Mets Season Preview: What could’ve been done differently this offseason?

Mar 20, 2015; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals first baseman

(12) slides past the tag of New York Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores (4) at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

Cassandra Negley, Staff Writer:

I want a shortstop.

The entire Wilmer Flores vs. Ruben Tejada situation is a headache. Tejada lost his opportunity forever and a day ago and shouldn’t have another chance at it. Flores is the better option, with a strong push from Matt Reynolds, who hit .333 with a .385 on-base percentage in Triple-A Las Vegas last season.

But that’s all talking in the now. The shortstop position has been a punchline for the Mets that even management hasn’t shied away from making. The Mets should have at least looked more proactive in pursuing a guy to take the role over. I’m a Didi Gregorius fan and think his glove would been a great help to the Mets. His batting average isn’t special (.226/.290/.363 in 2014 with Arizona) and he’s gone through bad slumps. That’s hard to take with a poor offensive team such as the Mets, but defense is just as important with an emphasis on the shortstop position.

The cost — Noah Syndergaard — was absolutely too high, though there must have been a pitcher Arizona was willing to take and the Mets were OK with giving up. Or at the very least, figure out a new solution to the continuing shortstop problem.

Next: What Mollie Galchus would've done differently