It's time to get happy Mets fans, your team is actually doing something.
Many fans of the New York Mets have been extremely disappointed with the lack of moves by the team within the last couple years. Mets fans heard about the financial troubles following the Madoff scandal. However, even after it appeared the financial woes had passed the Mets seemed to make no major moves. The biggest moves the team made in the past few years is the calling up of Matt Harvey and Zach Wheeler. Outside of that the team has signed Eric Young, a really good utility player and an average everyday player at best.
However, this offseason has already seen two solid moves. The first came with the signing of Chris Young to a one year, $7.25 million deal. This is a great signing because it is low risk high reward. You get a 30-year old outfielder with speed and great power potential - Young hit 32 homeruns he hit in 2007. The issues with Young are his durability. He's missed more than 50 games in each of the last two seasons. However, If Young can get healthy he can contribute 20 homeruns and 20 stolen bases. If not, he's only on for a year and he's gone.
The Granderson signing is a little different - higher risk but higher reward. Granderson has been healthy most of his career outside of the freak injuries that kept him out for most of last season. However, in the previous two seasons he put up 40-plus homeruns and 100-plus RBIs (with 25 stolen bases in 2011). Therefore he has the potential to give you more power than Young and be a better run producer.s
Now it's important to remember Granderson is no longer in Yankee Stadium. So those homerun numbers will go down. The biggest risk with Granderson is he will be 33 in March. Therefore two years into the contract he'll be 35 and in the midst of what could be a decline in performance.
Despite the risks that went into signing these two players Sandy Alderson and Mets management has shown their fans they are trying to win. As mentioned before the Mets have two things in there outfield they haven't had in quite a while - two players with the potential for great speed and great power.
The next steps for the Metropolitans should be to improve their infield and starting rotation. The team has a glaring need at shortstop. If they don't make a trade, then signing Stephen Drew may be the best bet. He won't provide ridiculous offense but he will be average with the bat and play solid defense. It seems the Mets plan to go with Lucas Duda over Ike Davis - an idea some Mets fans may not be too thrilled about. They are hoping Duda proves them wrong.
In the starting rotation the team has a need for a fill-in until Matt Harvey returns in 2015. There has been talk of Bronson Arroyo but he is 36 and may not go for a short term deal. Hopefully the team can find a solid starter who will be willing to take a short term deal as the team awaits the return of its ace.
Who would you like to see the Mets pick up? Leave your comments below.
*Stats according to ESPN.com