Playing armchair general manager is often met with skepticism. In an ideal world, the New York Mets would have outbid the Seattle Mariners for Robinson Cano’s services, subsequently adding one of the premier offensive threats at a notoriously light-hitting position.
But given the Mets’ small-market approach, inking Cano was never in the realm of possibility—even if the team did buy him lunch (per the NY Post’s Ken Davidoff).
Yet, there were a number of low-cost, high-reward acquisitions other teams executed that the Mets could have also made.
For instance, despite posting comparable three-year averages to many of the highest-earning starters this offseason, Paul Maholm only garnered a one-year, $1.5 million contract. Given the mediocre Plan B rotation options behind Jenrry Mejia, the Mets should have invested in Maholm.
Read on to see the five realistic moves the New York Mets should have made this offseason.
All statistics and payroll information sourced from Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Cot’s Baseball Contracts.