2012 is the set-up season for the Mets 2013 push. That’s how it was advertised in the Spring, that’s how it was advertised when we were doing well in the first half, and that’s how it has been advertised in the current team slump.
An interesting situation that has popped up with the Mets is the lack of standout OF starters. Every starter has some major flaw, which has kept the door open all season. Barring a given OF going on a late season tear or a major Free Agent pick up, it looks like the Mets could seriously head into camp next year with all three positions in open competition.
First, here are the players that could be going for a spot in camp:
– Lucas Duda
– Kirk Nieuwenhuis
– Jordany Valdespin
– Jason Bay
– Mike Baxter
– Matt Den Decker
– Scott Hairston (Not Signed for 2013)
Let’s start with Hairston. Hairston is not signed for 2013. I’m not sure if the Mets will resign him. He has had tremendous season, so his price will be a lot higher, and he has a lot of leverage with the Mets since they struggle with right handed batters. If the Mets can get someone else as a free agent, then they’ll pass with Hairston. As good as Hairston is, it looks like Bay will be a platoon hitter next year, which will drop Hairston’s playing time depending on the other OF spots.
Since we are talking about Bay, Alderson is on record recently saying he isn’t moving Bay or eating his contract, although it is clear that he has been benched. He’s a handcuffed roster spot now.
Lucas Duda probably has the best chance of making a starting spot out of camp. Despite his recent struggles, he has the pedigree and a lot of times teams go with the beast they know, rather than the one they don’t.
Baxter is good, but he hasn’t shown yet that he can be a starter, neither has Jordany for that much. Jordany has a higher ceiling so every positive thing he does in camp will be weighed a lot more than Baxter. However Baxter’s performance this year makes it clear that he would be heading for the Mets bench, so leg up for Jordany.
Kirk will have to go toe to toe with Den Dekker. Kirk has cooled off so much that he landed himself back in AAA when the team needed someone in the OF while Den Dekker has been impressive but unproven in the majors. September will be interesting if both get called up and both get playing time. Open competition might be exactly what they are in Spring.
At the end of the day, Bay really hurts us, and the Mets could be running a situation in 2013 like they are now with no starters in the OF but rather 5 players who cycle through depending on the pitcher.
