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Mets add Pillar to Congested Outfield

 Ever since the Mets lost out on George Springer, who signed a $125 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, they have been trying to go bargin bin shopping to fill their holes in the outfielder. 

Last week they signed former Chicago Cub Albert Almora Jr. to a deal, and now have inked former Blue Jay Kevin Pillar to a one-year deal with options for 2022.  Both Pillar and Almora are natural center fielders, creating an obvious platooning situation in the outfield with mainstays Brandon Nimmo and Dom Smith. 

Most know that neither Smith nor Nimmo are skilled defensive outfielders. Pillar was once a solid defensive outfielder, however his glove set has declined in recent seasons. If the Mets had to choose between Pillar and Almora, Pillar would get the first crack as the teams fourth outfielder. 

This is not to say that Pillar is not a good addition, he is. Two years ago he hits 21 homers and drove in 87 for the San Francisco Giants. Last season he hit .288 with six homers and 26 RBI between Boston and Colorado. He can certainly hit, and contribute to the ballclub. The concern is the Mets truly don't have a center fielder, and they really don't have a left fielder either. 

The Mets would love to have the DH in the NL this year and move Smith, a natural first baseman, into the DH spot and move Nimmo to left, but it doesn't look likely. 

Jackie Bradley Jr. who could have solved a lot of issues for the Mets after they took the L on Springer, is still a free agent, but with the Pillar and Almora signings it would be surprising to say the least that the Mets suddenly go out and ink a long term deal with the former Boston Red Sox in Bradley, who is a better defensive outfielder than anyone on the Mets roster. 

This is a the mess the Mets created. They could have gotten into a bidding war with Toronto for Springer, but chose not to. Whose fault that is between Steve Cohen and Sandy Alderson is anyone's guess, but the Mets were willing to put up $40 million a year for a headcase in Trevor Bauer before he took his sideshow act to LA and the Dodgers. 

After a solid start to the off-season,  it ends in a wimper as the Mets try to fill out the glaring holes that remain on their roster as camp opens up. 

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February 20, 2021 at 4:34 AM
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