Uncertain NY Mets CF situation raises a new offseason question

The New York Mets train is so far off the rails at this point, it's worth wondering if they can ever get back on track. That means it's the perfect time to take advantage of some hindsight and take a look at where the club went wrong. There are plenty of examples with the first month of the season complete, but none as predictable as what's gone wrong with Luis Robert Jr.

Robert Jr. entered the season as a potential X-factor for New York. He didn't need to be the potential franchise cornerstone he looked like when he cracked 38 homers back in 2023, but he also couldn't be as bad as he's been over the past two seasons. At first, he looked like the perfect change of scenery candidate.

Unfortunately, that didn't last long. The 28-year-old's performance quickly took a dive, and now, after 24 games, he's slashing just .224/.327/.329 with a pair of homers. Yet again, his wRC+ is sitting below league average, coming in at 93. Oh, and now he's also on the IL again, this time with a lumbar disc herniation that the Mets hope will be a short-term ailment, but it sounds like an incredibly painful injury just typing it.

Carson Benge in center has the Mets questioning going with Luis Robert Jr. over a corner outfielder

Carson Benge hasn't hit the ground running at the plate, but the Oklahoma State product can hold his own in center. If the Mets aren't going to have representative offensive production from their center fielder, might as well go with a rookie with more upside, solid defensive ability, and who costs over $19 million less in 2026.

That begs the question as to whether or not the Mets would've been better off committing their resources to a corner outfielder who could've provided more pop.

To be fair, David Stearns did try that approach by coming up with a $50 million AAV offer for Kyle Tucker, but was ultimately spurned. Robert Jr. (plus Bo Bichette) was the pivot from there.

There was another alternative on the table, though. From the outset of the offseason, the Mets were linked to Cody Bellinger, but ultimately, they never pursued him with much force.

There were reasons to believe Robert Jr. was the cleaner fit at the time, but now we have learned that isn't the case. Bellinger returned to the Bronx and, in his second year with the Yankees, has picked up right where he left off, hitting .276/.372/.483 with five homers through his first 32 games.

On the run prevention front, a supposed emphasis for the Mets, Bellinger is excelling, leading all MLB left fielders with six defensive runs saved through May 2.

Theoretically, the Mets could have turned their Tucker pivot from Robert Jr. and Bo Bichette to Bellinger and another third baseman, say, Eugenio Suarez, for roughly the same money as the pair of underachievers they went with.

At this point, it's all would've, could've, should've, but there were reasons the Mets should've been wary of Robert Jr. With Benge's versatility, a center fielder wasn't necessary, making it obvious now that the club would have been better off considering other options.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow