With the New York Mets heading to the World Series, two star players, Daniel Murphy and Yoenis Cespedes have been proving their point in why they should be the next prized free agent this upcoming winter. With both players putting in their respected time at the age of 30, they will require a large amount of money from their prized suitor.
There has been speculation flying, stating that the Mets will not re-sign Murphy or Cespedes. Mainly due to the facts that the Mets will need their pennies for when their pitchers become free agents. Matt Harvey is eligible for free agency in 2019, Jacob deGrom in 2020, and Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz in 2021.
Babe Ru… I mean Daniel Murphy has been unstoppable this postseason, Murphy is hitting .421 with 7 HR and 11 RBI. The key stat is that he has hit 6 HR in six straight games, breaking Carlos Beltran’s record of homering in five straight postseason games for the Houston Astros back in 2004. Murphy hit his HR’s off the likes of Jon Lester and Cy Young candidates: Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw, and Jake Arrieta.
If the Mets decide not to re-sign Murphy, the next best team would be the New York Yankees. The Yankees currently have young Rob Refsynder as their second baseman. If they are not ready to commit to Refsynder, Murphy would be a huge upgrade that could give him the opportunity to produce offensively in the friendly confines of Yankee Stadium.
The Mets would need to find a replacement for Murphy if they aren’t able to sign him. The Mets have 21-year-old prospect Dilson Herrera, who has yet to produce for the team. However, Herrera maintained a slash of .327/.382/.511 for AAA Las Vegas this past season. Wilmer Flores, who spent some time playing 2B this past season can compete, if Ruben Tejada recovers fully from a broken leg and can continue to play SS. They can re-sign Kelly Johnson for a minimum, which would give the Mets a versatile player that will be consistent. If they end up going to the market to look for a player, the only name that screams out is utility man Ben Zobrist. Zobrist can play almost anywhere, but could potentially be the everyday 2B for the Mets. Zobrist had a slash of .276/.359/.450 between the Oakland Athletics and the Kansas City Royals in the 2015 season. Zobrist at 34 years old would be a short term fix at 2B for the Mets, maybe to give Herrera time to mature more.
The next Met that is about to hit the market unless re-signed is OF Yoenis Cespedes. The self-proclaimed “La Potencia” has been a significant reason why the Mets are heading to the World Series for the first time in 15 years. Cespedes, in 57 games for the Metropolitans has an average of .287, slamming 17 HR and knocking in 44. Cespedes is going to require big money and it is unclear if the Mets are willing to give it to him. A number of teams will be on his radar, and it may turn into a difficult task for the Mets to sign the Cuban slugger. If the Mets part ways with Cespedes, they are going to need to find a reliable replacement. Free agent, OF Justin Upton is up for grabs, however he too will require a hefty amount of cash. Another possibility is the up and coming rookie Michael Conforto, who could man left field for the future, alongside Gold Glove center fielder Juan Lagares, who signed a $23 MM extension through the 2019 season.
Whoever the Mets select in this upcoming offseason, their main concern will be making sure they have the bats for next season.
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