NY Mets are three moves away from checkmating the rest of MLB

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The New York Mets are three moves away from checkmating the rest of MLB this offseason. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

In three moves, the New York Mets can call “checkmate” on their offseason and have an elite roster ready to win it all.

The 2020-2021 offseason is still young, but the New York Mets are talented enough to the point where they are now just three moves away from having an elite roster.

You read that right. The below .500 in 2020 Mets only have to make three more transactions in order to become the cream of the crop in Major League Baseball.

Luckily for them, these moves are also realistic ones. I’m not trading the entire farm system for Mike Trout or using Steve Cohen’s money to resurrect Walter Johnson. The three moves the Mets have to make all involve players they have been rumored to have interest in. Most amazing of all, they are very obvious.

Sign George Springer to play center field

George Springer is the best center fielder on the open market this winter and a perfect fit for what the Mets need. They get a guy that is a true center fielder and swings from the right side. Springer’s mix of hitting for power and ability to add in a good batting average makes him a must for their 2021 lineup.

Signing Springer causes a chain reaction to the rest of the roster. Brandon Nimmo moves to left field. J.D. Davis moves to third base. And finally, Jeff McNeil becomes the team’s starting second baseman.

The Mets don’t lose any roster flexibility and actually become a better defensive squad. While Davis may still need a little more experience at third base before we fully trust him, guys like Andres Gimenez and Luis Guillorme could handle duties at the position during late innings.

I don’t expect to see Springer disappear from the Mets’ radar until he actually signs with another team. Hopefully, if the Mets want to get into checkmate quickly, it’s their name on his paychecks.

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Trevor Bauer (27) delivers during live batting practice, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, at the baseball team’s spring training facility in Goodyear, Ariz.Cincinnati Reds Spring Training 2 23 2020 /

Sign Trevor Bauer because he’s the best pitcher out there

Another obvious decision for the Mets is to add Trevor Bauer to the roster. The reigning NL Cy Young winner is the best pitcher available and it’s not even close. Bauer isn’t simply a starting pitcher depth piece. He’s a guy the Mets can lean on to help them through a slump. Heaven forbid Jacob deGrom gets hurt without a starter like Bauer around.

As an aside, is it heaven forbid or heaven’s forbid? Frankly, I would use much fouler language in this context if this wasn’t a family-friendly blog. Let me know!

We’ve covered plenty of reasons why the Mets and Bauer are a great match already here at Rising Apple. He’s actually a great fit for just about every team. Can you ever have enough pitching?

Adding Bauer to the mix gives the club a rotation with him, deGrom, Marcus Stroman, David Peterson, and Noah Syndergaard whenever he gets healthy. Until Thor is geared up for the season, they can get by with a combination of Steven Matz, Seth Lugo, and anyone else you may want to put out there as the fifth starter temporarily.

Because I’m trying to capture the rest of the league’s king in only three moves, I’m not going to waste one on a veteran pitcher when I already have a few options available no matter how poor they are.

Bauer feels like the missing piece to the rotation. For the last few years, the club has had deGrom’s elite abilities followed up by talented pitchers that are up-and-down. Although Bauer’s resume fits this description, he appears to have reached the peak of his career. It couldn’t be a better time to sign him.

Sep 12, 2020; Miami, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (10) scores a run in the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports /

Sign J.T. Realmuto or James McCann, either one is an improvement

Finally, all the Mets have left to do is sign their catcher. Easily the biggest priority of all because of what they lack at the position, they can ink J.T. Realmuto or James McCann to a deal and call it a day.

Realmuto and McCann each bring something different to the diamond. Realmuto is a top all-around catcher and someone that could put the Mets over the top. McCann, on the other hand, is a good defender whose bat I question because of its inconsistency throughout his career. Still, I’ll take him.

Signing either of these two improves the team’s catcher situation. It’s as simple as that.

The Mets still have room for improvement at other positions. A little more depth for the minor leagues, maybe adding another reliever, and potentially creating some competition on the bench are all considerations. In fact, the club probably should look at all of those ideas.

However, if the Mets had to settle for three final moves, I think these are enough to get to the other side of the chessboard. Springer single-handedly reshapes the defensive alignment while also giving them a nice right-handed stick. Bauer makes their rotation one of the best in baseball just by pushing everyone else back a spot. Any upgrade at catcher whatsoever with a guy that can defend and hit is an improvement the Amazins could use.

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The most amazing thing about all of this is these three moves are entirely realistic. I’m not proposing a blockbuster trade or asking the team to sign someone the owner cannot afford. Money is no problem for Steve Cohen. All it will take is his willingness, some negotiating, and a pen and paper before the Mets can call checkmate.

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In three moves, the New York Mets can call “checkmate” on their offseason and have an elite roster ready to win it all.

Sign George Springer to play center field

Sign Trevor Bauer because he’s the best pitcher out there

Sign J.T. Realmuto or James McCann, either one is an improvement

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