The New York Mets shock the baseball world … in a good way for one day
In one calendar day over a holiday weekend after their new general manager, Billy Eppler, just got the keys to his office, the New York Mets have shocked the baseball world. But, unlike how they usually do it and unlike earlier this week, the Mets shocked the world in a way that actually should help the team.
In a matter of hours on Black Friday, the Mets reportedly signed infielder Eduardo Escobar and outfielders Mark Canha and Starling Marte to contracts.
The New York Mets have reportedly signed Eduardo Escobar and outfielders Mark Canha and Starling Marte.
Eduardo Escobar, Mark Canha, and Starling Marte were all among those on the MLB Trade Rumors’ Top 50 Free Agents list this season and, within a span of about six hours, the New York Mets reportedly signed all three players.
Escobar, who turns 33 in January, was ranked MLBTR’s #35 free agent, is reportedly signing a deal for two years and $20 million, which is exactly what MLBTR predicted that he would get in free agency. However, there will also be an option for a third year on the contract. He split the 2021 season between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Milwaukee Brewers and had a pretty good season.
He hit .253/.314/.472 with 28 homers, 90 RBI, and an OPS+ of 109. He struggled a bit at the plate in 2020 but in 2019, he hit .269/.320/.511 with 35 homers, 118 RBI, and an OPS+ of 111.
Canha, who turns 33 in February, was #30 on MLBTR’s list and he reportedly will get a two-year deal worth $26.5 million, which is slightly higher than MLBTR’s prediction of two years and $24 million. There will also be an option for a third year on the deal. Canha has spent the last seven seasons with the Oakland A’s and, in 2021, he played the most games he has ever played in a season. In 141 games, he hit .231/.358/.387 with 17 homers and 61 RBI with an OPS+ of 111.
Particularly in the last three seasons, the batting average hasn’t been great (.249), but he gets on base a lot due to a decent amount of walks and also being hit by a lot of pitches (55 since 2019). As a result, his on-base percentage since 2019 is an excellent .377.
Marte, who already turned 33 in October, is the best of the three, particularly on offense. He is getting the longest and largest contract of the three as he is reportedly getting four years and $78 million, which is just shy of the four years and $80 million that MLBTR predicted.
In the last three years, he has averaged a .298/.358/.472 slash line with an OPS+ of 122. In 2021, it was his best year ever on offense as he hit .310/.383/.458 and an OPS+ of 132.
Between the three signings, they will definitely slot into the Mets’ starting lineup (barring injury, of course). Next up for the Mets has to be pitching, which is something they need for the middle-to-back end of their rotation and their bullpen as well.
The Mets need to change their perception. dark. Next
Perhaps, the Mets can turn around their “LOLMets” ways and turn into a formidable team come the playoffs.