The Mets made three impact moves on Friday by signing INF Eduardo Escobar, OF/1B Mark Canha, and CF Starling Marte. After weeks of scrutiny for not doing anything, in a already relatively slow offseason ahead of a potential lockout starting on Monday, the Mets invested $124.5M on three offensive players. This was also days after Mets owner/CEO Steve Cohen took to Twitter to ridicule Steven Matz’s agent after he didn’t give the Mets a chance to top St. Louis’ offer on the starting pitcher. AND after ESPN’s Buster Olney put out a puffed piece editorial on how players and agents might, “resent Cohen” for his Tweet. Well, clearly that was false as Cohen and new Mets General Manager Billy Eppler were able to secure contracts with three players in a 6-hour timeframe.
Image via: MLB.com
Eduardo Escobar is a really interesting player. The Mets and Escobar agreed to a 2-year $20M deal with a club option for the 2024 season Friday night. Escobar’s primarily a third baseman, but he can also player every other position in the infield. The 32-year-old hit a combined .253/.314/.472 with 28 HRs and 90 RBIs for the DiamondBacks and Brewers in 2021. He’s a quality utility player who will get plenty of at bats, especially at third base, baring another move (Kris Bryant?) The switch hitter also owns a 108+ OPS since 2018, an fWAR of 9.5 since 2018 which is 0.3 higher than Corey Seager’s. Escobar’s bat, and ability to get on base, along with his defensive prowess will fit in quite nicely for the Mets in 2022.
Image via: The Athletic
Shortly after that the Mets agreed to a 2-year $26.5M contract with Mark Canha. Canha is a really underrated player who can play all three outfield positions, and even first base, and is great defensively wherever he’s put. In 129 games in the outfield, split between left but mainly centerfield, he only made three errors. Canha’s a big on base guy who, while he only hit .231 in 2021, obtained an OBP of .358 which would’ve ranked second on the Mets in 2021 amongst their everyday starters. His 124 OPS+ since 2018 ranks amongst the best in the American League during that time, and is one of five outfielders since 2018 who’ve in 400+ games have a .360+ OBP, with 20+ SB: with Juan Soto, Bryce Harper, Mookie Betts and Christian Yelich being the only other players to do so. His speed, defensive ability and his on base ability are all qualities that the Mets will relish over in the coming seasons.
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Lastly at around midnight, the Mets and centerfielder Starling Marte agreed to a 4-year $78M deal. Marte’s career has been great since his PED suspension back in 2017, but also pretty sad as well. His wife tragically passed away in May of 2020 due to a heart attack, and after contemplating retirement, he stepped back into the batter’s box and put together a stellar outing. In 181 games between 2020-21, Marte hit .301/.369/.449 with 125 runs scored, 209 hits, 57 stolen bases, with an .818 OPS. After being acquired at the trade deadline by Oakland, Marte was able to adjust really well in a new ballpark and his defense remained just as great as ever in centerfield. Banking on a 33-year-old after a career year might be a risk, but his clubhouse presence will be more useful than any stat on the back of a baseball card. But his average of 32 stolen bases a season since 2012 is very nice nonethless
Marte’s been a motivator and a very vocal figure in every dugout that he’s been in, and teammates rave about him. Canha and Marte were teammates in Oakland for part of 2021 and the two formed a nice bond in that outfield, and on the team in general. I’m a huge fan of these moves, especially because Brandon Nimmo can now move to RF or LF which will take away all unwanted pressure away from him to perform in CF. He can now rack at the plate without having to worry about his “poor” defense in center, and emphasis on poor because he isn’t THAT bad out there. These moves help the Mets a lot; it gives them two players who can can play more than one position dominantly, and gives them a true CF who was the best on the market.
The Mets aren’t done here, and I’d expect them to fully turn to SS/2B Javier Báez, as well as the starting pitching market.