The Steve Cohen-led New York Mets are looking to snag a big-time player away from their division rivals.
Since the team made the World Series back in 2015, there hasn’t been much hope and happiness in the New York Mets fanbase. That all changed this month, as the Wilpon family sold the team to billionaire Steve Cohen, a diehard Mets fan who seems willing to spend money to build a winner. Those who bleed blue and orange have been daydreaming about who Cohen and team president Sandy Alderson would target this Hot Stove season. Well, one name has come to light, and it’s a former Atlanta Brave.
According to Ken Davidoff of the New York Post, the Mets have expressed interest in signing Braves slugger Marcell Ozuna. It’s not only to gain one of the better free agents on the market or to spurn their rivals. Rather, Ozuna is a right-handed bat that would balance New York’s left-handed lineup.
Mets targeting best slugger on the market
Davidoff notes that the Mets are primarily focusing on adding a pitcher, catcher and center fielder, with the latter being a position that Ozuna doesn’t play. Ozuna primarily spent this past season playing in left field (19 games), when he wasn’t serving as Atlanta’s designated hitter (39 games). Even so, Ozuna’s a talent who you can make accommodations for.
Following a less than ideal 2019 with the St. Louis Cardinals, Ozuna signed a one-year, $18 million contract with the Braves. Atlanta signed Josh Donaldson the year prior, and he won the NL Comeback Player of the Year award. Just like the Donaldson signing, the Ozuna deal paid off for the Braves.
Ozuna slashed .338/.431/.636, while leading the NL in home runs (18), RBI (56), plate appearances (267) and total bases (145). After the season, Ozuna became the first-ever NL designated hitter to win a Silver Slugger award and he finished in sixth-place in the NL MVP race.
The Mets may be targeting Ozuna, but the Braves won’t go down without a fight, as general manager Alex Anthopoulos expressed interest in re-signing him. However, a signing won’t happen for quite some time, as MLB and the Players Association are negotiating whether to bring back the DH position in the NL for 2021. When that does happen, keep your eyes peeled for the Mets, as they’re primed to make some splash moves this winter.