NY Mets: What Guillermo Heredia can offer the Amazins

The recent acquisition of outfielder Guillermo Heredia provides the New York Mets a credible defensive option off the bench who is under team control for multiple seasons.

On August 28, the New York Mets claimed outfielder Guillermo Heredia off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates, after designating life-long Met outfielder Juan Lagares for assignment. The 29-year old Cuban outfielder was added to the Mets 40-man roster and is currently at the alternate site in Brooklyn.

It seemed like a questionable move at the time considering Lagares was promoted just a couple of days prior and did not register an official at-bat during his time with the team. However, on paper, this transaction seems like a great under the radar move from Brodie Van Wagenen and company to boost the Mets depth at the outfield position without losing much defensively.

The Mets are only on the hook for Heredia’s prorated salary this season of $172,000 and have two options remaining they can use with him, something they could no longer do with Lagares.

Due to Lagares’ service time, he was able to refuse his assignment to the Mets alternate training site and is now a free agent. Heredia is also arbitration-eligible next season, and if Heredia proves to be a valuable commodity off the bench for them, the Mets will control his rights through the 2023 season.

Heredia offers the Mets a solid glove off the bench with a career .992 fielding percentage as an outfielder. While the versatile Heredia plays all three outfield positions, his defense profiles better in a corner position than in center field.

In four seasons, Heredia has only committed six errors, with four of those coming in center field. Defense is something the team can always improve on, and Heredia can provide the Mets with a late-inning defensive replacement or spot-start.

While Heredia won’t wow many with his bat as he is a career .239/.317/.339 hitter, he has hit lefties pretty good in his career with a .275/.338/.400 slash line. With Heredia being a left-handed batter it’s very rare you see that success from that side of the plate. But to further prove his worth off the bench as a pinch hitter, which he would be very useful for the Mets, he has a career .316 average.

With Heredia, the Mets have a cheap controllable outfielder that can offer them a vital role defensively and off the bench against left-handed pitching. With Heredia being added to the 40-man roster it’s possible we see him before the end of this season. If his number does not get called this season, it’s possible he will be one of the many bodies competing for a spot on the bench next spring.

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As previously stated the Mets need to get better defensively all around, and with the acquisition of Heredia it certainly is a small step in the right direction for the future.