The Arizona Diamondbacks have been scouting the Mets’ Double-A team for a potential deal for third baseman Eugenio Suarez, league sources say.
That does not necessarily mean that talks between the teams are hot. In fact, the D-Backs are also “all over” the Yankees system right now, according to sources. Arizona also has pitching to sell.
But those scouts following Binghamton are reminders that we shouldn’t totally rule the Mets out on trades for position players, even as they focus much of their energy on upgrading the bullpen in advance of the July 31 trade deadline.
Even more so than third base — where Brett Baty is hot, Ronny Mauricio is promising, and Mark Vientos possesses the type of power that can carry a team, even though that power is currently latent — the Mets should focus on finding a center fielder.
Earlier this week, president of baseball operations David Stearns publicly downplayed the need to upgrade that position.
"I really like the defense that Tyrone Taylor brings and how he contributes to this team, and I also think Jeff [McNeil] is growing more comfortable out there," Stearns said.
"The bar to improve center field has probably risen over the past, let’s say two weeks, because of Jeff’s comfort level a little bit more out there and also continuing to recognize the secondary skills that Tyrone can provide.”
Can the Mets win a World Series with a combination of McNeil and Taylor in center?
Sure. Maybe.
But should they try?
Stearns has always been smart about the value of elite defense in center field. McNeil deserves massive credit for the athleticism and high baseball IQ that has made him playable at the position. Taylor is a high-level defender but does not hit enough to play every day.
Baseball people, surely including those employed by the Mets, know that neither is the October answer for that position
Trade options are limited. Baltimore’s Cedric Mullins, a consideration for the Mets, hasn’t been hitting. Boston’s Jarren Duran raises makeup concerns in rival front offices, whether or not that’s fair.
The view from here is that Minnesota’s Harrison Bader fits nicely. The Mets chose Jose Siri over a Bader return last winter in large part because of a significant difference in price, despite similar profiles. In fact, if Siri’s broken leg had healed faster, he would probably be the answer.
But now that Bader is available, and surely wouldn’t cost much in prospects, why not bring him back for a few months to track down fly balls and contribute the occasional home run and clutch hit?
As for third base, I’ve gotten the sense for months that this was not a high priority for the Mets. Baty’s recent production has made an upgrade even less urgent. But it’s also more than possible that infielders such as Baty, Vientos and Luisangel Acuña will be on the move in a trade this month (it’s harder to see Mauricio moving).
If the Mets thinned their depth at that position in order to upgrade elsewhere — remember, it’s all about pitching — could they then add a third base rental like Suarez?
Those are a lot of “ifs,” which is typical for July 24. The Diamondbacks are collecting updated scouting reports on the B-Mets just in case.