3 monster free agent targets to bolster the Mets lineup not named Aaron Judge

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It was a one-hit loss that ended the 2022 New York Mets season. While many of their best free agents are pitchers, the Mets will also need to address a starting lineup in need of some tweaking.

There is quite a lot of maneuvering the Mets can without subtracting much from the roster. The DH spot is important to bolster but so are a few other areas. The team just didn’t have quite enough in their batting order to put up a strong enough fight.

It’s Aaron Judge who should top every team’s list of dream position players to sign. Aside from him, there are three other free agent hitters for Billy Eppler to consider signing.

1) NY Mets fans are already imaging Trea Turner in this lineup

A longtime enemy of the Mets because of his days with the Washington Nationals, Trea Turner becomes a free agent this offseason. Although he is a shortstop and that position is locked up in Flushing with Francisco Lindor signed, second base is always an option.

Turner hit .298/.343/.466 this year for the Los Angeles Dodgers while hitting 21 home runs and driving in 100. All of this was also done with 27 stolen bases.

Needless to say, there is some fallout to consider with this signing. Second baseman Jeff McNeil would have to move but with a strong performance in the corner outfield spots, there is a place for him other than his usual spot.

Turner would be a dream signing and most likely not one we’d see the Mets make. If he or McNeil could play third base instead, it might make a little bit more sense although even then it could become a little tricky.

One final consideration: what if Mark Canha and/or Starling Marte gets used more often as a DH? Canha can also play first base and give Pete Alonso plenty of starts at the hitter-exclusive spot in the lineup.

There are ways to make Turner fit. If the Mets want him, it won’t take too much shuffling to get it right.

2) NY Mets can find a DH option with Jose Abreu

Let’s say the Mets don’t think they already have their everyday DH. Then what? Free agency offers some nice options. One of the better is Jose Abreu.

Abreu has spent his entire MLB career with the Chicago White Sox but is expected to end up elsewhere this offseason. The Mets, who have the DH spot wide open and are in need of a righty that can kill lefty pitchers, could be a match.

Abreu does turn 36 in January and saw his power numbers cut in half from his career averages. The 2020 American League MVP did, however, manage to slash .304/.378/.446 while knocking 40 doubles and another 15 home runs. The power may be disappearing but the bat remains a productive one.

As a middle of the order bat, Abreu could supply the Mets with some big extra-base hits. He’d have to settle for a shorter deal than Turner due to his age. The demand should be high even if his power totals are on the decline. He has been a consistent run-producer since making his MLB debut in 2014. The Mets would gain an everyday DH and can finally stop this nonsense of platooning part-time players at one of the most important spots in the starting lineup.

3) NY Mets can add to the infield with Xander Bogaerts

Another big fish to sign, Xander Bogaerts is likely to opt-out of his contract with the Boston Red Sox. Yet another shortstop, the same rules apply for him as they would for Turner.

Bogaerts batted .307/.377/.456 for Boston last year while knocking 15 home runs and driving in 73. He has had seasons in the past more closely resembling what Turner did this past year. In 2018, he hit 23 home runs while driving in 103. A season later, he had 33 home runs and 117 RBI.

Bogaerts brings a winning pedigree with him into free agency. The four-time All-Star shortstop has already won a pair of championships with the Red Sox. Could he win a third with the Mets?

Out of these three, a short-term deal with Abreu seems the likeliest to occur—but let’s never say never when it comes to Steve Cohen version of the Mets. It’s not impossible to find room for Bogaerts. Convincing him to play a different position would be the greatest challenge.

Whether it would end up being second base or third base with someone else taking on the DH duties from the expected defensive alignment we all have at the moment right now, there are ways to make this work.

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