What would the 2019 Mets look like with Manny Machado on the roster?

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 27: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres looks on against the New York Yankees during their game at Yankee Stadium on May 27, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

New York Mets fans young and old wanted to see their favorite team sign Manny Machado this past winter. What would the team look like if they did?

In case you didn’t hear, this past winter included two major free agents on the open market. Bryce Harper and Manny Machado both said goodbye to their former teams and decided to sign elsewhere. Hopeful fans of the New York Mets begged and pleaded for the team to go out and land one of these stars. There was barely a hint that the organization had interest.

It took several months for either to cut a deal, with Machado first signing with the San Diego Padres. Harper later found a home with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Either player would have helped the Mets offense. Say what you want to about their weaknesses. Both are good ballplayer who makes those around them in the lineup stronger.

I wonder, though, what would the Mets look like if they landed either of these two men? For the sake of keeping it simple, I’m going to target Machado. Harper would require them to possibly move on from Michael Conforto or Brandon Nimmo which just creates a whole slew of activity and speculation. Machado is an easier fit because the Mets actually did go out and add a third baseman this offseason.

Do you remember a man named Jed Lowrie? The veteran infielder has been on the injured list since February. The Mets brought him to town in a rather shocking move because of how needless the addition felt. Nevertheless, he could provide them with an upgrade over Todd Frazier and gave the team another option at the other infield positions.

In a hypothetical world where the Mets get Machado, Lowrie isn’t on this team. Frazier is also on the bench with just the occasional start at a corner infield position. Machado would play every day at third base and provide comfort behind shortstop Amed Rosario.

It sounds easy enough to build a team like this. As usual, the financial implications play a major role.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – MAY 02: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres reacts after scoring on a RBI single by Wil Myers #4 in the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park on May 02, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Let’s Talk Money

Financially, we would have to assume the Mets aren’t taking on anything more than what they actually did spend this offseason. Once again, for the sake of keeping it simple, let’s say Machado’s contract is the same one he actually did sign.

Machado’s average annual salary of $30 million makes it easier to figure out where they could have spent differently. Lowrie’s $10 million commitment in 2019 and 2020 accounts for one-third of what Machado will make in each year. This means we still need to find another $20 million in savings.

The trade with the Seattle Mariners which brought Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz to Flushing wouldn’t have been possible—at least the Cano part. Though the trade doesn’t increase the payroll significantly this year or next, it will in the future. In which case, Jay Bruce and Anthony Swarzak are still here or possibly traded elsewhere in a similar swap of bad contracts.

Other additions made by the Mets this offseason to think about include Jeurys Familia ($10 million AAV), Wilson Ramos ($9.5 AAV, plus a team option), and Justin Wilson ($5 million AAV). To find the other $20 million we’re not allowing the Mets to spend, this means we would have to pass on Familia and Ramos. There’s still another half a million unaccounted for, but let’s call it even.

This leaves the Mets with few major moves over the winter. Perhaps instead of signing Ramos, they upgrade behind the plate via trade. Even then, the payroll would increase. There are more affordable backstops out there. Pick any you want and pretend he doesn’t do much at all.

Now, the Mets could have non-tendered Travis d’Arnaud a contract and used that many to sign someone like James McCann for catching duties. This doesn’t correlate at all with trying to get Machado.

However, if they really had their eyes set on him, maybe they cut d’Arnaud to save the dough. Let’s say they do and McCann is the catcher they sign for the same $2.5 million he’s earning with the Chicago White Sox this year. Suddenly, the Mets have actually saved money.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 14: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 14, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

The Opening Day Lineup

On Opening Day, the Mets could begin the year with a lineup looking something like this:

LF Brandon Nimmo
2B Jeff McNeil
3B Manny Machado
CF Michael Conforto
1B Pete Alonso
RF Jay Bruce
SS Amed Rosario
C James McCann
P Jacob deGrom

Or some mixture of the above.

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On the bench, there’s nothing different except Frazier is exclusively in a part-time role. Dominic Smith, Keon Broxton, and the rest of the gang the Mets opened the year with are there, too. Luis Guillorme may be left out as they have Machado to play shortstop when needed.

This Mets lineup does look better with Machado, but is it really good enough to win a championship?

I will add, Machado’s presence may have made them a little more timid to start Alonso on the 25-man roster to begin the season. We also don’t know what dear old friend Jay Bruce would give the Mets, if anything at all.

Likely, if the Mets did have eyes for Machado, it would include far more moves than the ones outlined here. Even though he plays the infield, I think they may have traded Conforto or Nimmo to upgrade another spot such as the bullpen.

It’s also not fair to say they would get McCann or that he would perform as well as he has in 2019. He just struck me as a good match this winter prior to the Ramos deal. The benefit of hindsight helps this argument further.

There’s no doubt the Mets offense would be better with Machado around. We would have those days where he doesn’t hustle or dogs it on a groundball. His numbers with the Padres this season have been below expectations so I would imagine plenty of fans would have some negative thoughts about it.

Next. Top 10 seasons by Mets catchers

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Machado wouldn’t change the culture of the team. Putting him in a Mets’ uniform does temporarily end the ownership’s reputation as a penny-pinching duo. Last offseason was all about who was and wasn’t willing to spend big. Mets ownership showed us they were in the latter category even though Machado would have done little to single-handedly turn their fortunes around.

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New York Mets fans young and old wanted to see their favorite team sign Manny Machado this past winter. What would the team look like if they did?

Let’s Talk Money

The Opening Day Lineup

More from Rising Apple

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