From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
SPRING TRAINING 2018
New York Mets: What's On Second?
Once upon a time, the future of second base belonged to a minor league prospect named Dilson Herrera.
I wish that were still the case.
Instead, the Mets traded him to the Cincinnati Reds in 2016 in exchange for slugging right fielder Jay Bruce.
I was opposed to the trade at the time due to the particular cost involved. I preferred Sandy Alderson remain true to the rebuild despite the Mets winning the National League pennant the year prior.
Herrera could have potentially eliminated much, if not all, of the uncertainty presently afflicting second base. After all, the original plan was to have Dilson Herrera teaming with Ahmed Rosario up the middle.
Then again, maybe not ...
Dilson underwent shoulder surgery last season, and has
yet to play the field this spring.
But there are also collateral matters regarding this situation. I was somewhat dismayed Bruce was coming to play a position for which the Mets had no particular need. However, the Mets were in the midst of their second straight pennant race, and therefore I do not want to come off as being overly critical of the general manager's attempts to upgrade the team.
After all, one could rightly argue the Mets were playing with house money. Dilson was originally acquired in 2013 from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Marlon Byrd. Two years later, the Mets acquired second baseman Neil Walker (for Jon Niese) in yet another exchange with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Both trades were a coup in my opinion.
Today, however, neither second baseman plays for the Mets as Walker's employment here wound up being transient in nature. And by the way ... he's still available on the open market.
Point being, had the Mets retained Herrera, Michael Conforto would likely be playing a corner outfield position where he's more comfortable. In turn, Sandy Alderson could have been seeking out a legitimate center fielder/lead-off hitter.
Therefore, my point is about team building. I'm not at all satisfied with the way this club is presently constructed up the middle. But with the outfield situation being what it is - with Conforto slated to play center - the last position Sandy Alderson had room to maneuver and address the lead-off spot in the line-up was second base.
Then there's the curious matter of Jason Kipnis. A potential trade that would have brought Cleveland's second baseman to Flushing in exchange for reliever Paul Sewald was
reportedly nixed by ownership according to The Record.
This development quite obviously deserves a post unto itself. But if the report is true, this means Sandy Alderson does not have complete autonomy, and that all fingers point to Jeff Wilpon. Per the report, it was then Alderson was forced into seeking alternatives. Kipnis is still owed $30 million dollars over the next two seasons (with a 2020 club option). Instead, the Mets signed Todd Frazier for $17 million dollars over two years to play third base.
Where it concerns second base, we therefore must continue speaking of Asdrubal Cabrera, Wilmer Flores, Jose Reyes, and Gavin Cecchini.
In December 2015 the Mets signed a thirty-year old free agent infielder whom many outside the organization speculated had effectively reached the end of his career.
Asdrubal only recently turned 32-years old last November. Meanwhile, all he's ever done since arriving in Flushing is play at least 135 games a season and quadruple-slash above his career average. In fact, he's been one of the Mets best clutch hitters. His famous bat flip is now part of Mets lore. And because of his gregarious nature, the veteran Carbrera has also been a tremendously positive influence in the clubhouse. And so I welcome his presence again this season.
Asdrubal at least stabilizes the position, and should work well with Ahmed Rosario at short - or so we hope.
Cabrera has now appeared in 276 games in a Mets uniform, but has only started 32 games for them at second base. Over his career, though, he has logged 242 career games at second and owns .995 fielding percentage, which has generally ranked ten points above the league average.
Wilmer has become an indispensable role player capable of filling in anywhere around the horn. That's important considering the Mets may at times carry an extra reliever, therefore making bench space limited and precious.
Since we've already spent several seasons decrying his defensive inefficiencies, we might as well leave his inability to field these positions well for another time.
In the meantime, Flores is still only 26-years old. There is a part of me that still believes Wilmer can be the .300 hitter he demonstrated himself to be throughout his minor league career. So far, he is trending .267/.307/.455, with 15 home runs and 53 RBI in 375 at-bats over the last three seasons. Last year, he established career highs in home runs (18), slugging (.488), and batting average (.271).
The Miami Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays, and Colorado Rockies, all took their turns paying Reyes over $100 million dollars just to make him go away. In fact,
Colorado still is. Otherwise, no other team seemed interested in his services during the off-season. And so Jose will quietly go about his business playing perhaps for the only city and team that would accept him.
Now 34-years old and a veteran of 15 major league seasons, his days of bold face italic numbers on the back of his baseball card are long gone. Reyes served as a jack of all trades last season, starting games at third, shortstop, second, left field, and center. He slashed .246/.315/.413, with 25 doubles, 15 home runs, 58 RBI, and 24 stolen bases. For $2 million dollars, Jose is price worthy - if not lucky.
The Mets selected Gavin in the first round (12th overall) of the 2012 draft. He made his major league debut in 2016, and has since participated in 36 games for the Mets. Originally a shortstop, he only began transitioning to second base in earnest last season, due in part to the emergence of Ahmed Rosario.
He's presently having a fine spring training, batting .350 (7/20), with four extra base hits and five RBI. Although he already has 227 games and 899 at-bats worth of triple-A experience, he is likely headed to Las Vegas for yet another season. If the Mets go with twelve pitchers, they'll only have roster space for five bench players. After Kevin Plawecki, Juan Lagares, Brandon Nimmo, Jose Reyes, and Wilmer Flores, it would seem Cecchini is the odd man out.
