NY Mets: 3 Javier Baez alternatives to throw a lot of money at this winter

At the trade deadline, the New York Mets traded top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Javier Baez and Trevor Williams. While the Mets faltered down the stretch this season, it is certainly not because of this trade. Williams pitched to a 3.06 ERA in ten appearances (three starts).

Baez was the real story. He slashed .299/.371/.515 with nine home runs and 22 RBI as a Met. Even with all of the controversy, Baez played with a lot of heart and showed Mets fans how good he can be.

Baez tearing it up reminded me a lot of what Yoenis Cespedes did when the Mets acquired him back in 2015. While they didn’t go on a fairytale run this time, Baez did his best to try and make that happen.

Baez was acquired knowing that he might only be a rental for the Mets in 2021

This makes it pretty frustrating that the Mets didn’t make the playoffs as the trade will be viewed as a waste if the Mets let Baez walk.

Baez played extremely well as a Met and I would welcome him back with open arms if he elects to remain a Met. I’m sure the Mets will make a competitive offer for him. However, Baez is not a perfect player.

His knock has been a lack of plate discipline. Baez drew just 15 walks in his 361 plate appearances as a Cub this season while striking out 131 times. As a Met, it appeared things changed. He drew 13 walks in 186 plate appearances as a Met while striking out 53 times.

His walk rate went up from 4.2% as a Cub to 7% as a Met, while his strikeout percentage went down from 36.3% as a Cub to 28.5% as a Met.

Were these adjustments a sign of things to come? Or were they made just because he was in a contract year and he realized he’d get more money if he took more pitches and drew walks. It’s hard to tell.

I believe signing Baez would be a good thing but there are many options if the Mets believe the price tag is too high or he does not want to play here.

Marcus Semien

One of the big surprises this season in my opinion was Marcus Semien. He had a great 2019 in which he finished top three in the American League MVP voting but took a huge step back in the shortened 2020 season. However, Semien proved that down year was a fluke with a monster 2021.

Semien slashed .265/.334/.538 with 45 home runs and 102 RBI this season. He put up one of the greatest offensive seasons ever by a second baseman. The 31-year-old signed a one-year deal with Toronto to bet on himself and boy did he prove himself right. Semien will get a ton in the open market.

Not only is his bat elite, but Semien was also in the 89th percentile in outs above average according to baseball savant.

Would I rather Semien over Baez long-term? That’s hard to say. I think Semien is the better player right now, but he is 31 years old. How long will he be able to put up these productive numbers? I have more confidence that Baez can put up great numbers for a longer time considering he is three years younger.

If Semien is willing to sign a deal as a second baseman it’d be foolish for the Mets to not consider him. He may not hit 45 home runs while playing 81 games a year at Citi Field, but he has hit over 30 while playing 81 games in Oakland.

The best ability is availability. This Mets team has been destroyed with injuries for years and Semien is an iron man. He has played in all 162 games in each of the last two seasons that 162 games were played. If they can get Semien on a four-year deal I’d be all over that.

Kris Bryant

A name that has been in Mets trade rumors for what feels like the longest time is Kris Bryant. The Giants acquired Bryant at the deadline and he helped propel them to 107 wins and a National League West division title.

Assuming Nolan Arenado opts into the remainder of his contract, Kris Bryant will be the best third baseman on the market by far. For a Mets team that started Jonathan Villar and J.D. Davis at the hot corner for most of the year, Bryant would be a massive upgrade.

Like they would with Correa, the Mets could shift Jeff McNeil over to second base to accommodate signing Kris Bryant to play third base for a majority of the time.

Bryant slashed .265/.353/.481 with 25 home runs and 73 RBI this season. While Bryant also has an injury history, he played in 144 games this season. That would be third on the Mets just one game behind Dom Smith for second.

Bryant has a big-time power bat who can play all over the place. He played at least ten games at five different positions. This versatility would be huge for the Mets and is a reason why I wanted them to trade for Bryant in the first place.

Something that makes Kris Bryant more intriguing is the fact that he is not tied to the Qualifying Offer. Since he was traded mid-season, the Giants cannot offer him one. This means the Mets wouldn’t have to give up their second first-round pick to sign him. If they were to sign Correa, they would have to give up that pick.

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He might not be as electrifying or fun to watch as his former teammate Baez is, but Kris Bryant is a very good player who the Mets would be fortunate to sign. He is 29 years old, in his prime, and would provide a big-time power bat that the Mets lack.