3 free agents the Mets could use to fatten up the roster

The New York Mets roster got a lot better before the lockout. I wouldn’t say they fattened up too much. There’s no girth around the starting 26 quite yet.

This could still happen if the Mets decide to go all-in to ensure they begin the 2022 season as a favorite. A surplus of talent in a particular role would certainly cause them to readjust their belt buckles and prepare for a gluttony of talent.

In the limited action we did see in November, there was little time to make any trades. The Mets are likely to make at least one trade, especially if they do decide to binge further in free agency. Among the free agents, three appear to fit in with the team now and in the near future while undoubtedly making the Mets a whole lot deeper.

The Mets can make their DH spot a lot better with someone like Kyle Schwarber

Kyle Schwarber isn’t exactly the most logical fit for the Mets considering his reputation as a poor defender and the fact that many people have either Pete Alonso or Robinson Cano penciled in as the primary DH this coming season. Add in that the Mets already have three starting outfielders on the roster and Schwarber’s name isn’t the first you would think of in terms of need.

This isn’t about need, though. This is about want. And if you want a lefty that can swat 30 home runs, Schwarber is a guy to look at.

The benefits of Schwarber are clear. He can hit. He seemed to piece things together even better in 2021, blasting 32 home runs with a career-high in each slash line number at .266/.374/.554. This also happened to come in only 471 trips to the plate.

Built for the DH role, Schwarber will have 15 more options for him assuming the National League adopts it full-time starting in 2021. The free-spending Mets are one of those clubs.

The big question that would arise from adding Schwarber or any other full-time DH is what happens to Cano. We can assume Dominic Smith gets traded or finds a spot on the bench. Could Cano really become the club’s starting second baseman?

I can see why the idea of signing Schwarber is appealing to many. Is he the best way to truly fatten up the team?

The Mets can find their next closer and a backup option this year by signing Kenley Jansen

Less talked about but still mentioned as a bullpen option for the Mets next year, free agent reliever Kenley Jansen remains one of the better ninth inning men in baseball. A dozen years with the Los Angeles Dodgers have given him a 37-26 record, 2.37 ERA, and 350 total saves. He’s the kind of guy you sign for two or three years and attack a championship. The Mets, with Edwin Diaz currently in the closer role, could swoop in and change those plans.

Diaz is a free agent after the 2022 season which can resolve the question of “who’s next?” by signing Jansen now. The trouble here is you’d have to pay Jansen like a closer already even if he’s not getting his save opportunities. This is the last big contract Jansen will get and I don’t think there’s any team he’d agree to play for at a discount.

His most elite days may be in the past. In three of the last four seasons, he had an ERA over 3.00. Prior to 2018, he never saw a season end with an ERA higher than 2.85.

Last year was a little more of a throwback season for the longtime Dodgers closer. He successfully saved 38 games while pitching to a 2.22 ERA.

For a year, maybe Jansen does accept an eighth inning role. The danger with this is the same thing that happened with Jeurys Familia when he returned to the Mets in 2019. Can a closer succeed when he doesn’t close?