GET SOME TALENT! The Mets, in dire need of outfield help, should do everything they can to work a trade with the Diamondbacks for Justin Upton, Kevin Kernan writes. (AP)
Now that the Mets have caught up behind the plate, it’s time to tackle the massive outfield problem. There must be greener pastures ahead, but this is a situation that will take time to correct.
If free agent Scott Hairston wants a one-year deal, the Mets will sign him, but that game has to play itself out. Patience is the key and Sandy Alderson has proven himself to be one patient general manager.
There are slim pickings in the Mets’ price range in the free agent department, which means the Mets are investigating every possible trade scenario. That’s a good thing.
The Mets’ four outfielders are Lucas Duda, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Mike Baxter and Collin Cowgill. Cowgill, who was acquired Tuesday fromthe A’s, is scrappyand aggressive, and the Mets need more of those players. Duda has hitting potential but needs to showmore confidence, but the Mets believe he is making strides in that department.
Nevertheless, so much work has to be done in the outfield. More talent is needed and more than likely the Mets will have to trade for that talent and get really creative in doing so, most likely making a three-team trade to make any deal work. That is a tall order.
Another young outfielder went off the board yesterday when the Angels traded designated hitter Kendrys Morales to the Mariners for pitcher Jason Vargas. That was a wise move because it allows the Angels to put young center fielder Peter Bourjos back on the field, flanked by superstars Mike Trout and Josh Hamilton.
If the Angels could not have traded Morales for the pitcher they wanted, they may have listened to offers for Bourjos, whowould have been a great fit for the Mets, but that time has passed. Bourjos remains an Angel in the outfield.
The most intriguing bigname outfielder on the trade front is Arizona’s Justin Upton. The Mets need to make every effort to try to trade for the multitalented Upton, who is just 25.
The Mets have the perfect mentor for Upton in David Wright. Wright has known Upton since Upton was a little kid and his brother B.J. played amateur ball with Wright in Virginia. A move closer to home would benefit Upton aswell.
Alderson worked his trade magic to acquire top of the line prospects in right-hander Zack Wheeler and catcher Travis d’Arnaud, using Carlos Beltran and Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey as bait, now he must try to figure a way to land an impact outfielder. It will not be easy, but Alderson has found a way to make difficult trades happen.
Upton has three years left on his contract. He will be paid $9.75 million in 2013, $14.25 million in 2014 and $14.5 million in 2015. The Mets are freeing up plenty of money and will have young pitchers Matt Harvey and Wheeler in the rotation, keeping costs down. They can afford to spend in the outfield, just as they spent $138 million at third base on Wright.
Sure, Justin Upton seems like a pipe dream, butWheeler and d’Arnaud were long shots to be Mets not too long ago. Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers keeps insisting he will not trade Upton — Jason Kubel (30 home runs last season) is available and would be a major upgrade for the Mets as well — but I’ve known Towers a long time and he is never afraid to make a trade. The Rangers have major interest in Upton and have the young talent to trade, if they reallywant to make the deal.
Alderson needs to try to acquire Upton. Go for another game changer. The Mets have made fascinating strides lately. They need to make another big push to reach higher ground in the NL East. Maybe, Towers will not trade Upton, but if Upton has another bad season in Arizona his value will drop again. He hit 31 home runs in 2011 and 17 last season.
The Mets must try to make this dream deal a reality.
kevin.kernan@nypost.com