Top 10 free agent targets for the Mets when the lockout ends

Oct 18, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Kyle Schwarber (18) flips the
Oct 18, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Kyle Schwarber (18) flips the | Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
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Mets
Oct 7, 2021; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz (23) hits a | Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

7. Nelson Cruz

Normally, I'm against signing someone who's limited to only being a DH. I think if a player like Pete Alonso needed a breather I wouldn't wanna take him out of the lineup, I'd just DH him. However, if someone like Nelson Cruz is on the table the Mets would be foolish to not go after him.

The ageless wonder is 41 years old right now and still producing at an incredibly high level. In 140 games last season Cruz slashed .265/.334/.497 with 32 home runs and 86 RBI. That slash line is a small step backward from his last couple of seasons but Cruz was still very, very good at the dish.

Right now, the Mets DH would probably be Robinson Cano. I have absolutely no reason to believe that a 39 year old Cano who just missed a full season after being busted with PED's for the second time will all of a sudden flip a switch and be the hitter the Mets thought they were acquiring.

Nelson Cruz is a guy who I can count on hitting 30+ home runs no matter where he plays. The Mets could use another big-time right-handed bat to hit in the middle of the lineup and I think Nelson Cruz fits very well on a one-year deal. The only reason to not want it is because he can't really play the field but since there will most likely be a full-time DH, I'd go after him.

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