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The sluggers we wish the Mets signed this offseason and why they didn't get a deal done

By Tim Boyle |
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The New York Mets might not have any official single designated right-handed DH this season. In fact, if we look back at last year, Darin Ruf was the guy who often replaced Daniel Vogelbach in the lineup, but not so much at the DH spot. Through the misery, he started 5 games at DH, 6 at first base, and another 4 in right field.

Most ball clubs don’t actually have a singular DH, instead opting to rotate players. This will probably be the plan for the Mets whenever they do face a lefty pitcher. Vogelbach will sit. Tommy Pham will enter the game in some capacity.

What about those righty DH targets we all dreamed about in the past? After getting knocked from the postseason in one-hit shutout, fans were eager to see some big changes at the DH spot. The team never did add one of the major right-handed DH options. There are a couple of reasons for it specific to the player.

1) The dream NY Mets addition to be the DH was Jose Abreu

The idea of Jose Abreu hitting behind Pete Alonso in the Mets starting lineup is enough to make us drool even on the driest of winter evenings. He’s an RBI machine. Anything Pete doesn’t clean up, Abreu is sure to bring a mop and knock in

Adding Abreu would have been a huge power move for the Mets and a signaling of a vast improvement to the lineup. Unfortunately, he wasn’t such a realistic option when we look back at what happened.

Why the Mets didn’t sign him

Abreu ended up with a three-year deal worth $58.5 million to land with the Houston Astros. He might have a little more say with them as to when he does play first base and when he gets to DH. This wouldn’t have been the case with the Mets. On their roster, Abreu and Alonso need to swap spots regularly.

There was never a shot Abreu would land with the Mets to be the right-handed DH only. It would have meant the end of Vogelbach, which would have been worth it anyway.

With other priorities staring them in the face, it was a good decision in retrospect although that bat in this lineup would have been sweet.

2) J.D. Martinez is a better fit for the NY Mets than Daniel Vogelbach

J.D. Martinez was a far more realistic right-handed DH candidate for the Mets to sign this offseason. He ended up going to the Los Angeles Dodgers on a one-year deal worth $10 million. It’s a bit of a “prove it” or “I still got it” deal for Martinez who battled through some back issues last year. I get it, J.D. Gravity is a killer the older you get.

Certainly affordable, some of the same reasons why the Mets didn’t sign him are the same as why they didn’t land Abreu.

Why the Mets didn’t sign him

Martinez was never going to a team where he’d have to share DH duties. Exclusive to this role, he may have had some doubts even if promised to get the majority of at-bats. The moment he struggles, the Mets would turn to Vogelbach for some help. Taking Vogey out of the picture could have made it more realistic. However, the idea of paying Vogelbach $1.5 million this year and pairing him with any righty that can play the field feels like a much smarter financial decision.

The injury concerns which had the Mets balking at trading for Martinez last summer likely stayed front of mind for them this offseason. The Mets had to remove doubts from this spot in the lineup. While they remain present, adding Martinez would have brought some others.

3) For a while, it looked like the NY Mets would land Trey Mancini

When the clock moved two minutes to midnight, it looked like the Mets would end up with Trey Mancini. He was a much-talked-about trade deadline candidate for them last summer. He eventually landed with the Houston Astros and has already been replaced by Jose Abreu.

The number of suitors for Mancini were not immense in part because of his postseason struggles. A guy who does Darin Ruf things but at a much higher level, Mancini made a lot of sense for them prior to his deal with the Chicago Cubs.

Why the Mets didn’t sign him

This might not have been a money issue as much as it was about playing time. On the Mets, Mancini is a part-timer. He’d start against lefties and be their first answer in the corner outfield spots whenever there is an injury or someone needs a day off. On the Cubs, he gets to play every single day.

We learned prior to the Pham signing that players do, in fact, care about more than money. Andrew McCutchen went to the Pittsburgh Pirates rather than sign with the Mets because of the available number of innings he’d get. The same was definitely the case with Adam Duvall who gets to start for the Boston Red Sox, too.

The Mets would have had to throw a ridiculous amount of money at Mancini. Imagine how upset fans would be if he was one of the priciest players on the roster.

Next. 1 bold prediction for everyone in the Mets starting lineup. dark

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