5 best Mets options at the DH spot next season ranked

The New York Mets go into the offseason this season with multiple objectives to cover different areas of need within the roster. Among these spots, the designated hitter position is presented as an area of ​​real need on the team after we saw Daniel Vogelbach fill the position in a mediocre way in the team's lineup.

Over the past few years, the Mets have failed to obtain a consistent power hitter at the DH position. Despite having possible internal solutions such as the team's hottest hitter at the end of last season, D.J. Stewart, the team must go to free agency to find a real bat for the position with these five cases being the best available.

5) Joc Pederson could be a good fit for the Mets

Joc Pederson has been one of the most consistent hitters in terms of hard-hit contact in the league in recent years. Specifically between the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Pederson ranks in the top 2 to 4% of the league in this department.

For a team that has lacked consistent power bats, Pederson would represent a more than adequate fit for the Mets. A left-handed hitter who has continued to improve his plate discipline would be a perfect complement to Pete Alonso in the middle of the lineup.

After accepting a qualifying offer from the San Francisco Giants, the left-handed hitter had a better season than many believe. Pederson posted a BB% of around 13.4%, placing him in the top 10% of the league while ranking in the top in departments such as Exit Velocity, Hard Hit%, and xwOBA.

Pederson has characterized himself as a hitter who slaughters fastballs, hitting for an xSLG above .500 the last two seasons. Additionally, even though his batting average dropped this season, his xBA of .263 reflects that he was unlucky in many of his hits.

The Mets could sign Pederson for a reasonable sum and get the power bat they've been looking for for years. Additionally, Pederson could occasionally cover the outfield, giving the future Mets manager greater roster flexibility.

3) J.D. Martinez could be the short-term answer for the Mets' DH position

The Los Angeles Dodgers made a bet on a veteran player in the figure of J.D. Martinez this past season and it paid off. The former Boston Red Sox designated hitter had a productive season that covered the US$10 million he received from his contract.

Martinez posted a productive line of .271/.321/.572/.893 with 33 home runs and 103 RBIs in 113 games played. During that period, the designated hitter produced 27 doubles and had 117 hits, averaging more than one per game played.

Martinez had a productive year posting the best hard hit and exit velocity of his career, in turn generating an xSLG in the top 4% of the league. This combination of power and his ability to elevate the ball more in 2023 were the reasons why his numbers were so good this season that ends.

Despite his health issues and age, Martinez continues to be a highly productive hitter who would be ideal for the middle of the Mets' lineup. With a one-year contract, the Mets could secure Martinez for 2024, serving as a player of great contribution to keep the team competitive and in turn, serve as a bridge in the lineup as the top prospects come knocking on the door.

2) If the Mets decide to go for a lengthy contract player, Teoscar Hernandez would be the ideal

The Mets will likely decide to go down the route of signing short-term players because the prospects in their farm system may be ready soon. However, if the Mets decide to go a safer route and sign a player for several years, one of the best options would be Teoscar Hernandez.

Teoscar Hernandez finished the 2023 season with a regression after several highly productive seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays. Hernandez hit 26 homers and 93 RBIs with the Seattle Mariners in the final year of his contract.

The 31-year-old has been an underrated player. Teoscar has averaged more than 25 home runs, more than 95 RBIs with an average greater than .260 and an SLG of more than .490 in the last three years.

Although Teoscar may be looking for a long contract, the financial commitment of a player of his caliber would not be as high as in previous years. Due to his decline in production the last two years, the Mets could sign him to a multi-year contract with an AAV below $20 million which would be ideal.

With Hernandez in the lineup, the Mets would have a productive offensive weapon in the middle of the lineup capable of also covering the outfield. Teoscar is a player with above-average range in the outfield and also has an elite arm at the position with an arm value located in the top 12% of the league.

1) The best option at the designated hitter position needs no introduction

In the designated hitter market there has not been and will not be for several years a better option than the one presented in free agency. With a power bat and elite offensive production, Shohei Ohtani is the best option of eligible players at the position for which the Mets should go all in.

Ohtani is a hitter like few others. His level of production places him in the top 1% of the league in all offensive ratios including plate discipline, a differentiating aspect of his game.

Unlike what many may think about Ohtani's importance and value after his elbow injury, this would be an ideal time for the Mets to sign the best player in baseball. Due to this injury, Ohtani's cost has been reduced considerably, making him an even safer bet than in previous years.

Ohtani would not be an ideal hitter at the DH position for the Mets. As a left-handed, power-hitting, and disciplined hitter at the plate, Ohtani would become the ideal third hitter for the Mets' lineup ahead of Pete Alonso.

This would make the Mets the most feared one-two in baseball in terms of power and would uniquely transform the team's production. Likewise, Ohtani's value is essential for Steve Cohen due to its power of attraction and marketing of the American and Asian markets, being a profitable business in a 360-degree view.

Steve Cohen and David Stearns must sign Shohei Ohtani who would serve as the team's signature figure in 2024 and beyond. The presence of Ohtani, the current core in the major leagues and the top prospects that are rising would turn the Mets into a winning and sustainable organization over time, Steve Cohen's number one goal as owner.