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NY Mets: 10 best free agents for Steve Cohen to buy this winter

By Zachary Rotman

Sep 22, 2020; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Justin Wilson (38) pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during the seventh inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2020; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Justin Wilson (38) pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during the seventh inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 16, 2020; San Diego, California, USA; Houston Astros center fielder George Springer (4) rounds third base on his way to score against the Tampa Bay Rays on an RBI double hit by second baseman Jose Altuve (not pictured) during the fifth inning during game six of the 2020 ALCS at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

6) George Springer

Yes, I dislike the Astros just as much as you do. What they did was wrong and they should’ve gotten a much stiffer punishment than they got. However, I will start to forgive George Springer if he decides to sign with the Mets. Springer would give the Mets a legitimate star in center field for years to come. The three-time all-star is a career .270/.361/.491 hitter with 174 home runs and 458 RBI across seven seasons.

As mentioned prior, the Mets have an issue defensively in center field. Springer would bring a ton of value in that regard to the Mets. Springer had 6 DRS which was better than Bradley’s and way better than Nimmo this season. He’s played a ton of center field and right field in his career and would give the Mets a high-quality glove in center.

What’s won me over with Springer, is his clutch hitting. Springer has played in 63 playoff games for the Astros and has slashed .269/.349/.546 with 19 home runs and 38 RBI. In 2017, he was the World Series MVP as he slashed .379/.471/1.000 with a whopping five home runs in the seven-game series.

Yes, you can make the argument that cheating made him better. But unlike Jose Altuve, his production this year was not far off of what his career production has been. Springer slashed .265/.359/.540 with 14 home runs and 32 RBI in 51 games this season. Springer was on pace for 37 home runs if this season was a normal 162 games, which would have been his second highest total. He hit 39 last year.

The reason Springer is not higher on my list is because of his age. Yes, 31 years old isn’t that bad. But the Mets need him to be a center fielder for most, if not all of his contract. I would hope the Mets will hold onto Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo, so the corner spots are solidified.

Does Springer have five years of good play in center field in him? I think that’s around the number of years he will get in free agency. If the Mets can get him for any less, that’d be icing on the cake. But Springer’s experience excelling in the postseason, as well as the current upgrade he is defensively in center field over Brandon Nimmo, makes him someone the Mets just have to look at.

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