Just Mets

The Mets signed OF Michael Cuddyer last November to a two-year, $21 million deal to help boost their outfield which ranked 24th with a .683 OPS in 2014.

As it turns out, he hasn’t helped despite an improved performance from Curtis Granderson in right field.

In fact, it’s worse – the Mets outfield has posted a .657 OPS, second worst behind only the Reds in 2015.

Cuddyer has 18 extra-base hits in 2015, posting a .648 OPS in 76 games so far this season. That OPS is the lowest of his career short of 2001 when he had a .633 OPS in eight games during his first cup of coffee in the majors.

On Wednesday, Sandy Alderson offered some very interesting reasoning as to why Cuddyer might be underperforming this season, aside from the recent knee injury he sustained.

“One of the problems we’ve had, is we have had to overuse a couple of players, I think Michael is a perfect example,” Alderson told Kristie Ackert of the Daily News. “He is someone who has played quite a bit more than we anticipated he would have to because of David’s absence and some other injuries we have had.

“Hopefully that will sort itself out in the second half,” Alderson concluded.

I think Cuddyer is a great person. He is media friendly, he is usually very honest, and his leadership is important for a clubhouse lacking David Wright, who is sorely missed in there. There is value to that, especially in a clubhouse filled with so many young and inexperienced guys. Make no mistake about that.

But basically, Alderson is calling Cuddyer a part-time player more or less. He gave a two-year, $21 million contract to a guy he is now saying should not have played in 76 of the first 84 games of the season, and should not play everyday in the second half, either, assuming his knee issues become a thing of the past.

He also relinquished the club’s first round pick in the 2015 first-year player draft – along with the slot money – for that.

If this was the view back in November when they signed Cuddyer, why sign him? Also, why stop there especially if they knew he should not be playing everyday?

Anyway, it’s been said on this site the Mets would be wise to acquire another corner outfielder and migrate Granderson and Cuddyer into a platoon. The Mets would be able to protect Granderson’s ineffectiveness against left-handed pitching, get Cuddyer the necessary days off he needs, and quite possibly manufacture more production from one position as a result.

But by doing this, the Mets would be paying their left fields $24.5 million in 2015, and $28.5 million in 2016. While that may make them better in theory, it’s an inflated number to pay one position filled with diminishing mid-30 year olds. So, it remains to be seen if the Mets resort to that and acknowledge these players aren’t doing what they need in full-time roles.

And, they have to go out and invest in another outfielder with hopes he produces as well.