NY Mets Monday Morning GM: A truth about the CF situation as the trade deadline nears

Thoughts on what the New York Mets should do at the MLB trade deadline are already flooding our minds. A month and a half away, the team’s exact needs will be dependent on health above anything else.

Offensively, there isn’t a whole lot to view as needful. Center field is their weak point offensively, but this was by design. You don’t trade for Jose Siri thinking center field will be a focal point of your lineup. You do it because you like his speed, defense, and welcome a potentially atrocious strikeout rate to come alongside some mammoth and timely home runs.

We haven’t seen much of Siri this year because of his early-season broken leg. Instead treated to more Tyrone Taylor with the twist of witnessing Jeff McNeil play the position, the spot in front of the rising apple at Citi Field has an important truth about it all fans should agree on before the MLB trade deadline arrives.

Truth: The Mets have no reason to overpay for a center fielder at the trade deadline

An overpayment is subjective. What’s one man’s trash is another’s treasure trove of prospects. Fans tend to be hesitant about giving up anyone of value on the farm in spite of the reality of many farmhands flaming out before establishing themselves as regular major leaguers.

Center field is a tough position to fill with only a small number of exceptionally great players there. Anyone with a center field of value can rightfully hold that player hostage for a premium return in a trade. The Siri/Taylor duo is just fine if both players are playing to their mean. With sprinkles of McNeil as well, and a more regular sighting of Luisangel Acuna at the position if possible, there are way too many options for the Mets to begin adding at a spot that just isn’t leaking so badly.

A counter argument would be that with the Mets having so much security elsewhere, why wouldn’t they use assets to upgrade a weak position when they aren’t using them in any other trades? The team has a deep rotation with more to come. The bullpen could use an arm or two. Outside of releasing a player or unforeseen injuries, it’s going to be difficult to get an early look at what the team might fixate on at the trade deadline.

Buying low on Luis Robert Jr. might just cost more than he’ll offer. Jarren Duran, who is somehow older than Robert, is a left fielder and a defensive downgrade for the Mets which seems to go against their values at the position. That’s not to say they wouldn’t or shouldn’t trade for him at the right price. Boston just doesn’t have urgency to trade him away when they can have more teams bidding in the offseason.

Sure, the Mets could use a center field upgrade. It’s far from the priority.