9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
0.342<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
0.471<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
0.813<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
26.3%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
7.9%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
It doesn\u2019t hurt, either, that unlike his peers, Tidwell is already on the 40-man roster.<\/p>\n
Mets \u2018active\u2019 in center field<\/b>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2222172420-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Can Jeff McNeil handle a continued increase in workload in center field? (Jim McIsaac \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n
League sources describe the Mets as active in the market for center fielders while adding that New York is not behaving as if it views upgrading the position as a necessity. At the least, it appears the Mets are taking a little bit more time to figure out their motivation level.<\/p>\n
Such a stance echoes Stearns\u2019 comments Monday regarding the position. Stearns acknowledged center field is \u201cthe one position where we haven\u2019t gotten the level of production we anticipated coming into the year.\u201d But that doesn\u2019t mean he\u2019s hell-bent on finding an external solution.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, the bar to improve center field has probably risen over the past two weeks,\u201d Stearns said, \u201cbecause of Jeff (McNeil)\u2019s comfort level and the secondary skills that Tyrone (Taylor) can provide.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m certain we\u2019re going to be engaged, but we\u2019ve got to clear the bar.\u201d<\/p>\n
In other words, the Mets would have to find something better than what they already have.<\/p>\n
The combination of Taylor and McNeil gives the Mets a decent floor. Taylor is a superb defender. Rival scouts say McNeil has impressed them defensively. McNeil\u2019s defensive metrics have improved over the last couple of weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s instinctual and has just gone out there basically and been a baseball player,\u201d outfield coach Antoan Richardson said. \u201cIt\u2019s him understanding his limits and where his strengths are.\u201d<\/p>\n
Offensively, the value from the duo depends on playing time.<\/p>\n
Since McNeil\u2019s first appearance in center field on April 26, the Mets have received a .671 OPS from the position, which is 17th in MLB, and a 91 wRC+, which is 15th (eight clubs boast a wRC+ from center field above 110). So their offensive production checks in right around league average for a primarily defensive position.<\/p>\n
Taylor drags down the offensive numbers. Through 280 plate appearances, Taylor is slashing just .211\/.264\/.309 with two home runs. Stearns is the only president of baseball operations Taylor has ever played for. Dating back to their shared time with the Brewers, Taylor typically operated as a fourth or fifth outfielder, yet always accumulated a healthy amount of playing time. An acquisition at the trade deadline would demote him to much more of a bench role.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think about it at all, and I just go about it as, stay in the present, and whatever happens, happens,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cI wasn\u2019t always like that, but I had to learn to be that way.\u201d<\/p>\n
McNeil has started in center field three out of the last four games, including on Monday and Tuesday (it was just the second time he drew back-to-back starts at the position this season). Over the last 23 games, McNeil has made 10 starts in center field. As a center fielder, McNeil owns a .919 OPS. His ability to hit lefties (.849 OPS) makes it harder for Taylor to crack the lineup.<\/p>\n
Asked if he\u2019d be comfortable with McNeil as the everyday center fielder, Stearns said he liked the current distribution of playing time. Manager Carlos Mendoza said Tuesday that the team will be vigilant in not overworking McNeil, who\u2019s starting most days at second base when not in center.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to take care of him, as well,\u201d the manager said.<\/p>\n
Can McNeil handle a continued increase in workload at center field? Is their production from McNeil and Taylor better than what players in the trade market, such as Cedric Mullins (Baltimore Orioles) and Luis Robert Jr. (Chicago White Sox), can provide?<\/p>\n
Unless the Boston Red Sox dangle their outfielders, rival scouts say Robert represents the highest upside in the market at center field because he is 27 years old and just two seasons removed from hitting 38 home runs. Despite a promising start to July (.364 batting average in 10 games), Robert\u2019s overall numbers for this season are below average: .206 batting average, .636 OPS, 10 home runs in 323 plate appearances.<\/p>\n
Given the concerns over Robert\u2019s health and production, coupled with the depth of the Mets\u2019 farm system, New York shouldn\u2019t have to part with their best prospects to acquire Robert.<\/p>\n
For the Mets, league sources speculatively suggested the cost for Robert may involve multiple prospects in the back end of the club\u2019s top 20. Is that too much for the Mets\u2019 taste? Whether they view Robert \u2014 and the cost to get him \u2014 as an upgrade over their current situation at the position remains unknown.<\/p>\n
Brett Baty\u2019s production is one of the main reasons why the Mets feel comfortable with what they have at third base. Mets officials view him as above-average defensively. Offensively, he carried a 108 OPS+ (100 is league average) into Tuesday\u2019s game. Since the Mets recalled him on May 7 (197 plate appearances), Baty owns a .765 OPS. In that same span, Baty\u2019s figure is better than Pete Alonso\u2019s (.749) and Francisco Lindor\u2019s (.713).<\/p>\n
Money not a huge advantage<\/b><\/p>\n
In the recent past, the Mets have been able to flex their financial muscles around the deadline by either paying down what\u2019s owed a player to bring back better prospects (the Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Eduardo Escobar deals in 2023) or by taking back all of what\u2019s owed a player to limit their prospect costs going the other way (the Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek trades last year).<\/p>\n
Stearns doesn\u2019t see the same opportunity to wield that advantage this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf anything, I\u2019ve gotten the opposite from certain teams,\u201d Stearns said. \u201cSome sellers would be more open to paying down a player to get better prospect return than having other teams take the money.\u201d<\/p>\n