzuki broke out last season. His overall numbers were fantastic, and he continues improving his plate discipline. All arrows are pointing up for him, yet the Cubs unceremoniously benched him during his second-half struggles, and he may very well have fallen out of favor there. His athleticism, combined with a contact-oriented approach, would work very well with the Mets. Including the fact that the Mets already have Senga and are looking to Japan to further buoy their rotation, Suzuki may look forward to playing with a couple of his compatriots.

If the Cubs bring back Cody Bellinger, add Soto via trade, or make any kind of move to bring in a star-level outfielder, this will further push Suzuki down the depth chart.

Alexander Canario, CHI

A little-known prospect from the Cubs system, Alexander Canario missed almost all of the 2023 season due to shoulder surgery. Sitting firmly behind not only Suzuki and Happ but also Pete Crow-Armstrong and Owen Caisse on the depth chart, Canario may never find a real opportunity with the Cubs. Yet, Canario has Jorge Soler–type power, having led the minor leagues in homers in 2022, and is major league ready. His power will play at the major league level, and provided an opportunity, may quickly ascend to heights no one has foreseen. This is a perfect opportunity for the Mets to swoop in and collect talent that another organization may not be prioritizing.

Tyrone Taylor, MIL

Tyrone Taylor has been one of the most underrated solid outfielders in the NL for the last three seasons. He plays an above-average centerfield while having the versatility to play anywhere in the outfield and has hit at a league-average clip over his career. What most don’t know is that after Taylor returned from injury during the second half, he broke out in a big way. While his breakout may very well preclude him from being moved, he is already 29, arbitration eligible and the Brewers have a bit of a logjam in the outfield. Currently, the Brewers have Christian Yelich, Joey Wiemer and Sal Frelick, all ticketed for starting jobs. They also have a capable fourth outfielder in Garrett Mitchell and recently extended über-prospect Jackson Chourio waiting in the wings.

Andrew Benintendi, CWS

With the White Sox shifting gears and Andrew Benintendi having struggled last season, the Mets may be the perfect opportunity for a move. Benintendi is guaranteed a $68.4M over the next four seasons, as the White Sox backloaded his contract. That being said, his “cap hit” will be $15M annually over that same period. Starling Marte will earn $41.5M over the next two seasons, and this may work as a bad contract swap. Benintendi is younger and has more upside, while Marte will be off the books after the 2025 season. So basically, the Mets would add two years of Benintendi for just $9M annually.

Dairon Blanco, KC

While many will not know of this perennial also-ran, Dairon Blanco is a five-tool player who finally got a chance to play in the majors last season with the Royals. In 145 plate appearances, Blanco had a superb 105 wRC+, and when paired with a whopping 25 stolen bases as well as above-average defense in any outfield spot, Blnaco is the definition of a hidden gem. After overhauling his swing and improving his plate discipline, Blanco could bring a really exciting dynamic to the Mets next year offensively, defensively, and on the basepaths. As a little-known bit player, his price tag may not be very high, yet since he is controllable for the next six seasons, he won’t be cheap either.

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