The New York Mets’ lineup is quite good on the whole, but center field is a hole they’ve been trying some strange methods to fill.
After beginning the season with Tyrone Taylor and Jose Siri splitting time in center, the Mets appear to be content with trying out veteran Jeff McNeil in center, which he did for the first time in his professional career during his recent minor league rehab stint.
The team’s other options at the position include Brandon Nimmo, who is best suited to left field at this stage of his career, and Jose Azocar, who is nothing more than a minor-league fill-in.
There’s reason to believe the Mets could look to trade for a more classically trained center fielder this summer if the McNeil experiment doesn’t work out. To that end, one writer is suggesting they go after a former All-Star,
On Friday, Grant Young of Mets on SI named Baltimore Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins as a potential trade target for the Mets this summer.
“As good as the New York Mets’ offense has been so far this season, they’ve received little production from center field,” Young wrote. “It seems like if the Mets are going to pursue any trades before this year’s trade deadline, targeting a center fielder would make a lot of sense.”
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“If the Mets do decide to seek more offense in center field, expect Mullins to be at the top of their list.”
Mullins, 30, would be a pure rental ahead of free agency this winter. He’s putting up a very respectable 126 OPS+ and has nine home runs and 27 RBI through 43 games. The 2021 All-Star and Silver Slugger has proven to be a veteran leader as well.
Will the Mets go after Mullins? It’s too early to say for sure, but the Orioles being 15-32 certainly aids the notion that he could be available.
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