NY Mets: Three options if Michael Conforto does not re-sign

The New York Mets have had quite the rollercoaster of an off-season. The positives include the trade for All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor and veteran starter Carlos Carrasco, solidifying catching defense with James McCann, and adding bullpen depth and Twitter entertainment with Trevor May.

The Mets did miss out on George Springer and chose not to pursue J.T. Realmuto, who re-signed with division rival Philadelphia.

The Mets appear to be the frontrunners to land Trevor Bauer, who represents the Mets last chance to land one of the “big” 2021 free agents.

Some may call it a disaster if the Mets strike out on all of the big-time hot stove names, which is of course not a logical sentiment.

But there may be another potential disaster lurking.

What does the future hold for Mets outfielder Michael Conforto?

Outfielder Michael Conforto is set to enter free agency after the upcoming season. Details of a potential extension have been scarce, though team president Sandy Alderson did recently state that he anticipates on having “serious” extension talks with Conforto’s representatives.

On December 17, 2020, Alderson announced his intention to hold extension talks with Conforto, but provided little in substantive details:

“I expect that we’ll have some serious conversations. I have no idea where it will go. You know, (Conforto’s agent) Scott (Boras) has a reputation. I think Michael likes to play in New York. He’s been a great player ever since we brought him up. And I hope he stays with us. But those talks are yet to come.”

Alderson references the notorious agent Scott Boras, who has developed a tough-nosed reputation in his dealings with general managers. Boras typically holds out for top offers and has a terrific track record of securing lucrative contracts for his clients.

Mets fans should have confidence that Alderson and acting general manager Zack Scott will be able to secure an extension with Conforto and Boras.

Still, there will be a very competitive market for Conforto’s services if they can’t lock him up before free agency begins and the Mets would be wise not let him hit the open market.

If Conforto does sign elsewhere, the Mets will have to evaluate potential replacements.

The bad news is that the upcoming free agent class of outfielders is not particularly impressive.

It will be difficult, if not impossible, to replace Conforto’s production should he leave.

However, these options could help soften the blow of losing one of the more popular Mets in recent memory.

Sign Eddie Rosario

After spending his first six Major League seasons with the Twins, lefty-hitting Eddie Rosario signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Cleveland Indians for 2021.

Rosario entered free agency after the 2020 campaign when Cleveland decided not to tender him an offer in his final year of arbitration eligibility. The move was a bit of a surprise considering Rosario had a fantastic 2019 season and followed it up with a solid 2020.

Rosario is not the offensive player Conforto is but he does bring good pop, hitting at least 24 homers in the last three full seasons (2017-2019), including a career-high 32 in 2019.

His career slash line of .277/.310/.478 is not overly impressive as Rosario does not have the plate discipline to match Conforto.

However, Rosario brings a solid glove to the outfield and would be an instant defensive upgrade.

Rosario’s defense slipped in 2019 largely due to an ankle injury, but rebounded nicely last season. He finished fourth among qualified outfielders in Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR) last year and would bring good speed and an above-average arm to a Mets outfield starving for defensive upgrades.

Traditionally a left fielder, Rosario may have to shift to right field depending on future roster construction.

If Rosario’s offense continues to progress, the Mets would not be losing much raw power if he had to replace Conforto. Of course, Rosario is not nearly as good a contact hitter and cannot get on base at Conforto’s rate.

Rosario would be a decent replacement, but would not be able to effectively replicate Conforto’s production.

Trade for Andrew Benintendi

In 2018, Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi seemed poised to become one of baseball’s best young stars. However, he then regressed with a mediocre 2019 and played just 14 games in an injury-shortened 2020.

Benintendi will turn 27 in July. 2022 will be his final season with arbitration eligibility. Depending on his 2021 performance, it is conceivable that after the season whatever team he is on (more on that below) may do anything from offering an extension or to non-tendering him.

Benintendi’s situation is quite fascinating. Once baseball’s number one prospect, many around the game now expect Benintendi to be dealt prior to the start of this season.

Obviously, Benintendi has not been traded yet, shocking the aforementioned “rival executive.” Still, it seems inevitable that Benintendi will be moved before Opening Day.

The situation is fluid but for now, Benintendi remains an intriguing trade target should the Mets need to replace Conforto.

He is the youngest player on this list and unlike Rosario and Castellanos would not require a long-term contract right away.

Benintendi also has the most upside of maybe every realistic Conforto replacement option. He is a left-handed contact hitter that has a demonstrated ability to read the strike zone and consistently get on base. At his best, he profiles very similarly to Conforto.

Benintendi will need a significant bounce-back season to be considered a legitimate replacement option. It is also unclear where he will be playing in 2021 and what his potential new team’s long term plans may involve.

A lot will have to go right for Benintendi but the potential for a lot of production exists. If Conforto does not re-sign with the Mets, it will be interesting to see where Benintendi stands after this season.

If he returns to the player he was in 2018, fans should be very excited to see Benintendi in a Mets uniform.

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Of course, a Conforto extension would bring the most excitement to the fanbase.