With the exciting news that the Mets have signed Curtis Granderson this morning, the picture of the Mets outfield became a little less blurry for the next few years. Although the acquisition earlier, Chris B. Young, is only a one-year deal — Granderson will be playing in Flushing for the next four. The current Mets starting outfield alignment should be Granderson in LF, Juan Lagares in CF, and Chris Young in RF.
However, there were some people counting on the arrival of Cesar Puello in 2014 — and I, for one, at least entertained the idea. 2014 is going to be an interesting year for the 22-year old, who as everyone knows by now, is coming off a 50-game suspension for BioGenesis. As much as I’d like to believe in his pedigree and his work ethic, I know that he has a lot to prove this year — and certainly a little room to grow.
He’ll get his first taste of Triple-A this year — and it’ll be in the PCL, so the numbers might be a little inflated off the bat. Even then, Puello will have to post his numbers over an extended period of time to get rid of the cloud…and to be honest, it might not hurt to give him a full-year of development in Triple-A. With Eric Young on the team as a bench player and likely Anthony Seratelli as well, the Mets won’t want him on the MLB bench (and why would you want him to rot on the bench with Collins, anyway?) so I’m beginning to believe that it might be best to hold Puello in Las Vegas until 2015.
(Photo Credit: Kelly Madden)
We’ll see you in the year ’15, Que Sera Sera
Trade Murphy for Gardner. Never mind Puello. Then you have a lead off guy with speed and an outfield at cavernous Citi with three center fielders. The Yankees need a 2n and Murphy would do well with the short porch. Then the Mets can get a guy like Infante for 2b. Decent hitter and better fielder than Murphy.
Or the Yankees could just sign Infante themselves and keep Gardner. Or trade him for Brandon Phillips.
Chris, anyone who says “never mind Puello” has never watched him play. I saw Puello play some twenty times last year in Binghamton and the guy is electric. In my time watching the B-Mets he is by far the most ‘tools’ guy since Jose Reyes. Puello is electric from the moment he moves to the on-deck circle. He is incredibly athletic, fast, has a rocket like arm in the outfield and simply mashes the ball. The kid has a focus that sets him apart from other baseball players. Puello has to be included as part of future Met outfield plans.
If Puello goes to Las Vegas and rakes, as I fully expect him to do, he will be a Met around July 4th. There is nobody in the Mets outfield who would keep him in the minors, even after the Granderson signing.
Trying to be positive here, but I would have preferred the 3 year, $45 million deal for Beltran over the deal the Mets just struck for Granderson. Carlos’ base of talents is simply greater, and even with the age difference I expect Beltran will contribute more over the next three years.
Beltran can’t play the outfield every day now anymore. He needs the AL for the DH. If Beltran doesn’t hit , he won’t contribute anything to the team. Grandman cam
While watching the B-Mets at New Britain, CT stadium 2x this year, I can say that he would out-hussle Pete Rose down the line to first base. And when speaking to him by the dugout, he radiates enthusiasm. Let’s hope the poor winter play is not relevant and that he devours pacific pitching in 2014!
He hustles everywhere. I saw him reach first more than once by hustling so hard on rather routine infield grounders the surprised infielders rushed their throws and threw badly to first. I wish you had a chance to see his cannon in right field. He showed it off in front of a packed house in the Eastern League All-Star game. The runner from second on the base hit to right was so certain there would be no play at home he didn’t even slide. When the ball was hit Puello’s way, the elbowed the guy sitting to my left and said, “Watch this.” The guy got so excited when Puello let it rip, he jumped to his feet applauding. The kid has all five tools.
Hey Dave where in Spain are you?
I think he needs time in AAA to make sure his power was not a side effect of his suspension? I hope by mid year he will man right field.