The Mets’ search for a true defensive center fielder has seemingly ended. Early on Sunday morning, Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic reported that the team has agreed to a deal with 26-year-old Albert Almora, Jr.
Almora That Offense, Please
Almora had spent his first five seasons with the Cubs, slashing .271/.309/.398 and building a reputation as a strong defensive outfielder. He was also a member of the 2016 World Series-winning team.
However, his offense has struggled heavily in the last two seasons. Since 2019, Almora has hit just .230, with an OPS+ of 64. In the shortened 2020 season, his time in center was scarce, mostly due to the strong season that was had by Ian Happ.
Almora played just 28 games last year, and slashed .167/.265/.200, with a startling OPS+ of 29.
Defensive Improvement
New York’s defensive issues in the outfield have been well-documented. Brandon Nimmo, the starting center fielder last season, posted -3 DRS and a -4.1 UZR (according to Fangraphs). However, don’t expect Almora to be an everyday player for the Mets.
With a DH unlikely to come to the NL this season, the Mets will still need to find a way to keep the bat of Dominic Smith in the lineup. Smith has hit .299 with 21 homers and a .937 OPS in 139 games since 2019. With first base obviously blocked by star slugger Pete Alonso, the outfield is the only place where Smith can slot into the lineup regularly.
Most days, Mets fans can still expect to see Nimmo in center, and Smith in left. However, Almora can provide them with some much-needed depth in the outfield.
The right-handed Almora provides balance, as well, as he could play some sort of platoon role with the lefty bats of Nimmo and Smith. It is also expected that he will enter late in games, as a defensive replacement. This was his primary role for the Cubs in 2020, as 21 of his 28 games were a result of him entering in the 6th inning or later.
More Room to Improve?
While the official terms of the deal haven’t been announced, it’s hard to imagine Almora coming with a very high price tag. While many had linked the Mets to Jackie Bradley, Jr., he would likely demand much more than the former Cub.
On Wednesday, Mike Puma of the NY Post reported that Bradley desires at least a 4-year deal. This would likely make the total value of the deal much more than Steve Cohen & Co. were willing to commit.
While Almora is not Bradley, this move still makes a lot of sense for several reasons, No. 1 being the price. Bradley is also a left-handed hitter, so he wouldn’t provide the lineup balance that Almora can offer (albeit with a noticeably worse bat).
According to Spotrac, the Mets are still nearly $29 million under the luxury tax. Even after the signing of Almora, the team will still have plenty of money to spend.
So, while this isn’t the biggest splash of the offseason for the Mets, it also will likely not be the last.