The New York Mets continue to check all the boxes when it comes to monitoring the free agent market. It seems like the new regime, led by owner Steve Cohen and president Sandy Alderson, is doing their due dilligence in analyzing every possible option to improve the roster for the 2021 season.
According to Ken Davidoff of the New York Post, the New York Mets are one of the teams showing interest in free agent outfielder Marcell Ozuna, who spent the last season with the Atlanta Braves.
Last week, Jon Heyman of MLB Network had said that Ozuna had been drawing interest from as many as 10 teams since the World Series ended. Now, we know for sure that one of those clubs is the Mets.
The Mets don’t have an urgent need for a corner outfielder, given that Michael Conforto, J.D. Davis and Dominic Smith are all under contract. However, adding a bat like Ozuna should always be worthy consideration for a club that wants to compete now.
While he is no elite defender, Ozuna can rake. As a right-handed hitter who destroys left-handed pitching (1.330 OPS against them in 2020) he would fit in nicely in the Mets’ lineup.
Another slugger for the Mets?
Ozuna hit .338/.431/.636 with 18 home runs and 56 RBI over 60 regular-season games for the Braves in 2020. Imagining a lineup with Ozuna, Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, Smith, Davis, Brandon Nimmo, Robinson Cano, Conforto and others is a fun scenario for Mets’ fans, although at least one of those names would lose everyday at-bats.
The Mets have specific needs in the catcher and starting pitching positions, so signing Ozuna may not be viewed as a priority. But it could be possible.
Ozuna, who finished sixth in the Most Valuable Player voting this season, is presumably looking for a long-term contract, and he clearly deserves one. Will the Mets be willing to give him one?