Robinson Cano #24 of the New York Mets (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
The New York Mets just lost a starting second baseman in Robinson Cano.
Steve Cohen might’ve taken over from the Wilpon family, but some the New York Mets managed to kick off the 2020 offseason with some trademark wackiness. Second baseman Robinson Cano, one-half of the trade that sent top prospect Jarred Kelenic to the Seattle Mariners, has been suspended for the entire 2021 season after testing positive for stanozolol, a banned substance.
The Mets might actually end up benefiting from this suspension, as it will allow them to chase top free agents while being relieved of Cano’s hefty contract. The Mets could easily end up signing one of these three veteran free agents.
Look for the Mets to acquire one of these three 2B to replace Robinson Cano
3
Kolten Wong
2B St. Louis Cardinals
Wong has been a fixture in St. Louis for the last eight seasons, providing some quality at-bats and some excellent defense that has netted him consecutive Gold Glove awards. Unfortunately for Wong, he picked a really bad time to have his worst offensive season since 2016, as just one home run and a below-average OPS+ has really done a number on his value. With one of the game’s best defenders available at a discount, the Mets might roll the dice and see if they can fix Wong’s issues at the plate.
Expecting Wong to come in and immediately become a table-setter or needle-mover on the offensive end is simply not a prudent strategy. However, if the Mets are able to coax Womng away from St. Louis and get his bat back to a respectable level, they could replace Cano with a younger option that is a threat on the basepaths, all for a relatively efficient price. Not every Cohen move has to break the bank, ad Wong is an economical improvement in what is a suspect middle infield.