3 Mets free agent targets for the bench

Championship Series - New York Yankees v Houston Astros - Game One
Championship Series - New York Yankees v Houston Astros - Game One / Tom Pennington/GettyImages
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The New York Mets are currently having one of the best offseasons in the entire league as it seems they keep making impact move after impact move. As many die-hard baseball fans know, championship teams are not only built on star power, but also on depth. The Mets have some areas on their bench that they can certainly shore up or upgrade this winter.


I wanted to identify three players that I think would be really good fits for this Mets ballclub that is in win-now mode. Each of these players could fill out the last spot on the Mets bench and they all most likely would only require a one-year deal or even a minor league deal potentially with an invitation to Spring Training.

In addition to these players not costing the Mets much in terms of commitment and money, these players also provide positional versatility which we've seen is something the Mets have favored on their ballclubs in years past. Without further ado, let's take a look at three free-agent targets that the Mets should target for their bench in 2023. These players are also not ranked in any particular order.

1) NY Mets free agent target: Yuli Gurriel

While Yuli Gurriel is hands down the oldest player who is on this list all the man does is hit. While many people around the league were thinking the end was near for Gurriel after having a down regular season in 2022, he absolutely came alive in the playoffs and helped lead the Astros to their World Series crown in October.

The 38-year Gurriel reminds me of former Met Julio Franco who just seemed to age like fine wine and ended up sticking around the Major Leagues into his late 40s. While it's fair to wonder how much Gurriel may have left in the tank he is one year removed from winning a Gold Glove award at first base as well as winning the American League Batting Title back in 2021.

Gurriel who is a two-time World Series Champion would bring some additional leadership experience to a ballclub that is in the middle of a championship or bust window. In addition to being an experienced bat off the bench or occasional starter at designated hitter for the Mets, Gurriel could spell Pete Alonso at first base, and he also has experience playing both second base as well as third base.

Outside of the Houston Astros showing interest in bringing Gurriel back there has not been too much public interest as of yet. I would venture to say it wouldn't take more than a one-year deal between $6-$8 million to lock up Gurriel this offseason and a scenario of him playing on a contender with his former Astros teammate Justin Verlander would be an enticing option.

2) NY Mets free agent target: Josh Harrison

The Chicago White Sox had declined second baseman Josh Harrison's $5.5 million club option earlier this offseason making him a free agent and he certainly would fill a need for the Mets on their bench currently. Harrison who is known as one of the best clubhouse guys in baseball would be another breath of fresh air for a ballclub that is built on building a winning culture with personalities that mesh.

The 35-year-old Harrison had a line of .256/.317/.370 with 19 doubles, seven home runs, and 27 RBIs in 119 games for the White Sox last season after a rough first month and a half. While Harrison primarily played second base last season for the White Sox, Harrison also has experience at second base, third base, and the outfield. In addition to his positional versatility, Harrison's defense didn't miss a beat last season for the White Sox which certainly should be appealing to the Mets.

Similar to Yuli Gurriel, Harrison would be a great addition to the end of the Mets bench as a potential versatile weapon that Manager Buck Showalter could utilize on a day-in and day-out basis. Currently, there isn't a loud market for Harrison's services as he is currently in the second tier of players who I'd expect to sign after the holidays sometime in January.

I would anticipate it would only take a one-year deal to lock Harrison in this winter and possibly in a range between $2-$3 million.

3) NY Mets free agent target: Chad Pinder

Former Oakland A's utility player Chad Pinder is currently a free agent searching for a new home this winter and he may be an appealing option for the Mets as well for a potential bench piece. While Pinder has spent his entire Major League career with the A's since 2016, he is more likely than not going to be in a different uniform next season, as there has been no interest from the A's front office in bringing him back to this point.

The 30-year-old Pinder can be considered a jack of all trades as he can play all over the diamond, but what may be most appealing to the Mets is his success against left-handed pitching. In 158 plate appearances against southpaws in 2022, the right-handed Pinder slashed 260/.280/.447 with seven home runs. Pinder notoriously has had success throughout his career against lefties, which would be a welcome addition after the failed Darin Ruf experiment in 2022

Pinder would almost fit a Joe McEwing type of role for the Mets if they were to bring him on as a bench piece next season due to his positional versatility. It will be interesting to see what type of deal Pinder lands this winter, but I would assume he would be looking possibly for a two-year deal around $3-$4 million per season which would fit nicely in the Mets' budget.

While all three of these names may not be the impact bats that many Mets fans are currently looking for, I believe each one of these players would make a great addition to the ball club next season in their own way. It won't cost much to bring any of these players in and I believe the front office should explore how each of these three could help fit the current mold of their roster going into 2023.

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