The Mets and Yankees share more than a city this year.
Their signature players (David Wright, Derek Jeter) are trying to beat the clock to be ready physically for Opening Day. Their most expensive players in 2013 (Johan Santana, Alex Rodriguez) are mysteries.
In fact, both teams are banged up in general, contributing to a deepening dread about the upcoming season.
There is also the perception of penny pinching — the Mets because of the lingering ramifications of the Madoff scam and the Yankees due to a self-imposed quest to get their luxury tax payroll under $189 million next year.
And there is this: They are both in the market for outfielders. For now and for later.
Mets general manager Sandy Alderson tipped at how he would like to fix the worst outfield in the majors in the offseason when he tried and failed to acquire Justin Upton and sign Michael Bourn. That likely is a blueprint going forward — one trade, one free agent, if ownership’s promises to spend where necessary can be believed.
The Yankees would love to make a trade now for an impact outfielder, considering Curtis Granderson (forearm) will miss at least April. Even with Granderson back, the Yankees will keep hunting for power bats because of the uncertainty surrounding Mark Teixeira and A-Rod.
Long term, Granderson is a free agent after this season and is unlikely to be re-signed. Maybe a member of the all-prospect Double-A outfield of Tyler Austin, Slade Heathcott and Mason Williams will step forward. But with Brett Gardner and Ichiro Suzuki as the holdovers, the Yankees are going to need to find complementary power.
One key reason the Mets and Yankees need big years from their farm system is to have the inventory necessary to play for a big outfielder on the trade market. Here are five who I think could be available sometime in the next nine months:
ANDRE ETHIER
Andre Ethier was the subject of much offseason trade speculation. What makes him more likely to move in the near future is Yasiel Puig. The Dodgers were ridiculed for giving the Cuban defector a six-year, $42 million contract last summer without seeing him. But now that he has been seen — and has torn up the Cactus League — the questions have stopped. One scout likened him to Bo Jackson. He is ticketed to Double-A, but success there could bring him to the majors quickly.
The Dodgers are set in center with Matt Kemp and have Carl Crawford in left. Crawford’s injury propensity and five-year, $102.5 million price tag make him near immovable. That leaves Ethier as possibly the odd man out.
Ethier has similarities to Granderson before he was dealt to the Yankees: 1) He has legit lefty power. 2) He struggles against southpaws. 3) His power is hurt by playing in a big home stadium. 4) His current team seems to have fallen out of love with him. 5) His current team would prefer to redirect his salary elsewhere — that is, if this version of the Dodgers even worries about payroll.
Ethier is just starting the five-year, $85 million extension he signed last June.
CARLOS GONZALEZ
The Rockies look bad, leaving them in position to be a July seller with items such as closer Rafael Betancourt, outfielder Michael Cuddyer and starter Jorge de la Rosa.
But would they tear it completely down by dealing Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, and would ownership even let a GM on the hot seat (Dan O’Dowd) do the disassembling?
Tulowitzki’s seven-year, $134 million extension does not even kick in until next year. Still, even with that salary and injury concerns, Tulowitzki is so skilled that if he went on the market, there would be a frenzy for the shortstop — who, by the way, wears No. 2 as an homage to his idol, Jeter.
Gonzalez is hounded by two issues: 1) Like Robinson Cano, Gonzalez can look as if he is not playing hard because the game seems to come easy to him. 2) Would he be a star away from the light air of Coors, where he had a 1.046 OPS last year compared to .706 on the road?
I bet a bunch of teams — the Mets and Yankees included — would gamble to find out. The talented lefty is just 27 and signed reasonably through 2017. In fact, his average salary is just $11.42 million, which would be an added benefit to the Yankees’ obsession to get under $189 million next year.
GIANCARLO STANTON
Giancarlo Stanton is not available now, and if the Marlins are able to actually have a long-term plan under the unsteady ownership of Jeffrey Loria, he may never be dealt.
The most recent fire sale has left Miami without much major league skill, but with a Double-A team that could be the best minor league club in two decades. The best-laid plan would be to sign Stanton for 10-12 years and have him be the star and stabilizing force as the pools of talent arrive. But, again, is Loria capable of such a strategy and — more vitally — would Stanton go along with it, since he clearly was left angry and distrustful of ownership after the winter selloff?
The Marlins essentially can make the rebuild complete by moving Stanton, who — because he is 23, already a pre-eminent righty power bat and not even arbitration-eligible until next year — probably could net Miami five prospects, three at the elite level.
CHASE HEADLEY
Chase Headley has not played the outfield regularly since 2009, but would have to switch back if ever acquired by the Mets, due to Wright’s presence, and perhaps the Yankees, if A-Rod ever returns. San Diego toyed with dealing Headley last July and might again this year if it does not think it can sign him long term, since he is a free agent after next season.
The switch hitter finished fifth in the MVP balloting last year, but begins this season on the disabled list with a broken thumb.
JOSH WILLINGHAM
Josh Willingham is not a long-term piece like the others. He is 34. He is limited defensively. And there are recurring back worries with him. But he is on a good contract ($7 million both this year and next) and there is this: He has 64 homers the past two seasons playing in Oakland and Minnesota, not exactly long-ball havens.
The Twins are looking for pitching, pitching and more pitching — which is why you probably will see Justin Morneau (in his walk year) as bait come July, as well.