According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the New York Mets are all but done pursuing those lefty-hitting free agents currently on the market. After losing out on Rick Ankiel those players include names like Kosuke Fukudome, Johnny Damon and Raul Ibanez. The market for these players, however, put them in a familiar category and allow us yet another opportunity to invoke the catch-phrase for the 2012 offseason “out of the New York Mets price range’.
What does that mean for the Mets in their quest to find a lefty-basher? Well according to Sherman, they’ll be digging through the scraps of Spring Training cuts:
#bbpBox_166992975568699393 a { text-decoration:none; color:#0084B4; }#bbpBox_166992975568699393 a:hover { text-decoration:underline; }Heard #Mets have pretty much stopped pursuing LH-hit OF and will wait to see in spring to see what falls thru cracks from other teams.
February 7, 2012 4:13 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@Joelsherman1Joel Sherman
Watching this team dig through the bargain bin in 2011 was one thing, but hearing that they will now have to settle for players that ‘fall thru the cracks’ is hardly the kind of thing that makes me want to run out and buy tickets. Sure, a lot of good stories come from teams that sign players who were cut from other franchises, but ownership just seems to be setting new lows in their ability to invest in making this team complete and competitive. According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, if the Mets don’t sign another outfielder before Spring Training:
Photo by Michael G. Baron
That leaves Adam Loewen and Mike Baxter right now as the primary lefty-hitting backup outfielder options in camp. Of course, the Mets very easily could swing a trade during spring training, or monitor the waiver wire then, if they are not satisfied that Loewen or Baxter is a suitable backup for Opening Day.
Right now, the Mets’ bench likely would be composed of catcher Mike Nickeas, middle infielder Ronny Cedeno, outfielder Scott Hairston as well as Justin Turner and Loewen or Baxter.”
Loewen, a 27-year-old lefty, has a career .176 avg in 34 major league at bats while Baxter, also a 27-year-old lefty and a Queens native, hit .235 for the Mets last season.
Original Story:
