When the New York Yankees traded for Eric Young Jr. hours before Wednesday’s waiver trade deadline, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com sent out the following tweet:
The Yankees have acquired Eric Young Jr. from the Brewers, probably just to prevent the Mets from making him a September call-up. #joke
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) August 31, 2016
The tweet was not serious, evidenced by the hashtag, but it prompted a logical thought. Who will provide the speed for the Mets in this year’s pennant race?
Young, the fleet footed outfielder who spent parts of three seasons with the Mets from 2013 to 2015, led the team with 71 stolen bases in that time (and it’s not particularly close, as Daniel Murphy finished second with 38).
Last season, the Mets made a seemingly spontaneous trade to re-acquire Young from the Atlanta Braves on August 22. He was added to the major league roster once it expanded, and appeared in 18 games (one start) in September. Young didn’t collect a base hit during that time, but he made a unique impact, scoring nine runs and stealing three bases. In fact, his nine runs scored without a base hit were the most in one season in Mets history.
Young didn’t make the postseason roster, but his impact was felt. Speed and athleticism is what the game is about (just ask the Royals), and the 2016 Mets are lacking in that department. The team is second to last in the National League with 32 swiped bags. Their team leader has six, and he wasn’t in the organization at the beginning of the season. September gives teams a chance to add speed specialists to their roster, and the Mets shouldn’t balk at the opportunity.
Enter Champ Stuart.
The 23-year-old native of the Bahamas currently patrols center field for the Binghamton Mets, where he was promoted after beginning the year in St. Lucie. Take a quick glance at his stats page and you’ll find his career .226 batting average, his .319 slugging percentage, and his 38% strikeout rate. But, take a closer look and you’ll notice his 101 stolen bases, including a career high 40 in 2016 (the most by a player in the system since Cesar Puello swiped 44 in 2010 for Savannah). He’s also been caught a mere 15 times in his entire four years as a professional, good for an 87% success rate.
Ignore the first set of numbers. He won’t need to hit. Young didn’t at all, yet he brought his blazing speed to the major league level, which is exactly what the Mets should do with Stuart. They should take advantage of the extra roster spots and use them on players who can help the team win games with their skills. That’s why the pinch-running role would be perfect for a player like Stuart.
He has the added plus of being a terrific defensive center fielder which the Mets current roster lacks as well.
Now, he would need to be added to the 40-man roster first, but that wouldn’t be a problem. Juan Lagares could be moved to the 60-day disabled list, or Eric Campbell could be designated for assignment, because he likely won’t be promoted before the end of the season. Stuart would have to be added to the 40-man roster this offseason anyway if the Mets choose to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
Do the right thing, and help a ballclub fighting for a spot in the postseason. Champ Stuart is the spark this team needs.
Featured image by Ernest Dove
Well of course count me in on this.
just my two cent opinion but I believe there’s no way the Mets can leave him unprotected i rule 5 draft anyway so y not let him join the team.
Also my opinion he definitely returns to Bingo in 2017 anyway so no use/need getting him last few ABs there now.
Good column. The Mets could also put Neil Walker on the 60 day DL.
ya cant steal first base
Interesting comment on Champ Stuart. Why teams prefer power over speed is hurting MLB and those players who could change the outcome of a game with speed. Remember the damage done by Ricky Henderson, Vince Coleman, Willie McGee, etc.?
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of course not, which is why he would be a pinch runner.
I’m all for this. I think Stuart’s speed would be a huge help for us. As for the Rule 5 draft, I’d be shocked if any team would pick him if he were left unprotected. I think most teams would realize that he would hit about .150 with 50-60% K rate if he was playing in the MLB. And he’s not the kind of top prospect to waste a spot on.
Unique take … Different … Makes a lot of sense
Thanks for good article. Stuart is very expandable piece and this should be the way Mets should use him.
More likely to be called up in this role is former Major Leaguer Roger Bernadina, who has 20/25 steals in AAA this year, and who has 59/71 steals at the MLB level. Stuart is not going to be taken in the Rule 5 draft. The guy can’t hit.
Great idea
…
If the Mets listened to the advice you gave in this column, Wilmer Flores would be healthy (assuming Terry remembered to use Stuart that night).