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

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.

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.