ORLANDO, Fla. — First, Jeff Wilpon described the free-agent market as “a little scary” on Wednesday. Then Scott Boras said the Mets are “like NASA,” only with “very few astronauts.” And it seemed like yet another day when silly jokes would define the Mets’ universe.
But then we learned the Mets have met here with free-agent shortstop Jhonny Peralta, and we know that the team’s fans have endured enough silly jokes to last five lifetimes. So let’s get into the substantive news of the day and make it clear how we feel about this endeavor:
The Mets shouldn’t be even a little scared of Peralta’s recent history, and the former Biogenesis client would be a great launch to a crucial offseason.
(Sorry.)
Peralta, who has a home in South Florida, made the trip up to the general managers’ and owners’ meetings in an apparent attempt to give clubs an opportunity to know him. Smart play. The Mets, who are especially public relations-conscious and who appreciate how little room they have for error this winter, will want to feel ultra-secure before committing to a relationship with the 31-year-old. You serve a 50-game penalty for involvement with illegal performance-enhancing drugs, as Peralta did in 2013, and people are going to be wary.
As The Post’s Joel Sherman reported this week, Mets manager Terry Collins already has received a positive report on Peralta from his longtime friend Jim Leyland, who just retired after eight years managing the Tigers. They’re unlikely to dig up much negative on his personality.
Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski told me last month, during the American League Championship Series, “Peralta’s part of our organization for a long time. He’s always been a quality player, a quality person who’s helped us win. And it’s not like he’s been a constant troublemaker when he turns people off. He made a mistake.”
Added Tigers right fielder Torii Hunter: “If you know Jhonny, he’s soft-spoken, [the] nicest guy in the world.”
In terms of performance, there’s an inherent risk in any contract, particularly one for multiple years. But Peralta has hit consistently well relative to his position, whether it was shortstop or third base, and he has fielded shortstop well enough to justify the belief he can keep playing there for a few more seasons.
Peralta would give the Mets pop and professionalism, and the Mets are in need of both. He also wouldn’t cost the Mets a draft pick, as the Tigers didn’t make a qualifying offer to him. The Mets are prepared to give up their second-round pick for a compensation free agent — Peralta’s Biogenesis buddy Nelson Cruz and Curtis Granderson are two outfield possibilities — but aren’t thrilled with the notion of surrendering a third-round selection, as well. Boras client Stephen Drew is the one free-agent shortstop with compensation attached to him.
Boras tweaked the Mets, who have made it pretty clear they won’t be engaging in serious talks for either Jacoby Ellsbury or Shin-Soo Choo, the top two free-agent outfielders (who are both repped by Boras). He should tweak them. The Mets’ downfall of the last five years has been a blight on the industry.
They are moving in the right direction, albeit at a glacial pace. They could move faster if they signed Ellsbury or Choo. So if this is going to be the price range at which they compete, they could do a lot worse than bringing in Peralta as the first piece to their revamped lineup and clubhouse.
We all know how crucial this offseason is to the Mets’ fortunes, particularly to general manager Sandy Alderson. If Peralta is signable because he got caught this past year, the Mets should view that as a blessing, rather than a source of concern.
Peralta is a worthy astronaut on the Mets’ voyage back to respectability.