Just Mets

As the Mets continue to explore ways to improve their sub-par offense at the big league level, one player who is perceived to have the ability to help them from the inside remains in the minor leagues.

That player is OF Michael Conforto who, while he told David Lennon of Newsday earlier this week he believes he is ready to join the Mets, still resides with Double-A Binghamton.

“I do think I’m ready. But it’s not my call,” Conforto told Lennon.

Conforto’s agent, Scott Boras, agrees with the Mets strategy to allow Conforto extra time to develop in the minor leagues.

“The appraisal on that is do you have a player here that’s better than what you have in the big leagues?,” Boras explained to Mike Vorkunov of the Star Ledger. “In many cases, they are – they’re really that good. But, remember, this is his first full year of pro baseball. Michael, I think, is capable of a lot early in his career. He’s showing that by advancing to Double-A so quickly. I’ll probably be able to tell more in about another few weeks of Double-A baseball.”

Still, Boras believes Conforto is a big leaguer – it’s more of a matter of when he gets that promotion.

“The one thing we know is we’ve got a major leaguer on our hands,” Boras said.

Boras believes if Conforto continues to perform, September might be an appropriate time for the Mets to promote their prized outfield prospect.

“In September, certainly, because you’re not taking away anybody’s job, you’re adding to the team. That’s for certain, he can help the club in September,” Boras said.

Club sources have indicated several times the Mets do not intend to bring Conforto up this year, although his performance may dictate a promotion.

Whether its to Las Vegas or Flushing remains to be seen, if it happens at all.

But if the Mets do decide to switch gears and bring Conforto up this season. September is certainly a more appropriate time to bring him up, especially if the Mets acquire a reputable bat this summer and are making a playoff run at that time. That would probably limit the pressures and need for him to come to the Mets and immediately perform at a high level.

The problem with calling Conforto up now is the promotion would come with pressure and expectations he will immediately succeed. He will be asked to be the centerpiece of a meager offense and transform it into a productive lineup. That’s not realistic and not fair to ask of a kid with one year of experience under his belt, either.

Certainly, if the Mets start hitting and Conforto continues to rake in the minor leagues, it will serve no purpose to keep him buried in the minor leagues, at least from a baseball perspective.

But given who his agent is and his reputation in the industry, the team may choose to take a conservative route and keep him in the minors into next season to maximize player control.

That may not be in the best interests of their baseball team today, but they could feel that’s in the best interest of their baseball team over a longer period of time.