George Springer has come to an agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays, but it’s actually a good thing for the New York Mets’ future.
The Mets tried to sign Springer to fix their center-field problem. Their offer came in at around six years for $120-$125 million, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. Losing out on Springer can’t be a good thing for the Mets, can it? Yes, it can.
The Mets just traded for Francisco Lindor who’s a free agent at the end of the season. They absolutely have to lock him up before he gets to go into the open market, but Steve Cohen will need more than $300 million to do so.
Spending $150 million on Springer as Toronto did would make it more difficult to give Lindor the money he wants while still having payroll flexibility all at the same time.
Michael Conforto is also scheduled to be a free agent and he’s a player that the Mets also should really try to extend. Their current right fielder will command at least $100 million, so now the Mets look to be in prime position to use the Springer money to lock up Conforto if he is going to be in their plans.
What to do now?
The Mets could have theoretically chosen one of the following two scenarios.
1. Sign Springer but Conforto leaves in free agency
OR
2. Lock up Conforto and sign a cheaper player like Jackie Bradley Jr.
They will need to go with option two and if you ask Mets fans, they would likely be happy with that choice because it makes them a better overall team. Bradley is a superb defender (and costs less than Springer). Conforto wouldn’t cost as much as Springer, allowing the Mets to spend more money in other areas like the rotation and toward their efforts of extending Lindor.
Springer is a three-time All-Star so obviously, the Jays are getting a good one, but it isn’t the end of the world that the Mets didn’t bring Springer to Queens.
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