As we’ve reached the All-Star break, the Mets sit at 47-42–two games back of the Nationals for first place in the NL East and one game back of the Cubs for the second Wild Card spot.
It’s rather incredible to think about where the Mets are right now in the standings considering what’s gone on for them this season. Between 14 different players landing on the disabled list, including two stints for Travis d’Arnaud and a seemingly endless one for franchise third baseman David Wright and underwhelming seasons by veterans like Michael Cuddyer and Lucas Duda, I don’t think anyone would’ve expected the Mets to be in this position.
Still, as they hope to get some of their key contributors back at some point, this team still needs to upgrade offensively. One name that could potentially be out there is A’s right fielder Josh Reddick.
I wrote about Reddick briefly in a post last week, as he could possibly become available by the trade deadline due to growing issues between himself and Oakland GM Billy Beane–who reportedly traded away Josh Donaldson during the offseason because of similar issues.
Reddick is having a very productive season in Oakland, as he’s hitting .287/.343/.455 with 12 doubles, 11 home runs, 51 RBI, 40 runs scored and a .799 OPS in the first half. This kind of production could be very valuable to the Mets, who don’t have a single player on their roster with 40 RBI yet this season.
As you delve deeper into the numbers, however, there is one clear flaw in Reddick’s game, and that’s facing left-handed pitching.
While he’s done very well against right-handers in 254 plate appearances the first half, the A’s have mostly used Reddick in a platoon role. In those appearances vs. righties, Reddick is hitting .325/.375/.524 with 12 doubles, 10 home runs, 42 RBI and an impressive .899 OPS.
In just 79 plate appearances against left-handed pitching, however, Reddick is batting a measly .167/.241/.236 with no doubles, one home run, nine RBI and .477 OPS. It’s not just this season either, as Reddick has hit .221/.284/.379 with 22 doubles, four triples, 20 home runs, 71 RBI and a .663 OPS in 626 career plate appearances.
While Reddick hits well vs. right-handers, especially this year, a platoon situation may not work for this team. With Curtis Granderson struggling vs. left-handed pitching as well–he’s batting .119/.161/.186 with one double, one home run, two RBI and a .348 OPS against them this season–and Michael Cuddyer and John Mayberry Jr. struggling in general, I just don’t see a way how the Mets could construct a suitable lineup against a left-handed pitcher without exposing someone in the outfield.
It’s also worth noting that acquiring Reddick would require the Mets to create a platoon at one of their outfield positions, and I’m not sure I can see this team paying a potential platoon of Cuddyer/Granderson the remainder of the money they’re due this season and a combined $28.5M next year.
At a low cost, it still wouldn’t be a bad move for the Mets to bring Reddick in if Oakland does make him available, but there are better fits out there that they should probably explore first.
Just Mets 