The Mets payroll space will be consumed by even average arrivals.
Try supporting the Toronto Blue Jays if you’re still in pain after Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Even though the New York Mets were not successful in their biggest offseason pursuit, at least there was never any news of Yamamoto visiting Queens. Just a few weeks ago, Blue Jays supporters endured this with Shohei Ohtani. Canada must have had a really big Boxing Day since shipments of bespoke jerseys that were manufactured too soon were being returned to the merchant.
The Blue Jays have responded by going to work on a few more significant but far less significant roster changes. They agreed to a $10.5 million, one-year contract with Kevin Kiermaier. A $15 million contract with incentives to earn an additional million was awarded to Isiah Kiner-Falefa for a two-year period.
Kiermaier and IKF were conceivable matches, however they were never connected to either. In center field is Kiermaier. A fantastic utility player who answers their third base queries is Kiner-Falefa. The contracts that both players with doubts signed with the Blue Jays demonstrate how expensive it would have been for the Mets to add two players who aren’t very necessary. Furthermore, it’s a glimpse at the potential expense of some pretty ordinary offseason additions by the Mets.
The Mets will have to shell out a sizable sum of money for even average signings.
Despite the fact that there is still a need in the outfield and that Joey Wendle may play a lot at third base as a backup, neither Kiermaier nor IKF appear worth what the Blue Jays gave them. Kiermaier’s bat has consistently shown itself to underachieve, making him a constant danger for injuries. To be honest, Kiner-Falefa is a carbon copy of Wendle and an overhyped athlete that the New York Yankees grew strangely fixated on before he ever joined the team.
Tyrone Taylor is now in the lineup, so the Mets don’t really need to add another center fielder. The most sensible free agent bat this team needs to acquire on that side of the ball is Justin Turner, the clear third base safety net who is still very much available. Kiermaier and IKF together could easily be paid for in a year by Turner. Not to worry. The Mets would have still needed to join the DH market even if they had signed that combo.
The Mets may have to decide which players can already cover in particular gaps and where to add players. The boundless fortune of Steve Cohen is managed on a budget. The Mets will undoubtedly have one of the highest payrolls in the league once more even if they may not be spending as freely this winter.
Brandon Nimmo would have moved to left field if Kiermaier had been in center field. The Mets could employ Kiner-Falefa all over the field and feel secure that they would at least preserve runs on defense if they added him to their roster. How about the process of making them?
I’ve never been a fan of the Mets passing on many corner outfield players in favor of defensively strengthening center field. I would rather to watch to see if Nimmo can become the outstanding defender he was in 2022 and have a left fielder. Regarding a player like Kiner-Falefa added to the roster right now, it appears like the Mets would need to add a lot more offensive firepower to any more third basemen they could acquire. If the team is in a postseason battle, it’s a concern to wait and address at the trade deadline unless Brett Baty’s suspension is being lifted.
Additional evidence of the high cost of average players was provided to the Mets on Friday when Lucas Giolito signed a contract with the Boston Red Sox. After two consecutive difficult years, the veteran was given a two-year contract worth $38.5 million. This weekend, if you haven’t already, take your kids to the stadium to kick around a baseball. A business degree is unnecessary when you can get paid to eat innings.