The Mets have curiosity in free agent outfielder Austin Hays, stories Jon Heyman of The New York Submit. Hays was beforehand related to the Royals however that was earlier than Kansas Metropolis signed Lane Thomas and purchased Isaac Collins. They’re reportedly nonetheless exploring the outfield market however may need much less urgency in that pursuit now.
For the Mets, including to the outfield looks as if an inevitability. They’d 9 gamers take a couple of plate look as an outfielder in 2025. Seven of them are gone. Cedric Mullins, Starling Marte, Jesse Winker, Jose Siri and José Azócar turned free brokers at season’s finish. This offseason, Brandon Nimmo was traded to the Rangers and Jeff McNeil to the Athletics.
That leaves the Mets with Juan Soto and Tyrone Taylor as holdovers. Soto is clearly a part of the plans in 2026 however Taylor ought to be on shakier floor. Taylor has a good flooring from his velocity and his protection however he has had subpar offense for 3 years working now, together with a .223/.279/.319 line and 70 wRC+ in 2025.
The Mets have already prevented arbitration with Taylor, signing him for $3.8MM in 2026. Regardless of that dedication, he would ideally be bumped right into a bench function.
It’s attainable that prospect Carson Benge ultimately takes the middle area job from Taylor. President of baseball operations David Stearns has stated Benge will get an opportunity to earn a job out of camp. Benge can play all three outfield spots however the Mets presumably need to give him an opportunity to stay in heart, the place he would have extra worth.
Hays wouldn’t be the perfect out there possibility for filling that spot, particularly with Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger nonetheless on the open market, however he has a good monitor report.
He has typically been good for offense a bit above common. He has a .262/.313/.435 line in his profession, which interprets to a 105 wRC+. His 2025 season was according to that, as he hit .266/.315/.453, additionally for a 105 wRC+.
He has been graded as an excellent defender in his profession however much less so prior to now two seasons. He’s been slapped with a minus-10 grade from Defensive Runs Saved and a minus-2 from Outs Above Common courting again to the beginning of 2024. He’s additionally had a number of harm challenges and hasn’t been capable of get past 103 video games performed in these two seasons.
Hays has his attributes however is a greater match as a complementary participant than a full-time answer. He swings from the precise facet and has been a subpar hitter towards righty pitchers in his profession. Nonetheless, he has a .282/.340/.479 line and 124 wRC+ with the platoon benefit. The break up was much more excessive in 2025, with Hays batting .319/.400/.549 for a 155 wRC+ towards southpaws.
An outfielder who can crush lefties continues to be value one thing. The Mariners simply gave Rob Refsnyder $6.25MM for the same profile.
Benge is a lefty and he confirmed notable splits within the minors this yr, with a .232/.407/.326 line towards lefties in comparison with a .295/.379/.512 line towards righties.
The Mets have additionally been continuously related to Luis Robert Jr. in rumors. He has flashed a borderline MVP upside however has been pretty Hays-ian prior to now two years. He has struggled to remain on the sphere and supplied subpar offense however with huge numbers towards lefties.
Robert goes to earn $20MM subsequent yr and would require the Mets to ship prospects to the White Sox in return. Chicago is likely to be keen to eat a number of the cash however that might solely enhance their calls for within the prospect division.
Maybe the Mets view Hays as a extra reasonably priced various to Robert. Hays hasn’t performed heart since 2023 however did so pretty recurrently earlier than his mounting accidents in latest seasons. Maybe a short-side platoon function would assist him keep wholesome and maximize his contributions.
That might bump Taylor down right into a fifth outfielder function the place he could possibly be used as a pinch runner and defensive alternative. Taylor can also be a righty swinger however has pretty even splits in his profession, making him much less of a match as a platoon man.
Even when Hays is introduced aboard, that shouldn’t end the membership’s work within the outfield. They’ve been related to Bellinger and are a logical match for Tucker. They’ve additionally reportedly proven curiosity in commerce candidates comparable to Lars Nootbaar and Ramón Laureano. They presumably have curiosity in quite a lot of different outfielders even when they haven’t been related to them publicly.
Photograph courtesy of Kirby Lee, Imagn Photos
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