Of all the offseason decisions the New York Mets made, no signing looked like a larger overpay than giving Harrison Bader $10.5 million. The oft-injured outfielder with an excellent glove and questionable bat was a fine addition, but the price didn’t seem to match his track record.
Well, two months later, Bader has been worth the cash. One of the most consistent and clutch Mets hitters on the roster, he has played his typical brand of Gold Glove-caliber defense all while challenging for the team’s batting title. Bader heads into the doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers hitting .279/.329/.361 with 2 home runs and 16 RBI. Fresh off his clutch 3 RBI game on Sunday, he’ll look to continue the momentum further.
There were tons of Mets rumors in the offseason about who they would eventually sign to fill a vacant outfield spot whether it was in left field or center field. Did the Mets pick the right guy? A look at some Bader alternatives suggests they did.
1) Adam Duvall
Adam Duvall always seemed like a solid fit for the Mets. Whether in center field or left field, he was one of those guys many predicted would end up in Queens. Instead, for just $3 million, Duvall agreed to rejoin the Atlanta Braves for a season.
Far cheaper than Bader, one could whip out the “you get what you pay for” phrase here. Duvall has been in a platoon with former Mets prospect Jarred Kelenic this year. While it has helped the young lefty-swinging outfielder avoid facing southpaws, regular at-bats against lefties hasn’t done Duvall many favors.
The veteran outfielder is batting .209/.303/.407 in 99 plate appearances for Atlanta. He has hit 5 home runs and driven in 13. A pair of those home runs came in the last two games.
Duvall should see his playing time increase with Ronald Acuna Jr. out for the season. Right field is now open and his positional versatility should have him as a top candidate for more starts. Will more action help him get anywhere close to what Bader has done?