Wilmer Flores probably isn’t the answer at shortstop, and the Mets know this. But they see no downside in continuing to give him a look.
If the Mets are lucky, Flores will hit a little and increase his trade value heading into the offseason or play his way into a backup role for 2015. On Saturday, he did a little of everything, with a highlight-reel dive and throw to rob Welington Castillo of a hit before delivering a two-run single in the Mets’ 7-3 victory over the Cubs.
The real issue is general manager Sandy Alderson hasn’t moved significantly closer to filling a black hole that has existed since Jose Reyes was allowed to depart following the 2011 season.
Starlin Castro’s appearance at Citi Field this weekend certainly has let the Mets dream about a trade, but team brass also will be extremely careful in deciding which pitchers it might be willing to sacrifice for an upgrade at shortstop.
And the fact the Mets need another corner outfielder — with no evidence yet suggesting the GM will be allowed to spend significantly — might make it impractical to believe the team can upgrade at two positions without crippling the farm system.
It could leave the Mets deciding between a shortstop and an outfielder. Remember, the Mets backed off Jhonny Peralta last offseason when the bidding got too high, and signed two outfielders — Chris Young and Curtis Granderson — leaving shortstop unresolved.
The Mets know what they have in Ruben Tejada and could conceivably keep him as the shortstop next season, but it isn’t the preferred choice. But that possibility becomes more palatable if the team were to add another outfield bat to hide Tejada’s offensive shortcomings.
Matt Reynolds is producing big numbers at Triple-A Las Vegas, but isn’t the smoothest shortstop defensively and probably projects as a utility player at the major league level, according to an evaluator who has watched him. But the Mets might want to find out sooner rather than later and give Reynolds a shot at shortstop when rosters expand in September.
There is thought the 23-year-old Reynolds, who finished last year at Single-A St. Lucie, is getting pushed along the fast track in part because the Alderson regime is yet to send a player it has drafted to the big leagues.
If Reynolds, the Mets’ second-round pick in the 2012, were to arrive and have even decent success, it would alleviate the pressure on scouting and player development to get a player it has drafted into the majors.
Flores is best suited to play a corner infield position, but the Mets need a shortstop and are willing to overlook his footwork and throwing issues in hopes he can become close to the hitter who was tearing apart the Pacific Coast League this season.
“We’re not going to make Wilmer Flores into [Andrelton] Simmons in Atlanta,” manager Terry Collins said. “He’s not going to be that kind of player. But what you do hope is that first-step quickness, he might improve that by a couple of milliseconds that may help him a little bit.
“Are you going to make him a rangy, flashy shortstop? I don’t think so. But what you are going to have is a guy, if he makes that routine play, he’s got plenty of arm strength. If he hits, he can play any place on the field.”
Flores is 13-for-53 (.245) since returning from Triple-A Las Vegas on July 24 and hadn’t homered.
In all fairness, Flores only started playing on a regular basis in the last nine days, and batting eighth in the lineup virtually guarantees receiving few pitches to hit.
Castro or his teammate Javier Baez would look better at shortstop for the Mets next season, but at what cost in terms of young pitching?
As last winter proved to the Mets, it’s one thing to target a shortstop in the offseason and quite another to actually come away with the prize.