Following their deal with the Brewers, the Mets are no longer required to pursue these players.
Awaiting Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s much-awaited decisions, David Stearns moved forward at last, obtaining Tyrone Taylor and Adrian Houser via a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, his old team.
Though it doesn’t have the dramatic effect that supporters of the New York Mets have been hoping for, this deal nevertheless covers two gaps on the roster. Houser can be deployed as a lengthy reliever or to fill in at the end of the rotation. He seems like the ideal choice to take over the position that Trevor Williams so capably performed in 2022. With three years of control, Taylor is a fourth outfielder who can play all three outfield positions.
Even with these two players acquired, the Mets remain in the running for the Yamamoto title. Additionally, it keeps them in the DH contest. It does, however, take the Mets out of the running as a potential destination for these three free agents.
1. Michael A. Taylor
It’s easy to understand why the Mets were rumoured to be in talks with Michael A. Taylor at different stages during the winter. He would have been an excellent fourth outfield option. He just had one of his greatest offensive seasons as a defender, deserving of a gold glove.
Tyrone Taylor was brought in to play the position of fourth outfielder, but Taylor would have likely filled it at a considerably greater salary if the Mets had signed him. Tyrone has control over the same three years, but Michael A. Taylor would not.
Tyrone and Michael A. happen to share more characteristics than just their last name. They both have speed and defence skills, but they also have cunning power. For Minnesota this past season, Tyrone hit 17 home runs in 2022 as a regular player, while Michael A. set a career high with 21. In a part-time capacity, he scored 10 this past season.
To complete the outfield, the Mets must now concentrate on adding a full-time outfielder, most likely a left fielder. It is not Michael A. Taylor.
2) Kevin Kiermaier
Kevin Kiermaier may also be safely excluded from any Mets rumors, with Michael A. Taylor likely ruled out as a Mets candidate. Although he hasn’t been as involved with the Mets as Michael A. Taylor has, he would have played the same function that Tyrone Taylor is anticipated to play.
For the most part of his career, Kiermaier has been an everyday player, and his 129 game total with the Blue Jays this past season was no exception. In the end, Kiermaier had one of his best offensive seasons as well, winning his fourth Gold Glove.
It’s unclear if he would have agreed to join with the Mets to play as their fourth outfielder because there’s a strong probability he would have received an offer to start somewhere else. But theoretically, Kiermaier made a lot of sense until the Mets acquired Tyrone Taylor.
The Mets shouldn’t add Kiermaier to their outfield since he doesn’t have the history of being a strong enough hitter. While defense is excellent, the Mets’ main need from their third starting outfielder should be hitting.
3) Sean Manaea
It’s unclear what part Adrian Houser will play on this Mets club. He is a perfect fit as a swingman because he has experience both starting games and coming out of the bullpen. Sean Manaea is another free agent that this past season both started games and came out of the bullpen; at this point, he doesn’t seem like a good fit for the Mets.
In his 37 appearances with the Giants last season, Manaea started 10 of them and recorded a 4.44 ERA in 117.2 innings pitched. Throughout his Athletics career, he had been a solid mid-rotation starter; however, he struggled with San Diego the previous season and was below average for much of this season with San Francisco, but he did close the game out with a 3.43 ERA in the second half.
Houser gives the Mets the depth of pitching that they sorely need. Spotrac estimates that he will make about $5 million and will only be under team control for a single year. On the other side, MLB Trade Rumors projects that Manaea will sign a two-year contract worth $22 million. He won’t know the exact terms of his contract until he signs them, but it will most likely cost more than Houser’s arrangement.
The Mets must concentrate on strengthening their starting rotation following the arrival of Houser. They have an adequate number of back end starters. Although adding Yamamoto is the ideal solution, David Stearns also has a few other options. Manaea is no longer logical.