Predicting 3 moves the NY Mets make after the LA Dodgers steal Kyle Tucker

2) Trade for Lars Nootbaar

There’s still a matter of left field to resolve. I’d kind of prefer Jarren Duran. I think it’s Lars Nootbaar they get. Jeff Passan warned us to watch for him.

The St. Louis Cardinals have been selling everyone who isn’t nailed down. Relieving themselves of whatever salary they can has been a primary goal. Nootbaar is getting paid a whole lot, but as one of the older players and one teams like the Mets would certainly desire.

Nootaar does a lot of things well. He’s not stupendous in any single area. He’ll hit you home runs in the low-teens, bat .240, and play all over the outfield. His defense isn’t the greatest which just makes him more reasonable cost-wise. Under team control through 2027, he’s a limited addition to the Mets roster that won’t take a whole lot to acquire.

It does seem like the Mets were either going to go light in left field or heavy with a superstar like Tucker. They’ll go light. To tack onto their trade for Nootbaar, I foresee the Mets signing free agent Austin Hays as well. They’ll be a left field platoon of some kind with Nootbaar also playing center field as well. The Mets will put their faith in Carson Benge being ready by early May, if not to begin the year.